9th December
The morning was really really cold - I did the washing up and the water actually froze on everything I'd cleaned before we could dry it! The drive to Toulouse airport was easy and only about half an hour. We were on time to collect Kathy (Pete's mum) and Dave! They were the last out of the arrivals but once they were out we set off, with our satnav guiding us, to our holiday gite. We made a 'shortcut' through Toulouse, which was quite stressful and stopped off at a hypermarket on the way to stock up on food and booze for the next few days. It was about an hours drive to the house in a small hamlet called Les Passets - ten or so kilometres north east of Lavaur. The house was absolutely gorgeous - vine covered on the outside and cosy with a huge old fashioned fireplace on the inside. The owners had left us some local wine and we lit the fire straight away and looked around the lovely, albeit slightly haunted looking, bedrooms and kitchen. Pete was very happy with the kitchen - they provided everything you could ever need - all in all it was pretty perfect. The sun was out and we had lunch by the pool (closed for winter), overlooking the French countryside all the way to The Pyrenees. In the evening me, Pete and Kathy went for a short walk around the local area and then back at the house we had an amazing pork and roast veg dinner - cooked by Pete. The evening was spent with our feet up around a roaring fire - perfection.
Lunch in the sun! ^
Evening stroll. ^
The house! ^
10th December
Me and Pete were up at the crack of dawn (which is about eight at the moment!) and we lit the fire and tidied the house. We went outside with a cup of tea to watch the sun rising and decided to have a go on the air rifle which was kept in the house over the fire. We shot a few times into some wood which was actually quite fun. When Dave and Kathy were up we had a lovely breakfast of croissants, coffee, toast and marmalade. We decided that today we would visit Albi - a nearby city. We drove there in the van and eventually managed to find somewhere to park in the centre. We stopped for coffee right outside the massive cathedral and then went for a stroll around the city. We wandered along the river banks, looking at the higgeldy-piggeldy houses over looking the water and the impressive bridges. The town was very pretty with all the houses being built out of a pinky, orange brick and the weather was also perfect. For lunch we found a small shop and bought a selection of cheese and ham to eat in a baguette - which we had sitting in the sunshine and fed the pigeons the left overs. After lunch we went inside the cathedral to have a look around. It was magnificently painted and very beautiful. After looking in there for a bit we headed back to the van and set off home. By the time we were back it was dark and we had a simple, but yummy, pasta for dinner. We had another great evening sitting by the fire and playing Trivial Pursuit - which me and Pete won!! And after a night cap we all went to bed.
Morning tea/gun/view. ^
Cathedral out and in. ^
The Tarn river. ^
Lunch. ^
11th December
This morning we got up and left reasonably early to head to a market in Realmont, a few kilometers along the road. It was a great little market in a cute French town, selling food, clothes and bric-a-brak and a cafe with people sitting out drinking beers for breakfast. There was even a gypsy man there with his baby pig and baby goat! We split up and all went for a wander - the market sprawled down quite a few of the streets. Me and Pete had had a look around and were about to return to the meeting place, when we suddenly found a charity shop! We found some great bargains and managed to get a couple of lovely warm jumpers each. When we'd all re-grouped we decided to head on as the market was quickly starting to pack up. We headed to the town of Lautrec; a stunning old village perched on the side of a hill. We walked around it's beautiful, but deserted, streets wondering where everyone had gone. In the end we stopped in a small cafe and found that this was where they all were hanging out. The cafe/library was very cool and we enjoyed a local organic beer. All feeling worn out from our day out we headed back to the house for Dave's last night with us. We sat again by the roaring fire and roasted chestnuts. Pete cooked a ridiculously good stew for dinner and we played a game of Trivial Pursuit (which me and Pete won again!) Yet another great evening - we are all loving the house.
Market in Realmont. ^
Lautrec. ^
12th December
After a leisurely breakfast we all went into the garden for a shooting competition. We made some targets on paper, which we pinned to a wooden board and each fired from different distances. Pete beat us all, but everyone was very good and there was fun had by everyone! And anyway, Dave exploded a clothes peg on the washing line - which was cool. Sadly, in the afternoon it was time for Dave to go home. When he was ready to go we all got into the van and drove to the airport. We got there right on time and all said goodbye after a great few days. When Dave had gone to check in me, Pete and Kathy went to a cafe to get a sandwich and a coffee. We had less than an hour to wait until Pete's brother, John, landed. We met him in arrivals and were very excited to see him after so long. On the way home we stopped at a hypermarket again to stock up on food and booze and after that John got to sit up front whilst me and Kathy sat on the bed and enjoyed a beer and a chat! Back at the house we showed John around and ate left over stew for dinner - which was even better tonight! We spent another evening playing Trivial Pursuit, but this time me and Pete lost (we didn't play again after that!) Still, a lovely evening.
Welcome! ^
13th December
We decided to have a chilled out day today (because we've been so busy.) Pete and John got up early to go to The Boulangerie and we all enjoyed chocolate croissants for breakfast. I had a lovely morning in the glorious Sunshine, reading and writing the blog, whilst Kathy also soaked up the sun and the boys shot the gun. Early afternoon we went for a lovely stroll in the surrounding fields. For lunch we sat down by the swimming pool again in the glorious sun trap. We stayed there all afternoon, drinking beers and chatting, and only after watching a beautiful sunset did we go back in the house. Pete cooked a cassoulet in a cauldron over the fire - which was very cool and very yummy. After dinner me, Pete and John stayed up drinking into the early hours.
Around the house. ^
Walking. ^
Sunset. ^
Cooking over the fire! ^
14th December
We woke up early. The weather had turned a bit drizzly but that didn't stop us - we went out and headed to Lavaur market. We looked through all the second hand clothes and then browsed the food and drink stalls. We all fancied a coffee and headed to the high street to find a cafe - which was easier said than done. Lavaur seems to be the only French town to not have any cafes at all! Eventually we did find one and we retreated inside to the warmth. After coffee and croissant we carried on our mini-tour to Rabastans. A very pretty riverside town, which we wandered around and along the river and had a look the church. On the way to our third town on the tour - Lisle-sur-Tarn - we stopped at a picnic spot for lunch. The sun was finally coming out and we had a lovely lunch outside. Lisle-sur-Tarn was another pretty town and it was time for a beer, so we stopped in a bar in the main square. We were home just in time for another incredible sunset, which we all enjoyed by the pool whilst Pete played guitar. Lovely. Yet another great dinner and boozy evening!
Lavaur. ^
Rabastans. ^
Lunch. ^
Lisle-sur-Tarn. ^
Gorgeous sunset. ^
15th December
Sadly our last full day together - we decided to spend it enjoying our lovely house! A very relaxing day; a bit of shooting in the garden, a really nice long walk around the fields to a nearby church and lots of eating. Pete made a massive roast for the last supper and the evening was spent finishing all alcoholic beverages that we had in the house.
Lovely walk. ^
16th December
Our last morning was spent packing and cleaning the house. When this was all done we said goodbye to the house and to the sunny garden. We had an amazing week here! Thankyou! We drove to the airport to drop Kathy and John off and then headed south towards our next helpx. We have been lucky enough to find a house on the edge of the Pyrenees to house sit for two weeks over christmas! Can't believe it. We drove to the village of La Mouline (west of Foix) and met Jenny and Tony and their two daughters Elodie and Isabelle. We had a lovely introduction with several beers and an amazing homemade curry.
The Pyrenees looked very impressive as we drove towards them. ^
