Fun and games

What a difference a year makes. Last year the soapbox race in Ribaute took place in the pouring rain. This year we were more comfortable for two reasons: 1) it was sunny enough to seek out shade; 2) we spent a very large part of the afternoon on S and T's balcony, which you can see in the background of this photo. In fact we soon lost interest in the "race" (the same people whizzing down and then being pulled up again by tractor, eight times) as we were too busy chatting. We first met S and T, from Dublin, last summer, and they are lovely people who are now spending more time here.

It was one of those days that evolve in a rather unplanned way. Ingrid, G and I started the day at the market in Lagrasse. A massive contrast to Lézignan market as it's primarily aimed at tourists. Locally made essential oils, artisan bread, Touareg jewellery, and really expensive dried fruit, charcuterie and cheese rule the roost. We met S and T at this point and agreed to see them later. Then we sat down at the Café de la Promenade pour prendre un verre, and then another. Somehow it got to 1:30 and we still hadn't had lunch. So we drove to Ribaute where we had cheap and cheerful sausage and chips with a glass or two of rosé. By the time we'd finished talking to the many people we met, the soapboxes were ready to go, so we headed to the vantage point from which I took this, before succumbing to S and T's encouragement to sit on their balcony and drink Rooibos tea followed in some cases by rosé (not mine, I was driving). We eventually dragged ourselves away at about 6 p.m. So a quiet evening in followed.

Yesterday, i.e. Friday, is backblipped and a better photo :)