All in a day’s work

The view from the terrace. The farmer had given himself an easier day today, after three days of working from dawn till well after dusk (still going at 10:30 last night).

S had an early start this morning, off to talk to a shepherd in Sort. He had breakfast before he left, but the shepherd proposed a second breakfast … coffee, the ubiquitous Catalan pa amb tomaquet, a slab of spinach tortilla, salt cod … and wine, for those who wanted it (that was a no from S, at 9:30 a.m.)

After he got back we went for a very brief explore of Tremp (not interesting enough to get out of the car) and then stopped for lunch on the way back at a rather smart chiringuito (beach bar) on the shore of the reservoir we could see from the abandoned village on Wednesday. A beautiful situation, perched on a rocky outcrop (see extra for the view). A contrast to yesterday’s lunch at a fraction of the price … we enjoyed some very gooey croquetas filled with diced aubergine and runny blue cheese, the inevitable pa amb tomaquet on very good bread, and a salad with fruit and soft cheese.

S had another interview in the late afternoon, while I sat on the terrace furiously trying to finish Riddley Walker before my book group on Sunday … I chose it, so it would be a bit embarrassing not to finish it. Swallows were swooping into the lean-to below me for nest-building, and the pair of red kites periodically appeared over the hay field. This place is lovely, I’d happily come back.

S had been to the cheese shop in Sort, so when he got back it was tapas on the terrace — yes, pa amb tomaquet, cheese, jamón, wine.