Off kilter

Terrible photo! But it's all I have today.

We had a smooth journey home, getting back at about 5 pm yesterday to a rather chilly house. As the chimney was as yet unswept, we switched all the electric radiators on and wrapped ourselves in a furry blanket ... it was fine. Especially once we had wine and tinned cassoulet to hand. 

The tranquiliser gel seems to have done the trick -- or else Mystère was just glad to be home. He eagerly ate a large quantity of ridiculously expensive smoked salmon from the village shop and slept purringly on the bed all night. Today he's been out and about, and also spent time on my lap. On the outward journey he was in such a bad way when we arrived that I took him to the vet.

First job this morning was sweeping the chimney and lighting the fire. Then I went to the market in Lagrasse to buy food ... French cheese (yay!) and a guineafowl from the butcher's stall. I'd seen a nice big Savoy cabbage at the veggie stall earlier, and immediately thought ... pintade aux choux! Perfect comfort food. Imagine my distress when I returned to the veggie stall just as a woman was leaving with the one and only cabbage. Still, the problem was sorted with a detour to Fabrezan, so Sunday lunch is assured.

Tonight we jumped straight onto the cultural bandwagon by going to Capendu to see Jazz Magic, an hour of card tricks and piano playing (no jazz was involved). No photos allowed, so I just snapped this blurry photo of the set as people were taking their seats. It was enormous fun, with audience participation and card tricks that left us amazed and baffled. I have no idea how they did any of it. The cards that magically disappeared and reappeared ... the 52 cards thrown in the air, of which exactly the right one, chosen by an audience member, was later found inside the piano. It all brings out your inner child! There's a video taster here, but you had to be there really -- it was all about improvisation. 

It was an early evening show, so we're back well before bedtime for wine and a few small nibbles.