Silver tops still wandering

There is nothing quite like a ‘Marche Gourmand’ in french France. Especially if you go with a seasoned ‘pro’ who takes a table cloth, wine chiller, and plates with knives and forks. As she so correctly pointed out to me when I gasped in awe and appreciation, ‘this is not my first rodeo’.

Here we all are, on the banks of the Lot, quietly stuffing ourselves from the fare on offer and sampling the local wines. Another memory stored safely away.

Travelling companion has competition on the photo bombing! Looking very fetching in his ohhh so cool shades!

I went to my first marche gourmand about eleven years ago. I have always loved the way the locals do this. Feel very blessed that we can just come along and join in. No snails on the menus this time, much to ‘The Misters’ delight. I had some several years ago and they were incredible. I did have trout and the Mister had a ‘pave’ steak, not too shabby, but we have a very high bar since Portugal.

We are here. So generously and wonderfully accommodated by our lovely friends. They are so blessed to live here, the most wonderful thing is, they never stop appreciating their hard earned good fortunes. You know who you are and are very loved.

It is delightful to be here, wrapped now in the comfort blanket of familiarity, knowing how, when and where to eat, that our accommodation is so comfortable and we even have this to play in!

That there is ‘Mr Russell’, AKA Stanley. He is absolutely adorable. We have known him since puppyhood and love him to bits. Trouble is Mrs Russell doesn’t, so she has to spend her time here ‘staked out’. I would love to see them playing together but sadly I think this will never be. He carries a scar under his eye and she a chunk of missing ear. Some things are just the way they are. Hey ho.

Her own fault!

They both got a turn to swim, just not together! Lovely lazy day in the sunshine. We move on after the weekend, but we know the places we are visiting and so we are looking forward to rekindling memories from previous visits, when the children were young and we had the wonderful and ever amusing company of my Mum and Aunty to keep us on our toes, and oh my, did they ever.

I am 67 years old tomorrow. I feel a mixture of emotions. Sometimes I wonder how I got to be even sixty! Life has so many stories to teach you and for you to learn along the way. I love my simple life these days, where every single moment of every day I try to savour and appreciate. I love the people I love and relish my times with them.

A little bit wistful! Another beer methinks…