#foireauxbulles

[theretirementstory]

Bonjour à tous. I AM HOME! After only three weeks in hospital I arrived home on Wednesday afternoon. Was I the happiest person with the cheesiest grin that day! I cannot tell you how it felt to leave my “cell”. The doctors and nurses are fantastic but being cooped up in that room was indescribable.

So being “free” the first thing I did when I got home was go into the garden to see my plants. I really didn’t think there would be many (if any) but it’s amazing how gardens can surprise you. The cyclamen, under the shrubs, are in flower their delicate mauve flowers just visible. I had thought they may have been lost when the gardener did his “weed control” back in May. There was another surprise too, the plants I thought were the kalanchoe I had planted out last summer turned out to be osteospermum (see photo above). Unfortunately, the gardener hadn’t been to tailler les haies (trim the hedges) or cut the cherry tree. I left a message on his ansaphone but he will probably just turn up one afternoon on his way home.

I know I should have arranged to have my central heating boiler checked in the summer but I didn’t! I messaged the new plumber, who fitted my new toilet, asking if he was available to service the boiler in October, he never replied! I have messaged the “old” plumber too and still no response. Blimey these guys must be making money “hand over fist” if they don’t have the time to reply with a date to come out.

Monique did my shopping for me, she has offered to do my cleaning but to be honest I am in the process of arranging a cleaning lady with the help of Anie and Nadine.

Of course, my neighbour is only too willing to do anything to help . He went and collected my medication and yesterday morning I asked if he could collect a few things at the supermarket for me.

There are only certain things that I can eat and I have to have hot (temperature wise) food. No pepper or spices 😩 and as my taste buds are not finally tuned to savoury items everything is so bland! Unfortunately, due to the hospital finding an ulcer in my stomach (back in May) the 100% orange or apple juice is out of bounds to me as they are too acidic, that leaves me with good old cold water. No tea, coffee, cocoa, sparkling/fizzy drinks 😩. The dietician says I should follow this regime for at least three months but she prefers six months, oh my goodness what fun is there in that food for the next six months? I will check it out with the oncologist when I go for my consultation. There really is a lot to think about with my diet due to the ulcer, following the stent fitted in my heart and now after the cancer treatment which means I need to boost my immune system. It’s a headache!

“The Daddy” has been busy, not just with his full time job, but also with his photography. He was at the Scarborough AFC match on Tuesday evening taking photos for their Facebook page, on Wednesday evening he was taking some promotional photos for a new restaurant and cocktail bar in Scarborough. This weekend he has his children so it will be a “full on” weekend for him.

“The Trainee Solicitor” has been dealing with another solicitors files while he was away, he has enjoyed it so much. His boss has been very pleased with what he has done and told him so. All good news regarding his training plus it motivates.

“The Ex Psychology Graduate” has been working full time this week, it’s not a 9-5 job and involves weekend work but she has had time to deal with mundane jobs before going to work, or on her days off.

This weekend is the Foire aux Bulles (Champagne Festival) in town. There are rides and amusements for children, lots of stalls selling their wares. It runs from one end of the main street right down to the other. The Knitting, Crochet and Patchwork group I took charge of in February have a stall and as lots of people come to the town on this weekend I am hoping that “my ladies” will manage to sell some of the items on the stall. They have given their time at a couple of smaller gatherings and have been unsuccessful with sales which is such a shame. The sun is shining on them although it is still only 15c, I have sent a message wishing them good luck.

Now it’s time for the records I have chosen this week. The first, back to 1979, is only one I could have chosen by this very talented man, as I have said previously, it isn’t always the lyrics that get to me but the music. “Get It Right Next Time” by Gerry Rafferty is just brilliant. My second song, back to 1964, is by a fantastic British female singer, the song “My Colouring Book” by Dusty Springfield. It was hard for me to decide between this song and “If You Go Away” by Dusty released in 1968.

Have a good week until next week.

[theretirementstory]

FOIRE AUX BULLES 1 & 2 SEPTEMBRE Sunday dawned bright and sunny so I headed out for bread and another look around the “Bubble Fair”, which had promised a vide grenier today. Unfortunately, there was only one stall (I didn’t know this at the time) selling his bric a brac and to be honest the prices he had marked on each piece I didn’t see him selling very much at all! I went in search of other stalls selling bric a brac and stumbled across a stall I had missed yesterday. It was the photography club in Bar-sur-Aube, they had made postcards, book marks and lots of other lovely items along with framed photographs. They were running a draw where you put in the numbers of your 3 favourite photographs with a chance of winning one. I completed a form, just waiting for the phone call…….well fingers crossed. I then saw Patrick and Dominique again although this time I didn’t have a look around their stall. Well I had bought one book from Dominique and 2 small books from Patrick yesterday. It was really lovely as they signed each book that I bought. Although it was warm I was determined to sample some champagne today. I had chosen my stand carefully, it was manned by the Sapeur Pompier people and as my father had been a Fireman in England I decided this was where I would enjoy a glass of “bubbles”. I must admit it was good (even if the champagne was not from my favourite champagne house). I then went for a walk in the opposite direction and bought for myself some Biscuits sales au piment espelette. They are rather delicious although I find that the piment really comes to the fore when you swallow the biscuit. I also bought some hot chilli powder. I was approached again by the man selling cheese and this time I decided to sample them. I really enjoyed the same one I had purchased from another stall yesterday and asked to buy some. Blimey the piece he cut cost me over 13 euros!! After that I decided to head home…...my feet were aching and my wallet was empty.

[theretirementstory]

FOIRE AUX BULLES 1 & 2 SEPTEMBRE First weekend in September, the vendange completed and it was time for the “Bubble Fair” in town. I was a little late getting into the town on Saturday, it was almost midday but the stalls were still busy and people were still sampling the champagne. I was “just looking” to see what was available this year (this was my 2nd Foire aux Bulles). The Tupperware stall was there again as was the lady selling knives and scissors, she also provided a sharpening service. As I am not a big “sausage” person the stalls selling sausages with chilli, nuts, herbs etc did not take my fancy but there were plenty of them competing for business. As I wandered, I saw my two author friends, Patrick and Dominique, had a stall and were promoting their books. I have wanted to purchase a book from them, since their fair in the local Carrefour, but as they are in French I think I am not yet to that standard. Patrick has also written childrens books and he explained that some were suitable from 2 years. Well Daisy is only just 16 weeks old so I think we have some way to go but it was interesting to find out about them. Dominique writes thrillers based around the departments of the Aube and Haute Marne. He has written two which are based in Bar-sur-Aube so this is what has piqued my interest. I wandered down to the bar and sat and had a coffee thinking again about buying one of Dominiques books. Problem solved eldest son “Papa du Daisy” said he would buy it for my up coming birthday. After my refeshment I went to check out cheeses and bought a devine Tomme Chevre together with fig and ginger chutney and chilli jelly (although the chilli was a bit tame!) On the way to buy the book I met Lorenza Chief of Police, a friend from Tricot, Rejane, plus a couple from the Fete des Voisins. I wandered home, saving some energy to go out in the evening and see all that was going on as the sun was setting. I was not disappointed, as we said when I was a girl, the shows were in, dodgems, shooting range, hook a duck, stalls with toffee apples, candy floss and other sugary delights, I did notice a distinct lack of goldfish to be won (not that I wanted one anyway!) Hoping you like the pics from today (Saturday) more to follow ......