February saw Paulie and Stephen settle into their life in France whilst James continued with work in Oxford, Olivia wound up Uni holidays & started a new job in Brisbane, and Nick Returned from a break with Elena in Italy to their Barcelona pad.
Paulie and Stephen had meetings in London - time to start work to avoid having to forage for berries in the woods. The UK trip included a few days with James where we met boydriend Keno. We are planning a Barcelon trip to meet Elena and catch up with Nick. As we march into March, we hope to get some work happening, return to Oxford for more meetings (and the Oxford Literary Festival that we attended in 2011), plan a trip to Barcelona, and enjoy the seasons changing whilst based in La Cachette.
Our Sunday market is quieter on a cold day
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But it provides enough for a pleasing lunch
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Nick and Elena have even colder days in northern Italy...
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... but return to their home in Barcelona where things warm up.
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In St Antonin the sun is out & it's time for some mountain walk challenges. We have never walked the hill to the left
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en route noted a local rugby match
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Up we go
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"my new boots (half price sale) made that easy"
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A more panoramic view of the match, but who is winning?
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Back down the hill
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More sunny days mean more cycling. 20km today
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A long drive to Millau (pronounced "meow") viaduct
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We went over and under. Here we stop for a break after 3 hours driving there
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A cycle to Caylus. Too late for the kitchen to feed us, but rosé is served
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The next cycle challenge- to cycle up the Caussade road and around the plateau. Only 22km but up 300 metres
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Which was tiring
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More sun
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Madame Chat starts to be more confident
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Walking near Bruniquel with friends Robin and Rosie
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To Feneyrols
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We put up a letter box & our first letter - from Miss O
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We have driven up to the cliffs a number of times. But hiking up? You bet
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St Someone keeps an eye on St Antonin
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Seems a better view when walking up.
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The warm days mean the parasailers are up and ready. We walked up this 3rd hill near town with James last year
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Gardening weather- some edging looks nice
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Catching up with soon-to-be retired QUT Prof and St Antonin resident
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Time to test walking poles
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And today's challenge.. walk up to the plateau, but via the valley (down to the tunnel)
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And why not go up the roackface above the tunnel?
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Slow and heavy going, but when the going get's tough ....
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... the tough say "ouf!"
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nearly there
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Another view of the Caussade Road to the left that the guys cycled up last week.
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And the valley they climbed up from.
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With St Antonin just in sight in the background
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Somebody heard the guys stumble home
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The guys join Simon & Linda for a birthday dinner near St Antonin (home at 2am! Wild kids)
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Meanwhile, back in Brisbane, Lochie's 21st welcomes other wild kids - super heroes and villans
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After a night resting after rescued from le chat, we can only hope tweety will recover in the shrubs we released him in.
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In Brisbane Olivia gets a job- a few evenings as trainer for AFL umpires.
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Quick London trip first .... Lady in Red off to hotel
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Paulie's previous home on Chepstow Street, Notting Hill
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After some London meetings, to Oxford
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Breakfast with Keno who just got accepted as PhD candidate at Oxford.
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Tiily's grandpa gave her a folk harp
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An early work morning
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Lunch at Blackwells opposite the Sheldonian -we head back end of March for the Oxford Literary festival
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