Mars weather is up and down, but mostly grand. The visa is settled, the guys have had a few fun evenings including a hunter's dinner (to thank the locals of Milhars for the use of their land & tolerance of the gunfire) and a number of aperos. The BBQ has been ignited for the first time and as one can see, Paulie and Stephen have toned up for the Tour de France & broke their record after a 50.4km cycle one afternoon.
The guys were missing friends and family in the Antipodes, were still looking for work before they became totally broke (with one strong prospective contract in - Jo'burg Uni), and were saddened by Paulie's elderly pal's (Mme Julienne) death. The Oxford Literary Festival (the guys had attended in 2011) and some more professional networking meant another trip to England and on return to France the guys tolerated crap weather whilst awaiting a brighter April.
The cycling through hill and dale (montagne and val) continues. The dot is Paulie
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Which makes for tired puppies
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Studying for final immigration meeting in Toulouse....
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residence approved
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An after immigration afternoon en Toulouse
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Town hall
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Where this couple maintained close quarters. We noted a wedding ring on her finger. Mmmm...
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Eating up for an afternoon of gardening. Mme Chat requests an energy fix too
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Checking in with studious gal our morning
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.. and then our evening
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Paulie inspects neighbour Rafael's veggie patch
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March 5 - Paulie's elderly chum et professeur de français, Madame Julienne passes away
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We visted her family and a few days later attended her funeral. A sad time for Paulie.
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The day after the funeral we revisit her grave.
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And then set off
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... up the damn mountain road again.
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.. made it!
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These are the roads we love... small, quiet, pretty.
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The Spanish cemetary near Septfonds- Refugees from Franco's times.
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A picnic break
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And this is a road we dislike (plateau road to Caussade. Spot Pauie?) - dull, goes for kilometres. And despite the picture, cars zip past
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Time for some local culture. The hunters (Chasseurs) of Milhars village hold a dinner. A slideshow of their prey in the background.
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The DJ gets the 200 or so guests to groove along
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Digby & Marian as well as our host Alan enjoy the 4 courses of duck.
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We started to enjoy SW France's least talented DJ
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Time to shed the canard calories with some cross county cycling.
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And then next day some long walks (climbs)
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When Paulie suggests turning off onto a "wee detour" it seems to end in hill climbs. But lovely countryside
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The one day (March 13) we asked folks for an "Aussie BBQ"because winter had past, it went cold and wet. But never say never.
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Relaxing after an authentic Oz BBQ of tandoori chicken, Hunan pork, cooked by a kilted chef listening to north African tunes.
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Great discussions - French at one end (with Paulie, Sharon Madame Yolande) & English at the other
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Off on a 50km ride!
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past Penne
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... and Bruniquel
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March 22- to Oxford
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off to a Literary Festival gig
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and a pint at the Vic Arms whilst the sun is out
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looking at sessions at the festival
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