1Nov 1 - en route to see Paulie's pal Ree (who she spent a year with at high school in Connecticut) the guys have a pit stop near Carcassonne. They last saw Ree & Neil at their home in Valencia (see October 2019 for the last meeting)
2The meeting spot this time is close to the Spanish border in Collioure.
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5Nov 2 - The duo head off to meet Ree & Neil and Neil's uni pal Nick and his wife Leslie.
6Meeting the team at the nearby fishing village Port Vendres
7Which has fish aplenty. Nick and Neil selected the rather unattractive (but delicious) Monk Fish to prepare for dinner.
8Nick explores the lanes of Collioure
9Regrouping at the apartment Ree and company were staying at. Nick and Leslie live in the Perigord in France but run a company in England.
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11An important goal for some in the group- to watch the England versus New Zealand Rugby test match. The Rugby fans (representing both sides) were very excited,
12The others, on the other hand, started dinner prep.
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14And after the All Blacks won, the disappointed chaps joined in to prep the fish.
15Monk fish, it seems, needs the membrane around the flesh removed. But more light was needed. Always prepared, Stephen used his million lumen head lamp
16Mission accomplished.
17Nov 3rd - A morning coffee for Ree and Paulie to catch up more before Paulie & Stephen headed back north.
18Nov 7th - Paulie's birthday drinks
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20Across the other side of the planet Olivia raised a glass to her mother whilst at an Adelaide Asian food gig
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22Nov 8th - Paulie scaled the mountain road up to the plateau above their noble valley (noble val) home.
23And stops on the return home to enjoy the view of the village
24Olivia is out with the Prospect run club in training for a 30km charity run at the end of the month.
25Nov 9th - Stephen and Paulie accept the gracious invitation to stay a few days with Nick Traynor in Bordeaux and are delighted that the year-long trial separation with Sonia has ended with a reconciliation
26Bordeaux has a lot to explore - here the guys visit the largest bookshop in France
27And the longest shopping street in Europe
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29Nov 10th - time to pedal. Paulie and Stephen brought their bikes.
30The wine centre
31Wines weren't tasted, but a quick lunch at the cafe was.
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33Crossing the river to the right bank the team find "Darwin"- a former military barracks that is now described as "an exciting and inspiring urban ecosystem"
34Some funky jazz
35Some retail spaces, and a hall with numerous chateau selling their vineyard wares. But given all were cycling, tasting was limited
36Nov 11th - starting the morning walking- and leaping - in the local forest near Nick and Sonia's pad.
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39Back at Chateau Traynor it's time to prepare for a brunch gathering
40Nick pulled off a Scotish brunch. Paulie and Stephen headed home on a full stomach and Stephen popped extra statins that evening
41Nov 14th - The Atherton Nick was in Brisbane to catch up with family and a pal gave Nick a new addition to his "art collection"
42Whilst chatting to his pal's pet python
43Back in Saint Antonin Stephen and Paulie went for a morning stroll up one of the hills in the mist
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46Then joined Julia and Michael for a coffee
47Nov 15th - Olivia spent a weekend caring for her pals' canine
48And then headed off with her Prospect running pals again
49Paulie mastered the mountain road yet again. 20 minutes up and 5 minutes down.
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51Nov 16th - Another morning coffee as the season is clearly heading for winter
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54Nov 19th - But not as wintery as in Oxford! Keno and James wake to morning snow,
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56Nov 21- In Saint Antonin the guys start packing
57And continue garden chores- protecting herbs from the coming frost
58In Adelaide however, Olivia's clinical garb turns festive (made by Paulie)
59Preparing for the departure to Australia the duo fit in time to farewell guests. Here they prepare dinner for neighbours (Stephen prepares the Bœuf Bourgignon, Paulie the Clafoutis for dessert and the entree)
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6124th - back to garden chores
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63The village, and home, colours change
64and things become quieter without tourists
65Time to catch the warming sun
66In Adelaide Olivia heads to Henley Beach after work
67And shortens her flowing locks
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69Nov 28th - It's time!! The guys close the shutters, turn off the water, and head to Blagnac Airport
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71Flying towards Heathrow as the sun sets
72Nov 29th - waking up in Oxford as the sun rises
73Paulie zips into town to the Randolph Hotel in town to have a spa
74Nov 30th - Well done! Olivia completes a 30km run (a 30km before 30th birthday goal)
75The trio decide to use the rental car and go for a day trip.
76The trio arrive at Avebury in Wiltshire via Kintbury (where Paulie and Stephen dog sat in September) and lunch at Hungerford for a Neolithic henge visit.
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80James and his close up camera give a different view of the stone
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84Constructed over several hundred years in the third millennium BC
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90At home, and the lads chill in the kitchen.
91Dec 1- The last supper. Paulie and assistant whip up some vegan goodness before heading off the next morning
