Searching for veggies - winding up in a winery

Erin and Milton leave at the crack of dawn to go to Ireland.We hear later that they had a horrendously long journey with Ryan Air but managed to rescue the situation with a visit to the Guinness factory!!!!

We do our morning walk in the coolest part of the day although it still rises quickly to 30 degrees.  We are accompanied most mornings by this little fellow who is anxious for a crumb or two that we don’t have while the barn cat proudly displays his latest triumph."

We are taking it slow and learning the ropes. Even though Milton has already taken us there, finding the supermarket is still an adventure navigating through a maze of tiny streets. We start with Caunes our nearest town.  Like all the towns around it is awash with flowers and of course sculptures made from the local pink marble... think Versailles.

We see a sign for fresh fruit and veggies and find of course that we are in a winery!!! Shopping anywhere in France, whether it is the supermarket, épicerie. or in this case a small winery, involves having a chat!

Today we talk about the piles of vines we've seen by the edge of the road.  The land behind them cleared.  Why?... 'Arrachage' he replies. Now that is stretching my French.  It means pulling up vines and destroying them. 'Why?'  People are drinking less wine and climate change and so farmers are taking the €4,000 per hectare and destroying their vines. Change is afoot even in France.

Home to a lovely afternoon tea with Laurence, a Parisienne, who lived for more than two decades with her Australian husband and two boys in Oz, before moving to the village. She is facing the dilemma many of us migrants have - which home do we go back to? 

Another day full of fabulous food, people and a dose or two of French culture!

Chez Sue and Stuart

 After a day of exploring with Milton as the lead guide, we amassed a basket full of local cheeses, pâtés, terrines, wine and of course baguettes. Back home for a snooze before our next social outing.

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Summer is a time for social events and like every village in France, Trausse Minervois is full of gatherings ]music, food and wine. There's always something happening! Last night was a festival in La Place de la Tour, but we were all in a quieter mood and opted for a walk through the village and out towards the vines. 

Tonight though we are headed for the blue gate in a stone wall. I love that about Europe, there is always that wonder about what lies beyond that walled garden!  Susan and Stuart have just moved into an old house and they have started to renovate. We are to meet up with the gang and see what they have done.

Now renovation in these little villages is interesting.  If you need an extra room and the next door neighbours have one that they don't use and they are agreeable and the Marie agrees, you simply knock through a door into the wall and voilà everyone is happy!  

It makes for some interesting architecture!

So Susan and Stuart wanted to keep chickens, put in a double garage and have a garden.  A big ask in such a small village - pas de problème! A talk with the neighbour and the mayor - you upsize and your neighbours downsize.

Love the photo where Roger and Erin are checking out the neighbours place.

Tonight it's very much an expat group. An interesting bunch of Australians, English, American, and Canadians but even though our experiences are very different our world views are pretty similar.

Eventually after sharing stories and eating far too much delicious food we head home for dinner!!!