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It never snows in the Tarn, they said!

Hello everyone

I hope you are all keeping well? Well the cold snap was as bad as predicted! What a weekend and early part of the week. The night-time temperatures got down to -5, we had snow, frost, sunshine and more snow. The snow settled a few times but in snow terms was no more than a light dusting. We had to smile on Saturday morning as our neighbour rang to see if we should go to the market. The car had about an inch of snow on it and the roads were clear! I don’t think that they are that used to snow here. At the market, much reduced as many stallholders had stayed away, we were greeted at our regular stalls with congratulations on having braved the weather to come to the market! I have to point out that there was absolutely no snow in Cordes sur Ciel at that time. The lack of stalls did sadly scupper my monthly seasonal produce post. Hopefully this week the stalls will be back and I will catch up with that post.

I love snow and it made our quirky old house look very pretty, sprinkled as it was with a wispy layer of white. The plants, however, were not that happy, but put on a brave face. As I said last week, the plum, pear and cherry trees were in full blossom. The strawberries had their first flowers, the raspberries full of buds, both promising an early first crop. The hard freeze on Sunday and Monday nights has caused some considerable damage. My beautiful wisteria was full of flower buds, just waiting to burst into scented tumbling flowers, now most have been burnt to a crisp by the frost. The hydrangeas have been hard hit too, all new growth frostbitten. It is a little early to tell what the outcome for the fruit will be – some of the centres of the blossom look like they survived the onslaught, others have gone. The only plants I managed to protect were the lemon tree and various others in pots that could be moved and also the peonies, which spent a number of nights covered in the recycling bin! Each morning would see spring flowers bowed low by the cold, the euphorbia almost horizontal with shock. Most recovered during the day, before coping with another chilly night. The joys of gardening and the unpredictability of the weather. We wait and hope that the cold snap is the last, still lighting fires at night as the house remains chilly, throwing open the terrace doors during any moments of warmth and sunshine to warm the old house. Thermals on, thermals off, hot water bottles at the ready to take the edge off icy sheets.

My week has had its ups and downs, as I am sure is the case for everyone. Work threw up some interesting challenges which took a good bit of time to sort out. My lovely Auntie Ruth died quite suddenly which is so sad for us all, but particularly my cousins and their children. I had some potentially not great news about my eyes, but must wait to find out more. On the positive side, however, the fabulous urns I got at a brocante last year and planted with Spring bulbs when my Mother was staying are looking gorgeous, red tulips and pale yellow daffodils and narcissi jostling for space, cheering up the courtyard. They stand either side of our main front door, looking like they have always lived there. Such a find and an absolute bargain too!

I am keeping this week’s post short – enjoy the weekend and the week ahead. I plan to as it is my birthday weekend! I am looking forward to relaxing and pottering around a bit – doing what I want to do! The boys are organising food and drink all weekend and I have a really fab looking cake awaiting me! We are also planning to start tackling the grand opening of the doors between the salon and the billiard room over the coming week. Watch this space and keep your fingers crossed that there won’t be too many nasty surprises between those doors!!

A bientôt

Ali xxx

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