Wish you were here...

No really, I do.  I love meeting you all.  The very best part of my work is the people I encounter although last week as I lay on the beach  at Gruissan which was utterly deserted I really relished that spot of 'me time' and savoured those first real rays of sunshine.  By my calculations I had at least five minutes of pure silence before my 'Gorgeous Girlie' said we HAD to shoot some video so I left the fine warm sand reluctantly.

Next we meandered around the "Etang de Gruissan" a marvellous location for walking and spotting wildlife and I took a moment to survey spring on its way in the tiny vineyards that are dotted around finishing off with a drive through 'La Clape', an area of outstanding natural beauty which acts as a stunning backdrop along the Mediterranean coast.

I sometimes wonder how the days fly by so quickly, indeed the years roll by rapidly too.  It seems an awfully long time since the days of Le Chateau where this blogspot originated from.  His Lordship moved to pastures new and '2b' and 'The Small Cross One' grew up and flew the nest.

It's true to say an awful lot of water has flowed under the bridge since those days but there is nothing like a challenge and a change of scenery to bring back the vibrancy into your life.

Indeed, I can't think of a better place to be to re-charge your batteries.

Wish you were here...

Snow, Music and other matters...

 

  

It's 1st February 2013, how did that happen so quickly ? one minute I was idly wondering if the end of the world really was nigh and the next thing I know Christmas has been and gone, New Year has been drunk out and rung in and  once again to the lovely people that faithfully follow my blogspot, 'I'm sorry' naughtily neglectful of me I know to keep doing my vanishing act...

Snow

I've been nudged into action by Toby who effortlessly knocked off three blogspots in a week or something equally impressive 'The snow in France' ,talking of which need I remind you that there are terrific ski resorts within easy driving distance of No.11, the above picture was taken with my eye's closed from Ax-les-Thermes, I wanted to go into the spa but there you go, another time...

Music

Moving swiftly ahead The Music Festival of Carcassonne has announced this year's acts for the summer, take a peek at the line-up on the Festival de Carcassonne's website

I'm impressed this year,  Carcassonne now hosts one of France's largest music festivals, 120 shows of which 80 are free, amongst this years offerings are Artic Monkeys, Smashing Pumpkins, Liza Minnelli, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Elton John and Mark Knopfler (I shall HAVE TO go to this one), oh and David Guetta who conveniently plays the night of the 'Gorgeous One's' 21st birthday. Looks like there's another lively summer on the way !

Other matters

No.11 has been given a spruce up with gorgeous deep colours from the French Heritage range, striking and totally in keeping with the age and history of this wonderful building. I've been totally engrossed with this new project so have become something of a recluse, not so reclusive however that I couldn't sit in Place Carnot and take a leisurely lunch this week.

I won't leave it so long next time I promise, another one of my New Year resolutions is to write more, that's along with the eat less chocolate, drink less wine and never ever have more than one large slice of gateau...

Bugarach 21st December 2012

The end of the world is nigh tomorrow and if you didn't already know you heard it here ok ?frankly though there's not a lot you can do about it.  Nearby in the tiny village of Bugarach, the mountain is unmistakable in the picture above, the residents and the Mayor are bracing themselves for an influx of visitors who firmly believe that the sacred mountains will shelter them from the cataclysm.  The Mayor is begging people to stay away with the entire place surrounded by armed guards.  It's the end of the ancient Mayan calendar although to be utterly honest my charming guests knew nothing about it, I suggested they take a tour of the Chateau up at La Cité and treat themselves to the best restaurant for a slap up meal just in case....

Meanwhile there are plenty of festivities going on here.  We went to a wonderful evening hosted by Liz and Joe at O'Vineyards what a truly splendid tasting experience enhanced by Liz's culinary skills, I have no hesitation in recommending them for anyone wishing to add a visit to a Languedoc vineyard to their itinerary.  A rather splendid bottle of Proprietor's Reserve 2006 should go down a treat on Christmas Day.

We have three tree's up and decorated here at No.11, there's a small one in the suite, a rather magnificent one that touches the ceiling in the entrance hall totally dressed in silver baubles only with twinkling lights that flash on and off and the top off a large pine tree balancing precariously in the drawing room rescued from a friends garden before it met its fate on the bonfire.  It's slightly haphazard but the family are used to that and they say they love it for its individuality.  Apparently its a serious design faux pas to have any tinsel whatsoever in sight and I consider myself lucky to get away with the hand knitted Father Christmas perched on top.

I went for my first session of meditation this afternoon, I was rather apprehensive at first but then when I returned home instead of just staring blankly at the computer words just started to tumble so here I am revitalised and flowing once again.

Which might be too late should I truly believe the world is coming to an end, but I don't, I'm going to view  tomorrow as the start of a different world emerging and concentrate on the positive instead of always worrying about the negative.

I shall still attend tonights party though just in case....

Christmas in Carcassonne

Do you know what you are doing for Christmas ?  I do and it's going to be  F.A.N  T.A.S  T.I.C

I wouldn't dream of posting up anything too personal but let me tell you confidentially, it's going to be very FRENCH and traditional which will mean staying up late on Christmas Eve involving eating plenty and drinking lots of bubbles with close friends and family once we have perused the food markets here in Carcassonne for all those gorgeous culinary delights.  Then on Christmas Day itself I shall be taking it slightly easier, well that's the plan so far anyway but those who know me well realise that this could change at any moment if the whim takes me. 

I've just zipped over to the UK where the festive season is very much in evidence.  I'll be honest, I actually find it disconcerting and depressing to have the strains of 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas' in the background whilst I'm shopping.  Or even worse, 'I wished it could be Christmas everyday' by Wizzard, why would you wish that on anyone ?

It was with some relief that I alighted back in Carcassonne where signs of Christmas were refined and toned down and I could forget that the 'big day' was in just over four weeks.  The little individual wooden huts are being erected which will form part of the Christmas market with the wonderful torchlight procession from La Cité which simply cannot be missed and is one of the terrific highlights of the magic festive season in Carcassonne which starts on December 6th.

On my arrival home however I was rather dismayed to be greeted with Christmas trees being hoisted down from the attic along with boxes of various Christmas trinkets that I only just seem to have packed away....

Time to get into the spirit of things I guess starting with my guests very own decorated tree in the suite at No.11, all part of the charm of staying in a small individually run bed and breakfast, someone hand me a duster will you there's not a moment to lose !!

A quick 'bonjour' from Carcassonne

Here I am again just in case you thought I had forgotten my blogspot completely,  truth is the summer has just flown by rather wonderfully. The picture is of le Pont Vieux, the Medieval bridge crossing the River Aude to La Cité taken very early one morning in the summer, one of those morning when you simply have to leap out of bed and grab the moment. I posted it up on my facebook page

The weather has been stunning this year and I have been able to visit the coast quite a few times and enjoy quiet moments on some of my favourite beaches, Gruissan Plage with the beautiful natural area of La Clape as a backdrop and Biquet Plage, both long stretches of soft sand with crystal clear sea.  I find a day on the beach is both energising and invigorating. Both are within easy driving distance of Carcassonne when you want to escape for the day which occasionally is a real treat !

I've met some delightful people along the way from all over the world who regale me with tales of their lives and travel experiences.  From talented artists, learned professors, faith healers, honeymooners to name but a few, all have been captivated by the history and splendor of the building and charmed by its quirks and by large the compliments for No.11 have flowed in and as I look back on my second season I am proud of what I have achieved although everyday should be a learning curve...

Thank you to all of you for enriching my life, it has been a pleasure to meet you.

One last peek though at where I'm heading this week, catch you all soon I promise x

July in Carcassonne

So here we are, July in Carcassonne , the fun commences as the season well and truly kicks in.

I haven't been here for a while, sure I've peeped in occassionally and stared guiltily at the widening gap of when I last posted but sometimes you need to view life through new eye's to appreciate the view even though you think you've seen it all before.  Chances are you haven't.

No.11 is in its second year of trading and I love it, so many diverse guests from far flung places, sometimes people's stories never cease to amaze, often there are many similarities as we all cross paths, however fleeting.  Meeting new people enriches one's life and horizons, sets a high standard of expectations and what you can achieve whatever the obstacles placed in your way.

2b and the Small Cross One (old readers of this blogspot will recall that they are two of the most precious people in my life) continue to support and grow and we have all found a new contentment as we say goodbye to old constrictions of the past that held us back.

The other day I went to my old home where the inspiration for this blogspot first began all those years ago, I won't say much only to say that there were no ghosts of the past, no regrets, no lurking shadows of doubt that to move on was totally appropriate.  That chapter of our lives is over and we rarely look back, it was but a mere passing of time.

But back to Carcassonne and the busy time that lies ahead, so many delights to look forward to, so many nights catching up with friends old and new, restaurants to savour, walking and cycling paths to explore, guided tours of la cité, wine tours, all to pass onto my guests, experience and knowledge shared is what makes staying at an informal bed and breakfast so much more pleasurable.

But the day beckons, the forecast looks promising for the week and the anticipation of an evening out heralds the start of weeks of music ahead as Carcassonne prepares itself for the season of 2012.

Wherever you are and whatever you do live life to the best of your ability each and every day !

Grand Doors

One of the most popular images on my pinterest site are the front doors and door knockers that I pop on my Carcassonne board.  There are some truly splendid doors to be found as you wander round the bastide, sometimes I feel rather awkward as I bend down and spend time fiddling and focusing, some activities are best done surreptitiously ! Then there are the  doors that gleam with gloss paint or look highly cherished by the hours of toil that have gone into polishing them and nurturing the ancient wood.  But then there are so many that simply look uncared for, held together by years of 'patching up and making do' and I feel you can tell so much by the appearance of someones front door. There are some doors that you feel you simply couldn't live with they are so devoid of character and charm, yet the battered unloved doors do not offend me in the slightest, I just worry that they will be replaced by something false and hideous.

This doorknocker for example on first glance looks very much like a replica of the red one above but look more closely, see where the ladies rings differ, I wonder why that is ?

I'm a huge advocate of taking time to explore and I try very hard to advise my guests on where to find the small interesting off the beaten track places.  I shudder at the coachloads of visitors who are deposited by the hundreds and spew up the narrow cobbled streets of La Cité clutching their cameras and looking vaguely confused as they get carried aloft by the hordes and swept past the mass produced tourist shops, where is the magical castle they were promised and had read about ? was this all there was to it ? no wonder so many people end up disappointed and negative about their travels, they haven't known where to look.

Some people actually visit La Cité and don't give the bastide a second glance or say they wouldn't dream of visiting in July or August because of the crowds. Of course there are crowds but anyone who has walked over La Vieux Pont on a hot summers evening and watched the moon appear over La Cité and embraced the heat of a hot sultry evening and felt the magic will laugh at the notion.

Finally though I think this chap is one of my favourites, can you see the way the snake has curled and his tail is placed in his mouth ?

I love doors and in particular I love the sentiment 'as one door closes another one opens'

How very true.