People are expecting miracles with the weather! It’s not yet June so please welcome the rain. Our Mairie has quite clearly stated that W A T E R is going to be made available —- but to whom? I’d like to hope that we will be able to top up our pool but I’m not banking on it. Our summer visitors will be disappointed – again. Those big ugly plastic water butts are looking more and more likely – a no brainer really. We need to be more water aware.

But isn’t everything green and lush. The other day we drove through Le Barcarès and Canet – there were lots of proudly upstanding bamboo hedges. The fields are full of wild flowers, purple mallow and thistles, and those red poppies with their paper thin petals are popping up everywhere. Tarmac or railway tracks – nature pushes past all the barriers. Drought – what drought? A joy to behold!

Speaking of which, the Olympic Torch passed through the P-O on its way to Paris – what? didn’t you know…oh well

At our CSF Spring Open Meeting on 7th May, we were able to have our pre lunch Sangria on the terrace at Le Restaurant Guy Molas.

We had a very interesting meeting in the morning. First we heard some CSF news from Jill and Penny and then Fred Browne talked about his work as a forensic psychiatrist in Northern Ireland.

Forensic psychiatry deals mainly with mentally disordered offenders who have come through the judicial system and who need assessment and treatment in order to be rehabilitated back into the community. He gave us lots of detail about the methods he used to probe the minds of these offenders, studying their biological backgrounds, listening and questioning and gathering information.

As you can imagine, there were lots of questions at the end of his talk and there were further questions over lunch, for those lucky enough to be on his table!

Monday 20 May was the Pentecôte Holiday and an occasion for the village of Oms to celebrate their 15th Fête du Printemps.

After a week or so of very welcome Spring showers, the sun was back for at least the morning. Around 160 people enjoyed a wide variety of activities and entertainments.

Outside there were guided hikes, a farmer’s market, plus games, face painting and donkey rides for the children.

Lunch was accompanied by music provided by an accordionist and a magician entertained and mystified.

Inside the spacious village hall was a varied exhibition with a theme of Le Canigou, the mystic mountain of Catalonia. There were local arts and crafts and our own Penny Parkinson manned the CSF information point.

Drop Ins

Wednesday 5 June, Pablo’s Bar, Céret, 10.30

Monday 17 June, Café des Artistes, Laroque des Albères, 10.15

Wednesday 19 June, Villa Lafabrègue, Prades, 10.15