How about a bit of cave magic for Christmas?
We are looking for someone with a bubbly personality, able to communicate in both English and French, to join the P-O Life team.
It would be understandable to assume that the word ‘bonfire’ comes from a mix of French and English……
If you go to Vernet-les-Bains, look out for the ‘Entente Cordiale’ monument next to the mairie, the only one of its kind in France.
A silence, our heads are bowed, a prayer from the Mayor. In turn the boys read out the list of the fallen sons of the Great War, perhaps a dozen names from those awful days. This would have been a village of around a hundred people.
There are still some harvests to gather in the garden – the last few marrows and gourds need to be picked before the frosts, and the rows of parsnips are now demanding to be harvested to provide winter delights such as parsnip chips and curried parsnip soup, which are practically unknown to the French.
The annual ‘trêve hivernale’ (winter truce), starts from the Ist November and ends 31st March.
Book Club: Secret Agent, Unsung Hero: The Valour of Bruce Dowding. This biography, researched over decades, is written by Bruce’s nephew, Peter, to honour Bruce and the millions who gave their lives for our safety.
Historic Perpignan, the colourful mix of old and new, chic and shabby, trendy boutiques, narrow, cobbled streets and small intimate bistros, was also a pivotal location in supporting the British and Allied war effort.
This well-known walk to the 3 Towers (Les tours de Cabrenç) from Serralongue offers a number of alternative routes and even a choice of starting points.