Joyeux anniversaire!
Wednesday dawns, and yes – you’ve guessed it, more rain! You might be forgiven for imagining that coming to the south of France to celebrate your 50th birthday would mean only sunshine, but not today.
I had made plans, nothing too grand, but wanted to go to the local market at St Pons de Thomiere and buy some nice local produce. So I opened my birthday cards (pictured below) carefully brought over from England and some posted to Premian by well organised and thoughtful friends, and kept an eye on the weather.
Believing that the rain had all but stopped, ever the optimists we set off for St Pons, we couldn’t have travelled more than 2km and the heavens opened again. Once in St Pons our first stop was the local supermarket for an umbrella, then, both huddled under an inadequate umbrella we set off down the main street towards the market. Unfortunately the traffic was failry busy, including numerous large lorries trundling by, and by the time we got to the market we were fairly drenched – and most of the stallholders were closing up for the day – defeated by the rain! Oh well, we were already soaked and so on to the local hardware store where we purchased a further altogether more substantial umbrella – having looked at the weather forecast online we felt becoming a 2 umbrella family was probably wise. Back at the house we took off all our wet clothes and draped them on furniture in front of radiators – at this point the decision was made - our mission was Bezier for that blasted tumble dryer. When oh when will the practicalities give way to pure pleasures, not today thats for sure. Anyway by later in the day mission was accomplished, clothes all dry, and we were at least looking forward to a very pleasant evening – we were not disappointed.
To celebrate my birthday Martin had booked dinner at Les Bergeries des Ponderach in St Pons. The establishement exuded a wonderful ambiance and tasteful decor, the bar area was comfortable and cosy, the dining room grandiose but intimate, and the wonderful welcome and level of service by the staff was exceptional – attentive but not intrusive. Oh yes and the food – well suffice to say we shall be returning.
Ok so the weather wasn’t as good as it could have been but all in all I had a wonderful day.