“But in going down an alley

To a castle in the valley

They completely lost their way,

And wandered all the day.”

Well, it wasn’t quite like that – the castle wasn’t in the valley, it was high on the ridge, as Cathar Castles are.(Google Cathar Castles , go to images 2nd row, 3rd & 5th photos – we drove up there BY ACCIDENT!)

And we didn’t wander ALL day – just for an hour.

And it was HOT.

Tell me about it.

No need – you did it.

But we jump ahead. If this journal were in sequence, you’d see that we were looking forward (?) to a drive of 100 miles each way to see a house further south from here. Nearer Spain, I said. Nearer Spain? – we could have walked it! Honest – 10 minutes through the woods. The approach was amazing. 15 minutes of narrow zig-zags up a wooded valley to absolutely nowhere, yet there was a hamlet of 10 or so houses with more dotted around the hillsides – and a bus stop!

The house was interesting, with a pool at the side, but bedrooms were very small and the situation a bit more remote than we really want, so called it a nice day out and stopped at McDs near the motorway for supper – and to send the last blog entry which had failed from here because of thunderstorms all around. Then we had a dash for ‘home’ to arrive before they closed the gate of the campsite at 10pm. We were 5 minutes late – so were they! So Sally got to park up behind Harry as usual, not in the village, and we didn’t have to walk the last bit.

It was dark when you got back – I thought you weren’t coming.

Hello – are you awake? People have been asking how you are.

Kind of them – s’pose I’m alright.

Course he is – I’m looking after him.

What? Like before? Wunderschőn!

Thank you! So, Friday 7th July, we arranged with one of the agents to re-visit one of the houses on the short list so as to remember and re-assess according to our new scoring system. We love the little pool (it is little!),  

 but we do find this living space very disappointing, compared with some we’ve seen.

However, we investigated the loft space above the garage – and there’s lots of it! – and here’s the first photo of Carol since last Sunday’s fall; it’s out of focus, so I’m allowed to publish it! 

After doing some measuring we went and had a picnic by the river (as we do!).

Which brings us to Saturday, and the house-hunt that took a bit longer than expected! The problem is which photos to put up and which to leave out. Here are a few of the drive out, including the Pic de Bugarach: 

We pinicked, as it got hotter, in a delightful spot:

That was nice – très agréable!

Then tried to drive on to the house we were to visit just 20 minutes away. TomTom got us to within a few hundred metres, but a misunderstanding with the elderly lady on the phone sent us out of the village, round the cliff with the castle and up the other side to the castle gate! Then we tried a rough track on the way down, till we realised it was going nowhere but a barn (unconverted). An hour after we arrived in the village in the first place, losing phone charge as well as signal, not to mention the will to persevere, and very hot – I mean dripping! – a lovely old man, handicapped but driving, came out and met us at the crossroads and led us to the house where before the viewing they gave us cold drinks and a sit round the table. 

The house was as lovely as the people, but only one bathroom and loo and a garden covering 3,000sq.m., most of it going up the hill towards that castle! Build a terrace and put a pool in! Yes, but not on our budget! Oh, and there were three peacocks as well.

Then the drive back by a different route. If we thought the ‘narrow bit with the rock arch’ (The Défilé de la Pierre de Lys) was spectacular, we hadn’t seen nutn! We did take some photos, but the best would be to google Gorges de Galamus and go to images. This is a must-do drive or walk for those who visit. Traffic is controlled one way at a time, but from the car – and stopping is not allowed – you just don’t see the water! Here are some of our pictures:

Did I just come down there?

Yes, little car, you did.

Bet Harry can’t do that!

No, he can’t; he’s not allowed – so don’t go showing off about it.

Moi?

Hmmm …

On the way ‘home’ we stopped for a meal at a ‘real’ reataurant – not outstanding, but OK, and got back without rushing before the 10pm closure.

Today we visited the market in Espéraza – a big one – and had pork chops – one each! – for lunch, prepared with mash and two vegs in Harry –

One has one’s uses.

Of course you do. Then we did some ‘housekeeping’ (tidying kitchen cupboards) since we couldn’t get a TV signal to watch the tennis.

Goodnight, all!

Bonsoir!

Nice to have tidy cupboards ….