Our Capon

Capon is the traditional Christmas meal here for many people. I ordered one from our friends at the butcher shop. It was all ready and waiting for me yesterday, nicely wrapped in paper with my name on it.

The butcher and family took off for their Christmas holiday after closing last night.

I went to take it out to get it seasoned so it could rest for a few hours before cooking it tonight. Imagine my shock and horror when I unwrapped it to discover it had it's head, feet and disgusting bits all still attached!!! I had just assumed they would get rid of those bits, but I guess a lot of people here like to "do it themselves." I admit it, I've always been a city girl and never saw a store bought chicken that came looking like it had just gotten off the bus before!

I contemplated NOT making capon tonight, but didn't have anything else particularly festive that would be ready in time. So I got out my Chinese cleaver and started hacking away. Got the head and feet off, but I was pretty stumped about the "inside bits." Luckily a friend of ours is a chef at a nearby Chateau, and I was able to call him for some pointers.

I told JM he'd better damn well like his dinner tonight!

And, for anyone following the sage of Shmoo the dog (he doesn't like Shmooey, preferring the plain-old Shmoo), he has his new home. It probably won't surprise many of you that the home is right here with us. When JM and I started coming up with excuses as to why various potention adopters were not "quite right," we realized the painful truth: we were in love.

Love is like that sometimes; it just creeps up on you when you're least expecting it.

So, may all of you find that love in your lives, and in the meantime: Merry Christmas to all!

Ciao and Ho, Ho, HO!!!

Randy

Assumptions

I wrote about inviting our immediate neighbors for a potluck gathering here at Possum Central. It seemed like the perfect way for the neighbors to get together and shmooze. JM agreed with me and we started inviting.

What I didn't realize was that although this type of gathering is the most natural thing in the world for Americans, and is seen as a casual way of folks getting together without anyone having too much hassle, it is NOT a natural thing for the French.

Mr. Possum admits that he did not have his "French head" on when he agreed to this, or he might have explained the problems to me. The French do not invite outsiders into their homes as easily as Americans. "Casual" entertaining is a concept which they, especially older people, do not truly understand. Indeed, instead of creating a realaxed, informal gathering, I may actually be stressing them all out!

I feel quite bad about this, because it was not at all my intention. I've had two couples back out, both with excellent reasons, but JM is not convinced that at least one of them wasn't just so concerned about what they would bring that they just decided not to come at all! I do hope that is not the case and he is overreacting.

I had to tell our baker and his wife that really, if they only want to come for 20 minutes just to have a drink and say hello that it is perfectly okay! There isn't really any obligation to bring something beyond themselves. I know this is their busy season, and sleep is at a premium.

Hopefully, all will turn out okay and those of us who do appear will have a good time. But it is an object lesson in never assuming that because something is acceptable in one culture, that the same is true of another!

I guess we'll find out tomorrow!

Ciao for now.

Randy

Christmas Markets

As planned, I went into Carcassonne on Monday with good friend Noëlle. It felt seasonal as all get out, because it was COLD!! Neither of us was dressed for it, because we foolishly assumed that Carca would be warmer than Chalabre. Nope.

Monday was probably not the best day to go, as the Christmas Market hadn't opened yet (although it is now open) and they were still setting up chalets and getting the ice skating rink ready. I think I'll need to go back with JM, but maybe we'll take the train. Parking in the city is really at a premium, both because of the Christmas festivities and the construction on the new parking structure at the Place Gambetta that appears as if it will continue forever. That is not being helped by the fact that they've un-earthed ruins of one kind or another. Not a big surprise in this area.

Meantime, we walked around the pedestrian shopping area. Believe it or not, JM and I have never done that since we've lived here. The reason is simple: it's closed to dogs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and since Maggie is always with us, it's a no-go zone.

Unfortunately, in spite of Christmas only being two weeks away, the majority of shops were closed (Monday not a good shopping day in France), so we didn't really get to look in as many places as we wanted.

We did manage to look in a bunch of places in the big shopping districts outside of the city, although the perfect Christmas present for Noëlle's son escaped us. I cannot, under pain of death, mention what this is just in case of prying eyes. Strangely enough, we went to two Depot Ventes which both claimed to have sold one of the exact items barely a week ago. We would have thought they were making it up, if one of them hadn't told us that they'd sold theirs to our friend Christian here in Chalabre! The world is indeed a small, weird place.

I did not buy anything other than the supplies I need for our potluck on Saturday. I'm starting to have concerns about that, however, as two couples have cancelled so far! Both have good excuses, but JM is concerned that the potluck concept may be too freaky for people; causing them to worry about not bringing something "good enough." I do hope that is not the case, as the whole principle of the thing is for it to be relaxed for everyone involved.

Oh well, me and my strange American ways....

Ciao for now.

Randy

Feeling like Christmas

At last the village Christmas lights are up and lit! We took a walk around town and checked them all out last evening.

Okay, so there's no snow yet, but the temperatures have finally dropped and with the lights on the streets and in the windows of the various shops (particularly great job by Didier and Mireille Antonio, our good friends and local butchers) it really IS beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

Today is the annual, national Telethon, which is to fund research for various neuro-muscular diseases. There are events in almost all the villages and our market has a special Telethon table doing a bake sale. Tonight is a dinner at the Municipal Theater and there are song contests, etc. happening throughout the day.

This is a surefire precursor to Christmas, as are all the various "tombolas" and the firemen coming around to get donations in exchange for their annual calendar. It's all great fun and the mood in the village is picking up and getting into that holiday spirit.

On Monday I'm heading into Carcassonne to check out what's happening there, although I should probably leave my wallet at home, just to keep temptation away.

Have a wonderful weekend and get that Christmas cheer on!

Ciao for now.

Randy

Only 24 days till Christmas!

Happy December 1st! The official countdown to Christmas has begun.

Living in a place where it gets cold for Christmas and where there is an actual possibility of snow, was one of the things that JM and I most enjoyed last year. We had forgotten, after almost 30 years in Los Angeles, that Christmas has its own set of smells, sounds and sensations in a place that "does" winter.

The weather is finally cooperating, with nighttime temps getting down to freezing, and everything looking frosty and misty in the morning. When we go out for our evening walk, there is that distinct smell of winter in the air: a blend of woodsmoke and frost that you just don't find in a city. It tends to make both of have those Proustian "Memories of things past" moments.

Even the residents of the Possum Kingdom, who often tend to complain about the weather no matter what it is, seem to be quite pleased at the change. Everyone is getting into the seasonal mood, putting up decorations, making holiday plans, etc. It is a really cheerful time of year.

The downside of the cold is that you often don't see quite as much of the neighbors, as everyone does tend to huddle indoors on a winter's evening, but I guess we can't have everything. We're trying to lure them out tonight, with JM giving a slide show about California at the library. Noëlle and I are both baking treats to serve afterwards, so maybe the combination of pretty pictures and the first of the holiday goodies will be enough to tempt a few folks out of hibernation.

Ciao for now.

Randy