Feb 17

Another rather cold mixed weather day (Sun) yesterday. Enjoyed wandering around Sanary anyway-- it really is a beautiful little port. Caught the last of the market and found ourselves a warm little corner beside big windows in a restaurant. We were right in the sun (when it came out...certainly different weather from last year so far) and had some wonderful mussels and tuna steak, apple tarte to finish....they always seem different.

The plan was to go to Bandol but the sun was gone and the wind was up so decided to head home and have a whiskey: Just as well; there was sleet like rain pouring down on the way back and a halilstorm. We did have quite a nice day in Toulon Sat and even sat outside and had a drink in the port. Also went and saw a local artist exhibit (saw another one last week in Le Castellet) bith are working in oils and the colours are spectacular...maybe I'll give the water bases ones a go when I return. We also found a very large art supply store so stocked up on paper and some paint:...even bought a smock ---it will be a great souvenir. Quite a big anti war protest going on too.

On Friday we went to the Grand Var shopping centre and went to Carrefour --sort of a French equivalent of Walmart but they have a great traiteur dept 5ready made food) and got a great paella for dinner/ Also had a great selection of single malts so got some Bowmore and managzd to find some white dry vermouth for our martinis ( can usuually only get the sweet) As you can see we were going for the essentials....

Found some treasures at a flea market on Sat - a Ricard Anisette water pither in terracotta eramic and also a Ricad bottle stopper.Jim found some books---what else is new

Wow---Canada was actually mentioned in the Times of London---in the context of the gov allowing 975,000 seals to be harvested in the next three years. In another part even Camaroon's opinion on Iraq was given but no Canada; as usual. It really does seem like the country doesn't exist for the rest of the world...a strange feeling.

Had a colleage of Jim's for lunch...served Salmon wirh mustard and maple syrup...a si,pler version of Terry's recipe. Turned out pretty well considering it wasn't wild sockeye. Interesting to hear about these very competitive exams people have to go through to become secondary teachers....only about 10 percent pass but you are guranteed a job. They used to have separate ones for men and women. Seems the male one for general knowledge was much easier;...plants, vegetable; etc whereas the women has to learn about sailing rigging; masts etc....strange stuff!

Hope Richard can post this for me...can't seem to get through to Blogger.