We seem to lurch from a week of complete inactivity to a
week of hyper-activity with no grey areas between. This was one of the hyper
active weeks! They say that keeping busy is the key to staying young but no-one
has ever said what happens when you constantly wear yourself to a frazzle.
Well, I can tell you now that makes one very tired, especially if you are no
longer in the first flush of youth!
So, to start off our week, we planned a fairly quiet day as
Pieter was going to be out practically all day. However, by early afternoon
Jack was driving the rest of us mad with his incessant jumping and bouncing.
Earlier in the month, Tilly had applied for a passport for him, to use on their
upcoming trip to Canada, and we had heard that it was ready for collection at a
place called Capdenac Gare which is not too far from here. So we all piled into
the car and set off, hoping Jack would fall asleep for the duration of the
ride. In two twos he was fast asleep and got a good hour of much needed rest. Meanwhile
we had a lovely drive through beautiful scenic countryside.
On Tuesday, Tilly had planned for us all to go to a bird
sanctuary near Rocamadour to see the birds and watch a display of falconry and
such. At first we weren’t too keen, as we have seen many similar displays, but
we went with them, and I can say now that I am immensely pleased that we did.
In the first place, the colours of the trees as we drove through them were
spectacular, autumn now having definitely arrived. It made for a beautiful
drive. When we arrived at the bird park we realised that it was mainly for
raptors of one sort or another. It is also a breeding station for endangered
species, although we saw no sign of chicks anywhere. Among the birds were
falcons, kites, vultures, eagles, owls and parrots, to name a few. The show
featured mainly these birds too. It started with a display of speed flying by
the falcons and kites. So fast that there was no way I could photograph them as
they flashed past. Then they brought out the vultures – what extraordinarily
ungainly creature it is, with a clumsy, lumbering gait. They vary in weight
from 5 kgms to 10 kgms and in wingspan from just over 2 metres to over three
metres. These did a fly past from one raised platform at one end of the area to
one at the other end, and it was intriguing to see how they really needed the
height advantage to take off, in order to make the perch at the other end.
Taking off from the ground is quite possible but needs a long hop-hop-hop
before they can get airborne, and then they tend to keep low for quite a while.
At the end of their part, most of the vultures were carried off back to their
home perches, but one got left behind (on purpose, I think). The carers noticed
it just before the next birds were introduced and shooed it off, telling it to
go home. Rather sulkily, and with it’s head down, it complied – just like a
naughty child! It was hilarious.
Next on the list were eagles – Golden eagles, Bald eagles,
African Fish eagles, Imperial eagles, Bataleur eagles – they were all there. I
may be biased but the Fish eagle performed best by catching fish after fish
from a small pond. They were followed by parrots of the most eye-catching
colours. One was brought around on the arm of a carer who tipped a seed into an
outstretched hand for the parrot to recover. It was a very gentle touch.
Actually, it was a macaw rather than a parrot. All in all, a wonderful show and
a superb afternoons entertainment. After the show we on down to Rocamadour town
and enjoyed seeing it again.
We skipped a day and then went on to Thursday and a long,
long drive. Pieter and Tilly were keen to see their house again and we were
equally keen to get a look at it in real life, so to speak. We set off bright
and early on what promised to be a stunning day and pointed the Land Rover more
or less south –west. Three and a half hours later we arrived at our lunch stop
and had a delicious meal at minimal cost in a little restaurant which is about
ten minutes from the house, and which I am sure, is going to become a favourite
eating place for the two of them. Off to the house, and my goodness, talk about
grand!! It stands on a small rise and looks out in a 360 degree view over
fields and forest with the Pyrenees just visible in the distance. It is a
double story building but as of now, only the ground floor has been restored.
But that is enough on its own as there are three bedrooms and three bathrooms,
study, lounge and kitchen/diner. Attached to the house is a barn with a
courtyard in the middle of it and this has a complete ‘summer kitchen’ with a
table and chairs for eating at out there. A separate small building which could
easily be converted to a cottage, was used as a duck house and behind the house
is a massive ‘hangar’ – an open fronted barn. Pieter always said he wanted a
project, and I think he has one now. At present the owners are quibbling about
the contents of the house – whether to leave it or take it – but although
Pieter and Tilly don’t really want it, it is good enough to move into, because
it is a large space to fill.
Friday was a day for everyone to gather their wits, do
washing and hopefully get it dried and for Tilly to pack for a longish period
away, with Jack. She left on Saturday to visit friends in the south of France,
then on to some business meetings in the same area and also in Paris; then she
intends leaving her car with her sister who lives near Paris while she and Jack
jet off to Canada for a month. She expects to be back towards the end of
November which should be just in time to sign the final papers for the house,
and then they can move in.
So at the moment our household is reduced to five – the two
of us, Pieter, Courtney and her friend. And by tomorrow night we will be three.
We won’t know what to do with ourselves! I, for one, will certainly miss Tilly
hugely. Apart from the company, she has taken over the kitchen while she has
been here and relieved me of all planning, purchasing, preparing and cooking
all the meals. It has been a real holiday, even if that does sound a bit
illogical!
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