Apr 20 (Easter Sunday)
It is rainy as Cat had warned. Howard builds a nice fire and we have a quiet day at home. Howard cooks lamb chops but they really are mutton chops. I am skeptical about mutton but we have a delicious meal.
21 Apr (Easter Monday, a holiday in France)
Easter Monday is a holiday here. That might not sound so weird but consider that Pentecost is also a holiday here as well as Pentecost Monday. The Pentecost Monday holiday has taken us by surprise before! It’s rainy. Howard roasts a chicken and we have a lovely lunch. I do laundry to get ready for the Grunows arrival.
22 Apr
Ron and Linda Grunow arrive today at the Bezier train station. We know the Grunows from a work-related relationship that turned into a friendship. Fortunately we know the Bezier train station.
We want to have seafood for their first meal so I take off for a seafood market in Bezier just before 3pm. I’m glad I arrive just before 3 because that’s the time they open after lunch. I only wait about 15 minutes but it begins raining “comme chats et chiens.” (Like cats and dogs!!!!)
When they open I search for scallops but none are to be found!! The lady wants me to buy an octopus pastry, a local dish. I say “no” but a customer says in English I’m making a mistake because it is so good. But I’m not sure the Grunows would be into octopus. So buy individual portions of salmon quiche. It is a much better choice for dinner since we don’t get home until 7pm. We toast to their arrival with sparkling wine. The quiche is great with a nice salad. The Grunows later tell us they were frustrated to not find great octopus in Barcelona!