The end of the “Cousinade” in France, goodbye my "Kiwi family", back to Spain, The World Cup is not coming home, Trump visits the UK and other stories.

With my "Kiwi family" on the last day in La Teillée

Sunday 15^th July 2018 

Gosh (what an old fashioned word!), this time last Sunday I was still in France for our annual cousin gathering, the "Cousinade". How time flies. 

I was up again early that day and after publishing my blog and a leisurely breakfast with some of my cousins - others, the younger ones, slept on . I went for a walk with Tony and his little daughter Ruby, my "room mate".  Katty couldn't join us as she had to drive her son Luc's friend, Luke (the other Luke as we called him) to the station in Poitiers.

Tony, my cousin Katty's husband, the "New Zealander" among us and their little daughter, Ruby on our walk last Sunday

It was another warm day. I complained about the heat in France but my goodness it is far hotter here. 

We came home to spend a leisurely morning playing all sorts of outdoor games. The first was a water fight where we all got completely drenched. I had to change all my clothes afterwards hahaha.  Only Katty and I out of the "oldies" joined the younger cousins in the game which we all enjoyed. It didn't matter about getting wet as it was just so hot. 

The water fight at the Cousinade last Sunday

People began to leave as many had to go back to where they lived to be able to get to work on Monday morning. So we were just a few less around the lunch table where we ate plenty of leftovers.

In the afternoon, after much clamouring from the kids, we all played croquet; such an English garden game and one I am not good at. This time the champion was my cousin Zuka whose team won hands down thanks to her skills. I had no idea she was a good croquet player. Later she told us she used to play as a girl in Biarritz and had won a championship organised by "Knigina" (Princess), a relative of the Tsar who had fled to France during the Russian Revolution and who my family was very close to. She was a Romanov.

Zuka our croquet champion with her safari hat on. 

After croquet where my team came last hahaha, we moved on the Molkky, a sort of Finnish skittles which we play every year at the Cousinade. Here we are playing. Luc, Katty's eldest son, beat us all hands down by the way.

Playing molkky

When the game ended, more cousins began to leave and we all got a bit sad. When Elizabeth started crying that made both Katty and I cry too. I do hate goodbyes. We had such a good time I hate to think I won't see all my cousins again for a whole year. We do live so far from each other. Those who live in France and, who are the majority, see each other more often but those of us who live in England, Spain and New Zealand not so. 

Our group was diminished by half late that afternoon but the cousinade was still in full swing. What I love most about it is the difference in age. The youngest member is just 9 and the oldest 93 which makes for a lot of fun. We did all sorts of things together, including hairdressing, would you believe it. Helene needed her hair cut and Katty being an amazing all rounder -  she can put her hand to anything - obliged. Here she is cutting her Helene's hair with Ruby and I looking on. I am wearing my favourite summer outfit, my blue jumpsuit which I bought last year at the market in Majadahonda.  I say that because Ruby was wearing a blue jump suit too and she remarked that we were dressed the same, bless her. 

A bit of hairdressing during the "cousinade"

Soon it was "beer o'clock" as dubbed by Zuka's son Sasha which made me laugh. Those of us who were left, sat around together on the big veranda talking, drinking and in the case of Sam (Katty's son) and Helen (Marie Helene's daughter), playing the guitar and singing. It was beautiful to watch them.

Helene and Sam playing the guitar on Sunday evening.

Little Ruby sang a Maori song for us which impressed me. She's such a clever little girl for her age - 9 and an accomplished gymnast too. 

We chatted and listened until really late, late even for dinner in France. Katty had made a delicious dish called "pull pork" or at least I think that's what it's called. None of us were hungry but we ate it with gusto. The kids and I especially enjoyed the ice cream afterwards. That night we went to bed relatively early at just past midnight.

Monday came and it was my last day in La Teilée. After breakfast I went on a 2 hour walk with Katty, Tony and Helene. We left a little late at 9.15 and it was already hot. I love the countryside near La Teilée especially the sunflower fields at this time of year. They remind me of images of the Tour de France which of course is on right now. We had to have photos taken and this is one of me which reminds me of a similar one the girls took of me in a rape seed field in the Cotswolds and a video also where I keep saying "it's all yellow". This was all yellow too hahaha.

Me in a field full of sunflowers on our walk on Sunday

We even came across miniature plums which we picked and took home for Zuka to make jam. 

Picking plums on our walk last Sunday

Helene and her Mother Marie Helene were leaving after lunch and then I was the only cousin left with my "Kiwi family", Zuka my cousin (the daughter of my Mother's brother Nicky) and her Mother, my Aunty Valya (Nicky's wife). The kids wanted to go swimming so I joined them all when they went to the swimming pool in Vivonne, about 10km from La Teillée. I think I disappointed Ruby by not going in. I would have but I think I am spoiled by having my own private pool and don't like going into a public pool full of people. Or maybe that's my age. I did join them though when we all had an ice cream each. An ice cream at  a swimming pool is the height of joy in my books. 

The pool closed early for me at least, at 7 pm - they close at 9 pm in Spain - so we only had a couple of hours there but it was quality time with my Kiwi family. Before leaving Vivonne we stopped at a local supermarket to get more ice cream. The kids had earned a tub each for singing or dancing (hahaha) and in the end we got lots of tubs. I marvel at the range of ice cream flavours in France as opposed to Spain where there is little choice. I was dying to try the raspberry, mango and passion fruit ice cream although my favourite is pistachio and coconut which I had bought at the beginning of my stay. Not for me the traditional flavours of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry thank you very much. 

We were home on time for "beer o'clock" and Zuka, her Mother and I had an intense and wonderful long chat about my Mother and my Aunty Masha. My Mother was Zuka's favourite Aunt and she lived near my parents in England for many years. There were so many funny tales to tell, especially about my very eccentric Aunty Masha. 

That evening,   my last in La Teillée, I remembered before it got too dark to have a photograph taken with little Ruby on the natural "love seat" on one of the big trees in the garden. We have one together taken the first time the cousinade took place, three years ago,  and I wanted another one this year. 

With little Ruby on the "love seat" of this beautiful tree

Ruby  and I are as thick as thieves. I love her so much as I do her Mother Katty and her father Tony and two older brothers, Luc aged 17 and dear Sam aged 14. They are such a special family. I call them my "Kiwi family" because they live in New Zealand. I do wish they lived nearer. We took lots of photographs on the love seat that night and I have chosen the one of Katty and me with her 3 kids to illustrate this week's blog. I really feel a part of that adorable family and was glad that we had spent the last day of my stay together. 

Dinner was long and drawn out, the highlight being the different flavoured ice creams we had bought at Vivonne. We all indulged, it was so funny. That night I went to bed exhausted, very full but very happy. 

Even happier would have been the parents of the boys in Thailand who were trapped in a cave for more than 9 days. On Sunday last the first part of the rescue took place when 4 of them were rescued. The rest had to wait until the next day. The news of their rescue which has been called the rescue of the century was world wide news and the teams of divers who took part in the operation have been heroes. What a story. 

The big story that day in the UK was the resignation of Boris Johnson who needs no introduction here. He is our orange haired national laughing stock who only has his own interests at heart, pursuing his own agenda only. He resigned after the Brexit secretary Davies resigned, all because they are not in agreement with the latest white paper on the terms of an agreement to leave EU which is proving mission impossible. Didn't they all know that when the referendum took place I ask myself? What a shambles. 

All good things come to an end and this year's cousinade ended for me on Tuesday morning, the day I was leaving. It had been an intense and marvelous 5 days with my cousins in France. I only wish my girls and Eladio could have been there with me. Of course I was up early but actually didn't have to leave until 9.30 if I was to catch the 10.28 TGV to Paris Charles de Gaulle.  Zuka and Katty were to drive me to Poitiers but before we left my Aunty Valya rightly said she wanted a photo with me. So we took one of the two of us but with Zuka and Katty too, 3 generations in one photo. If Ruby hadn't been asleep we would have had a photo of 4 generations. She barely opened her eyes when I kissed her goodbye. 

3 generations; Aunty Valya, her daughter Zuka and Zuka's daughter Katty and me

It was bitter sweet saying goodbye to Aunty Valya. She said not to put a date on when I will next see her but I hope with all my heart to see her again next year. 

It was sad to say goodbye to Zuka and Katty too when the time came to walk to my platform with my huge suitcase and PC.  A lovely young black girl helped me carry it up the steps. The train was on time which was good. What seemed a little strange was that I was unable to check into my Air France flight leaving at 16.40 but I wasn't too worried as I had plenty of time to check in as I would arrive well on time at CDG airport. I would soon find out why. At check in after an enormous queue I was dumbstruck to hear that my return ticket was not valid unless I paid a penalty fine of 250 euros a penalty for not having used the outgoing ticket would you believe? I had bought a return ticket via Expedia with Air France but didn't use the outgoing ticket as the arrival time was too late to catch the TGV to Poitiers. Instead I bought a single ticket with Vueling to fly out never thinking there would be a fine to use my original return ticket.  I cried with frustration as this has never happened to me before and I find it totally unfair and unacceptable. I tried to get a cheap single ticket with another airline but I'm afraid last minute single tickets cost a lot - in this case 600 euros! Well I needed to get home and didn't want to be stuck in Paris so I had to pay the 250 euros and then I had to run as time was running out. By my goodness the queues; first the baggage queue which these days is a do it yourself baggage drop and then security. Thus I just caught the plane by the skin of my teeth, feeling hot and bothered and with nothing to eat except a few nuts I had left from my journey out. I just managed to grab 2 copies of the day's Le Figaro, one for Olivia and one for my Father. They both like newspapers from abroad. My Father knows 6 languages, one of which is French but it was never his favourite language. Later in the week he asked why the newspaper was called Le Figaro. I had to consult google and it seems it comes from the opera, the Barber of Seville. Interesting. The headlines were about Brexit hahahah. 

The plane arrived a little late in Madrid to 35c which felt like an outdoor sauna when I stepped out of the airport. For the records the plane landed at 17.15 but I wasn't out of the airport until 18h. My conclusion that day is that flying is no longer pleasant anymore. It's one big battle in fact. Thankfully I didn't have to wait too long in the hot sun. Eladio was soon there with his air conditioned Volvo and we were shortly on the motorway going home. After such a horrible trip, all I wanted was to be home.

While I had been away, Eladio had been taking care of our Airbnb guests, those leaving and those arriving. I came home to meet our Scottish guests or rather our guests who live in Edinburgh in Scotland, Norman and his wife Alison who is from Belfast and their delightful daughters in their late teens. She is a teacher of biology and he is a lawyer. Norman speaks some Spanish - he told me he learned it at school - and enjoyed practicing it with Eladio. He could have not found a better person to speak Spanish to. It was also interesting to talk to them about Brexit, Scottish independence, the Irish question and of course Catalan separatism. We were never short of conversation with Alison and Norman. They were great guests; in my top 10 ever since we began doing Airbnb. 

We watched the France Belgium match with them as we would do the England match the next day, such was the connection between us. We all wanted Belgium to win but it was not to be. The day ended with a quick dinner on the terrace with the dogs. Our Scottish family, having adopted Spanish eating habits, went out to dinner after the match. We found that funny. We went straight to bed to our air conditioned room, after all it was plus 30ºc outside and I had good night's sleep. The best thing about coming home is sleeping in your own bed. Don't you think so?

It was also lovely to wake up in my own bed on Wednesday morning although I missed my room mate Ruby. I got up late for me at 7.15 and as soon as I had finished breakfast Eladio was urging me to go on our morning walk to avoid the heat. Thus I didn't get enough time to read the "papers" on my iPad something I love to do leisurely. 

Our guests were still asleep when we came back. Later they went to El Escorial and El Valle de los Caidos - their visit was mostly cultural. This of course led to a long conversation about Franco when they came back after the proposal from the new Socialist government here to remove his remains from The Valley of the Fallen. 

Meanwhile at home there were a hundred little things to do. Our main task that morning was to bathe all three dogs who were much in need of a thorough soap down. I hate smelly dogs and I like ours to be clean and nice smelling. 

Another guest arrived that day, Maria, from Malaga, a student of physiotherapy at the local University. She had come to do last minute cramming for exams in two subjects she was resitting this Friday. Thus we hardly saw her. 

It wasn't only the World Cup that was on this week. There was also the Tour de France and of course Wimbledon. Our Scottish family wanted to watch the Nadal Del Potro quarter final match but unfortunately you can only see Wimbledon on Pay per view TV in Spain and we are not subscribers. I well remember as a teenager in Bradford in Yorkshire watching as many matches as I could with my family. Those were the days of Chris Evert, Billy Jean King, Martina Navratilova,  Virginia Wade, Jimmy Connors, Nastase, McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and co. I do miss Wimbledon in England. In Spain I support Nadal - who else? but have to follow the matches on Twitter which is not the same thing. In any case I don't think I could watch his epic matches as I get far too nervous. I far prefer to see the play after I know he has won. He won that day and would meet Djokovic in the semi final. Anderson, the big Australian stunned everyone by beating Federer, Nadal's traditional rival. 

It was just as tense watching England play Croatia in the semi final that night. They scored an early goal which had us all thinking "it was coming home" - the chant about winning the World Cup - but it was not to be. Towards the end of the match the Croatians equalised and thus it went to extra time. We were all expecting the match to end with a penalty shoot out but that didn't happen either. Instead the Croatians scored a goal and won 2-1 which was the end of the English dream. So it's not coming home now unfortunately. I now have no one to rout for. I don't really care whether France or Croatia win today but if I'm on anyone's side it's on Croatia's if only for another country to win the World Cup.  Eladio enjoys the World Cup more than me because he is never on any country's side, except for Spain. He just enjoys the football so there is no tension for him. There are only 8 countries in the world who have won it, including France, so I think it's Croatia's turn. It' quite amazing how a little country with a population of only 4 million people has got to the final when the great teams such as Brazil, Germany or  Spain lost on the way.  All I can say is well done. 

Oli and Miguel joined us at half time and we had dinner together, continuing to watch the match on my iPad on the kitchen patio. It's amazing how you can watch TV anywhere you want these days. I love technology. 

Thursday came and it was only when we were on our walk that I remembered I had an appointment with the eye specialist later that morning. It was an appointment in preparation for the laser treatment to be performed on my left eye which still has astigmatism after the cataract surgery. So we had to rush home. I also had to say goodbye to Norman, Alison and the girls and wish them a pleasant journey home. They are such nice people I do hope we see them again.  

Off I went for my appointment which involved all sorts of tests, many of which had been done before and I didn't leave the hospital until past 1 o'clock. I had to rush home to make lunch but stop on the way at Carrefour Market to buy provisions as our cupboards were bare. I got some fresh fish which we would have with the potato salad I made for when Oli and Miguel came, with gazpacho. I also bought strawberries and mangoes as well as 2 kilos of big thick black cherries at nearly 9 euros a kilo but I didn't care as I love them and this year seem to have missed the cherry season. 

Lucy was busy after the Scottish guests left, getting the rooms ready for our next guests. A family from Surrey was coming to spend 3 nights with two little girls. I knew I would have to hide Pippa throughout their stay as she barks at children and I didn't want to get a bad review. Oh Pippa!

Jane and Scott arrived in the middle of the hot afternoon with their delightful little girls, Celine aged 6 and little Poppy aged 5. They were gorgeous girls, such fun and very extrovert. I liked the parents too. They soon settled in and in no time the girls were splashing in the pool. I felt sorry for Maria who was studying at the table on the pool patio but she didn't seem to mind or at least I hope she didn't.

My English family went out to dinner to Ginos, which I recommend guests with kids to go to as they offer great pasta and pizza dishes. Meanwhile, for our dinner, I made prawn cocktail with mango and avocado, the ingredients of which I had bought at Carrefour that morning. It was delicious as you can judge by the photo below.

My prawn cocktail with mango and avocado for dinner on Thursday night

We took Pippa to bed with us that night to keep her out of the way of the girls who hardly got to meet her hahaha. Pippa was not complaining as she loves to sleep in our bed. As I was brushing my teeth she was lying comfortably by MY pillow!!

Pippa happy to sleep with us as always and always in prime position.

On Friday morning there was a bomb shell newswise. Donald Trump was visiting the UK in his first official visit there and the day before he had given an exclusive interview to The Sun of all papers. Doesn't he know it's the one of the most unworthy tabloids in the UK? Maybe his press people only judged it on its high readership numbers.  Friday was the 13th so very unlucky for Teresa May that day as he blasted her upcoming Brexit agreement with the EU. If she was hoping for a good trade agreement with the US, the news in The Sun will have chilled her. How damned undiplomatic is that red haired laughing stock of the USA. This is the front page of The Sun on Friday morning. What a bombshell and so wrongly timed.

The front page of The Sun on Friday

In the interview Trump says Teresa May had wrecked Brexit and that he had told her how to negotiate (please) but that she hadn't listened to him. He then said that an agreement with the US would not be possible anymore. Thankfully, later he went back on his words and even said the Sun interview was "fake news" (please) when it was a taped interview. He also said that his orange haired friend (my words) Boris Johnson would make a great Prime Minister. There were huge protests all over England against his visit and even a gigantic comic balloon of his baby face, a blimp, flown over London. What a man. 

It was not a lucky day for our English guests either. They had to curtail their visit as Scott's father had fallen ill and they wanted to be with him. I felt for them and was very sorry to see them go. They left me a lovely note in the visitors' book. 

It was a difficult day at Wimbledon too on Friday 13th. The semi final between Anderson and Isnier was so tight it lasted over 6 hours and turned out to be the longest match in Wimbledon history. Anderson won but only just. The final set alone took 2.5 hours. Surely there must be a better way to settle a tie break in a Grand Slam? It's not fair to players to play for 5 or 6 hours and 24 hours later play another marathon match. They had started at 1 pm and the Nadal Djokovic match was to start at 5. In the end that didn't commence until 8pm which must have been nerve racking.  They also played under cover which Nadal later complained about saying that Wimbledon is played in the open air. I agree with him. The two top players had to stop playing at 11 pm which would mean of course that they had to resume play on Saturday.  I think the Nadal Djokovic match should have been played on another court on Friday or on Saturday and the Mens' final on Monday. I think there will be a lot of food for thought for the organisers vs a vs the future of these marathon matches and the time the players have to recover. All this had me biting my nails on twitter. 

While the tennis marathon was being played on Centre Court, I spent time by the pool. My Malaga student Maria had finished her exams and had passed one with a 9 out of 10. We spent time chatting. I always like to get to know my guests. That's the plus side of the "business" hahaha. 

Being Friday night, Eladio and I resumed our Friday night dinners out and guess where we went? To nearby Ginos. I fancied comfort food; i.e. pasta. It was a nice way to end the week. 

Yesterday was the 14th July and I would have loved to be in France for the "Fête Nationale Française". Maybe I should suggest that next year's "cousinade" coincides. Just a thought. 

I had breakfast over the news of Trump's visit to the UK. Thankfully, as I wrote earlier, he went back on his words about the trade agreement. Now he was praising Teresa May and saying that the "special relationship" was "at its highest". That guy is bipolar for sure. He never got to see any of the protests as the centre of London was not on the agenda. He did, however, get to see the Queen and have tea with her which is what he most wanted to do. He told everyone that his Mother who was Scottish, loved the Queen. His Mother could have told him something about protocol too which he either never listened to or chose to ignore.  We didn't get to see photos of him having tea with the Queen but we did see images of him with her inspecting the Royal Guard. I am not a royalist but I do love our Queen and I did not like seeing him walk in front of her, covering her up completely. Ok he didn't bow and Melania didn't curtsy which is no longer a must but please don't walk in front of her you male chauvinist *** and ignorant man.   The newspapers and social media made much of his faux pas when meeting the Queen but I'm sure he doesn't care at all. These are just some of them according to US Today.  Apparently also he arrived late making the Queen look at her watch as she waited.

Trump walking in front of the Queen

I wonder if the Queen chuckled when "She" read the headlines too. I'm sure she did. I also wonder what she thought of the man the world so despises but has the most powerful job in the world. We shall never know but I doubt he's her type unless he has an interest in horses which he doesn't. His thing is golf and he has now left England for Scotland to play golf at his own golf course there. Good riddance is all I can say. 

All my sports hopes were dashed this week. England lost to Croatia and even lost now to Belgium in the third place play off . Nadal also lost to Djokovic which depresses me more. I was hoping for a third win for him at Wimbledon. But no, it will be either Djokovic or Anderson. We will only know later this afternoon. Good luck to both of them. 

Maria left yesterday morning and another guest arrived last night, Jorge from Portugal. All my next 10 reservations are from abroad. I get far more international guests than Spanish guests. My next guests will be a family from Holland. 

Saturday was a quiet day in general with no guests in the house for most of the day. After our walk I pruned the roses, filled the house with flowers and cooked. I also had a long siesta in our air conditioned room and read my book about the Romanovs by the pool. 

And today is Sunday and I have lots to do. First we shall on our walk so that's why I am writing early today to get this post published as soon as possible and also print a copy for my Father the most avid fan of my blog.

That's it then folks for this week. Wishing you all well, cheers till next Sunday.

Masha