Combining friendship (Part One)

Aside from having my hair coiffured and going to the vet only to find I’d got the wrong day so Arry has to suffer until Tuesday, the past week has been all about this weekend. Two and a bit days spent with two of the best friends a girl could have. Sophy (spelt with a ‘Y’ unlike me who has an ‘i’) and Rene. Naturally, like all eagerly anticipated events, time passed far too quickly and before you know it I was back at the airport this afternoon saying goodbye instead of bienvenue.

Mind you the build-up to what promised, and delivered, a fabulous few days was slightly fraught. Firstly, Roy and I had to put a new floor down in my spare room so Rene could actually get into bed – I say Roy and I but truthfully he did all the hard work whilst I made coffee. Luckily, it isn’t the biggest of chambres so everything was done in a couple of days although I was more than a little worried Roy would have another heart attack. Hoisting planks up my front stairs is quite a feat for a body-builder, I know I’ve done it before but with a double bed. Then there was the mistake with the vet appointment – poor Arry is suffering from something other than his normal and extensive allergy symptoms. I’m pretty sure its immune related so I’d hoped to get him back to his usual mischievous self before the girls arrived. Well, he may not have felt that great inside but he loved all the fuss bestowed on him – a temporary but much needed dose of happy hormones and cuddles x3.

It was the first time Sophy had visited chez nous so I had planned a bit of a whirlwind 48 hours, a bit of tourist stuff combined with a couple of knees-up Rouffiac style. Seeing as they were landing at Carcassonne airport, I had intended to take them straight up to La Cité, the medieval wonder that Carcassonne is most famous for but the weather was frankly almost English so we went to the boulangerie instead. I don’t often entertain guests who get excited by a quick stop to buy bread and croissants but judging by Sophy’s reaction, I think it went down as one of the highlights of her trip. We did go to the castle and its surrounds the following morning which turned out to be gorgeously sunny and warm, perfect for endless photo poses and window shopping. Actually Sophy bought a hat, one that didn’t have her location emblazoned on the front and both her and Rene bought me a beautiful piece of local ceramic art that I’d had my eye on for my bedroom. Then there was the necessary pop over to L’Horte and a walk around Rouffiac D’Aude – the latter obviously being a must-see what with its signposted ‘Centre Commercial‘. A post office, the epicerie, the social centre and the Mayor’s offices. But I saved the best part about living here for the nights.

Saba and Roy came over the first evening, Denis too, plus Mumo and Callum. Since Callum knows both Rene and Sophy , we were the mums and our sons went to the same prep school, he had a chance to catch up with all their boys’ news whilst I dished up a rather delicious (even if I say it myself although it was D’ recipe) chicken affair and copious amounts of wine. Bruce next door had given me a homemade bottle of Sloe Gin so a little tasting was in order. Very nice if somewhat heady. It doesn’t really need saying that the night ended with Saba, Rene and I destroying songs with our out of tune warbling and a lot of hip wiggling – age does not define us and somethings never change when we’re together. And then there was the inevitable pop across the road on Saturday to chez Abraham for yet another soiree and mixing of my dearest friends from the old land and my new amis from the most special place I call home. And despite the language gap, Rene and Sophy were treated like one of the family – more than a few including Abraham asked me why they couldn’t stay longer. Both were swept onto the dance floor as a reggae DJ spun his tables and whooped at the ‘Ladies from London!’ – turned out he was originally from Brixton, couldn’t make it up. And as I sat with Abraham watching the two get swirled around by various wanna be suitors, I felt incredibly proud to have introduced them to my little corner of this world. I miss you already Sophy and Rene, as does everyone else down here…

“There are friends, there is family and then there are friends that become family.” (Unknown)