Either that cold was a real humdinger or we had Covid, either way, the extra symptoms and issues just keep on coming! I have never before had to phone the doctor's surgery here for a medical appointment that wasn't routine, but yesterday I did manage to get an emergency appointment to look into symptoms. Thanks to Google, I was convinced I had a failing gall bladder or pancreas - actually it turned out to be acute gastro, so unpleasant but solvable.
Then last night I became convinced that someone was trying to kill me by forcing a knitting needle into my ear. Despite serious pain killers, sleep was elusive at best and my ear is seeping gunk. This time Google tells me it is an anodyne ear infection and to take painkillers until it sorts itself out. Much of the earlier part of the week was spent trying to fool myself that the bugs had gone - all in all, I'm not impressed!
Still, we did get one thing sorted out, and that was very purposeful. Twenty years ago, when we moved over to France, we realised we needed a decent outdoor table and chair set, so went to Casa and invested. The chairs lasted perhaps 3 or 4 seasons, but the table has only just fallen apart. Actually it is still doing service as a place to put plant pots, so not dead yet. It took a while to find something we liked - most stores go for the metal and plasticised fabric things, but we wanted wood. We also prefer to buy locally, but sometimes you can't, and the internet helped us out. Of course it needed to be varnished before being put into use, which meant that Poirot took against it until I put a bit of hardboard on it, but we now have our new outdoor table. Let's hope it also lasts 20 years!
The week has been very hot, which made the session on Thursday sticking paper flowers onto cardboard panels rather uncomfortable, to say the least. Actually I blame that heat for the gastro, but I could be wrong! Anyway, progress was made and that was the important thing, as while the Comice isn't until the 23rd August, the time will fly between now and then!
The hot weather is suiting the Mediterranean vegetables although they are now starting to ask for water as well, which is an issue as we haven't had much rain for 3 months now. The progress the courgettes are making is really rather scary and this year I might have overdone the number of plants!
This weekend, the local business support group, Baugé Entreprendre, has its regular Fair or Exhibition. I am always stounded at the range of artisans we have in the area, much smaller than a British district council. There were a number of people who upcycle things - leather, furniture, tyre inner tubes as below ...
There is a guy who makes lovely shelves from offcuts of wood - I will invest in one shortly!
And of course there was a furniture restorer and a lady who does lovely upholstery, who will be getting our custom in due course.
Not only was it fascinating to see the inventiveness and skills of local people, we also met up with a load of chums as we wandered round, making it a very convivial occasion as well. Hopefully this spotlight on local talents will ensure that they pick up more work and provide an excellent economic base for the area.
Well, I hope that next week's offering is more interesting and less full of complaints about health. The weather forecast is set fair for a beautiful late spring/early summer, and over the last week, the douceur angevine once again spared us from devastating storms. Long may that continue!
Have a good week!
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