We are now at the end of the third week of our La Fargassa experience and there is talk of winter in the air. Amazingly we have reached the first week of December before anyone has really had to consider the fact that there is in fact a fourth season in the year! Apparently this has been an unusually long summer and normally winter has arrived by now, but it seems we have been lucky. The full moon this week has brought on lots of comments about people doing crazy things, although I can’t say that I have seen that many. We have had some really clear nights though and some lovely views of the moon and stars.
The moon from La Fargassa (yes, I know you have all seen a moon before!)
We have stopped eating outside in the evenings now, although still eat outside at lunch time, and there are still a few of us that are by the fire outside at night. We have also spent a few nights inside by the fire in the gite where most WWOOFERS are sleeping as it is definitely more cosy. There is just something about a campfire thought that makes us want to stay outside as long as possible in the evenings before we have to say goodbye to the experience for this year. It won’t be long though, and we have had to move back in from the Pigstye and into the gite again as it is a lot warmer. The pigsyte was more self contained and meant that Tegan could be as noisy as she liked in the mornings. Now however, we have to try to encourage her to keep a bit quiet in the mornings as there is a meditation session that happens each day in the gite. Tegan in her friendly way walked through the meditation session the other day saying “morning [every]body” and “ssshhh” (very loudly) – I have to admit I struggled not to laugh!
Following the theme of winter preparations this week we have been making cold frames from thick pieces of plastic to cover the lettuces. We have transplanted loads of lettuces and built some arches out of hose pipe to help them stand up. I think Andy was enjoying thinking about the best way to engineer some supports for the plastic and making some sturdy arches. I have to say that lettuce in the winter is not the main thing that I want to eat, but salad is very popular here, so lots of lettuces are needed. Andy has also been continuing with the corking of the house down the road and I have tried to help a bit. Tegan had been compliant to varying degrees to me and Andy doing this together while she stayed with Catherine (the wife of the bloke Andy is doing the work for) and her kids, one of whom is a similar age to Tegan. She has mostly though not been that keen and seems to like being outdoors with us more than ever which is hard when outside the house is a bit like a building site, so we have had limited success with my involvement in this work. I have had quite a few chances to practice my French though with this family who are lovely and seem to cope with my constant mistakes.
The house dressed in cork
Tegan is still loving life and despite having a bit of a cold seems to be full of energy and getting more and more confident each day. She knows the names of all the other WWOOFERS now and makes sure she says hello to them all at least 10 times a day! We spent last weekend pottering around and doing things in town, followed by a short walk to a nearby village on Sunday. we even managed a picnic on the way! She also helps us cook sometimes, as each of the WWOOFERS take turns to cook so we have to be quite creative when it comes to team Ware making food. She is pretty good though and we feel so lucky that we have such an adaptable daughter.
Picnicking on a rock!
Helene and Tegan having a bit of a lie in
Tegan “helping” to cook.
We now have 2 weeks left before we leave here for the Lot et Garonne back to the Grandparents for Christmas. Have to admit we are looking forward to some home comforts. Our time here has flown by though and it will be quite sad to say goodbye. We are still unsure exactly where we will be in the new year, but watch this space!
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