Saturday 2nd January

We had a great Halloween Party and meal at Chouette (Owl) Café back in October – Elvis (Rob Russell) played and most of us dressed up for the occasion.  Now I have never been a great one for New Year’s parties; after all it is just another day, the calendar is a man-made thing and anytime at all could have been chosen to change the year over – the Chinese and the Jews have different dates after all.  And all too often I have sat in, watching bleary-eyed, the mad revellers on TV, wondering between sips of tea what all the fuss was about.

But here in Eymet, like everything else it is a cause for a party; we could have gone to see Rob again at ‘Floc and Tea’ in Lauzun, we could have listened to blaring house music at ‘Garage’, we might have even been invited to Rupert’s house where a party for regulars was happening.  But as soon as Christine mentioned she was having a party at Chouette we knew we were in for a good time, especially when she managed to book ‘Terry, Jerry and Suzie’ to play.  We have seen them a few times last year, in the park at the Gourmand Evening and a couple of times at Le Pub Gambetta; they are always excellent, playing a mix of soft rock and country with a few French songs thrown in too.  Terry sings and plays excellent guitar, Jerry occasionally sings and plays bass, and Suzie, who is Danish sings so beautifully too.

We arrived at nine on Thursday night and had an aperitif and canapes.  There were only a few of us English, the French outnumbered us twofold, but that just made it all the better and we all mixed really well.  The French got up and danced as soon as the music started and we soon joined them, except for the Madison – the French love to line dance, and the steps are quite complicated and there are three or four different dances they do.  A couple of fifty-something French women were expert at it, their little feet pointing and swinging in perfect time with the music and each other.  The meal was a lovely soup and a buffet of cold meats followed before midnight, and after – some more meat dishes, cheese and then a selection of desserts.  We all had lots to drink (reasonably priced) of course and we staggered home just before two even though the French were still celebrating.  It really was a great night in the best little town in all of France.  And tonight we are partying again at Graham and Maxine’s….the torture never stops.