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Tag Archives: Parisot
Simple Pleasures
The past 12 days have afforded plenty of time for reflection. Too much, no doubt. Nonetheless, beneath the negative emotions that most of us have been feeling, there are flickers of a deeper process at work: one of re-evaluating and … Continue reading
Ça Sent la Rose
Roses must have one of the loveliest scents of all flowers. They have been cultivated for more than 5,000 years and thousands of varieties now exist. Unfortunately, they don’t do well here in our poor soil and they didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, History
Tagged Château de l'Astorguié, François Coty, Parisot, perfume distilling, Rosa centifolia, rose oil, rosewater, SW France
22 Comments
Buried Treasure at Teysseroles Chapel
I’ve written before about the visit of the departmental archaeologists to Teysseroles, where we are helping to restore the 15th-century chapel. This is a requirement when works are planned at a historic monument, to ensure that nothing of significance is … Continue reading
Preparations for the Fête at Teysseroles
I haven’t written much recently about the church at Teysseroles, which we are helping to restore. This is mainly because not a great deal has happened. I have to admit I find the sporadic activity on the restoration frustrating, but … Continue reading
Every Château Tells a Story #12: le Château de l’Astorguié, Parisot
Last week marked the 19th anniversary of the first time we saw our house (no, it’s not the one above). Looking back at estate agents’ details of other properties reminded me that a small château close by was also for sale … Continue reading
The Wheels Turn at Teysseroles
As we know, the wheels of French bureaucracy grind exceedingly slowly. Try restoring an historic monument, as we are doing at the nearby chapel of Teysseroles, and they go at a snail’s pace. But now things appear to be moving, or … Continue reading
Every Château Tells a Story # 8: Le Château de Labro
Yesterday was one of those luminous, mellow days that you get only in early autumn. The trees were turning and it was warm, but not hot. So we decided to take advantage of it to go for a walk and … Continue reading
Work Continues to Restore La Chapelle de Teysseroles
I haven’t written much recently about the 15th-century chapel that we are helping to restore. This is partly because the work goes into hiatus over the winter; and partly because the bureaucracy involved grinds exceedingly slowly. However, there was … Continue reading
Every Château has a Story: le Château de Cornusson
The word “fairy-tale” when applied to a château usually makes me cringe. But there is something a little magical about the château de Cornusson, with its jumble of towers and turrets. You get tantalising glimpses of it peeping above … Continue reading
Carol Services with the Choeur de Parisot 2014
Christmas carol services are a British import into France. The French have fewer Christmas songs and they don’t have a tradition of special carol services. However, it’s something they have enthusiastically embraced, even if they regard them as concerts rather … Continue reading
Parisot Literary Festival 2014: how did it go?
This poor old blog has been a bit neglected of late, but that’s because so much has been going on that it’s been hard to get to it. One of the local events that has taken up some of … Continue reading
Parisot Literary Festival October 2014
A heads-up about the second Parisot Literary Festival/Festival Littéraire de Parisot, which will take place this year from 10th to 12th October. Parisot is only a small place with about 500 inhabitants but there’s a lot going on. This event … Continue reading
Fêtes and Festivals in Southwest France
It’s that time of year again. You can’t move for village fêtes, art exhibitions, concerts and so on. There are too many things to go to and you have to be selective, but it’s all good fun and excellent … Continue reading
Fateful fête at Teysseroles? Not this time
At 7.00 am yesterday, I peered outside and saw with horror a black cloud advancing with a rainbow silhouetted against it. With even greater horror, I heard growls of thunder and rain pattering on the leaves. Why was this … Continue reading
Posted in Places, Teysseroles chapel
Tagged chapelle de Teysseroles, fête de Teysseroles, French fête, Parisot, SW France, Teysseroles, Teysseroles fête
6 Comments
Fête Time at Teysseroles
It’s that time of year again. La fête de Teysseroles, the chapel we are helping to restore, looms on the horizon. This is our big annual fundraiser, which attracts more than 200 revellers and swells our coffers by several … Continue reading
Posted in Places, Teysseroles chapel
Tagged chapelle de Teysseroles, fête de Teysseroles, fete, French country fête, Parisot, Teysseroles
4 Comments
Parisot Choir Concerts in March
We have been without an internet connection for much of this week, so I’m posting this a bit late in the day. However, the Choeur de Parisot is giving two concerts over the next week under the baton of maestro … Continue reading
Keeping Your Ear to the Ground in Rural France
A reader recently bemoaned the fact that they had not heard in advance about an event on which I reported. I sympathise. Keeping up with what’s going on is not easy and, dare I say it, the French aren’t … Continue reading
Posted in French life, Top tips
Tagged cultural events, Expat, living in France, local events SW France, Parisot, rural France, SW France
8 Comments
Midnight Mass in France
People celebrate Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve throughout France. We went this year to the service at l’Eglise Saint-Andéol in Parisot. Père Serge, the local priest, had asked for volunteers from le Choeur de Parisot to swell the ranks of … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life, Places
Tagged Choeur de Parisot, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Eglise Saint-Andéol, Midnight Mass, Parisot
5 Comments
To Crèche or Not To Crèche
Political correctness sometimes verges on the downright barmy. France is a secular society, which is fair enough. Public employees in France are not permitted to display ostentatious symbols of religious affiliation, such as foulards (headscarves) or large crucifixes. These issues … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life, Places, Rants
Tagged Christmas, creche, French customs, laicité, Parisot, SNCF, SNCF at Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Villefranche de Rouergue
11 Comments
Carol Services with the Parisot Choir
This is just a quick heads-up about two carol services that le Choeur de Parisot will be giving this year under the direction of maestro Peter Nowfel. Both concerts will feature the usual readings and medley of carols (in French … Continue reading
Les Travaux Ready for Take-Off at la Chapelle de Teysseroles
Thursday of last week was a big day at the 15th-century chapel we are helping to restore. A meeting we had been urging for some time finally took place, between our architect, M Salomon, and the architect from Bâtiments de … Continue reading
Posted in French life, History, Places, Teysseroles chapel
Tagged Bâtiments de France, chapelle de Teysseroles, historic monument, Parisot, patrimoine, Teysseroles
6 Comments
Remembrance Day 2: the Ceremony at Parisot
I don’t know if this is unusual in France but Parisot celebrates Remembrance Day (11th November) on the Sunday following the actual date. The ceremony at the Monument des Morts takes place after Sunday mass. By virtue of belonging to … Continue reading
Southwest France Weather October 2013
The clocks went back last weekend and now it’s dark by 6.00 pm. Instead of taking an apéritif on a bench in the setting sun, we now sit by the wood burner. The squirrels are vying with us to harvest … Continue reading
Posted in French life, Weather
Tagged autumn, climate, Météo, Météo France, Parisot, rainfall, SW France, Weather
2 Comments
Parisot Literary Festival 2013: the Verdict
‘I [want to] congratulate you on a tremendous literary festival. We enjoyed it immensely and marvelled at the quality of writers you attracted.’ We’ve received many kind comments from people who attended the festival during the weekend of 11th-13th October. … Continue reading
Behind the Scenes at the Parisot Literary Festival
First, a reminder to anyone who lives in the area or is visiting that our first Literary Festival will take place in Parisot this weekend (11th-13th October) with a line-up of both French and British authors. See the programme on … Continue reading
Art on the Menu
In July and August the population of our region swells several times, thanks to holidaymakers and second homers. The French tourist industry is complaining that numbers are down this year but we haven’t seen much evidence of that. The markets … Continue reading
Partying French Style
As in previous years, the group involved in restoring the chapel at Teysseroles held their own party as a pat on the back for another successful fête. Last night, 20 of us turned up chez Simone and Jean-Claude, who have … Continue reading
Posted in French life, Teysseroles chapel
Tagged chapelle de Teysseroles, fête de Teysseroles, fete, Parisot, repas champêtre, SW France, Teysseroles
10 Comments
Fête Accomplie: Journée Festive at Teysseroles
June is probably the busiest month in our annual calendar. We have two Choeur de Parisot concerts and the major fundraising event of the fête at Teysseroles, the chapel we are helping to restore. This year was the third such … Continue reading
Tuning Up for the Teysseroles Fête
We are holding our annual fundraiser on Sunday for the chapel at Teysseroles, an historic monument that we are helping to restore. A group of 14 or so meet regularly at the site to continue the restoration work and the … Continue reading
Parisot Choir’s Spring Season
It’s been a busy couple of weeks. Not only are the garden burgeoning and things taking off again at la chapelle de Teysseroles, which we are helping to restore, but le choeur de Parisot has started its spring season in … Continue reading
Posted in French life, Places
Tagged Choeur de Parisot, choir concerts, choir singing, Eglise Saint-Andéol, Limogne-en-Quercy, Parisot, Peter Nowfel, SW France
8 Comments
