Hog roast ...... not!

Well, I have to say, they don't do things by halves in our little community! An A4 printed sheet arrived in our letterbox earlier in the week, inviting us, as members of the Massat community, to the annual 'fête de boeuf'. Our friends, Pat and Kevin, enlightened us. It was basically a big picnic to which every member of each of Massat's 6 communes was cordially invited and of which the centrepiece was a sacrificed (OK, I mean barbecued!) whole cow! This we had to see - a cow on a spit? We had to bring our own salad bits and the other 'trimmings' but a chunk of beef was free to all and sundry.

It was a beautiful, sunny day. We headed down into Massat for 12 noon and found our way up to the 'Pouech', an area of level ground where a big marquee and benches were installed. The benches were largely already occupied by members of the local community who were happily sipping the local €2/litre red wine whilst clapping along to a local dance troupe who performed admirably in their clogs and colourful attireUnfortunately, Andy was feeling decidedly under the weather and decided not to stay, but with Pat and Kevin, I found a bench on the outer edges at which we quicikly set up camp. And then we saw dinner....

It had been over the coals for 24 hrs and looked ready for dissemination to the hungry hoards! And it was worth the wait! Lovely tender, melt in the mouth beef which had been slow-cooked to perfection, just as you would expect..... mmmmm! Entertainment was provided by a cool jazz duo of double bass and acoustic guitar. All very convivial. Over lunch, I met more English people who have made the Massat area their home, including Sal and Austin who run the Roquefort Cycle Lodge on the road to Biert, Philip and Heather who run the Maison Esmeralda guest house in Biert, Lee who is an ex-architect who sold up his business and house in the UK and happily settled down the road in Aleu, plus Justin and Emily and their two massive but beautiful natured dogs who are setting up an agro-tourism project up the road. All interesting people.

The picnic party would have carried on all afternoon, but I made my excuses at 2.30 and headed back home, where I spent a relaxed afternoon reading a book on the terrasse in the 23 degree afternoon sunshine. Bliss!