Wedding anniversary

On Wednesday, 29th March, we celebrated out 59th wedding anniversary, enjoying lunch at the L'Alcazar restaurant in Montmédy Citadelle.

Mothers’ Day 2017

Mothers’ Day dawns bright and sunny.  The weather does not reflect my mood as my back aches and my sciatic nerve is twanging;  my head is muzzy - and that does not reflect my nickname of Muzz. I blame the changing of the clocks last night…or maybe it’s just the day  itself with its connotations.  Whatever, I feel out of sorts.

Our son-in-law and a couple of friends send greetings and love which is lovely and makes me emotional. It takes me all morning to get my act together and start to feel more in command again. The flowers my husband bought for me before the weekend are beautiful.  Two very different arrangements. I look at them as one from our son, the other from our daughter.  The grief over her recent loss stirs the former so many years ago and the loss becomes doubly heavy. He tells me he gave them to me because he loves me.  Whatever the reason, I am delighted to have them.

But onward - one foot in front of the other, as ever…

We had planned to go out for the whole day, south of Verdun, but with the day rapidly disappearing we take an afternoon drive instead heading north with Port Plaisance at Stenay our destination.

Of course Spring happens every year yet I am always surprised and delighted to see the new growth when the countryside looks new again.  So many shades of green, blossom mostly in white, yellow and pink - butterflies…today we saw yellow, blue and red ones to brighten our way.  Forested hills, open countryside, small, ancient villages, several small rivers, the larger Meuse, Canal Est, lakes - and all the water reflecting the sunshine and blue sky.  Gradually that good-to-be-alive feeling shakes off numbness. 

We take a stroll and sit by the River Meuse at Stenay.  There are a few anglers but none seem to be catching, but it’s not a bad way to while away a few hours. However, I prefer to look around and listen to the birds.

We are pleased to find the café/bar open and sit outside in the sun which is surprisingly hot - can’t believe it was so recently we’ve had to wrap up to avoid low temperatures and chill winds.  The biere blanche went down well. We returned home via a different yet no less scenic route.

French and German friendship defending the peace.

Peace.

This evening I think of my mother - she was kind, loving, practical, hard-working, talented with sewing, knitting and crochet needles, a musical voice and good-spirited. She nurtured me and taught me much.  I go to look at the tapestries she stitched so well - one is of reflections on a lake, another a mother and child walking by a river and the third a bunch of colourful flowers…coincidence or fate that they are so linked to today’s sights? God bless you, Mum.

Then the questioning returns - who will inherit them now?

Benchmark

benchmark 

she lives on in our hearts
and always will  -

we do not need a bench
to remind us of her
life,
love,
laughter
and generosity of spirit

we hope this seat will offer others
a chance to
pause,
rest,
reflect
and give them comfort

with its plaque
at least her name too lives on…

© Ida Jones

Bench ceremony

We held a little ceremony early this evening at the Salles des Fetes (village hall) which has very recently been refurbished and looks great.

Ron gave a short speech...

" We moved to Damvillers in 2007 to be near to Sheridan and Peter who had bought a fishing lake in Gercourt. From day one we found the people of Damvillers to be friendly and accepted us - even with our very poor French - and made us very welcome. Unfortunately Sheridan suffered ill health for a long time and we would like to thank all the medical staff who looked after her. The nurses were fantastic. Would you, Monsieur Le Maire, please accept, on behalf of the people of Damvillers, this bench as a gift from Peter, Ida and I. Thank you Damvillers!"

We then celebrated with a glass of champagne - that was something our dear daughter would have wholeheartedly approved of!

Peter, Ida, Jackie (the Maire) and Ron.

L-R...Jackie, Arlette, Ron, Peter, Ida, Marlou, Monique, Francois.

Our dear friend, Arlette - so kind, helpful and hugely supportive in our time of need. 

First picnic of the year!

We decide to have a picnic lunch by the village pond at…

Optimistically leaving heavy coats and scarves at home, we discover that sitting in the semi-shade of a willow tree by the water is pleasurable but somewhat chilly!  However, we enjoy our lunch…

…and afterwards enjoy a pleasant drive past hedgerows and trees festooned with Traveller’s Joy (Old Man’s Beard) and beyond Gremilly and through the Ornes Forest to Louvemont, noting activity by several yellow butterflies and a few others - white, orange, brown ones (all too lively to be captured by my camera but lovely to see) and on past the cemeteries and monuments surrounded by forests at Douamont.

Twisted tree roots covered by grass which looks like emerald-green velvet.

Long view of the forest we drove through.

Joining the near-empty main road we see mauve and yellow crocus scattered on a roundabout.
Spring is definitely in the air and this will certainly not be our last picnic-lunch outing.

Colourful gathering.

15ème Chapitre de la Confrérie Jules Bastien-Lepage 

The members of the above society met in the Salles des Fetes, Damvillers and started their special day, as usual, at 10.30. with a parade to the Rodin statue to pay homage to the town’s famous painter…Jules Bastien-Lepage.  Afterwards they will return to the Salle for their celebration meal, wine, speeches and dancing.

Virton

In the past, we have driven through Virton by accident, partly losing our way en route elsewhere.  Today we decided to deliberately go there.

The countryside looked beautiful in the sunshine and in less than half-an-hour we had crossed the border into Belgium and soon after to the town of Virton itself.  We followed the centre ville signs into the high, old part of the ancient town and easily found a parking space just after midday which was free of charge at the weekends. "Perfick", as Del-boy would say.

The church of St Laurent dominated the square and many lanes twisted and turned down, some of them cobbled, and the area full of interesting architecture, the whole being the hub of cafés and restaurants…but we didn’t want a big meal just a little something to keep us going.

It was lovely to wander in sunshine through interesting, narrow streets until this attractive boulangerie/patisserie/café caught our eye where Justine gave us not only a a warm welcome but served us with delicious coffee and a pastry each - low calorie of course she assured us! 

A pain-aux-chocolate and pistache...himself had already attacked his cream-filled baba, but he did give me the house chocolate button from its topping!

The decorations included boxed games, books and artwork.

As we returned to the main square, the church clock delicately played a pretty tune then the big bell tolled the hour.

We'll return one day to have a look at the interior!

Soon after, we took the Montmédy road away from the town...

Pretty house for a police station on the edge of Virton!

At the French border.

...and went to our favourite pavement café in Montmédy Citadelle and relaxed with a cool, crisp glass of rosé wine in the warm sun, glad we had left our coats and scarves in the car.

The house opposite has received some attention with a new roof and we hope the repair of the front walls will soon follow.

Inside the Citadelle is such a peaceful place and we simply soaked up the ambience - as well as the sunshine and wine!

A quick visit to Aldi on the way and we returned home happy and refreshed and agreed it had been a lovely outing and four hours well spent.