Carnaval 2013

For the for first time in eight years I'm an onlooker rather than being in a band.
I must admit I didn't miss waving my hands around for hours in the freezing drizzle and arctic wind 'Les Droles' experienced on Saturday, (my old group).
This was their morning 'sortie' with the theme of 'la Boiteuse' the quaint tale of an old woman with a limp who travels along the river bank between various towns of this region showing her nether regions to hapless onlookers . . . actually, I'm sure I've blogged about this before? Anyway, excuse me if I did.

I particularly liked the pictured portable confessional box with priest holding a well thumbed prayer book containing smut. Very Carnaval.

despite minus-three degrees . . .

The carnaval de Limoux continues.
I read in the paper this morning at the Café de Commerce, that all sporting and exterior events had been cancelled in the Aude.
In Limoux, happy crazed folks dresed as giant babies clasping plastic bottles of pastis with teats on them, danced around the square. Due to the wind-chill factor of about minus fifteen, there was only a few people watching, the cafés stuffed instead. A great shame for the group, as the preperation for this one day a year is immense, and it's always a gamble on the weather.
Our group goes out next Saturday, and I am praying for a slight rise in temperature at least. Holding one's hands aloft in skimpy polyester gloves for many hours in freezing conditions is not fun.
Here is a film of the other group out today. I wish them all luck for the late evening 'sorti'. By ten o'clock it will be mind numbingly cold and the crowd will presumably wither to a lone dog. Everyone else, including me, will be in front of a fire, eating comfort food and watching a film. Sorry carnaval.

Bad hair day

Luckily you can't see it. Hidden under a mass of purple 'tulle', here I am as someone at a film awards ceremony . . . before turning into Albin from 'La Cage aux Folles'.
It was a busy morning and a great day: ate too much meat, drank too much Blanquette, and built up certain arm muscles which only get used during Limoux carnaval — and had my ear drums strained from the appalling sound system at the cafe where our group resides during the event.
Am having a quiet day today, and doing jobs that require no upward arm movements.

Yes, its that time again

You either love it or hate it. CARNAVAL de Limoux.

We love it, maybe its because I'm a Limouxerner . . . 

Here I am dressed as Madame Toutou-net (clean dog — rough translation) part of our carnaval theme a couple of years ago. This year's theme will be revealed next Saturday at 10.00am in the town square. 

Last night, we went (me and Ezra) to one of the best, possibly THE best theatre/circus event ever; a supreme piece of creative madness, humour, beauty and incredible acrobatics. I haven't laughed so much since I saw Eddie Izzard performing in Derby.

Well, one can still be continually surprised and learn new stuff every day, even in farty old middle age — like the fact that our small town can occasionally put on performances of exceptional quality.
Another very small but wonderful thing I learnt this morning, due the nearest boulangerie being closed, was that Pujola's croissants are the best in the world.