My Return to Daglan

But first a Cats Update

Good news, both of the stray cats who where poisoned last Monday are doing very well. It was a worry especially for one of the cats who we did not think would make it, thankfully she did. She is just gorgeous and Association Pirate are hopeful that they will find a home for her. The agony they both had to suffer this week was heart braking. Our vet thinks that it was very old snake poison that you can not buy now. The Cat Association are looking into it, we do not want more cats to suffer.

Now follows the blog that I intended writing last week but as you can imagine events happened that took precident.

My Return to Daglan

As we drove into Daglan on a sunny Saturday afternoon we were greeted by a display of the most amazing vintage cars.

Paul had collected me at Bergerac airport from my return flight from England. I had been travelling for over seven hours so I was feeling a little travel weary and low in spirit, I needed something to galvanise me once more. Admiring the cars and talking to friends in the village certainly did the trick.

This is my favourite. I can just imagine driving this car with a picnic hamper on the back to a gorgeous place by the river.
 

Bonny and Clyde or Al Capone springs to mind.
 

Josephine Baker kind of car. More diva than the other vintage cars.
 

Unsure what era this particular car dates from but it does remind me Elliot Ness.
 

Absolutely gorgeous.
 

A few of the owners who were dressed in the fashion of time that their vintage cars came from.
 
 

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The Cowslip Primrose is in Bloom.

“In A Cowslip Bell I Lie”.
William Shakespeare – Tempest.

I felt very nostalgic upon seeing these gorgeous little cowslip flowers a few days ago. It reminded me of my childhood in Yorkshire, England. When the pastures and meadows were full of cowslips in the spring time.

The Cowslip Primrose is a herbaceous perennial plant from the Primrose family and can be found throughout Europe and Asia. The name could be derived from Ancient English for cow dug due to the flower being found in cow pastures. Or it could just be a name for boggy ground.

It was mentioned by Pliny the Elder for its lovely early flowering, at that time it was used as a ritual plant.

The cowslip leaves can be used as a salad or the flower for flavouring wine and vinegars.

Very rarely seen in England now.
 

Here in the Perigord the flower can be found in the woodland area’s or wet meadows.
A gorgeous little wild flower.
 
 

Easter Events:-

Sarlat, Giant Easter Egg Hunt in the medieval quarter over the Easter weekend.

Jardine de Marqueyssac, Easter Egg Hunt Easter Sunday and Monday in the afternoons.

 
 

Did you happen to see the rabbit.

Did you happen to see the rabbit with the pink and chocolate ears?
With a hip and a hop, children don’t want the Easter fun to stop!

Look at this delicious array of Easter Rabbits at E. Leclerc in Sarlat

 
Finding the brightly coloured Easter eggs carefully hidden and lain
and eating all of the Easter goodies that someone has made.

Pâtisserie Massoulier, always a treat.

 
Row after row of Easter delights.

L’Atelier du Gourmand.

 
Did you happen to see the rabbit
with the pink and chocolate ears?
That means that Easter is finally here!
 

If you do not want rabbits, eggs, fishes or bells take a look at the pictures of some creations by La Maison Du Chocolat below.
 

Much too good to eat but I could certainly try.

Happy Easter, hope that you recieve lots of Easter goodies.
 
 

Event:- Sarlat Easter Egg Hunt through the Medieval sector to find the golden egg. Who ever finds it will get a special prize plus cinema tickets.
 

No blog next week
 
 

Children’s Carnival

The Judgement of Pétassou.

The start of Spring is always celebrated in the South West of France by the Children’s Carnival and the Judgement of Pétassou. The children of Three Schools of the Céou Valley RPI make the most cute and original costumes, then get together to parade through Daglan village with the very naughty Pétassou on the back of the tractor.

The Judgement of Pétassou dates back to Medieval Times, when he was/and still is thought to have performed many disagreeable acts from theft to large explosions, which is why he is the focus of the carnival. He is then judged by the children, found guilty and burned on a bonfire.

By the beat of the drums Pétassou is paraded through the streets of Daglan.
 

So cute the children form the Primary Schools wearing the magnificent costumes.
 

Dancing and singing by the children, teachers and parents.
 

Here he is.
 

Songs to rid the villages of Pétassou and the cold Winter months.
 

Singing the Pétassou song with actions the children of the three schools send Pétassou away, the cold of Winter is gone and the start of Spring is here.
 

The children, teachers and parents gather around the flames.
 
 

Sound the flute
Beat the drum,
Birds delight
Day and Night,
Nightingale,
Lark in the sky,
Merrily, Merrily, to welcome
in the Spring.

William Blake (1789) extract from the Songs of Innocence.
 
 

Event:- How good is this.
A Cleudo Egg Hunt at La Rogue Gageac on the 1st April. Children from 8-12 years accompanied by an adult.
Four euro per adult, two euro per child.
 
 

Easter Egg Treasure Hunt and Daglan Village

Children of all ages gathered at the local Primary School for the Easter Egg treasure hunt around Daglan village yesterday morning. Various eggs, candy and clues were hidden in and around the village but the one that the children wanted was the chocolate rabbit which found would lead to an Easter surprise.

On the hunt through and around the market.
 

One clue was attached to the bush which was at the side of the supermarket. This is a smart little girl collecting all of the treats to share out later.
 

Eggs and candy’s were hidden in and around our plants on the wall, but no rabbit!
 

Daglan Village

Taking a walk through the village this morning I could not resist taking another picture of our Mairie looking splendid in the morning sunshine.
 

Robin taking a well earned break on the balcony at Café de la Fleur.
 

If anyone is in my age group you will remember Bill and Ben the flower pot men which was televised in the 1950’s and 1960’s in the UK.
 

The wow factor, the most gorgeous wisteria I have ever seen is to be found next to Le Thé Vert in the village.
 

A special thank you to Chris and Virginie for this delicious chocolate cake. It is truly a chocoholics dream with every slice.

Happy Easter from Daglan
 

Easter Events:-

Sarlat and Marqueyssac are both holding Easter Treasure Hunts this weekend.