Friday, November 23, 2012

oh the joy.....

A little while ago I wrote a blog about my search for a Bramley apple tree. There are not many things I miss having lived here since February but one of the most surprising was the Bramley apple. It is so easy to take for granted being able to pop into the supermarket and buy some apple to bake or make apple pie. Anyway, I was all set to try and propagate one with help from my British friends until I had a wonderful message from my lovely school friends in Jersey with whom I had met at the beginning of November. The message told me that together they had organised for 2 Bramley apple trees to be delivered here to me in France so that I could plant and enjoy them in years to come.

On Wednesday morning about 8am the phone rang and a delivery company said would we be in after lunch time as they had a package for us. What excitement! Just after midday the van arrived and a box was left. Joe unpacked them but not unwrapped the roots because it was too late in the day to begin the planting process because the root balls needed to be soaked in a bucket of water for at least 2 hours.
The next morning Joe put the roots straight into a bucket of water as per the instructions included.
 
During the afternoon we clambered up the wobbly steps to the top of the garden to begin the planting process. Joe had been into Cluny and purchased 2 long stakes as the trees have to be supported as they begin to transform into fruiting mode.
 

After the stakes had been hammered into the ground Joe began the digging of the two holes - I did help but I was behind the camera most of the time!!
 
 

Soon the root balls were in place and tied into the stakes then the soil was replaced and added to by a bit of garden compost and bark.
Protected from rabbits and deer we are hopeful that we shall eventually have some wonderful Bramley apples with which to make chutney, puree, apple sauce, bake apples and Joe's all time favourite apple pie!
In all my excitement, I decided to find out more about the Bramley apple.
Bramley's  Seedling apples are so well known that I was surprised to discover that they have only been around since 1809 when a pip was planted in a garden in Nottinghamshire. It was a girl called Mary Anne Brailsford who planted the pip and later on the house with its garden containing the apple tree was sold to a Matthew Bramley who allowed cuttings to be taken from it. The original tree still exists and the BBC have made a video of it - you can see it here - video made by the BBC 

It is so exciting to know that every Bramley apple tree traces its origin back to that one tree.

The new variety was quickly recognised as an outstanding cooking apple and by the end of the Victorian era it was widely planted in England and Northern Ireland, becoming synonymous with English apple cookery. However for the next century it remained little-known outside the UK, since European and North American growers had long preferred dual-purpose apples which could be both eaten fresh and cooked. Latterly with a resurgence in interest in apple cookery it has become well-known amongst North American apple enthusiasts and, 200 years after its birth, this remarkable "cooker" is increasingly recognised as one of the world's great apples varieties.
However it is not well known in South Burgundy but I'm hoping that this will change!!!
Thank you Anne, Caroline and Lesley for my unique 60th birthday gift!
And to add to the special occasion the sunset over the hills opposite the garden was exquisite.





Sunday, November 11, 2012

Remembrance Day in Cortambert

My recollection of many Remembrance Sundays is of cold bitterly winds and often driving rain. The worst of all was a parade in Jersey when I was about 12 and we stood in driving snow and got soaked to the skin.

The view from the Mairie overlooking the valley
Today was my first experience of Remembrance Day here in France. As I looked out of the window I was delighted to see that the weather was dry so I didn't need the new umbrella. It was also mild so I did not need my winter woollies either.
I drove up to Cortambert and noticed that already people were gathering on the gravel outside the Mairie.

The Cortambert Mairie
Meeting the local community is a joy - shaking hands with the ones I didn't know and exchanging bisous - kisses - with those I did. There were quite a few present - a lot more than when we attended the 8th May remembrance for the liberation of France from the Germans.

It took time to speak to everyone and I didn't get around to everyone, but spoke to one of our neighbours who I had seen jogging in the hamlet - I wished her "bon courage"  and passed on to others I had met at Vannerie (basket making) last Winter and at badminton. The faces were familiar but I am dreadful at names!

Pierre-Jean our Mayor called the voluntary firemen to order and the marched at the head of the crowd who followed them the short walk up to the memorial next to the church.

The pompiers voluntaires line up
When we got to the memorial we spread out along the opposite side of the road. Pierre-Jean first asked us to observe two minutes silence in memory of one of our young voluntary pompiers who had been tragically killed on Wednesday evening whilst riding his motorbike on the Cluny road. I was shocked - we had been driving back from Geneva airport on Wednesday evening and the ambulance and rescue services had passed us en route to the accident and we had had to divert to get home again. So it was was one of our community, young too. It brought home how fragile life can be.
After the first two minutes silence the address from the government was read by Pierre-Jean and then the two minutes silence followed.
 
18 peoples' names are the war memorial from the first world war and 4 from the second.  After the silence the bugle was blown.
 


Then we meandered back to the mairie for wine, pizzas, savoury gateau and brioche. Conversation flowed as people got the chance for a catch up!

 
As I walked back to my car I couldn't help but stop and look at the memorial and give thanks for being part of a community of such delightful people who I count it a privilege to live near.
 
 



 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

A trip down memory lane....

I was born in Jersey Channel Isles, the place from which New Jersey gets it's name...I don't go very often but I do try to get to see my mum when I do get there. This visit was my first from our home in France, and necessitated a drive over to Geneva airport to get a flight to Jersey. There was no-where else from which I could fly direct.
The views from the car were very different when compared with our usual drive to Lyon airport to meet our daughter or other friends. We enjoyed the woods bathed in Autumnal colour and began to spot distant peaks and traces of snow! We even went up one road that recommended having snow chains on during the Winter!

After a smooth check-in I was soon aboard the plane (it had props so it was reassuringly old fashioned to me!) - and we were speeding up from Geneva rising through misty skies to the clouds above.

The flight took over 2 hours and I was struck by just how enormous France is when we eventually crossed the French coast and began our descent into Jersey.

We were soon flying over familiar coast line for me, right over St. Catherine's breakwater (otherwise known as Palmerston's Folly by the locals) and then over the North coast and down to Jersey airport.
After picking up my hire car at the airport I drove to my cousin's flat where I was staying. She is in a lovely complex with over 50 flats, one and two bedroomed and including an indoor swimming pool. I soon settled into what has become a familiar room with a window overlooking the gardens.

 
This turned out to be one of the better days I was there! During the evening after a lovely meal we sat and caught up - my cousin last welcomed me in February just before we came to France so there was a lot to talk about - especially as she has no computer and so had not seen the ever increasing number of these blogs! I took my knitting and as the evening wore on so the knitting grew!
The following morning I went to see my mum. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's some time ago and she has been in a wonderful unit especially for people with it. She has settled in there very happily and seems content there although it was hard at the beginning and often she would pack her suitcase with all her clothes and demand to go home. That has long since stopped and she spends her days quietly, sometimes watching TV, attending social events and occasionally going on outings. Her world is contracting fast but the carers are wonderful at providing events including singing to help the memory. She remembered me, and as I had arrived with flowers she wanted to know why. I told her they were for her and during my visit they adorned her room. Mum has always been fond of flowers!
 
On Friday evening I went down another memory lane. I linked up with my 3 school friends. Only last November were we able to meet together for the first time after over 40 years. We left school in 1971 but truly I would recognise them anywhere they are just the same  - and I love the opportunity to catch up with them and find out what has been happening since we last met.
 
After a wonderful meal - we went to a restaurant that was part of a scheme called Tennerfest, where you can buy a meal for a tenner or thereabouts - it really encourages people to get out at what is really a quiet time for all the restaurants after the Summer and Autumn seasons - we paused for a photograph!
 
What I like about going to Jersey at this time of year is the wonderful chances to take some good photos! The light is very special in the Autumn and I was able to snatch a few shots.
 
These were taken from the car park near to where my cousin lives!
 
Then as I was driving to the airport on Tuesday morning when I saw the sea glistening as the tide was coming in. I had to stop and take some photos.
Looking across to Elizabeth Castle from West Park
 
Elizabeth Castle

 
So it was goodbye to my mum


 
Then back on the plane to France!
 
 
I left behind the cheeky seagull who sat on the grass outside my room hoping to be fed!