Processionary Caterpillars

A couple of weeks ago and today we were busy with processionary caterpillars. Destroying their nests that is.

We had seen the nests in one of our trees and thought it was from a spider or something similar. But some kindly people told us they were chenilles de procession or chenilles processionaires - in English, Processionary Caterpillars.

After doing some research on the critters we decided to get rid of them as they can be a danger to both human and animals.

Being new-comers to the village we did not want to be the ones who were responsible for aiding their survival. But we are a little surprised at some reactions that people didn't seem too concerned - I guess it depends on whether you are used to knowing about them, how dangerous you think they are, if you have pets yourself, etc.

Some caterpillar facts:

• up to 300 per nest
• they come out at night to feed
• during the day they are wrapped up safely in a cocoon nest
• the sun helps them to digest their previous night's feast
• they 'march' in procession (also called Indian file) nose to tail, following a pheramone scent
• they march during January-March, when they are ready, sometimes several hundred long
• they die at below -16 degrees (however, in their nest it can be several degrees warmer than the outside temperature)
• +60 degrees is sufficient to 'neutralise' the poison from their hairs
• they are poisonous at all stages of their life cycle
• physical contact can cause oedema, asthma and other respitory problems in those prone, skin rashes, swelling of the tongue, and more
• found around the Mediterranean

Our plan of attack was to spray the nests then cut off the offending branches and burn them. We were told to wear protective clothing, just in case, as if they feel threatened, they can eject an urticating poison from their hairs.

After buying some poison we then decided not to spray as it is the wrong time of year to catch them with the spray (which we didn't know until we read the packet), some of the nests were way out of reach and we weren't sure how the caterpillars would react - some might escape the nest etc. So just went with part two - burning.

So Wouter dressed up in some old clothes, protective mask, gloves and an old MacIntosh raincoat he got from the Faversham local store for 10/6- (ten shillings and sixpence) in 1967. We got the fire going and Wouter dropped the trees one at a time, then cut off any branches with nests and put them on the fire. The first lot we did were small (trees and nests) by comparison to today's lot - but of course there were a couple of weeks in between and the little critters had lots of time to grow bigger. During the first fire we saw no visible movement from the nests as they were destroyed, but the ones we did today there were very large caterpillars once the protective web had burnt away. The caterpillars were falling over each other and dropping out into the fire - a bit like when you pick up a lot of worms together - all wound around each other.

The following websites have a lot of information and now we know what they are, what they do and when they move about, we can be on the lookout at the appropriate times and keep ourselves and the dog safe.

http://planetepassion.com/Pine_processionary_moth_thaumetopoea_pityocampa.htm
http://www.lost-in-france.com/living-in-france/pets/805-processionary-caterpillars

Some pictures of the events:

nests in the large tree -

the little critters feeding at night -
one of the small trees -

one branch with not much left after being eaten -

Wouter stoking up the fire -

Burning begins -

Wouter sporting his trendy MacIntosh -

The large tree today and some of the nests (we lost count but figure there were about 50 nests) -

Caterpillars burning and falling into the fire after wriggling around each other -

The Spatula

A few weeks ago we had to return some items to IKEA - you remember - the children's frames for the comfy chairs we bought and only realised once home that the frames were incorrect.

I just love IKEA but someone had to stay at home with Cassy and as I had grouting to do, it turned out to be me! (I thought it should really be Wouter, as Wouter and grouter rhyme). Also shopping - I know he hates it and I don't mind, especially as it was mainly related to my new kitchen. But these are modern times and a little role reversal never hurt anyone.

He had a list of items to collect - after returning the items, go and collect some extras which we needed for the new kitchen. Among the items on the list were spatulas. You know - the rubbery, flexible sort which you use to scrape the bottom and sides of bowls when you're baking. Wouter thought that these might be useful for applying the grouting. They were only 75 euro cents, so it didn't matter to get a couple.

When he came home, it was almost like Christmas with all the packages and extra bits and pieces. As we progressed through the list he told me he couldn't figure out what the spatulas were for and why I needed another two but decided to buy them anyway. But what came out of the bag were cooking spatulas - with holes - so I couldn't figure out how he thought I was going to use those for grouting.

The little darling told me he'd forgotten about our conversation the night before and why we needed the spatulas. Anyway, one of them is quite different to the two I bought since being in France, and also from the ones to be unpacked from our boxes. So I think might start a spatula collection....

Frosty the Snowman

A few pictures to update you on the current status of weather here. November has literally been a gloomy and dreary month, with hardly any sunny days - luckily there was still enough autumn colour around to brighten things up but not much rain, apart from a couple of good falls (the rest I call fairy rain).

Frost on car:

We didn't mind so much as there was plenty of work to do inside, as well as the delivery of our container, the boxes of which we are unpacking slowly. But must admit it was great to see the sun today and enjoyed some time outside.

Today we awoke to -3 degrees, which we've had only a few times in Waimauku at the start (1990's). You may not think this is anything exciting, but for us it's part of our adventure. A short walk down the road gives us a view towards Limoux where you can see snow on the hill/mountain, and more snow behind that.

One very interesting thing today is the tree which they call the mulberry (it's really a Murier) - as soon as there was frost on it's leaves they dropped to the ground. It seems likely there will be another frost tonight so I'm guessing by tomorrow there won't be many leaves left on the tree.

Container 2

Here are the pictures as promised. First, the arrival of the container itself, which had not been opened at all since leaving NZ:

The unpacking of some of the larger furniture items was a comfort as then we knew it was really our furniture:

The hallway filled up quickly:

As did the bedrooms - the only obvious casualites are the box of Xmas decorations (still to be checked) and a leg of one of the chairs which can be repaired with some paint:

Wouter supervising proceedings as all the boxes and cartons were checked off against their list:

Wouter was pleased when the boat was unloaded - there was a flat tyre as someone had secured a nail which punctured through, otherwise all appears to be ok:

And we thought the shed (hangar) was big enough, but that also filled up quickly:

Most of the cartons had "books" written on the top, but I'm sure we don't have that many. We are missing a lot of kitchen things, so I think they are probably in cartons marked books - this picture I've called "Books 'R' Us":

And finally, some luxury seating after all those weeks on wooden fold up chairs (that is, before we bought our two nice IKEA seats) and a real dining table from which to eat in our still camp kitchen:

It was an overwhelming couple of days. Cassy was unsettled - I guess by now he's figured out that lots of boxes mean we are moving house. At the end of the day we were still here and he was delighted to find his pink rubber ball, which has taken pride of place beside the green one... the only thing left for him to make it paradise is his duvet.

We are not unpacked by any means - as you know we are in the middle of tiling, grouting and doing the kitchen. So there are no cupboards ready to take the kitchenware and we're still camping in the lounge for now. Apart from finding some useful tools to help our installation of kitchen and associated work, we will unpack a few things we need (like warmer clothes, dressing gown, etc) otherwise it will stay in boxes until required and the rooms are ready.

Container

Hi Folks,

hot off the press and happening as we speak - pictures later - a quick post to tell you all that the container with our belongings arrived in Marseille last week. We had a phone call to say they would deliver our things today and tomorrow. Lo and behold, they arrived with two very large trucks at 9:30 this morning.

Must admit that we were both pleasantly surprised by this as it took four weeks to leave nz and we thought we'd have about the same waiting time here with unloading, customs clearance and transporting etc. But no, only one week (note that this is not the day to day speed of officialdom in France). Perhaps all our translating paid off.

We both had a restless night imagining all sorts of things as well as being a little excited at the prospect of being able to live "properly" again.

So far so good - everything appears to be in order and Wouter is managing where everything goes while I continue with grouting the tiles in kitchen/dining.

Just a thanks to all the people who have sent us cards, postcards and letters over the last few weeks - it's wonderful to have some handwritten news from near and far and helps us to feel a little less isolated.

When You're Tiling

It was a gloomy week weather-wise, but not to worry as we an action packed week with plenty to do inside and deliveries.

Monday saw the delivery of our kitchen units from IKEA (apres-midi, they said, but turned up at 7:30am and found us both still in bed!) We were both surprised and happy at the same time as we've heard lots of stories about deliveries not turning up at the agreed time. Wouter has checked all the boxes and made sure we have what we want (or rather we received what we ordered, so there's a start!)

The delivery also included some frames for the chairs we bought a couple of weeks ago - most of you know we are sort of camping until our container arrives, so we decided to get a chair each from IKEA so we could sit more comfortably in the evenings. The wooden chairs we have are fine for meals, but to sit and watch a movie or just relax they are not so nice any more. So off we went to the aisle and bay printed out by the lovely saleswoman, and picked the cushions and frames. It was the end of the day and we'd already been on the road a few hours, so we didn't think to check the serial number.... The next day I had a go at assembling them but found we had picked up child's frames, which are even too small for me - ha ha. So called IKEA who kindly put the correct frames in with the kitchen delivery. Monday morning I put these two together and we both sat there blissfully for 10 minutes to enjoy the luxury seating.

Tuesday was the start day for the electrician who is here to do a few things like put in more points for the new kitchen, replace the old wiring, make sure everything is in working order, etc. He is currently, pardon the pun, working in the kitchen and as soon as he's done there we (Wouter) will start assembling the units - that's after the tiling is done.

Tiles were delivered on Tuesday afternoon and tiling began in earnest on Thursday (a back breaking job and a half). The tiles were delivered all shrink wrapped so it was a surprise to find that after some rain the boxes were all wet inside the wrapping. Today I have been apprenticed as tile assistant, so I have learnt how to spread cement on the under side of tiles and deliver them to a waiting tiler.... the things you learn (a bit different from the University, that's for sure!)

Back to the electricity - it was necessary to cut grooves in the walls to reroute some of the wires and make some new points - alas, plaster on the other side of the wall fell out leaving some holes. However, looking on the bright side, this was the perfect opportunity to make a start with stripping the wallpaper in the hallway.

The next electrical thing we have to organise is the puissance (electrical loading) as every time we put on more than one item which uses a fair bit of power the fuse blows, meaning we have no electricity through the whole house. We will get this changed as Wouter needs heavy amperage for his workshop.

Wednesday we had the chimney sweep come and clean out the chimney - apparently it wasn't too bad, but we can really see the difference after having had it cleaned.

After the gloomy weather at the start of the week, today was a real stunner of a day - also quite warm, so perfect to do the tiling, finish early and end with the proverbial glass of wine.

Picture from last week of Pic Canigou with snowtop taken from the top of Cambieure:

An Awful Lot of Coffee in Brazil

Woodcut print of coffee bean with permission from Wouter, the artist (see link to his website below for more information)

A friend of ours recently visited and brought some Robert Harris (Irish Creme - my favourite) coffee - filter and plunger grind - from NZ - each time I make this, Wouter says - that was a nice coffee, so I know he likes it as much as I do. (Actually it should read MADE as it's all gone, hence my desperate quest for some decent coffee).

Two weeks ago we made a trip to Toulouse to go to IKEA and order our new kitchen. We also bought a lot of other things at IKEA, one of which was a plunger coffee pot.

The reason: we have a stove top coffee maker and another on the way. To make nice coffee in the stove-top coffee pot, you need coarse ground coffee. Alors, we have looked high and low and tried all sorts of coffee from the shops, but none is coarsley ground. It's just moulu - ground - and the only moulu coffee we have found so far is ground to a powder. If you make stove-top coffee with powder, then most of it gets into the cup when you pour and you feel you need a coffee filter on your teeth.

So, when we got the IKEA plunger, there were instructions in 24 languages on how to clean, dismantle, use and maintain your new coffee plunger device. Aha, I thought, in English it says to use coarsely ground coffee - so over to the page francais with excitement to finally find out the French equivalent of coarse grind which has so far eluded us. But it just said "moulu". So I have come to the conclusion that you cannot buy coarse ground coffee in France and need a coffee machine to grind your own.

The next problem of finding a coffee grinder (at least temporarily) was solved by other friends loaning us one of theirs. But we still need to find our own at some stage. Other than that, we are looking for some nice beans to grind - the first packet I bought looked promising, but the taste is not that nice - shall we say the earth from our garden might have tasted nicer, although Wouter thinks this is a little exaggerated ... Luckily I didn't buy the kilo pack!

It just so happens that Robert, one of Wouter's sons, runs a lovely little coffee shop in Raglan, and also roasts his own, so we might have to put in a special order if he delivers world-wide!

See Roberts website for more details on his coffee expedition:

http://www.raglanroast.co.nz/index.html

and Wouter's site on the coffee print: http://www.acwwoodcuts.com/Site/Woodcut_prints/About_Woodcuts/Coffee_bean_in_roasted_state.ashx

Update - we've spoken with Robert the coffee expert who tells us we might be lucky if we buy espresso grind as it could be coarser - next time we shop we'll buy some and report back.