Opera in Orange

Last summer a group of us went to the opera in the old Roman theatre in Orange. When we arrived, it was 42 degrees, the hottest place in France that day. The performances don't begin until almost 10pm when the sun has gone down, and last until the wee hours of the next morning. Even when we left at 2am, the temperature was still in the high 30's. We saw Aida. We really enjoyed it and decided to make the pilgrimmage again this summer.

The roman theatre is an amazing place. It seats 9000 people. We have the cheap seats up top, where if you're lucky, you get a breeze, and not so lucky, the occasional strains of the passing TGV. You clamber up 2000 year old steps and sit on large slabs of ancient stone. Cushion mandatory. The atmosphere's exciting as the town fills with spectators and we all file into the theatre. When the conductor comes to the podium, the crowd hushes down in an instant, waiting for the orchestra to strike up the first notes. Spine-tingling stuff.

This year the opera was Madama Butterfly. Eight of us went from Roujan and met up with my friends Hugh and Margo, who live not far from Orange, on the posh side of the Rhone. Margo had kindly done several rekkies to find us a nice cafe for dinner. Here's the Opera Gang.

L to R: Michelle, Alex, Margo, Yvonne, Hugh, Justin, Poppy, J de P, and Erzsi.

We were catching up over a drink when Jean de Pouzolles said, I don't wish to worry you, but look over your shoulder. The sky was black and it seemed to be heading our way. We were all reminded of our friends, Teddy & Nicola, who have more often than not experienced orages in Orange. If it rains, everyone goes home. Tickets are good for the following evening, but not so practical when you've come a long way.

At dinner, we felt the odd drop. Rumour ran through the town that the musicians were deciding whether or not to play. In the end, the show went on, but compared to last year, it was like being there in a completely different season. It didn't rain, but boy was it cold. We were wrapped up in everything we brought. Still, we had a good time as the smiles here will attest, or were the Goslings just putting a brave face on it?

Recycling

The day the dusty door-enlarging work began, Michelle and I returned from lunch to see these beautiful stones in the back of the builders' lorry. We glanced at each other, and in the same breath said, garden! We brought the trusty wheelbarrow round and began to pick over the detritus, rescuing these stunning rocks from ignominious dumping at the dechetterie to their new home marking borders in the garden. The builder said they were pierres de Pezenas, the local stone. I'm so glad Michelle & I didn't linger at the cafe over another glass of wine and saved them. I think they're really beautiful.

Hobbits Be Gone

Mr Kelly said he could send the boys round for a week. Of the many jobs at LFH, please would I prioritize which I'd like done first. This was a bit of a no-brainer. There were two doors I had to bend in half to walk through. If they weren't enlarged, I'd have no brains left if I forgot to duck at the appropriate moment. Since I'm still camping in the living room, these were the only portals to the rest of the house, and more importantly, the bathroom in the middle of the night. After I'd parted my hair a couple of times without sustaining lasting damage, enlarging the Hobbit doors moved right to the top of the list.

The quaint front door. Looks like it should be in the bottom of a large tree in a fairy tale. The top was at the height of my shoulder.



I was jubilant to witness the beginning of its demise.



Et voila!

One down, one to go. Both these doors are located in the base of the old pigeonnier, so the walls are structural, very thick and made of stone. The door leading from the bedroom to the hallway proved a little more challenging. I not only wanted this doorway raised, but the whole thing moved slightly to one side. When heavy-duty drilling wasn't doing the trick, it was discovered that here the tower was made of re-inforced concrete in iron cage supports. A meaner, nastier tool duly arrived, powered by a compressor that shook the neighbourhood.

A larger hole had to be made to accomodate the new lintels. The door you see on the other side is the former Hobbit door, now already full-size.

And here is the new bedroom door in place. Note the thickness of the wall, here over 70 cm.




When I was contemplating the purchase of this house, Teddy said, don't let the doors put you off, you can make a house worthy of your height. It made an impression on me, and now it's true. I no longer have to stoop. But it's funny I should write this today. I've just this minute had the estimate for phase 2 of the building works. I might not be crouching, but I am on my knees. Ouch!