Not such a quiet weekend finalement

Castellas de Montpeyroux

Last weekend I thought I'd be really lazy. The boys were kicking up a storm about not wanting to do either their mountain biking sessions or the competition on Sunday so I decided to let them off. Sunday would require a really early start to get to Laudun near Avignon, complete with picnic lunch and all biking stuff and I frankly couldn't be fagged.

In the end though, far from being lazy, it was jammed packed with activities.

We'll gloss over Saturday morning chores and go for the jugular visit to the 11th century Castellas de Montpeyroux. My youngest is very keen on visiting ruined castles. He loves the Medieval period and has much of the kit and weaponry (much of it bought from Weobly Castle, Gower). I'd seen it on a bike ride so when he asked if we could do something in the afternoon, I suggested going to the castle. It's not far from St Guilhem le Desert, perched above the tiny village of Le Barry.

Unfortunately, when we reached the ruins, they were all closed off for restoration so we could only walk around the perimeter and look at the stunning panoramic view over the Hérault valley. I thought it was terrific, he thought it was nul so we walked back down, through the village with its lovely stone houses and Nintendo 64 game noises emanating out through a window somewhere.

On Sunday, I took him to le Grand Bleu, pool complex in La Grande Motte because he has to pass a 25m swimming test and definitely needs a bit of training to smarten up his strokes. I got in several lengths too. My eldest is now way too cool to want to do things with his mum and little bro. He was mooching around with his mates back home somewhere.

In the afternoon I took my youngest and his pal to the fête Medieval at Les Matelles. I've been before and it's great fun, but this time I was there in time to see the jousting show complete with 3 knights, 2 damsels; fighting, jousting, combat, baddies, romance, brawling broads. We shouted for our favourite, booed the others, along with several hundred other people watching from the slope which overlooked the show-ground. 

We visited all the stands; my youngest bought another knight's tabard (white on red) and an axe with his birthday money. I bought wine, including a stunning white apero wine based on a medieval recipe full of spices from the Silk Route produced by the Chateau d'Exindre at Villeneuve les Maguelone. It's one that Henry III ordered for Christmas 1251 from that very same producer (several generations ago).

There's living history for you.

So, not such a quiet weekend, but certainly one that was more amusing than attending the usual vtt activities. Lots of fun and quite a bit of exercise thrown in too. I'm feeling quite energised!

Les Matelles en Fete

Now is the month of May, with days off galore and more
The sun is out, hurrah, we shout, but cream up or you'll be sore!

On Thursday May 1 while some were celebrating this Commie day with demonstrations and serious complaining, we went to the beach. We went again today and I'm now a rather dramatic colour in varying shades of browny pinky red. The weather is beautiful - not too hot, but sunny with a gentle breeze. The kids have been in the water, been searching for crabs, playing footie and generally taking in lots of fresh sea air.

Yesterday was the Medieval fête at Les Matelles, our local pretty Medieval village. I took my boys plus another 6 year old friend of my youngest. The three boys were thrilled because of the prospect of much weaponry to be seen and potentially bought. I was feeling a bit rough, and did not go shopping on Saturday morning with the result that we had nothing to eat in the house at lunch time, so we made pancakes. I then managed to drag myself out with the boys and drove us to this very attractive village. We went early enough in the afternoon to be able to park and try the activities without huge queues.

As we arrived, one of the first stands were saw was selling wooden swords and other medieval essentials such as shields, bows & arrow sets, crossbows, tabards, slings and daggers. Naturally, the boys fell on it with glee and suggested that it might help them understand the Medieval fête if they were able to wield the odd weapon. Naturally, I refused and told them we'd see if they were good.

A saintly aura overcame all three and we trotted off to look at the rest of the displays. Participants kitted out in full Medieval gear showed us metal helmets, real swords in their leather sheaths, chain-mail, the making of chain-mail, the writing implements, and how to make armour. There was also a stand where you could play the board games around then, and a whole section full of wooden games of various sorts courtesy of the Compagnie des Jeux du Monde. All free.

Having played on the games, tried the juggling, the writing with a bit of stick, and admired all the stands selling real daggers and vicious-looking swords, the boys finished up having a sword fight each with one of the participants using a pretend foam sword. It looked great fun and they all had a good go at getting down to some action.

Finally, I was reminded that we had to go and look at the wooden sword stand on our way out - how could I forget - which is what we did. The stand - Caribou Nature - was full of incredibly appealing toys weapons, and as I would prefer the boys play energetically outside, and I would have loved to have had such toys when I was young, I bought a cross-bow, a bow & arrow set and a sword and horn. It was very gratifying seeing the sheer joy on the faces of the boys, and pride as they carried their weapons back to the car. As I told them, they had been well-behaved and sensible about staying close together, and as such deserved a little pressie.

It was a super afternoon, full of action, interesting things to see and learn about, and all free. Definitely one to do again next year.