A week of winds, pills and pasta

Some weeks have a theme, and this one’s was wind—howling, relentless, and determined to push me over. But let’s start at the beginning.

The week began delightfully in Devon, where spring flirted with the landscape. Mild weather, pleasant temperatures—England at its most charming. I made the most of it, fully aware that this tranquility wouldn’t last. And sure enough, my Wednesday flight home delivered me back to a world of rain, grey clouds, and the aforementioned wind. A proper welcome committee.

Thursday was dedicated to my quarterly medical pit stop: blood tests, a doctor’s visit, and the replenishment of my pharmaceutical arsenal for the next three months. Not quite the adventure one dreams of, but essential nonetheless. One must stay in shape to face the trials of life, particularly when those trials include near-hurricane-force gales.

Friday was much more satisfying—we tested out a brand-new fresh pasta restaurant that had just opened its doors. First impressions? Success. Good food, good company, and an excellent distraction from the persistent wind attempting to make a name for itself.

Undeterred by the weather, we set off on Saturday for a weekend visit to my cousin Dominique in Ortaffa. The journey included a pit stop in Port Leucate for a quick bite, which almost didn’t happen as everything was closed. Finding an open restaurant felt like an extreme sport, made even trickier by the wind’s apparent mission to see me flat on the pavement. I wobbled, stumbled, and very nearly achieved liftoff, but perseverance prevailed.

The evening took us to Villeneuve de la Raho, where we enjoyed a charming dinner in a friendly restaurant. The wind, ever the overachiever, kept pushing against the right side of the car as if determined to reroute our evening plans. It failed. Dinner was excellent, and back at home, we settled the world’s affairs over a whisky nightcap (or two). The idea was to stay up until 2 a.m. to witness the change to summer time, but fatigue won that battle.

Sunday morning greeted us with clear blue skies—finally! The wind, however, remained insistent. The plan? A seaside aperitif before lunch, followed by a relaxed afternoon drive home. If the wind allows it, that is.

Here’s to another week ahead—preferably with less risk of being airborne.