Week 33

This week was more productive as I accomplished some of the tasks on my to-do list. And I went on an excursion with a group of seniors! Here is this week’s blog.

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Accomplishments

I put my mind to some tasks this week so I could winnow down my to-do list. I submitted all the documents for my taxes to the accounting firm I’m working with this year. I started pulling together the pieces I’ll need for my residence permit. And the pile of boxes I was ignoring has finally been broken down and recycled.

I also successfully made a phone call. This is a challenge on two fronts – I find it harder to communicate in French on the phone and I don’t get a signal in my apartment. Text messages are fine, as are any internet-based apps like Whatsapp. But there’s no cell signal because the stone walls are too thick so I have to go outside to talk on the phone. This week, I found a step to sit on and fumbled my way through a call. I’m now considering getting a landline!

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A field trip

I joined a group of French seniors this week to go for a tour of the Belvédère fish auction in Grau d’Agde, a fishing port that sits on the Mediterranean at the mouth of the Herault River. I still don’t picture myself as a senior but it seemed like another good opportunity to practice French so I thought I’d give it a go. It was a wonderful afternoon, in spite of rainy, blustery weather.

I was pleased with how much of the presentation I understood. One of the rooms was a bit echoey which made it a bit difficult but, overall, I got the gist. I went to the Belvédère website when I got home to supplement my understanding.

The Belvédère is a seafood marketing facility that’s sells to professionals like wholesalers, fishmongers, restaurateurs, etc. rather than individuals. Seafood that’s caught in the morning is sold in the afternoon of the same day. Because of weather conditions, there were no boats out in the morning so, unfortunately, we didn’t get to watch an actual auction.

Anchovies, octopus, red tuna, sea bass, swordfish and more – over 1,500 tons of fish are sold each year from ten trawlers and nearly a hundred small fishing boats. Crates of fish are placed on a conveyor belt in a room with theatre-style seating. The fish are photographed with a machine that also records quality, size and weight.

The auction used to involve an auctioneer and raising of hands. Now, information is displayed on the screen for the seller, and buyers use a device with a button which they press when they want to buy the fish.

I know they talked about regulations and other processes, but that part flew past me. We ended the tour with a dégustation or tasting. I tried fish salad, little toasties with octopus paste, and a puréed fish soup. And wine, of course. It was the perfect end to the afternoon.

Here are a few photos.

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Song of the week

This part of France supposedly experiences 300 days of sunshine a year. I think we have had two full days of sun in the last couple of months, so we must be close to our 65 days of grey. I hope so! The forecast for later this week looks promising. Here comes the sun!

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À bientôt .