Week 5 2015

Hello,

One of the lovely things about living here is that friends and neighbours always generously share the fruits of their gardens when they have a glut.

I was delighted therefore, when my friend called up to let me know she’d left some fruit on my doorstep… and what a fruit it was!  This is an enormous 6 ½ kg melon d’Espagne.  It is a late harvest melon and although common in the Gironde is relatively unknown in the rest of the world.  ‘You make jam’ was the only clue I had.

 

Frantic internet research followed and it’s true, the only real use for this melon (also known as pie melon or jam melon) is indeed jam!  The inside is reminiscent of a watermelon in smell, though the texture is denser and the colour quite different.

I have spent the day preparing the melon for jam making tomorrow.  Almost all the recipes recommend leaving the fruit and the sugar together overnight before boiling.  I shall keep you posted on the results.  Meanwhile, I have a huge amount of seed taken from the flesh, so if you’d like some to grow your own melons d’Espagne send me an email with your address and I’ll post you some. (see below for updates)

Whatever you do, visit or make this week in the Gironde and Dordogne regions, have a great week.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 5 2015

Monday 26 January

Tuesday 27 January

Wednesday 28 January

28 January : Weekly Pool Competition at la Cave des Chevaliers, Villefranche de Longchat.  For more information call 05 57 19 10 78

28 January 21h45 : The Imitation Game is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain's top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.  Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightly and Matthew Goode.

Thursday 29 January

29 January 19h45 : The Imitation Game is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

Friday 30 January

30 January 13h45 : The Imitation Game is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

30 January : Weekly Quiz night at the Gensake in Gensac. We're getting ready for FRIDAY!! Get swatting ladies and gentlemen. We will have new teams and some stiff competition taking part in this Pub Quiz Challenge. Our Bamber Gascoigne of the week is Phil Bussell, so perhaps we'll have a few questions about Oz thrown in the bag..... errr can you name the Australian Prime Minister? Heads down, pens at the ready, a pint of beer and a curry with an onion bahji PLEASE!  

Call ahead to reserve a table and book your supper – homemade curry or fish’n’chips 05 57 47 41 04

Saturday 31 January

31 January : The Theatre Family day is offering a selection of dates in MOuliets et Villemartin.  Follow the link to show when you would be interested.

http://doodle.com/tfn93eqvmuq5rfn7

31 January 21h : Comic theatre at the Salle Leo Drouyn in Pujols. Entrance €5

31 January 20h : The 2^nd Edition of  Match D’Improvisation Theatrale organised BY Amicale Laique in La Reole.  Entrance €5

 

31 January – 1 February : Orchid Exhibition at the Salle Polyvalent in Ste Foy la Grande.  If you like all things orchid related, then this is the place for you.  The varieties of Orchid is amazing.

Sunday 1 February

1 February:  The Brocante at Place Cayla et place de la Mirpe in Bergerac.  I think this is held on the first Sunday of each month.

1 February : Bourse au vêtements et Vide Poussette in Pujols.

1 February : Weekly flea market in Rauzan.  Still no proper restaurant, but you can get soups and snacks and oysters and wine and there is a regular organic produce stall just by the entrance.

 

1 February 15h30 : New Year concert given by the Orchestres d’Harmonie du Pays Castillonais et du Pays de Bergerac at the Centre Cultural, Castillon

1 February 15h30 :  Le Choeur Voyagers perform at the Grande eglise in Villefranch de Longchat.

 

1 February 20h30 : The Imitation Game is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

 

Coming up…

RNA Aquitaine will be holding their monthly lunch on Wednesday 11th February.  The time is 1200' 

and the location, the Hotel du Nord, Tombeboeuf.
Membership of the Royal Naval Association is open to all serving and former members of the RN, RM, WRNS and QARNNS, and their families. Contact Ken Napier 0553 017280.

And finally…

The melon jam story so far...

Day 1 

   Cut up melon (removing all seeds), add diced confit ginger, sliced lemon peel and lemon juice.

   Pour over sugar and leave overnight

Day 2
   The sugar has drawn all the liquid out of the melon and so I transferred it to the jam pan and switched on the heat.

3 hours later the jam is showing no signs whatsoever of setting, I've added yet more lemon juice and grated in an apple and it's still runny.  In desperation I put it into the jars hoping it would set as it cools.

Day3
The jam has cooled and is still completely liquid.  I'm at a loss... sugary melon syrup anyone???