Denise: How to frenchify yourself

Katharine: Springing into Summer at Orla's

Photo credits:  Peggy F

AWG's Spring into Summer apero has been called the Farewell Apero in the past;  but we all like it so much here in the Languedoc over summer that most of us stay.........so the Board re-named it Spring into Summer Apero, and it was held at Orla's delightful home on a warm summer evening.  Several members of the Cook&Eat group - Caroline, Anne, Peggy F and
Katharine C, accompanied by Orla's family and led by Orla  - prepared canapes
throughout the afternoon, and the evening's wonderful spread was enhanced
by dishes that people brought, including a wide range of desserts.

Orla made us lunch before we began work

l to r:  Orla, Nuala, Orla and Clara, Katharine, Caroline, Anne

Orla's Mom Nuala, on vacation from Ireland, worked with the group. Here she is working on a chicken canape.

The working team made a series of canapes, including verrines of ratatouille and other vegetables, Anne is working on pea puree spoons, that were topped with a piece of fish, and those potatoes below are about to be roasted.   The canapes had a Mediterranean theme.  There was a lot to prepare,  but many hands and all that.....

Sue Rou, Julie, Leslie, Nuala, Appoline L, Caroline, Phil C

Nuala, Orla, Luc and Hannah

Leslie, Caroline, Michel, Phil

Kim, Susan Rey, Katharine C, Linda

Lateef checking out the trees in the garden

Many of us sat outside, enjoying the early sights and sounds of an enchanting summer evening.  

Very many thanks to Orla, (and of course her family including her mother Nuala, daughter Clara, and her friend Orla),  for hosting a splendid evening full of conviviality, along with all those wonderful dishes that everyone brought. Many great cooks in AWG!

Katharine: AWG's 2nd annual golf tournament at Massane

Photo credits:  Sue Rich and Katharine C

Golfers are very prompt people - they don't wish to miss their tee-time - so a large group of those playing 18 holes  was already assembled at 07.45.  They were well-fortified with continental breakfast and fruit scones, pumpkin cake, clementine cake and other breakfast items.  A big shout-out to the AWG bakers who made breakfast:  Mary-Catherine, Cerese, Sue Rich, Gill F, Katharine C.  Sue and Katharine drove the hospitality golf cart, and brought cold drinks and cake to the golfers
throughout the morning - much appreciated, especially by the men playing, who clearly hadn't had much sustenance before starting their 18 holes (and really liked that homemade cake).

Each foursome was divided into a red pair/blue pair

Cerese makes sure everyone has their card;   Sue was already active on camera duty

Phil, Tom and Nick

Phil and Christina partnered on the blue team 

 

 

Kim, Linda, Nuala and Ross on the 14th hole - Orla was walking the course with them

See their happy smiles as they make it to the 18th hole

Another group reaches the 18th;  that's Bob H second to right

Albert & Nicole (red team);  Phil & Christina (blues)

This was a community event - so Cerese partnered two American brothers with two French ladies

The golfers are more than ready for their lunch after being on the course for over 5 hours

Lunch on the terrace, overlooking the beautiful golf course

Prize-giving - Kim with Orla's Mom Nuala, who partnered Ross

Two happy winners with Cerese and Mary-Catherine

Is it Kevin Spacey appearing as Bobby Darin?  No, it's Ross, winner of the prize for best-dressed male golfer

This year, there wasn't a prize for the table having the most fun.  Had there been..... the anglophone table would have won.  Next year maybe? 

A great day of golf, great weather, many laughs, & some (I have to say it) pretty deplorable hacking shots, and a real sense of community between the players from Golf de Massane and AWG.  Those
from AWG who participated were Ross, Nuala and Orla, Linda, Kim, Bob H
(Debra's husband), and Phil and his sons Nick and Thomas.   Thanks go to Sue Rich and Mary-Catherine for their support throughout the day,  as well as the bakers, whose efforts were greatly appreciated. 

And a huge vote of thanks to Cerese for the countless hours spent in organising the event, developing the player schedule, corralling very good prizes for the golfers, and for the huge amount of coordination with the management of Golf de Massane - whom we thank for their cooperation in the event, and for putting on a marvellous buffet lunch.