It is getting harder and harder being a Frenchman living in Scotland, we are , as you know a proud nation and very patriotic when it comes to supporting our foootball or rugby team...quel dommage!!!

From now on, I think I am going to stick to cooking and mushroom picking and maybe concentrate on my petanque skills. What else is there to do?

Well, I must admit Scotland played very well and took their ONLY chance very well indeed, they also show to those French over paid super stars, how to play the game. It is easy when you know how...PUT THE BALL IN THE NET!!!

Anyway, then there is the Rugby and that is where it hurts; all summer I followed the progress of the team, argued with the coach about the style, the selection etc.. then we twice beat an English team of semi retired players, I warned them to be careful. Do they listen to me? Do cry for me ...Argentina...

But being a blind, passionate rugby supporter, I still kept the Champagne in the fridge for THAT final, New-Zealand-France, I even place a wee bet on France to....go all the way!!!!!! allez les Bleus!!

Right, I am glad I got that off my chest, back to business, ....

What a summer we had; the festival once again has been very good for us, and we are looking toward Autumn with confidence. Our new chef Hubert is really settling in and has already made a few changes to our menu. He is a good listener too; I am looking forward to the Hubert-Julie partnership, Providing Julie can cope with Hubert’s sense of humour !!! If those two manage to keep the team together, I should have plenty of time to perfection my mushroom picking skills. All that for the pleasure of the La Garrigue clientele, of course!!

We have two great events coming soon, the first one is a Provencal Evening, on the 17th of October, with a very special menu created by Hubert, based around the famous "AIOLI" and the second, on the 6th of November,( five days before my birthday, thank you), is an evening with Samuel Guibert De La Vaissiere, owner and wine maker from The Domaine De Daumas Gassac. Samuel has promised to bring with him some of the finest vintages from the Domaine. This is going to be a spectacular five course dinner; Hubert and myself are really going to work hard to make sure the food matches the quality of the wines...some challenge!

The only thing is, we need to limit the numbers of dinners to 25, so please book early !

OK, I know how busy you all are so I am going to let you go now, I may watch South Africa-England tonight, but only if Julie gives me the night off....I'll let you know.

A BIENTOT,

J-Michel