Thursday, 19 January 2012

Market Day just before Christmas

We were very sorry to have missed the Christmas market itself, due to the terrible weather, but we did get to the ordinary monthly market just before Christmas (22 Dec 2011), to see what was for sale.  I took a few photos, so you could see we were not short of food over the holiday period.





 No shortage of apples!!




Cheeses for everyone.


The French eat masses of oysters over Christmas and New Year and there certainly were plenty here.  


There is usually a lot of livestock at the monthly markets, but there was not so much here, being Christmas, I guess.

Cold feet?  Plenty of colourful choice here to keep them warm!

Cold tummy? You could have a feast on this hot paella.

 Every rainwater downpipe, or street sign, throughout the town, seemed to have  a small tree tied to it.

and 
back home again to enjoy the oysters which we bought :-)) They are very cheap at the market; this 'bakers' dozen cost €4.40

89 comments:

  1. Hello Diane:
    No, you were certainly never going to go hungry with such a marvellous array of goodies on sale at the market. The cheeses look amazingly good and such variety. That is something we really miss in Hungary.

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  2. Jane and Lance I think we are spoilt for the choice of cheeses here. The only one I miss is stilton but I even saw that on the shelves here at Christmas :) Diane

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  3. love this fresh produce


    Aarthi
    http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/

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  4. Looks lovely, almost like it was here, except for the livestock. I love the looks of that cheese, I could spend a lot of time in a cheese shop. The oysters sound good too, perfect way to end the year.

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  5. I love the French markets - they have so much choice of fresh produce and it's lovely to see all that colour. Great photos.

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  6. Beautiful pictures, amazing produce and colours!

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  7. Oh my! At this time of the year, it's a marvelous sight, indeed.

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  8. I love seeing all the colourful produce on the street. It reminds me of when I lived in our nation's capital just steps from the marketplace.

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  9. What a fabulous market. Hope you enjoyed those oysters. I tried one last year and it wouldn't do down my throat hardly at all to the huge amusement of my French neighbours at whose house we were welcoming in the new year!

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  10. Aarthi I was amazed how much there was at the market in mid-winter. Diane

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  11. Lyndsey there is usually masses of livestock but I guess with the colder weather it was not a good idea to have them all out during the day. The cheeses at the market are fantastic, but they seem to be much more expensive that in the supermarkets who have an excellent selection. Diane

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  12. Thanks Jean. We used to have a pretty good market in Wantage, but nothing like the markets here that just take over the whole town. It seems that pedestrians have right away so one drives with great care!! Diane

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  13. Boye By Red there is always so much colour in the markets here. Clothes, fruit and veg. Diane

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  14. Rosaria despite it not being a Christmas market as such, it was certainly very cheerful. Diane

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  15. Torviewtoronto we have great markets here, always colourful and a good place to meet people. Diane

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  16. Joyful I just love the markets here, the colour, the wide selection and the noise of all the French talking at the same time. Just wish my French was good enough to understand it all LOL. Diane

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  17. Bravo pour ces photos très colorées du marché: les chaussettes sont bien amusantes!
    Par ici, on ne voit plus de poules vivantes sur le marché!
    Diane votre français progresse, continuez ainsi!

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  18. Vera we both love oysters, I can imagine though if you are not used to them it may not be easy to swallow them:) I like them just fresh and plain, Nigel always likes them with a little tabasco. Diane

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  19. Luci, merci pour vos aimables commentaires. Mon français est terrible mais j'essaie! Oui les chaussettes sont bien amusantes :)) Diane

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  20. Those fresh produce looks very enticing. I miss that kind of market!

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  21. What a wonderful array of food - it all looks fresh and wonderful. I'd love to go to a market as good at that one looks.

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  22. I am drooling over those oysters@@ what a bon marche!!! Our farmer's market gets very very small after Christmas... not nearly so many things!

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  23. Love the colourful pictures of the fruit in the Market, and would really love to sample some of the produce on the fromage stall - mmm I can taste it now - heaven !

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  24. love French markets thanks for sharing

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  25. All that wonderful fresh food. The market is wonderful. Surprised you could carry all the bags of goodies away.

    And oysters, oh yum!

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  26. a dozen for 4,40 - a very good price!

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  27. Wonderful photographs Diane, thank you.

    SP

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  28. chubskulit there is masses of produce always with much fun and activity. Diane

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  29. Ellie it is impossible not to enjoy the markets here, they are always so much fun. Diane

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  30. lostpastremembered we seemed to have as much as normal other than the livestock. There did though appear to be lots of colour, perhaps it was all the citrus fruit around. The oysters were delicious :-)) Diane

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  31. Mister D I am sure as an artist the colour would appeal to you. I have to admit the cheeses here are very tasty :) Diane

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  32. Rebecca we are lucky we get two small markets per week and then one huge one once a month. They are always fun. Diane

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  33. Gaeylyn. We actually only came home with oysters and some fruit. I still have masses of vegetable stored from summer and quite a bit still in the garden. Diane

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  34. Ola that is about the middle price, there are some cheaper and some more expensive. Those looked the best value size for price :) Diane

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  35. SP I so enjoy walking around the markets here and this seemed a particularly colourful one. Diane

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  36. Beautiful pictures and vivid colors!
    A very pleasing reportage!
    too bad I cant eat most of what is there, except... the oysters!!
    Hope your are well!
    Love and à bientôt!

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  37. Un beau marché plein de couleurs.
    A très bientôt

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  38. The French open air markets are so vibrant and colourful. Our local market is covered and it is just not the same.

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  39. Noushka thank goodness we both can eat anything. If I was in your shoes though I would happily live on oysters LOL. Diane

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  40. Nadji J'aime les marchés ici en France. Ils sont de plus excitant que le Royaume-Uni! A très bientôt. Diane

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  41. cheshire wife I have to agree. We had a lovely covered market in Oxford but it is not the same. The little open air one in Wantage had much more character. Diane

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  42. Having just returned from a few days in Montemboeuf it was great to see your photos of the market in Chasseneuil :)

    We had beautiful sunny but cold days while we were over, but unfortunately didn't have time to visit any markets; we even missed the tiny one in Montemboeuf!

    Hope you are now returned to full health x

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  43. Jacky you were lucky, we had that fantastic spell when the skies were blue, and although it was chilly it was quite pleasant. The last 3 days we are back to grey skies and damp drizzle again. Thank goodness we have a good wood burner!!

    Nigel is pretty much over his flu but he says he does not feel 100%. As for me there is little change in the cough......

    We have at last sorted out all the papers for our car, and we now have a French registration. Also after many phone calls to the pensions office in the UK with no success, it seems that CPAM at last is going ahead with our carte vitale. When do you make the final move as you will have all this to go through? If you need any help..... Cheers Diane

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  44. What a wonderful array of food to whet the holiday appetite. It must be such fun to shop in this type of market for the holidays. Alas, ours all close just before Thanksgiving day. Thank you for letting me know about the links. They have all been restored. Have a wonderful weekend. Blessings...Mary

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  45. Thanks Mary will be back on your site in a moment to look up those wonderful recipes. Our markets are all year round and they are wonderful:) Take care Diane

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  46. I love markets, lovely photos, very similar to Italian markets really :-).

    Ciao
    Alessandra

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  47. Wandering through the weekly markets is one of my favorite things to do in Provence. I am always amazed and inspired by all of the produce and other food products that are on display. I have never been to a market in Provence where there is any live stock.

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  48. Alessandra, yes I can imagine that the Italian markets would be quite similar. One day maybe I will get to see one for myself :) Diane

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  49. chcmichel, we have a small market on Saturday and Wednesday each week. On the 22nd of the month, we have a big market which takes over the whole town and that is when we always have livestock for sale. Diane

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  50. Hi Diane, So sorry you are not yet both fully fit :(

    We are aiming to be moving over end March/early April and are busy packing up and decorating here in Dorset. Would love to be able to pick your brains about beaurocracy, where best to buy bois de chauffage etc, but don't know how to be in touch apart from on your blog!

    Let me know, and in the meantime I really hope you are both fit soon, Jacky x

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  51. Everything looks so fresh and tasty. I enjoy farmer's markets so much.
    Your weather looks wonderful..snowing here again..
    Hope you and husband are feeling better. Wishing you both the best.
    Enjoy the week..
    xoCarolyn

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  52. Flowers and fruits in an outdoor market here would have been horribly wilted before they were even set up! It's so pretty that it wouldn't even matter if you needed food: just go for the aesthetic value of the place!

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  53. GREAT MARKET DEAR DIANE, I ENJOYED EVERY PICTURE, BUT THESE OYSTERS ARE TOOOOO MUCH, IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I HAVE NOT TRIED THEM. MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS...BIG HUG

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  54. aahh Diane I enjoyed this post all look amazing and deliucious!! love to see the cheese, the fruits all! thanks by sharing!

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  55. Lovely photos and lovely blog :D
    Now i´m follower, i invite you to visit my blog and if you like it, you can be follower too, i hope you enjoy it, and it has a traslator
    xoxo from Spain
    http://janakitchen.blogspot.com

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  56. Jacky just take a look at my profile and there is an email link. Easy :-)
    We have been lucky with wood as our neighbours, to date, have supplied us, but I am sure that the one will be able to come up with some answers near your area. If not the roofing guy who has become a personal friend works all over, I am sure we will get some answers there. There have been a few complications over moving wood as now all tractors have to be licensed if they go on the road. New ruling!!
    I will give you more details if you send me an email. Keep well Diane

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  57. Carolyn the markets here always look so fresh. I am amazed that our winter is still so mild, I am sure we are going to get a change before spring arrives!!!
    We are both still not feeling 100% roll on spring and maybe we will feel better :) Diane

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  58. Marjie we do not buy a lot from the market as we have enough in our garden. I just love walking around and enjoying the French people. Sadly N cannot walk too far so it limits me unless I go alone. Diane

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  59. Pamela I could happily live on oysters :)) If you have not had them for years then I agree time to do something about it. Take care Diane

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  60. Gloria the markets here are so much fun. The cheese counter just makes my mouth water :) Diane

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  61. Jana thanks so much for your visit, great to hear from Spain. Thanks also for following. Glad you enjoyed my blog. Off to take a look at yours. Diane

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  62. Oh, I would likt to walk there.:-) Hugs Stina

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  63. What a nice market! The paella and oysters look mighty tasty.

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  64. So much delicious yummy food.I love French style markets and this looks a good one.

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  65. I love French markets. No wonder the French eat well, oui? How nice that you can take home paella and oysters.

    Hope you are well.
    Sam

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  66. What an incredible market! live chickens as well! - I would have LOVED to have been there!
    mary x

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  67. I'd love to try those French cheeses! Sounds like you also have problems with the internet. We are temporarily in Rome and in the rented apartment there is no connection, or rather there is but it is SOOOOO slow that it makes you want to throw the pc out the window:) So I need to come to my ex-office to use Internet, luckily they let retirees use their computers in the library. That's where I'm writing from. Bon jour! That's all the French I know after studying it for more than 7 years...high school, uni, Open University and even at the Alliance Francaise in New York when I was younger. I know more than that actually, but reading and writing...when it comes to speaking I'm not very proficient.

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  68. Lilla Kullan, Stina maybe one day you will :) Diane

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  69. Pam I have never tasted the Paella at the market, but I am quite sure it would taste excellent. Just fun to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. Diane

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  70. the cuby poet, thanks so much for your visit and kind comment. Hope to see you back. Take care Diane

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  71. Sam I don't ever think we come home from the market without oysters, we both love them :-) Diane

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  72. Inside a British Mum's Kitchen. Mary the markets here are wonderful, I love them to bits. Diane

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  73. Francesca I am so sorry that I never learnt French at school, but at the time I was in what was then Rhodesia, (now Zimbabwe). Although French was taught there, for some unknown reason I did not take it! Very sad it would make life much easier for me now. Diane

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  74. oh, we dont get to see oysters sold in these way over here..not that much and not in baskets. The french must really like eating oysters a lot!

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  75. Lena we can have oysters everyday here if we wanted. Yes I think you are right the French in general love oysters :))) Happy Chinese New Year Diane

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  76. Wonderful colorful and tasty .. photos,my beloved friend Diane!!!
    I love the paella, oysters with some lemon and mussels!
    And the price, very good!
    France is first in oysters and mussels!
    To think and wonder how the cough go.
    I hope to be better!
    many kisses

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  77. Magda my cough is much the same, but you will not believe it that Nigel is now also coughing.
    I will just go and bury myself in oysters LOL. Diane x

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  78. oh how i miss farmer's markets!!

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  79. Mini Baker, I know the feeling. If we left here that would be one of the things that I would miss most, including the oysters at a sensible price! Diane

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  80. Hi Diane .. stunning - just love the look and feel .... and wish I was there feeling .. cheers Hilary

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  81. Hilary thanks for the comment, I have to agree that being there in the atmosphere is what it is all about. Take care, Diane

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  82. Hi Diane, what a wonderful post! I love scrolling around this kind of places very much. How I wish I can visit to Europe one day. Everything looks so fresh & tempting. Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures. You're simply incredible. ((hugs))
    Cheers
    Kristy

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  83. Kristy. The markets here are fantastic. I hope that you get to see one eventually :) Hugs Diane

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  84. Lovely photos of the colourful fruits!

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  85. Thanks JM, I love market day :) Diane

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  86. Here I am Diane! Taking a few minutes to catch up with news from the Charente instead of study class :)and I am glad I dropped in. What exciting colours at the market! How I would want to paint them.

    I think I would love that cheese stall, I swoon at the thought of French cheeses! How fascinating, that everyone ties a small tree to the drainpipes.

    I must say midterm is next week and it couldn't be a minute sooner! I do miss blogging with all my activities at college!

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  87. I am sure you are looking forward to mid-term but I bet you have lots to do.
    The market would be a great place to let loose with a paint brush :)
    Keep well Diane

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  88. Wonderful article! We are linking to this great post on our site.Keep up the good writing.
    Roofer Wantage

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