I went to the St. Aubin’s farmers market as usual to do my weekly shopping. I, generally, buy fruit that I can eat on Sunday and Monday as I go to the other farmers market on Tuesday and get fresh fruit for the rest of the meals until Sunday.

I stopped at the olive purveyor for my weekly olive buy. He was true to his word and gave me a taste of his special olives that are used to make olive oil. They are much smaller than the normal olives that I buy. He remembers my weekly olive selection as I generally buy the same two types – olives blonde (green) and olives volo (dark). He threw in some of the special olives. He did warn me that they would be in Crete for two weeks in June and would not be selling the olives. I explained to him that I would be going back to the United States in early June and would not be back until autumn. His response was we will find each other again. Thought that was a nice way of putting it. The small olives on the top are the special olives.

I did indulge in a Chocalatine from Chez Pillon after shopping. It is one of my Sunday treats for all the walking I do for the shopping.

I went to church at St. Sernin. There was an issue with the Pascal candle which caused some excitement. The cantor saw that the flame was rather big and it seemed to be dripping wax all over the place. One of the women who is very involved with the church and the service came out with a ladder and tried and finally succeeded in snuffing the candle with the help of the cantor. This was all going on behind the priest when he was handing out communion. When he was finished, he noticed the candle was out and had a quick discussion with the cantor. He wanted the Pascal candle lit again. Back came the women and her husband to try to light the candle again. They had a great deal of trouble getting it lit again as the candle and stand are probably 10 feet tall. They finally got it lit right as the service was ending.

I guess after a couple of instances where non-Catholics came up to take communion and did not know what they were supposed to do and did not eat the water immediately, the priest decided to make an announcement that only Catholics in good standing were to take communion. I never take communion as I understand the church’s point of view on this. I think one couple did not understand as they went up. There was a discussion at the point where communion is given.

All in all the service was eventful but still beautiful.

In the late evening, I went for my Sunday run. There are some many beautiful places to run in Toulouse that is fun to do the runs. I ran in the Parc de Garonne which has open meadows and then forest along the banks of the river. I do like the running. I guess i am getting better at trail running, something I always would give people a hard time about back in DC.