What better way to spend 20 minutes pre-Happy Hour than to go up the coast a little way to the surfers' beach near Les Conches and play about in the waves?
It's now nearly six weeks since Kate & Silv arrived and the visits have continued ever since. Nadine took Jodi & Mouse to Nantes airport at the weekend - we're very proud of how she's taken to coping with a left-hand drive on the right-hand side of the road: it's going to be a shock returning to UK driving!
We had lots of fun times with J&M, including Tine digging out her ballet shoes to show she can still go manage pointe work, and MANY Happy Hours spent at La Paillote (where I showed I can still manage pint work)! Phil & Si were very taken with the piano and have spent much time practising.
Back to the garden and here's evidence of a fantastic crop of tomatoes - anyone got a crossbow for Philliam Tell?! The monsters in Photo 6 are baking as I type this - wonderful stuffed tomatoes à la Meryl's cookbook. Just waiting for Matt to arrive - we're starving and it smells good!!
Finally Nadine had a very friendly visitor yesterday. It's funny how the baby lizards easily scamper over your feet or even your shoulders when given a chance.
After the extended barbecue (Leisurely French Meals Inc) we strolled along the beach to Pedro's bar and enjoyed a great time in the early evening sun, some going for a dip, some playing volley ball, some cartwheeling, but mostly drinking warm sour rosé wine!
Three of Matt's staff joined us as he had closed the restaurant for his workers to enjoy a well-deserved break.
It's not very often the five of us are together these days so Photo 4 is very special, taken just before Matt started tickling us and then perfecting his circus act with Phil.
We rushed back home to grab some bread and cheese, then sauntered into town to enjoy live music in the market place and yet more beers. What a day!
In photos 1 and 3 you can see Phil has been working out with excellent results one day to the next. Jodi has found a very cool way to do ballet in the 2nd photo.
It's great to have our friends come to stay here or in the area, but we also love our children's friends when they're around. Last Monday was a prime example when four of Matt's mates came for a barbecue and one or two drinks. Matt opened a couple of his home-made flavoured rums (which are definitely an acquired taste). Look at his and Chris's faces after eating some of the preserved banana from one of them - totally disgusting (and yes they are real tears)!
Finally a more sedate photo of the old Bingley folk ('less of the old' I hear you say).
More of this day next time.
So, yet another French national holiday, this time for the Assumption on 15th August. Early in the morning I'd driven up to Nantes airport to fetch Philippe, Si, Jodi & Mouse, leaving Nadine and 'er from Brittany behind to prepare our traditional buffet meal.
Last weekend there were workshops on the beach for people to learn the art of sand constructions (can't really call them castles, can I?)
The first two photos show the professionals' construction - it was about three metres high and very impressive.
On Sunday the kids got to work and you can see some of their efforts here. There were plenty of people inspecting their creations.
