Outdoor life & our little friend

An odd assortment for your delight this time, faithful readers!

Yet another butterfly suspended mid-air (or was it just on the inside of the new conservatory?) - now is it a mellicta, LCA? I can't find the poster!

We've been sanding down the old dresser to go back into the conservatory. Now painted, you'll have to wait for the results!

It looks like Nadine won the pumpkin sibling competition, but the 'black' variety has definitely won overall, another three similar sized sill in the garden!

And here's our little friend Elliot, complete with Yorkshire flat-cap!

Tine's been looking after him one day a week, but July & August off was a long time...

...and now he can crawl and enjoy my CDs!!

Final catch-up & an extra visitor

To start, three photos taken at the Starfish in August. It already seems a long time ago with the nights now getting colder. It'll soon be time to try our new fire!

Si takes up Steve's long-distance challenge of putting a pint on his head. We never managed the pancake pinned to his chest and a chip up each nostril!

The night before Nad & Si's departure

Look what Matt's serving in the Starfish! Memories of the Brown Cow...

Phil made a last minute booking to stay chez nous from Thursday to Tuesday, just as N&S left. Daily dips in the sea were definitely on the menu. These photos taken near Les Conches.

Venise Verte

Phil popped over for a long weekend and we decided to show him Venise Verte now that the roads are a lot quieter around here.

Our first stop was Maillezais where the frogs were playing hard to get but we saw some beautiful lily pads...

...and this intriguing snail in the water

Damvix: of course Venise Verte is famous for its waterways and vivid green all around...

...except for this beautiful butterfly!

Tine took a shine to the old post office

Tine & Phil explored the abbey at Nieul sur l'Autise while I rested my poorly knee!

Food & go-karts

Let's start with grub!

This was part of Nad & Si's sea harvesting, devoured by Tine (no other takers, sadly)!

Our good friend Floppy, who served at La Paillote with Matt these last few years, has opened a sushi bar in town. The food was beautifully presented and some were non-fish!

We treated Si & Matt to a go-karting experience for their birthdays. Nadine treated herself, & Cynthia was official photographer!

Ena Sharples X3 (that's for real oldie Corrie fans like me)!

Ready...

steady...

go!! 

All back in one piece!

Welcome to planking

If like me you'd never heard of planking, here's how Wikipedia describes it: 

'Planking (or the Lying Down Game) is an activity consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. Both hands must touch the sides of the body. Having a photograph taken of the participant and posted on the Internet is an integral part of the game. Players compete to find the most unusual and original location in which to play. The term planking refers to mimicking a wooden plank. Since early 2011, many participants in planking have photographed the activity in unusual locations. Planking can include lying flat on a flat surface, or holding the body flat while it's supported in only some regions, with other parts of the body suspended.'

So now you know! 

Ryan in La Rochelle

Nadine in La Rochelle - I wasn't so happy about this one, as you can imagine!

Ryan in La Rochelle

Alice & Catriona in La Rochelle

Simon & Nadine on the beach in La Tranche

Jodi on the way home from the Starfish

Nad on the way home from the Starfish, awaiting the bin men

Si having a snooze

Nad & Si in the children's playground

Nad branching out not far from home

No beds left at home!

No comment!!!

Motorbike & Idle Fingers

Nadine & Simon have just left after a great few weeks but she left her photographs for me to use, so apologies for the chronology of this and the next few posts.

Tine has been itching to ride pillion on Loulou's motorbike and finally she got her wish whilst they were here this summer.

My missus as a rocker!

Nephew Rémi watching his Dad & Auntie leave for a spin

Many a night has been spent at Matt's Starfish & Coffee, making the most of Happy Hour and musical nights.

Catriona, Alice & Nadine allowed out of the asylum for a bottle of pink bubbly

Local duo Idle Fingers have been real crowd pleasers (the art ain't bad either!)

Lots of people were there, including a large batch of our friends & family

That's me at the door on no-drinks-outside duty

Alice & our lovely niece Caroline

A very elegant Tine squirreling empty glasses to the bar