Heatwave, fireworks & le Puy du Fou

Another mixed bag for your delight.

We had an amazingly hot summer...

...but nothing a glass of Pastis in the pool can't help! 

15th August means the second firework display of the summer, this time celebrating the Assumption

It was well up to standard, as you can see!

Now what has got Alfie & Betty so transfixed?

We bought tickets for le Puy du Fou as a Christmas 2024 present.

The bird display is breathtakingly amazing!

My favourite is still the Vikings though.

Back in La Tranche, Betty shows off her cycling skills...

...and a cheeky sit in the cockpit of one of the planes at our local aerodrome. The owner was more than happy!

Snow special!

Apart from a few flakes we don't often experience snow in La Tranche so I thought I'd share a few photos from today, 6th January 2026.

Your faithful Englishman in La Tranche got up at 3 am to check if it had snowed. It had!

A few hours later, it's time to explore: first, in the garden...

...then up to the jetty with a view back over the town.

By Marie's bar.

The cycle-path back home

Nearly there but a look back to Le Benèze bar...

...and forward...

...to chez nous.

The new patio doesn't look quite so inviting.

Ice in your drinks?

L'Embarcadère

Yes, our go-to bar this summer has been l'Embarcadère aptly named as it is just by the jetty. I think I should have shares in the bar when you see the number of people we took there!

Your faithful blogger along with Richard & Vicky who have a 2nd home inland from La Tranche, Tine and Alan from the Baie d'Aunis.

Élodie, Dick, moi, June, Jeanne & Mehdi

Matt's mates from teenage years, Rémi & Geraldine joining Tine & moi (and the best news is that Geraldine starts a new job in La Roche this March and they plan to move here permanently).

Sacha & Matt join me & Richard from Camping Bel, another old Starfish regular.

La Tranche meets Yorkshire meets Essex: Ripon Graham with Stansted Simon

More of Simon & moi...

...and Vanna & moi.

Nadine getting in on the act...

...Alfie, Sacha & Betty too!

It's a sad day when the bar closes up for the winter. See you next year though!

Bonne Année/Happy New Year

Now back in La Tranche but both of us recovering from a chest infection/flu/the lurg (you choose) we were invited by our Essex friends to celebrate New Year's Eve with them.

An impressive table awaited us...

...and we soon got into the party spirit...

...Tine & Vanna leading the way.

Secret Santa time...

...a joke book for Big Dave, and a Corrie mug for me!

We enjoyed playing 'Cards vs Gravity'...

...some more successful than others.

And finally, Happy New Year from Tine et moi!

Belated Christmas greetings

Sorry folks, we’ve been back in the UK for Christmas this year. It’s been a bit hectic and we’ve both been stricken with the dreaded flu. Hopefully we’ll be fit for New Year.

 Here are a couple of photos from La Tranche before we left. Firstly on the town square…

…then Sacha’s old school by le Pavillon. 

We did the usual crossing from Saint Malo to get to England, but we made time to wander in the old town.

Safely on board we headed for the bar (of course), nicely decorated for the festive season.

We spent a few days in Sheffield on arrival ‘oop’ north. Here’s a shot in Sheffield.

Our three children treated us to lunch on the canal as part of our 50th wedding anniversary. It was great (possibly because we were practically the youngest) plus we booked the Christmas special!

Back at Nadine’s for Christmas itself and a wreath-making workshop with Bets & Nadine.

Christmas morning in Dronfield and Father Christmas must have struggled with all these presents.

Nadine did us proud for the traditional lunch, Phil & Jade joining us too.

I hope my faithful readers all had an excellent Christmas!