Close to nature!

A few photos taken yesterday that I thought I'd share (cos I think they're great!)

(1) Are we flying over the Nile or is this a wonderful sand formation on La Terrière beach?

(2) A starfish escaping from the sand

(3) A starfish trail - La Terrière beach had hundreds of patterns like this

(4) The sea breaking over rocks near Port Bourgenay

(5) Tine with an ancient stone fish!

Visitors from Blighty!

Having a great few days with our friends Caroline and Martin who arrived on Saturday under a beautiful blue sky. We took them down into La Rochelle for a spot of lunch and a wander, then back to La Tranche (eventually - kept taking the wrong road!) just as the sun had set. We took them to the jetty to see the sea then back to show off our house and eat a lovely beef casserole already prepared by Tine.

On Sunday we went for a stroll along the beach (weather cloudy but mild) and our visitors enjoyed collecting shells and identifying sea-food. A few shops open on Sunday morning and we bought some oysters and wine before heading for Nico's bar for a couple of aperitifs (well, it was past midday!)

We lazed around in the early afternoon watching Amélie on our NEW television (yeah!) but left at 5 o'clock to cycle to Le Phare to see the high tide - big coefficients this weekend. Martin stayed at home snoozing on the sofa. Back later to finish the film then we returned to Nico's for our evening meal, sitting near the blazing fire on which the food was grilled.

Today we borrowed an extra bike and all four of us cycled to La Terrière at low tide. We had glorious blue sky and made the most of the near-empty beach. We chatted to an old couple who were 'fishing' for pignons, shellfish which are found just under the sand when the tide changes. Martin & Caroline each tried one and pronounced them good!

Home via Super U just before it closed for lunch, to stock up on bits of food and drink, then we ate outside on 25th November - it has to be said that we had our coffee inside though! The plan is to drive up to Port Bourgenay this afternoon but everyone seems very settled, sleeping, writing and reading (oh, and doing the blog!)

Cold nights and lovely walks

Just returned from a walk back along the beach after doing a couple of jobs in La Tranche. It's clear blue today, excellent weather for a walk, so long as you're wrapped up. There were three kite surfers showing their skills on the choppy sea and we were watching little sanderling birds racing along the water's edge, teasing the waves and taking off when they got a little too big to wade through - they're just like cartoon characters!

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As you can see from the first photo it has been VERY cold recently, down as low as minus 4 degrees Centigrade one night. Thankfully the log fire has kept us nice and warm (plus the electric radiators, it has to be said). We went to see cousins Julie & Cédric on Saturday to see how they are getting on with their transformations. They told us about a great walk near to them - La Vallée du Piquet - so we took their advice and the other photos were taken there. That's an old mill in Photo 3 and frozen water of the River Yon in the last one!

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The cold spell was followed by a few days of torrential rain. Sunday, as we were tired of being indoors, we decided to brave the extreme elements and ventured out to see the sea. It was great fun despite the fact that we returned soaked to the skin! What a brilliant excuse to curl up by the fire with a hot drink (for sober Martine) or a beer (guess who...)! Seeing the sea every day is almost a must which we really enjoy - regardless of the weather - so we feel very privileged not even to need a car to get there...

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Anyway, it's time to light this evening's fire, so I'd better start rubbing sticks together!!

New car and frosts

Had a big day on Tuesday when we went to fetch our brand new car from nearby Fontenay-le-Comte: a Renault Modus (somewhere between a Clio and a Scenic). We are both very happy with it and especially pleased to have a number plate with 85 (Vendée) at the end!

Yesterday we took it out on its first proper run up the coast to a place called Port Bourgenay where we parked up and enjoyed a lovely walk in the pine woods along the low cliffs. We'd like to return when the tide is up (and even better if the sea's wild!) as I should think the views will be even more dramatic.

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The days have been beautiful but we have had some very cold nights. Despite cousin Jean's promises we've had quite a heavy frost these last two mornings, and another one is forecast tonight. Lucky we had the protective netting which we put over our more vulnerable plantations.

Lots of photos today, including some of the other day's tidying up at the front of the house (bulbs yet to show!!)

Long time no write

- and no excuse either! Perhaps it's a sign that we're drifting into a lovely cotton-wool existence where nothing really happens but every day is wonderful!

Having said that we have continued to work in the garden and now have onions 'planted' and one row of spinach 'pricked out': only two to go! We were very happy with the pansy display so we bought some more and they are now in baskets on the front wall for all to see as they arrive. We've also tidied up the area just in front of the wall and planted crocus and tulip bulbs there. Daffodil bulbs are on next week's shopping list! The neighbour that we don't often see came round this morning with some mail that had been wrongly delivered and said she'd never seen the front of the house looking so good! Photo tomorrow hopefully...

We have managed a few walks/cycle rides and you can see a selection of recent photos above. I'd not realised quite how much coastal erosion there is near here as we are pretty protected by the Ile de Ré. There is a hotel/restaurant and carpark just above Photo 3 so I think some further strengthening will be needed! On the main beach extra wooden fences have been put up to try to stop the sand from drifting too far (Photo 4). The last photo Matt sent today from the Alps to show the amount of snow they've already had, and the season doesn't start until 24th November! (That's his van, by the way!) Here we are forecast some sub-zero temperatures overnight later this week. Glad we bought the thick protective netting for the lettuce!

Came off the back of a lorry...

... literally! Yes the three 'stères' of wood were majestically delivered today and we spent much of the afternoon wheelbarrowing it around to the back of the house. We think our results are pretty impressive although the wood is now covered with a tarpaulin to protect it from any rain (which can come in at an angle, not that we've seen much!) The table is still there so we can eat outside if the weather allows.

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We did this after a lovely lunch with Catherine, Julie and Charles who SHOULD have been going back to school today. I think the cousins enjoy coming round for home-made lunch as a change from restaurants.

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Yesterday we went on a bike ride to La Terrière keeping our eyes open for any elusive pine cones and we came back with loads. We also popped onto the beach there which is enormous and could JUST spot two other people in the far distance. I took a couple of photos on my phone but I'm waiting for a cable to come so that I can download them now Matt has taken his back!

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The day before we did some more gardening. Hope you like the display of pansies. Some of you will recognise the pots, most of which were gifts! We also planted some rosemary, thyme and lavender.

Bonfire Nuit

And into November..... It's Bonfire Night back home, which means absolutely nothing here: odd when you think how special it was when we were youngsters. For French readers (yes there are some!) this is the day in the UK when we 'celebrate' a failed attempt on blowing up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 by Guy Fawkes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot or http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiration_des_poudres) and we burn a 'guy' on a bonfire (bon feu) and have firework displays and wonderfully unhealthy things to eat! (nb to Brits: no mention of Catholics here!!)

Back in La Tranche it has been gorgeous again today. We ate out at lunchtime, dozed off in the sun and some of us (Tine) did a bit of gardening! Later we took JP&C's car to a garden centre at near-by La Faute-sur-Mer and bought some pansies and herbs for the winter. Then onto the beach there to watch the sun sinking into the sea. It was truly beautiful as the photos show.

We also tried to collect some pine cones as they are fantastic when the fire needs reviving at home. They seem to be in short supply - I reckon everyone is collecting them! Next year we'll start earlier...

Tine found a 'skeleton' leaf and took some very arty photos, I'm sure you'll agree. What I spotted might not be so arty - though that's debatable! - but I loved the graffiti wall of La Faute-sur-Mer (the Mistake-by-Sea!)

Picnic in November!

We took Nad up to Nantes today to catch her flight back to East Midlands. We've really enjoyed having her to stay for the week and know it won't be TOO long before she comes again.

We've had a very relaxing week including a shopping trip to La Roche - just browsing, and there's a great Media Store to keep me quiet! We then went to Cécile's for lunch and were lucky to catch all the family as it was Wednesday and the primary schools are closed that day. It looks like Tine will be looking after les enfants every other Wednesday in the New Year as Cécile is about to start up a business in La Roche. They seemed very pleased with Tine's decision!

Nad's cinema trip with Julie and a couple of friends was very enjoyable. They went to see Stardust (dubbed in French) and all gave a positive verdict. They didn't get back until the early hours so it must have been good! Earlier in the week we had eaten chez Nico who is doing great business out of season. Mind you All Saints Day (1st November) is a national holiday in France and most schools have this week off as their Half Term so there have been more people around. More worryingly the effect of ET is making itself felt in France with shops going Hallowe'en mad and 'trick-or-treaters' being seen.

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Definitely the highlight of the week was our picnic on the beach by le Phare (lighthouse). We cycled there (as you can see above) and the girls had prepared a feast, including aperitif and a bottle of rosé (and the baguette, of course!) The sun was almost hot and we were able to sunbathe and get on with our books once we had eaten enough! I think these are my favourite times when you can snatch a lovely day out of season...