Spring or early Summer?

Just got in from a lovely hour or so with book and sun on a practically deserted beach whilst Tine is looking after Cécile's two live wires. The first photo shows a VERY unhappy Tine with Camille, the latest member of the family. Looks like she hasn't lost the knack yet.
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On a cycle to the Pavillon the other day we passed a typical Vendée cottage with a wonderful wildflower garden. This is about 100 m from the beach and is normally hidden by a street artist/henna tattoo drawer.
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There's been activity on the beach again with a couple of trucks transporting sand from one end of the beach to the other to try to improve the quality there. We are about to have a ship dredging sand from the sea-bed along the bay and bringing it to our beaches in readiness for the main tourist months. I hope to catch that on photo for your delight and interest!
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This week has definitely been busier with the British Spring Bank Holiday week. Met a couple in Matt's bar the other night who are interested in doing a house-swap. As they live in Looe we are very tempted. Anyone reading this in Rome, Portugal or Greece please comment!!

Important day

Happy Birthday, Peep, who has now (sadly for him) officially left his teenage years. We stayed awake until 1 am French time this morning to congratulate him in the pub - some slight envy there! Plus they're all going for a curry tonight. How can they rub it in?!
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Secondly today is Mother's Day in France so a big 'Bonne Fête des Mères' to all Mums reading this. Matt was here this morning with a lovely bouquet and cake for Tine. (Father's Day is the same in both countries, you three!!)
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Last night we went to JP&C's for a FISH meal to celebrate the arrival of their first grandchild, Camille, born just a couple of weeks ago. I don't think anyone got a look-in except for Catherine & Tine. Felicitations à Philippe & Laeticia!
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So, we've done it - yeah - we've had our first dip in the sea last Wednesday (21st May) and it was surprisingly easy to go in. The weather hasn't been as good since but we're both looking forward to a repeat performance.
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Hope you like the last photo. There are poppies everywhere at the moment. Reminds me of our holiday here with Jim & Les three years ago when there were fields full of red poppies on the Ile-de-Ré. Happy times...

The 100th Post: Garden special!

Congratulations to all of you who have stuck with the blog since the beginning. 10 months and 100 posts - the Maths teacher is looking for patterns here!!
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We've had some lovely hot but hazy weather here and we've both been busy in the garden as you can see. In the first photo you can see pumpkins, leeks, strawberries, cherry tomatoes (with curly wurly sticks) and parsley.
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The second photo shows artichokes, two different potatoes, onions and tomatoes. Nearest the house you can see a couple of straggling cabbage/caulie about to be replaced by green beans and more tomatoes - well the neighbours keep giving us plants! Also hidden up there are the courgette, melon and gherkin plants.
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You can also see that our fruit trees have been working hard with cherries and pears on display here for your delight!

Save the starfish, save the world!

In response to Nad's question about the jetty and crossings to La Rochelle and the islands, sadly the first photo shows that not a lot has happened recently; and a well-informed 'little birdie' has told us that work might not be completed until the end of July. As the works traffic would be in situ during the peak holiday period, nobody is very sure what will happen. Watch this space for further developments...
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The second photo was taken yesterday on 'our' beach, proving that Jean's microclimate DOES exist! There were huge banks of storm clouds inland, but glorious sunny weather on the beach. We weren't complaining!
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The next two photos were taken today when we went for a cycle-ride to Le Phare (La Plage Baleine) calling at La Paillote to see if Matt was there (closed today). Don't know if Jean was singing the Drifters' 'Up on the roof' but he should have been!
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Finally we saw several starfish on the beach, Tine kindly frisbeeing one back into the sea until I complained - she GENTLY helped the rest!
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ps. Just finished Series 1 of Heroes hence today's title - highly recommended viewing!

May days

So I hear you've still been enjoying lovely weather back home. Here each day there's been sunshine and blue skies, but coupled with grey skies and lots of rain!

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So the two of us have been really busy: Tine in the garden, planting new veg to replace the cabbage, caulies, raddish and spinach. We've now got pumpkin, courgettes, melon, tomatoes, cornichons (small gherkins), leeks, and soon to have green beans. And I have been busy in the East Wing (converted garage) varnishing any wood that moves. Disappointingly we had a phonecall today from the tiler saying he can't come until June, which knocks us back loads. We wanted to be ready for Phil & his mates - que sera sera, I suppose!

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Look carefully at the first photo: that's La Rochelle across the bay from us - it was particularly clear yesterday. Photo 2 shows Matt in full action promoting their restaurant/bar. The chef has arrived now so things are looking up. Will tell you soon as we're eating there tomorrow before going to watch a band Chez David (no, not me!). Finally there's me yesterday paddling in the sea at 'our' beach. Apparently the sea is 13.6° at the moment, but I suspect it's a little warmer here as it didn't feel too cold at all! (Photo 3)

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Forgot to say Tine has a job, working for cousin Jean-Pierre every morning from 8.30 to midday. She's really enjoying it, and I DO manage to get up before she gets home!!!

Holiday weekend

What a busy few days we've had! The big holiday weekend brought Loulou, Sylvie and Rems up from Figeac for a few days (staying at the campsite) and Gill came down from Brittany to stop with us. I've heard back home you've been basking in Summer weather, well we had to wait until yesterday - but then, boy, did it get hot!
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On Saturday we walked down to the market. Last time I went there were no more than a dozen stalls. This time the place was heaving with people so we didn't stay long. The first photo shows the stall where we bought a lovely Arum Lily, now in pride of place in front of the house. Gill helped us in the garden - we're a bit fed up as the Marestail is ever-present.
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The second photo shows loads of bikes 'parked' up whilst their owners went to the market - reminded me of the cycle-parks in Amsterdam when we went with T'Landlord and T'Landlady!! We stopped off at La Paillote on the way back for an aperitif, hence Photo 3. Please note I don't ALWAYS drink pastis for aperitif! It was quite busy and you can see Loulou serving a table in Photo 4.
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OK it's not Summer but the crowds this weekend were amazing (and it was good to see La Paillote faring well with Steph doing a great job in the kitchen before the chef arrives later this week). It makes us feel good to know we have all the months ahead before the 'real' holiday period.
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Sadly our visitors have now left for the Lot and Morbihan, but we hope they'll be back soon.

Update on the garage conversion

Well, this is what we came back to after our near two-week jaunt around France. The workmen had obviously been busy in our absence and the first photo shows the new stairs up to the mezzanine which you can see in the second photo. There's not enough room to stand up there but Phil has already booked it for June with his mates!
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The third photo shows the now boxed-in hot water tank, making a very appreciated new cupboard that Tine can't wait to fill. And finally there is the view from the new bathroom. 'A tent in the garden already?' you might ask. Actually it's full of beds, mattresses etc now we have lost the storage space in the garage. There will be room in the eaves above the main house once all the work is done!
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The joiners and builders have about finished now but we are awaiting the tiler, the electrician (half done!), and the plumber to install the bathroom units. As there are three French 'Bank Holidays' in just over a week (1st, 8th and 11th May) things should get done soon...

On to Figeac

Thankyou to LCA for her great posts last week - see, all that stress was worth it! Look forward to seeing you again soon.
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To continue our exploits, we left Val Thorens in glorious sunshine and had a good run to Figeac to check on Tine's family there - we hadn't seen them since December. The scenery was beautiful on the way there with views of the snow-capped mountains of the Massif Central.
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We accompanied Sylvie one day to fetch the children from a riding lesson. The farm is owned by Sylvie's cousin and is in the middle of nowhere but not too far from Gramat. Caro & Rems obviously love horse-riding: you can see them bare back riding the horses back to their field in the first photo.
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We also made the acquaintance of Rosalie the pig who slept and snored most of the time we were there. Apparently she used to live in the house as a pet but she's somewhat too big nowadays!
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It was great to see Francine chirpy mainly due to finding a lovely house to rent in Figeac itself, very close to several of her friends and walkable into town (if you don't mind the climb back!) The layout is mainly open-plan with bedroom and office off (and plenty more room downstairs), and the feel is very modern, light and airy. We loved it too and hope she will be very happy there.
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Well just about 2,500 km later we are now back home and are quite happy to stay here for a while after our own 'Tour de France'.

Au revoir from La Correspondante Anglaise

LCA again, for a short 'au revoir' blog! Got to do this v. quickly, before leaving to catch 'plane home. And on the way, we have to call at 'La Paillote' to say goodbye to Matt & friends on their opening day. Weather today is 'crackin' the flags', and lots of touristes, so hope they have a very successful start that continues all season.
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Yesterday, I had a few 'first times' and a 'rediscovery'! The latter is that I can still ride a bike, after...years! Yes, my sons, it is true! (It's flat here, with loads of cycle paths, unlike the home patch) Luckily, no photo to prove it, as Dave was too busy making sure I didn't hit anything. Anyway, we went as far as La Terriere beach and tho' the big hill, up the sand dune was a bit much, yes, Nad, the return run is brill!
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At the beach, a first paddle this year, not quite as cold as I expected.. just. Then back home for lunch... first eating al fresco for me this year(not for 'the locals' they were out in Jan!) Later I had a first ever drive of a French car (with co-pilot of course), and lastly, my first drink(soft) of the season in La Paillote....I'll be back.
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Right, must sign off now, unfortunately a plane doesn't wait! Thanks to my friends for a fantastic time, and all their friends for such alovely welcome. A bientot.

May Day, May Day

Guest blogger: La Correspondante Anglaise

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I'm sitting in the chair, charged with writing today's blog! After promising I'd do this when I visited, I've got writer's block - Help!! Well, I could begin at the beginning...

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Bonne fete du 1er mai - that was the greeting this morning, accompanied by a lovely sprig of 'muguet' - lily of the valley, the traditional gift to people you love on May Day. Martine and I received another posy when we called to see Jean later in the morning - see first picture.

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Actually, the next two pictures are sneaked in from yesterday. After a leisurely morning, during which the rain stopped, we went for a walk along the beach, to examine the latest developments. As it's still 'Spring holiday' in the Paris area, there are people on holiday, with quite a few surfers and kitesurfers enjoying the better weather. After walking right along the beachfront, we turned inland towards home, calling in to see some friends who have just opened Cafe de la Plage. And of course, there was a drink!

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Today, Martine and Dave took me to Puits de l'Enfer (Hell's Well), north of here near Les Sables d'Olonne, photo 4. Very different coastline, rocky, rough sea & spray, with a 'washing machine' full of sea foam in one deep trough. I'm not really that much taller than Martine, just on a higher bit of rock. We had a 'safari lunch', beginning with aperitifs & entrees, near there, sheltered by some bushes from the strong wind, photo 5. As we were interrupted by a short shower, we finished lunch, by the marina in Port Bourgenay.

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Martine and I took a walk along the cliff top between the two venues. In the woods, we discovered a 'cabane' made from fallen tree branches, so of course we had to try it for size!

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Had a lovely rest of the day, meeting many people. I'm having a great visit, (apart from stressing about about doing this blog!) thanks to my very kind friends, who are feeding me toooo well, and supplied with wine!