The Good Life

Fellow Brits will remember the great comedy series 'The Good Life' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Life_(1975_TV_series) where Tom and Barbara Good dropped out of society to start a sustainable lifestyle. Well we're not exactly the Goods (ha ha!!) but we are beginning to enjoy produce from our own garden.
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I still can't believe the first photo: our first main crop tomato with several cherry tomatoes to keep it company. We're still waiting for the second big tomato but the cherry tomatoes are amazing (and never ending)!
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Down at the bottom of the garden is a small peach tree and we hadn't realised until last week that there is a sole peach on it (Photo 2). Next photo shows some very young grapes. The vines haven't given a lot of fruit but they look healthy. We need to take advice for next year.
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Now courgettes - we're beginning to wonder what a meal is like without courgettes. Luckily we have loads of recipes. I will never stop being amazed at how much a courgette can grow from one day to the next.
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Finally we have Gill's chilli pepper plants which seem to be very happy despite the mix-and-match stakes. We might even get the French to realise 'a curry' is a multitude of dishes!

The not-so-evil aunts and a windsurf race

Kate and Silv have had a fantastic week's weather and they've treated us to meals out and plenty of fun times. The first photo shows them with Matt and cousin Jean (having a sneaky lunchtime beer) at La Paillote. If you look carefully you can see an advert for Black Sheep beer in the background.
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Tine and I went down to the main beach after lunch to watch the start of a windsurf race from La Tranche to the Ile de Ré and back. There was quite a crowd there to watch and it was very dramatic to see the competitors race along the beach to their boards and hurtle into the sea.
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My favourite photo is the one with the sun's reflection on all the sails. In case you're wondering, Kate and Silv DIDN'T compete in the race!!
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I saw a notice today announcing that the old building to the right of l'Océane is to be demolished. That part of the coast was hit particularly badly by the winter tides so there will be much work needed on strengthening it again.

Garden & fireworks

Although we're in a pretty dry spell the garden seems to be doing well. We dug up all the potatoes, perhaps not as prolific as we had hoped, but we're proud of our other veg. We 've had loads of courgettes and the tomatoes are looking stunning (and blushing nicely since this photo!) Gill gave us some chili plants that seem to be very healthy, but the 'pièce de resistance' (as we say in English) are the pumpkins which are really flourishing.

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As you all know (!) 14th July is Bastille Day which is a National Holiday in France to celebrate the the beginnings of the French Republic. We've never been here before on this date, but let it be said that the firework display was as good (if not better) than the 15th August display (plus I got to play with one of my new camera's settings!)

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The weather has been SOOOO good recently but we hope it will continue into August, particularly for Nad and her friends' stay. Even so today ended in rain despite a good forecast. Still, it saves watering tonight!

The East Wing

So where DID we sleep everybody? Well, the East Wing (garage conversion) is about complete. The Westminster Posse took possession last week and seemed very at home there, Phil sleeping downstairs in the new bed-settee and his mates upstairs on mattresses on the mezzanine. They had access from the garden so they didn't even wake us on their late night (early morning) returns from beer and pool sessions in La Tranche.
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Took the lads back to La Rochelle airport yesterday for a late-night flight. We've really enjoyed their stay here, and if they ever read this: come back and visit us again!!
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As for the two evil aunties (only kidding!) we allocated them the bedrooms and we used our luxury pump-up bed in the living room. I'm sure there'll be plenty of room for Nad and all her friends when they come later in the Summer.
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The first two photos were taken on the day we sorted the East Wing out ready for the lads' arrival that evening. Naturally we had to have a little aperitif to celebrate!

Nearly completed jetty and the Westminster Posse

Whilst we were in Figeac they were very busy on the jetty and slotted in the final piece to a round of applause from all the onlookers. Wish I could have seen that after waiting all this time. Anyway above you can see the completed structure. They are now laying the planks in a very attractive herringbone-fashion (!), and putting on the handrails. I reckon it's probably twice as wide as the original and although the look is different the feel is the same, and everybody is happy to have this famous landmark back!
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Been too busy to report that Phil has returned with three of his buddies from Uni, and what a great bunch of lads they are - easy to feed and water (well wine and beer mainly). The weather has been fabulous since their arrival and they'd made the most of the sea and the campsite pool. They did an acoustic set at La Paillote at the weekend and all were impressed with their playing and singing.
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The last photo shows them 'jamming' in the garden last for a very special audience - yes, Kate and Silv arrived yesterday. But where is everyone sleeping you may ask? More next time!

Jetty update

Seven sections on, the last one with small platforms on either side, presumably for fishermen.

Lifting the last section before the steps.
Positioning the last section before the steps - the largest section.
The steps section being hoisted into place.
How the end of the jetty will look.

Be back soon with a further update!

Back to Figeac

We took Caro back to Figeac on Friday after a lovely week with her at Maison Clegg. Didn't she do well with the blog?
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It was great to see everyone in Figeac but Tine, Francine & Loulou had the unenviable task of sorting out the house as it is now up for sale. Fingers crossed that it will sell quickly so that it's a worry out of the way.
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We found everyone in good form. On Saturday we walked from Francine's down into Figeac to visit the market (always a very colourful sight). The first photo shows the main market place where people sell their own produce - could be us soon! Afterwards Francine invited us to lunch in town then we caught the free shuttle back (well it was hot and it's a steep climb!)
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The second photo shows le Pont Gambetta over the River Célé. Loulou & Co live not far from this bridge. The donkeys are especially for Nad - they're in the field next to Francine's and you can hear them quite clearly!
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The last two photos were taken yesterday before setting off back for La Tranche. Loulou cooked us a couple of HUGE pork steaks on the BBQ. It won't be long before we're barbecuing together again when they come for their Summer stay in La Tranche.
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It's a 5 & 1/2 hour journey from Figeac to La Tranche but our new friends Hugh & Jeanne kindly invited us to a lovely meal at their caravan. They're on the campsite all season and are regulars at Matt's Happy Hour - yes!!!! We were running very late, and it was pouring down on our arrival so we parked up in front of the campsite with a car laden with fridge, lawn-mower and many other items from the house in Figeac. We must have looked like the Beverley Hillbillies!

Le Blog de Caro

Coucou voici un petit resume de mon sejour a la Tranche.Apres un petit plongeon dans la piscine avec ma tati rien de mieux que de lire, au soleil avec les oiseux qui chantent. Il ne manque plus que les cocotiers pour se croire sous les topiques.
Je vous presente les filles a tonton : Mlle Courgette et Mme Citrouille.
Mlle Courgette est bien plus a sa place dans mon assiette que dans le potager quand pensez-vous ???
P.S : elles sont en dessous!!


Voila mon sejour ce resume en quelques mots : soleil, mer ou en un seul vacances

Early morning scoop!

Well, I got up before nine especially!!
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And I wasn't alone: there was quite a crowd of onlookers as it was low tide with plenty of space around. It is always amazing to see huge machines and heavy materials being manoeuvred so delicately. If they continue at this rate I'm sure they will meet their deadline.
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Have you also noticed the sky in recent photos? We've had a wonderfully hot spell this last few days, which has meant many dips in the sea or the pool, and a very healthy glow for Tine and me. Sadly the forecasters tell us it could change soon. Fingers crossed it doesn't ....