Phil's 21st weekend (2)

The celebrations continued into Sunday when we awoke to beautiful blue skies and hot sunshine all day long.

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Those of us who stopped at Pete's ate breakfast outside, including scrumptious bacon butties prepared by Nadine. We also played giant badminton over Pete's washing line.

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We walked round to Silv's to help prepare the food for lunch (and evening, in the end). Pete was in charge of the barbecue as usual and did his usual superb job. Our 'golden oldie' friends Jim & Les drove over from West Yorkshire - they're practically family anyway after nearly 39 years' friendship! We were later joined by nephew Michael and Lisa - I'll add a photo if anyone sends me one!

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It got a bit chilly in the evening when those remaining moved inside to await midnight and a chorus of Happy Birthday.

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Photo 1: Clockwise - Si, Ste, Nad, Vics, Pete, Phil & Tine (after bacon butties).

Photo 2: Phil lounges whilst Si shows his badminton skills.

Photo 3: Action shot of Tine.

Photo 4: Rockstar Simon (Laruso album for sale at Amazon & iTunes, folks) - can you see Phil & me?

Photo 5: Kate & Jim, surveying the scene (and keeping in the shade).

Photo 6: Ann, Rob, Silv & Sarah

Photo 7: Birthday boy and Les, Pete in the background.

Photo 8: Brothers & sisters - Dave, Ann, Kate & Pete - not often all together these days.

Photo 9: The lovely Tine - just look at the colour of the sky!!

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See these and more on http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82415&id=766207654&l=61824db317

Phil's 21st weekend (1)

We arrived back yesterday from a wonderful weekend back home to celebrate Philippe's 21st birthday who arrived in Sheffield a few hours after later. Nadine & Simon looked after us well with home cooking, a meal in a Turkish restaurant, and a good pub session where we were joined by four of Si's mates from the deep south.

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On Saturday Nad expertly drove us all over to Cheshire, volunteering to do the supermarket shopping whilst we started to celebrate as more and more of the family arrived. Later in the evening we processed down to a local pub for a great meal and a good catch-up with everyone.

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Knowing my family no-one will be happy with these photos, but hard luck! I'll be putting them (and others) onto Facebook before long and will make a link in a future post for you to see them all.

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Photo 1: Niece Rachael and Phil - it was great to see the cousins together!

Photo 2: My sister Ann, Your Faithful Blogger and brother-in-law Bryan.

Photo 3: Sister-in-law Silv and Nadine preparing food for the next day - the first 5 photos are all taken in her beautiful garden.

Photo 4: A young frog spent much of the afternoon enjoying our company!

Photo 5: Pete and Kate (my brother and sister) posing for the camera, with Si and Phil chatting in the background.

Photo 6: 'Château Neuf de Pete' as one of Matt's mates once named him - we're now at the pub.

Photo 7: Nadine & Si before the enormous pudding!

Photo 8: Ste and Vics - it was great to see her so happy.

Photo 9: Phil & Rach again!

Photo 10: Nephew Robert with his lovely Sarah

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I've put the photos back at the top of the post as I understand there's a problem seeing the bigger version otherwise!

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The full set of photos can be seen on http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82282&id=766207654&l=2f21c44a9d

Mixed bag

So the days roll on, one into the next...

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The weather is still rather mixed but our plantations are doing well, with potatoes, tomatoes and green beans to add to the earlier list. Promise to get photos on before too long.

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I try to be at La Paillote for 10 am when Matt opens the doors to anyone fancying a coffee (or indeed anything stronger). I often help him set up the terrace if the forecast isn't too bad, then disappear into my 'office' to record the previous day's takings and check invoices, delivery notes etc. You can see the parasol in my 'office' - the sun through the skylight can be so bright that I can't make out the computer screen. Creek your head and you've a great view of the sea.

Our Mancunian friends have arrived and, despite being loaded up, they managed 4 packs of Shreddies for me which were lovingly transported home in the bike's paniers today. It's great to see H&J again and even better to think they're here through 'til September.

The land adjacent to ours has recently been sold (for mega-bucks I might add) and it's good that it will be looked after as our dreaded mare's-tail weeds are prolific in there. There's another piece of land for sale nearby where I snapped these wild flowers the other day.

More coastal protection

Helping Matt at La Paillote each morning means that we get to know if something is going on on the beach. Sure enough on Tuesday Matt sent me down to investigate a lorry load of logs delivered next to the CNT (Centre Nautique Tranchaise).The main beach has been building itself back up naturally since Christmas, but there is one place near to the beach café (or Les's café as we know it) where the sea is in danger of breaking through to the footpath above.
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So I am pleased to report that there has been a trio of JCBs working hard, digging out the sand, lowering a big heavy steel/iron plate as a guide, and carefully positioning many logs to form a sea-wall.

This morning (after completing my jobs of course) I saw the next phase: a delivery of large bales of hay, carefully transported to the beach and positioned behind the 'colonnade', then sand poured over the top.How effective this will be remains to be seen. I'll look forward to the next big tide.

Home grown produce

Some time ago there was a request from our Norfolk friends, asking what we were growing this year. Well, once again we have been busy fighting the ever-present mare's tail weed (la prelle pour les français) which is impossible to get rid of. At least our very sandy soil is easy to weed once the tough top layer of growth has been removed. On the other hand it might pour down one day, and the next you need to water as the rain soaks through so quickly.

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For vegetables this year we are going for broad beans, peppers, aubergines, carrots, potatoes (just coming through: we put them in late), green beans, courgettes, pumpkins and artichoke. We're just about to put the green beans in, the rest are on their way as evidenced here.

Above: (1) artichoke (2) pumpkin (3) courgette (4) broad bean, pepper & aubergine (5) carrot (6) lettuce.

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Fruitwise we have tomatoes (still not planted out but we have loads of different varieties), strawberries, red and black currants, raspberries (new for 2009) and blackberries.

And don't forget the fruit trees, apple, plum, pear, cherry and apricot (not forgetting the vines).

There's also our herb garden which is doing really well, plus a lovely smaller version Christmas present from Clare - hope she sees this photo! The parsley is JUST beginning to show its tiny leaves. The mint comes in very useful for Matt's Mojito cocktails at La Paillote.

I think that's your lot, so fingers crossed for a BIT of rain but lots of sunshine. More on our flowers when they're in bloom!

Opening of La Paillote

Once again there's been quite a gap between posts on the blog (nicely pointed out by one or two emails)! We've been pretty busy with getting La Paillote ready, then the opening, and in between times I'm STILL varnishing/staining the shutters, window frames and front door. I must admit it's looking good. There are just the frames of the East Wing and the new bathroom to do, and then it'll probably be time to start again!
So La Paillote opened on 30th April with Matt racing around being greeter/barman/order taker, whilst Tine is pizza chef and young cousin Charles doing the plat du jour, desserts and salads. The food looks and tastes excellent! The main chef starts on June 12th. Not sure when the other servers start but Matt says he's got a great team lined up.

As for me I'm helping Matt set up in the morning, attempting to keep his paperwork in order and fetching required items when needed. Whilst preparing the opening I must have washed and dried hundreds of glasses.

LCA and Tine tidied up the plant corner and Matt has bought loads more for the bar and restaurant, and it's looking really good!

So far it hasn't been very busy but nicely ticking over. When I've finished this I'm off to the early Happy Hour. Cheers!