I'm still here!

You're going to have to get used to fewer posts on the blog as I'm beginning to lack inspiration (as you can see from yet MORE garden photos)!

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Those of you who have visited us will know the large plot of land at our side has been for sale. Last week we met the purchaser, a very pleasant gentleman with impeccable English. Sadly they won't be living there throughout the year but hopefully they will visit often. He and members of his family have begun to tidy up the land (finding a viper and a gecko), harvested some of the fruit from the trees and erected a wire fence alongside the road. (Our house is behind all those fruit trees!)

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Three more photos from our garden. We have now learned the name of the beautiful ornamental tree in the garden: albizia, also known as 'silk tree'. The aubergines are breaking through their 'pods' and we're very excited about harvesting them. I must say they look like something out of a Sci-Fi film at the moment (Cocoon anybody?) And finally the tomatoes are definitely readying themselves with some beginning to change colour. Our neighbours gave us several different varieties to plant - it looks like a tomato plant jungle at the moment!

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We've had 'Her Who Shall Not Be Photographed' stopping with us this weekend and look what she brought me back from a recent trip to England. Yes, I have plenty of supplies of my favourite breakfast cereal for the next few months. Merci, Gill.

Return of the Evil Aunties

Yes, they've been here again. Kate & Silv flew into La Rochelle airport last Wednesday and I've just returned from delivering them back to the airport for their return flight.

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Although the weather has been mixed we've had plenty of sunshine and they have returned with a much healthier glow - not sure if that's the sun or the rosé wine!

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Luckily Tine was given time off work to accompany me last Wednesday so we descended into La Rochelle to show Silv the waterfront and have a spot of lunch before returning to La Tranche and a very classy bottle of rosé and three straws at La Paillote. Don't worry, I managed my pint without a straw.

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We've made good use of the pool to cool off this week even if it is rather hard to get into the solar heated water. Strictly Come Dancing? Perhaps not. Hope you spot MY glass of rosé just in reach.

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We also showed the EAs the beaches at Bud and La Terrière as the waves were quite impressive - a bit too windy to bathe that day but we did swim in the sea from 'our' beach one day.

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They've had a great time venturing out on shopping excursions and walks along the beach whilst we were busy. Wish it wasn't a year between visits....

La Fête Nationale

... or Bastille Day, as we know it in the UK. Yes, the latest French 'bank holiday' - they certainly seem to have more than us BUT they're always on the actual date so if that date falls at the weekend - tough! This year 14th July was a Tuesday so many people had a long weekend.

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Luckily Matt and the staff at La Paillote were busy, even roping in the old man to wash and dry glasses in the earlier part of the evening. Thankfully Moose took over so that I could watch the fireworks with Hughie from the outside of the bar. As you can see the display was well up to standard, but I must say I prefer watching from the beach itself where you're fully immersed in the atmosphere.

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(Matt's got a great team this year: Jérémy, Tine & Benjy in the kitchen, and Moose, Floppy & Charles serving in the bar and restaurant. All VERY hard-working and laughing their way through the day!)

The Battery Family visits!

What a weekend! Gone were healthy eating and calorie counting, back were lots of drinks and guilty food (if only temporarily).

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And the occasion? Anil, Anita & Arun came to stay for a couple of nights on their way back to the UK from their new property in Dordogne. Many memories of booze-ups in our gardens in Bingley came flooding back. It was great to see my beer buddy again.

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We took them to Bud, the surfer beach by Les Conches. Although a little wary at first Arun & Anil loved the big waves - next time we'll get Anita in too! (Sorry about the topless posing - you can see why I'm trying to lose weight!)

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On Monday we had a lovely lazy day outside in the garden, Tine making us a lovely pork meal, complete with home grown green beans and carrots, both of which we're very proud. Matt came too and it was great to see Arun replying to him in French - he's coming on in leaps and bounds.

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I know they're coming back mid-August but I'm sure they'll spend much more quality time here in the future. And yes, we WILL be visiting you later in the year.