Down on the beach & the summer draws to a close

It's been good to have lots of visitors again this summer (not as many as usual though - where are you all?!)

Jodi & Mouse insisted on going shrimping again, Jodi proving what an expert she is. I suppose Photo 1 could be 'Creature of the Week'! Other beach shots show Tine on her precious afternoon break from pizza making, enjoying some quality time with Phil; Nad & Jodi being paparazzied (?)on their way out of the sea; and Jamie's two super-hero sons.

Next our last night with Phil with a lovely shot of Cynthia, Phil & Nad.

And finally it would seem the birds outside our house are readying themselves for the end of summer and their long flight to warmer climes. Hard to believe when it is still so hot.

Celebration time, come on!

Yes it's me back again (although Nadine has her final instalment to do soon)!

Here are a few shots from a 'cousinade' to celebrate Loulou's 50th birthday last month. On view for you are (1) Caro & Nad (2) Loulou in champagne action (3) Sylvie & Catherine (4) Mouse, Jodi, Caro & Nad; and finally (5) Jean & Jean-Pierre.

A few days later we had some more firework action, this time introducing Nad's friend and colleague Jamie and his two boys to a fantastic display. Back to La Paillote for drinks afterwards and more chat with cousins - wonderful!

Out and about in the Lot

Once settled in Loulou and Sylvie's house, the three of us spent the next four days exploring the region and having a fantastic time.

On our first full day we headed into Figeac centre to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the market. It is a very big and impressive marché with the expected variety of foods, clothing and the strange array of nic nacs you don't seem to ever see anywhere else! My absolute favourite section has to be the fruit and veg stalls under the old original market place, intertwined with local cheese stalls selling 'cabecou'; soon to be Jodi's favourite food stuff of all time, even leading to a request for Loulou and Sylvie to set up a weekly delivery service back to West Yorkshire!
That afternoon we headed up to Capdenac Le Haut, where we used to stay during later summers of my childhood. The views were as breathtaking as ever, perhaps more so viewing it with Jodi and Mouse's new eyes!


Over the next couple of days we visited Saint Cirq Lapopie (entirely based on the claim that it was 'the most beautiful village in France', as seen on the back of a postcard!), Rocamadour and the Foret Des Singes. We swam in the Lot and paddled in the Célé. We ate out twice, once overlooking the Lot on a very pretty balcony and BBQed twice, enjoying wine and tasty local grub on our very own terrace, albeit only a borrowed one!



All in all, what an incredible few days we had exploring the region. I personally enjoyed reliving places from my childhood, and also being able to appreciate the beauty of places I had previously found familiar due to playing at tourists with my friends. I think we would all recommend the region to anyone!

3 go on a road trip

Last Friday, I (Nadine) drove up to Nantes to pick up my lovely friends Jodi and Mouse and we set off on a rather impressive road trip!

Having eaten the incredibly large pain au raisins I'd brought for breakfast, we commenced our 489 mile journey down to Figeac in the Lot; Maman's adopted home town and place of every childhood summer holiday.

We picnic-ed about half way down the route, stopping where we saw a patch of grass. We'd chosen not to pay for toll roads and were really enjoying seeing the true sights of France by driving through all the small towns and pretty areas.

Soon we noticed the landscape change, and the architecture of all the houses and buildings start to alter as we found ourselves heading further south. It's hard to put a finger on when or exactly what happens, but all of a sudden you look around and realise you're 'not in Kansas anymore'.

We arrived in Figeac a little rough around the edges at about 7.30pm. I'd been driving since 8am so I was a little frazzled, but actually it was such an easy and enjoyable drive. We called into Lacapelle on our way into Figeac for a little peek around the chateaux first. We spent many summers camping in Lacapelle so it brought back memories!

As it was our first night, we decided to walk into Figeac from Loulou and Sylvie's for some exploration and to find some grub. We had a couple of aperitifs sat in opposite the Musee de Champolion in the beautiful late evening sun, then found a brasserie for our first French tea.

Invading Nad's photos

Nadine picked up Jodi & Mouse at Nantes airport last Friday and hi-jacked them all the way to Figeac in our car. They've had a wonderful time discovering this beautiful town and area and are due back here later today (presumably for Happy Hour) but in the meantime I have purloined several of Nad's photos left tidily on my desk-top!

(1) & (2) Soaking up the rays at Les Conches, the waves not as big as sometimes

(3) Your faithful bloggist in situ at La Paillote

(4) & (5) A VERY special stag and hen weekend: former La Paillote staff from about 15 years ago, two of whom practising the first dance for their wedding later this month

(6), (7) & (8) Home produce corner: leaves, artichokes & tomatoes from the garden, Reine Claude jam being made, and Nad's chocolate cake to compete with Tine's!

Time flies...

... when you're having fun, and here we are already well into August!

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I was inviting to a 'cousinade' chez Jean-Pierre & Catherine's the other week whilst poor Tine was working at La Paillote. Here we have Valérie, Cédric, Julie, Jean and Jean-Pierre.

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Photo 2 shows the view from my sun-lounger when it gets too hot in the afternoon and I move into the shade. It's a hard life!

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It was great to welcome Gill & Andy (with Chloe & Will) not long ago even if they only stopped for a couple of nights. They certainly appreciated La Paillote when Matt actually had some time to spend with us. Hopefully the Nics will be back before too long for an extended stay. It's been bedlam at La Paillote ever since their visit - good news for the accountants but not for the team's fatigue.

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And finally the creature of the week. Just look at this huge caterpillar that crossed our terrace at an amazing speed. Anyone recognise it?