Back to l'Abbeye de Lieu Dieu

Just a couple of kilometres inland from La Plage de la Ragounite is L'Abbeye de Lieu Dieu, one of our favourite destinations with visitors (and therefore a regular feature on the blog, he said apologetically). We had fun disturbing many of the frogs enjoying the spring air before walking down to the old abbey, sadly falling into more and more disrepair.

La Plage de la Ragounite

Whilst out-and-about with Phil and 'Er from Brittany we discovered this lovely beach just to the north of Jard-sur-Mer with fascinating rock formations and crumbling cliffs. The deliciously warm weather also helped us to enjoy the stroll.

Christmas in March?

Whilst exploring South America Matt sent us a message requesting an English Christmas Dinner on his return. Of course Phil couldn't resist the temptation of booking a quick weekend visit to coincide with this event!

Whilst Phil and 'Er from Brittany were here we went on a couple of trips out, firstly to La Pointe de l'Aiguillon, a popular walk for us, but never had we seen it with such a high tide. Luckily the sea was pretty calm and no damage ensued.

Romance was literally in the air a few days ago when this plane flew over the house. (Translation: Lou, will you marry me?)

Now, which is better, in the air or underwater? There's only one way to find out: FIGHT!!!!

Brouage (Part Two)

On the entrance to the town is found this sign: 'Traveller, stop here you must as the ground you are walking on and the air you are breathing are filled with past greatness and glory.' (Translation thanks to a great website, http://brouage-uk.weebly.com/index.html)

'The Grotto of the Deported Priests'

Tine tries the ancient latrines!

You can imagine the view from the citadel looking over the sea.

The Saint-Luc powderhouse

Couldn't help but think of Diagon Alley when we saw this wall.

This was the ice room, built into the ground. Now where did they get the ice from?

I was really pleased with this photo but there's a very similar one on the website!

Brouage (Part One)

We took the opportunity of driving our lovely niece Caroline to her nursing entrance exam in La Rochelle to venture a little further down the Charente coast to Brouage, a site recommended to us years ago by old friend Martin (sorry, didn't bump into your aunt, sir).

Brouage was once a thriving port but the harbour gradually silted up in the 17th century and the coast is now 2 km away.

Within the old walls lies a small town, built grid fashion, and the white stone of its buildings shone brightly on a beatifully sunny day.

We even managed to have lunch outside...

... before strolling along the walls, enjoying views of the oyster farms and assorted old buildings

More next time!

New neighbours

Matt & Cynthia have settled into their new home, just round a few corners from us. At the moment they have a houseful with Stephen & Brian stopping there whilst helping Matt with his new project. These two photos were taken the day after they moved in as we walked past. I'm sure you'll notice the bottles!

We continued our walk and enjoyed the heavy scent of the mimosa which is everywhere at the moment. Can anyone help with the first plant here which is abundant in many roadside borders in La Tranche (and I would like some too)? ('Er from Britanny wins this week's star prize for naming Euphorbia Characias)

A couple of days later we were invited to eat at Matt & Cynthia's, along with C's parents and Stephen. We enjoyed a wonderful raclette and here is the Lorraine Pascale pavlova that Tine took for desert - scrummy!

Spring flowers

What a wonderful week we've just had, managing several lunches outside and basking in the increasingly warming sun.

The garden is also beginning to wake up, the trough of primulas blasting colour.

In front of the house catkins prepare for the leaves to come,

the forsythia is as brilliant as ever

and the mini tulip pokes its way through the succulents.

Finally blossom on the plum tree, so sweet, just like the fruit to come!

The more eagle-eyed amongst you might notice I have a new camera. Yes indeed yet another camera bites the dust (literally, I fear). It's not a DSLR but there are lots more controls so you will have to bear with me.

Son & sun!

Matt & Cynthia are back from their South American adventures and life for them has been a whirlwind recently with projects and moving into their new home. For those of you who don't recognise him, this is the boy with hair (now cropped of course), he and Cynthia perfecting their Wallace & Gromit grins.

We walked along the pathway on the dune as it was a very high tide and we could show them where the sea is making inroads again.

Tine, with her boundless energy, has taken to jogging some mornings, the other day equipped with both iPod AND camera. The early bird catches the rising sun, as they don't say!

Can you spot the surfers on the next two photographs?

Then back home to stir me from my slumbers. It's a hard life.......