Back to Venise Verte

It was our fourth visit to Venise Verte in the southermost part of Vendée and we decided to sample a trip from a different port this time: Maillezais, famous for its abbey which we will visit one day, I'm sure.

On arrival the port is very impressive with our punt awaiting and the waterways covered in green algae, known as 'lentils' in French!

We sailed silently behind a re-enactment play in the grounds of the abbey

and along some pretty narrow waterways.

Here our guide explained how eels are caught using traditional methods, Si perfecting his French and fishing skills.

Ash trees are lopped to form big fat trunks and roots which help to reinforce the canal banks.

Don't worry: that's not the boat alight, but the methane gas rising from the canal bottom after being stirred up by the boatsman's oar.

Could this be a giant snail stretching out across the water?

A lovely day out and a highly recommended visit!

Colourful times!

A strange title, you might think, but all will become clear (hopefully)...

Look at this rusty monster Nad discovered on our way to be beach!

Next the courgette-fest has now become a tomato mountain, a picture in red and yellow.

And where would we be without a drop of pink (rosé, ok!) out to lunch with Nad & Si in a lovely small town called Damvix.

The beautiful white stone of the cloisters at l'Abbaye Saint Vincent de Nieul-sur-l'Autise

And, of course, blue and white wavy fun in the sea at Les Conches.

We are family

Well it's not often we're all together these days but here is evidence that the C5+2 were reunited last week.

On a dull but certainly not cold day we ventured to the beach near Clemenceau's house. Sadly we were pretty uninspired except for spotting a big dead fish (or dead big fish?) with Tine, Phil & Nad looking on.

On our way back to La Tranche we finally found our way (cheers Phil) to the standing stone in a field just outside Longeville. It's called La Pierre qui Vire, and legend has it that it turns each night at midnight!

Back to La Paillote and better weather, Matt in full crêpe making mode

and Phil in full anticipation mode

looking like the cat ABOUT to eat the cream! (Word of warning: this is not the usual quantity of chantilly cream served on Matt's pancakes!)

MN&P, of course.

Et voilà, the full family!

Fun in the sun

With's Phil's HUGE weight he managed to tear the deckchair cover but in true miserly style he not only made an Obelix look-alike costume, but also learned new camouflage skills once he had recovered the chair.

'Er from Brittany and her ex-colleague Norma came to stay for a few days and we had some great laughs, Tine & Phil practising for the circus...

...and Norma enjoying a swim in the not-too-difficult-to-get-in sea.

A rinse in the pool with my favourite daughter...

...and apéritifs at our good friend's house: Isabelle...

...and a do-you-really-have-to-photograph-me Guy!

Silence is golden...

...but also a sign that we've been very busy, with not much time for blogism.

Evidence that our new kitchen is getting good use. Firstly the breakfast-bar, complete with our new high stools.

Some of the many courgettes grown in the garden. When Nad's friends were here they had a competition to see who came up with the best dish. Courgette cake with lemon icing won I think (much yummier than it sounds)!

There is a story about the second bookshelf which is now back in situ!

Believe it or not this is only half of my Shreddie stash. I think I'm practically set up for life now!

This year's firework display for 'La Fête de l'Assomption' was on the 14th August and despite the drizzly rain we watched a magnificent display, based on music from 'The Lion King'. Beforehand Nad prepared a wonderful spread à la Tine who was busy at La Paillote, one of their biggest days of the season.

Nad & friends

Summer holidays back in the UK mean that there are a lot more people about La Tranche and Matt is very happy with a busy La Paillote. Of course we're happy to have Nadine back with us and play host to some of her friends.

Her work colleague Jamie came last year with his family, obviously enjoyed themselves for a return visit and particularly shrimping at low tide. Tine & I joined them after helping Matt set up for the morning.

Later some of the Sheffield crew had fun times in our giant paddling pool (the water at a very manageable 25ºC), Adam developing some rather strange leaks from his shorts and the four of them enjoying a glass of rosé. I'm not sure what happened to Tine's glass!