Summer visits & sunflowers

Your faithful blogger and t'Landlady (it's a long story) during her recent visit here, cooling off in the pool

One of our sunflowers (all self-seeded from bird seed, nothing untoward this year!)...

...and a vast field of them on the road to L'Aiguillon

Tine practising with her new camera on a walk to Le Point d'Arçay with Silv a couple of weeks ago: thistles,

and a crazy 3 metres high creation.

Your faithful blogger & Silv, wrapped up for the wind (note the bouchots where mussels are cultivated)...

...and Tine saving this crab's life!

More flowers on the dunes

2012 changes (Part 3)

Now for my final post on our changes for 2012: yes we have a new conservatory, right across the kitchen and the dining area of the living room, and we couldn't be happier with the result. We're really looking forward to enjoying out of season sunny days there!

8th March: New wall...

...and base

29th March: Wall rendered. That's the living room to the left and kitchen to the right

29th June: Tine does her best mime impressions

2nd July: Tine in the conservatory with a whisky & dry (some of you might know Cluedo!) - we couldn't resist our first apéritifs there!

3rd July: Roller blinds in place, viewed from inside...

...and out!

10th July: Tiles done and we're allowed in 

10th July: Temporary furnishings whilst we decide what we want to do!

24th July: Today, and just look at the sky. The weather station says 29.4ºC!

As you can see, I've been waiting a while to share these (and the last two posts) with you. Hopefully some of you will come to see it for real before too long! As for my pension lump sum, well it's great spending the kids' inheritance!

2012 changes (Part 2)

Last month we had our old fire/fireplace demolished to be replaced by a more modern and far more efficient one. We won't be testing it until September/October but we are very happy with the new look!

The original fireplace the day we moved in

We decided to prepare the living room for decorating before all the mess. A special undercoat had to be applied on the ceiling cladding.

A single worker did the entire job, including erecting a protective polythene screen which worked really well to minimise dust in the house. 

The new version is a closed fireplace (un insert) which you CAN have open but it controls the heat more efficiently.

Finished, room still to decorate!

Et voilà, morning sun reflecting on the chimney (and room decorated).

There are also two vents in the hall/corridor to the East Wing which should help to warm the house over winter - fingers crossed!

2012 changes (Part 1)

2011 was the year of the new kitchen but 2012 has brought many more changes to our house. My next few posts will bring you up-to-date.

Our freshly painted hallway, now with piano,

bright doors,

new cupboard, larger opening in the front door & a light ceiling,

and trendy coat stand!

Stephen, Brian and the lads brought our bathroom into the 21st century whilst renovating Stephen & Sally's new property

We now have a modern bathroom in tones of grey

with an amazing walk-in shower!

Meanwhile in the former garage, now named the East Wing or Estelle (= Est Aile), IKEA came up with this brilliant furniture...

...and Tine is hoping to do her lesson preparation here this winter (fingers crossed for the new heating system, but more of that next time)!

A mixed bag

A few odds and ends this time!

Tine taken on her recent birthday, using her new camera!

A hoopoe just opposite our house. We saw it in our garden once but it's pretty timid!

Friend Dave took this amazing photo of a redstart feeding its young in their porch

This year we have a pumpkin/courgette jungle - could do with more sun though...

Tine DID rescue this lizard after taking its picture!

Your faithful blogger and his new drinking buddy: Elliot, Nico & Caro's 4 month old son at Matt's bar

The new jetty

Nearly two and a half years after the storm the new embarcadère is open for business and the first crossing to l'Ile de Ré took place on Tuesday. We were there to see the boat arrive but sadly I'd left my camera at home, so you'll just have to believe me!

These two photos were taken on 21st June, showing the workers building the new ramp, needed now that the jetty is 1.2 m higher than the previous version.

And more or less finished by 27th June

11th July: No 'No Cycling' signs up yet so this biker could get away with it!

The herringbone pattern has gone but the new jetty is wider. Note the heavy skies...

...thankfully brighter in the 'weather corner'

Catamarans awaiting today's learner sailors