Frolics on the beach

The weather in August has been pretty good and we've had lots of beach time, including trips to Les Conches for wavy fun.

A reluctant Si...

...soon got into the swing of things!

Back to the towels & back home for lunch!

Beach art - guess whose toes!

Nad as a mermaid...

...and as a starfish!

And the visitors keep coming!

It's definitely been the summer of visits with non-stop guests since July. Is it any wonder we're beginning to feel a little tired?

Nadine & her friends Cat, Alice and Ryan created a tapas feast for us whilst Loulou & Co were in La Tranche

It's always hard saying goodbye and here our Figeac family called on their way back home, complete with Loulou's motorbike in tow.

Helen & Mo stopped on a local camp site for a week or so. Here they're enjoying drinks with Simon & Jodi in the Starfish.

Perhaps our strangest visitor was this beautiful budgie who spent a couple of hours in the garden before flying off.

He seemed to like snuggling behind Jodi's head whilst she was cooling off in the pool. 

Of course summer = eating outside. Nad, Jodi & Si barbie to perfection whilst I'm very happy with a glass of red and Draw Something!

One visitor we didn't manage to photograph was a barn owl that shocked Si one morning when he went to fetch a bike from the shed. No sign of him since (the owl, not Si)!

Are you An Englishman in La Tranche?

Yes, the magic words spoken last week when we went to the garage to take our car in for a new air-conditioning unit (& yes, it was VERY expensive)! We couldn't believe it when the man waiting recognised us from photos. So this post is dedicated to you (and I didn't even ask your name)!

Anyway back to the real world...

... of garden produce chez nous...

(Thanks, T'Landlady, for the pepper plants!)

...and playing out! Nadine, Loulou, Cynthia & Jean-Pierre at the Starfish & Coffee

...and lots of us invited to eat at Guy & Isabelle's one evening,

Loulou, Isabelle & Guy intent on Nicole's monologue!

Philippe & his girlies (2)

Clare & Anna, drinkless at the Starfish & Coffee

Clare, Laura & Phil WITH drinks at the Starfish!

Night in chez nous

Laura surveying the garden from the girls' bathroom

A typical Tine lunchtime spread

The girls were thrilled to see our fluorescent lizard!

Again, merci Laura pour les photos!

Philippe & his girlies (1)

We had a great week with Philippe and three of his friends when they came to stay last month. Thanks to Laura for all the photos except the first two.

Phil relaxing in the new conservatory

Philippe introduces Anna, Laura & Clare to the delights of shrimping

Apéritif time behind chez nous

A couple of shots at La Terrière beach

And an arty one to finish on: the jetty by night!

Visit to St Martin-de-Ré (3)

The church tower up in the village is well worth a visit for its 360º views

Check you don't walk past these when they're chiming!

Here's where we arrived from La Tranche...

...and La Sarrasine where we had eaten earlier.

Don't get my bald patch!

Inside the church...

...and out

A donkey in pyjamas!

Back on the boat for the return journey being entertained by a couple of clowns from the circus

Visit to St Martin-de-Ré (2)

Tine & Silv await their galettes (savoury buckwheat pancakes) at La Sarrasine...

...right on the harbour side.

St Martin is a walled town, this spiral staircase in one of the towers.

There are lots of narrow streets, hollyhocks growing everywhere! 

The circus was in town...

Just look at all these vehicles needed to transport the circus - I wouldn't like to be behind these on the road!

Kate & I studying the carvings above one of the gates to the town, complete with drawbridge and portcullis. 

Tempting shops on the return walk to the harbour.

We even saw fascinating sculptures!