60th birthday celebrations

We can't stop the years from ticking by (or should that read galloping by?) but what a great day we had celebrating Tine's 60th birthday, finally visiting the mediaeval castle at Talmont.

Sir Dave & Lady Tine...

...and Sir Ian & Lady Jill

Now promoted to royalty!

There's always a miscreant

Oh yes, we visited the castle too!

The birthday girl awaiting her banquet?

There's beautiful stonework everywhere

One final arty shot

The Queenie gang having drinks at the Starfish before heading for Nico's

ps I was very amused when a couple of close Français said with dismay, 'But the castle is all in ruins, and there's no furniture!' Give me Talmont to a stuffy château on the Loire any day of the week! 

Ian & Jill and damp visits

We were very happy to welcome Ian & Jill,  old friends and Queenie colleagues, for their first stay in Vendée. They had the great idea of stopping overnight in La Rochelle on their arrival, Tandoori Taxis picking them up on Sunday afternoon.

Sadly after a beautiful weekend, the weather did its worst, but it didn't stop us getting out and about.

There seems to be a lot more wheat being grown in the area this year. That and abundant red poppies look fantastic together.

Another crop we're seeing more of each year gives vast swathes of purple. Linseed, flax? Come on Nicole or LCA!

Some of you might remember photos of the old mill at Rabouillères, now looking a little more cared for, although it has lost its old sails...

...but found a fake Dutchman showing off his birth year.

What better activity to do on a miserable afternoon than ancient stone hunting.  Here we have the Dolmen de la Cour du Breuil,

the Dolmen des Pierres Folles (where we saw a family of wild boar some years ago),

Les Menhirs de Plessis (Jill's favourites),

and Le Dolmen de la Sulette.

The Maddie Show continues

There's no point being at the seaside if you don't go to the VERY busy beach...

...or the equally busy pirate themed play park

Our little star was more than happy to plant radishes (already coming through)...

---whilst the hosts pottered

The best place was the camp site swimming pool with Mum...

...and Mr & Mrs Blogger, ready to leave!

Here Maddie & Steve are at the zoo at Les Sables...

...whilst Tine & I drove up to the beach at La Paracou for a spot of sunbathing.  We love the zoo, but twice in one week is a bit much!

Maddie comes to La Tranche

Well, it may as well be called that, but actually Steve & Sue did put in an appearance too! Plus they enjoyed the best week's weather so far this year.

Maddie on the spider's web style climbing frame in the forest play park

Sadly there were no school groups at the Cairn Centre to show how they moved large rocks in ancient history

Maddie with your faithful blogger inspecting a whicker and mud house on stilts

Maddie in front of an imitation dolmen, made using ancient techniques

This guide showed us how to make fire from two sorts of wood

Hey, Sue gets a look in...

...and Steve too!

On our way back home I finally managed to get SS&M all together in front of the largest menhir in Vendée, 7 metres high

A short time with N&S

The Finnegan 5 left us on Friday morning so we headed north to Château d'Olonne to take Cynthia out to lunch, then just a short ride away is the zoo which is a big favourite of Nad & Si's. How could we resist....?!

Firstly a bit of belated competition with our friend Marie: our first radishes (and scrumptious they were, too)!

Always a favourite: the meerkats having fun burying one of their brethren.

We stayed ages watching the turtles/tortoises. This one was obviously into yoga!

We also enjoyed colourful parrots,

playful otters,

family-minded giraffes

and less-than-energetic penguins!

Most of all, a last minute bump check with Nadine, now half way through her pregnancy!

Arthur and a secret!

Wow, what a houseful last week with the Finnegan 5 and a surprise visit from Nadine & Simon. It was great to become better acquainted to 9 month old Arthur, and getting a bit more practice in for our impending duties!

Jim & Arthur checking out strange things in the plum tree!

Now practising his musical skills with Tine.

Nad & Si flew over for a few days as a surprise for our other guests,

Si eventually becoming best buddies with the lad.

Oh yes, parents George & Anna were there too!

Meanwhile at the Starfish, a serious game of table football...

---and Arthur sees his future in a pint glass!

But what was the secret? Well it's my new favourite curry book which Les  was amused to find everywhere...

---even at the Starfish!