Chez Philippe & Laeticia

Philippe & laeticia have wanted to show off their house for a while now, and what better way than a 'cousinade'. Jean & Monique picked us up in their camper van for the 90 minute journey to Épannes in the Niort area. 

I had to share this with you: a baguette dispenser!

The baker from a local village fills the machine regularly with excellent bread. The town's only proviso: if a baker wants to set up business in the town then the dispenser has to go.

Jean-Pierre & Catherine and Jean & Monique's camper vans. We slept nice and snug in the house!

Well well well, on the way to the house

And here it is, a fabulous rambling farm-type property, ideal for the P&L, now with their third daughter.

Now Nicole, name this plant. It's over a metre tall and there was a whole field of it near the town

Tine's contribution to our first meal there. Delicious!

Yet another game of Mölkky!

And for the more energetic: a game of ping pong

La Belle Henriette & La Faute sur Mer

Out and about, this time with she-who-shall-not-be-photographed

This swan flew off minutes later from the lagoon at La Belle Henriette with an amazing flapping of wings

The photo doesn't do this field of wild flowers justice

At La Faute a new memorial to those who died in the terrible storm of 2010

And a couple of extras:

Philippe on stage at the 02 Shepherd's Bush Empire just a couple of weeks ago, playing for Elli Ingram, who was supporting De La Soul

And look what's awaiting a bit of heat from the sun. The water was 18ºC last time I looked. Warm enough in the sea with waves but this Northerner is too nesh (Google it!) for the pool right now

Catching up

Another weekend away and before you know it I'm behind with the blog again. I think you're going to have to get used to a weekly post, folks!
So, a mixed bag for you:

The roadside plantations in La Tranche have looked superb this year, low maintenance being the operative phrase I understand

Look who's back: the hoopoe serenading us in the morning from the neighbour's roof

New-for-2014 at the Baie d'Aunis campsite. What was once the domain of volley ball players is now usable for many activities

A belated Happy May Day to you all, in France on 1st May when it is traditional to offer lily of the valley flowers

We celebrated a glut of mint by preparing some mojitos. Cheers!

Another new-for-2014: we have discovered the game of Mölkky, a Finnish skittle game with easy rules. This is how it starts...

...and this is how it develops. Visitors will be forced to play this summer.

Guess who's getting ready for the next stage of our adventures? Baildon Moor here we come!

Château de Grignols & Dolmen de la Pierre Martine

Whilst stopping in Dordogneshire we enjoyed walking round the Château de Grignols, a very impressive 12th to 15th century castle near Bergerac, sadly not visitable.

Next day on our journey down to Figeac (sorry, no photos!) we stopped at Martine's favourite old rock, where we had a picnic lunch and snooze in the sunshine. Fab!

View from snooze position!