More visitors

We've had lots more people recently, not all stopping chez nous, I hasten to add!

Our lovely French niece Caroline (with ultra-short hairdo) & Jo spent a week at Jean & Monique's earlier in the month...

...and were more than happy to make acquaintance with Sacha, and us to get to know Jo a bit better. I think we all approved!

We also had British niece Vics & Ste for a few days after their jaunts in La Rochelle & Nantes. Here Ste is showing off their sand-sculpture on 'our' beach

Happy Hour fun at La Paillote with Dutch friends Simon & Monique, alongside Essex Simon & Vanna. I was just making up the numbers!

And what about THIS visitor, found on the beach at La Terrière? I'm afraid I can't credit the photo but merci, Monsieur Facebook!

Summer fun

A couple of days later than intended, another dose of our life in La Tranche, which in summer seems to revolve around the pool and the Starfish!

The Essex girls came over for a meal one day: here's Tine & Shan...

...and your faithful blogger with Shan too!

Vanna & I couldn't resist a bit of bubbly in the pool

The weather has been so hot that it's been lovely for the youngsters  to come for a dip when they want.

Sacha loves his new dinghy...

...and splashing with Mamie...

...and riding the dolphin!

He also enjoys helping his Papa at the Starfish. I promise you it's only water!

And look who payed a surprise visit the other week: Sally, Stephen & Lois, with Matt getting in on the act

Les Floralies & Ragondin cycle

As I type this post Nadine, Simon & Alfie are due to fly back in 10 days' time and we are counting the days...

One day we cycled to Les Floralies for Alfie to feed the goats.

Alfie loved giving the goats our home-grown outer cabbage leaves

Some goats are very aggressive...

...but look, their bigger friend will sort them out!

Alfie & Mamie inspect Sacha's tree 

Another day we cycled along 'la route des ragondins', sadly there were very few to be seen

Some of the waterways were totally parched...

...whilst others had a thick layer of 'lentils' (algae) on the surface

Alfie loves riding on the back of the bike

Three typical Vendée landscapes: straight roads...

...waterways...

...and good farming land.

Si & Alfie come to stay

Yes, young Alfie has been earning his air miles recently with a return visit, this time with his Papa, to celebrate Si finishing his studies. Of course we weren't complaining!

Men at work?

Well at least Papy's smiling!

More pool photos with Alfie & Si...

...Sacha & Cynthia...

...and Matt during his precious break! 

A later date with Papy feeding Sacha in La Tranche...

...look who's tucking into his Petit Filou in Sheffield!

Clisson

We realised we were heading back to La Tranche rather early so we decided to make a detour and aimed for Clisson and its superb castle that once guarded the southern border of Brittany.

After a very welcome cool beer in the covered market we found ourselves the last visitors of the day at the château and had the whole place to ourselves.

The old bridge from below

The castle is very imposing...

...especially on this glorious day.

The entrance...

...and in we go!

It must have been a huge building in its heyday

The bridge from on high

Almost like our Bingley house!

The tower was majorly deep

The aerial photograph at the exit showed the grandeur of the site

Definitely warrants a return visit, folks!

Piriac sur Mer, La Turballe & Pornichet

For the journey back to La Tranche we decided to tour the coast, discoveries for me but happy memories for Tine.

We were very impressed with Piriac sur Mer, following an informative guide through the village

En route for La Turballe a beautifully renovated windmill

We arrived in La Turballe late morning, and it was hot, hot, hot

The impressive La Turballe town hall!

On to Pornichet and Papy Maurice's cousins' house where Tine used to spend her summer holidays as a young girl...

...and the beach is as glorious as ever. Last time we were here was in 1974, just after we got engaged!