To the circus!

I can't say I was over-enthusiastic about going to the circus but indeed I DID go, and what a brilliant show it was! Not a sign of mistreated animals, all looking very healthy, and the whole affair was very professional. It took me back to my childhood and Dad taking us to the circus at Belle Vue near Manchester...

What was even better was going with Vanna, Si and their cousins Graham, Cheryl & family, all up for a good time!

One excited little boy (and Alfie was too)!

It was quite a long show but it kept his attention

Regular readers will know how he loves animals...

...but there's just the elephants and camels on show here. No photos of the white lions, llamas and zebras, or the amazing trapeze artists and acrobats.

On the way back we spotted our own wild animal...

...a coypu (ragondin), quite happy to have his photo taken: they're usually very timid.

Another day Simon, your faithful blogger & Graham enjoy yet another pint at La Paillote Happy Hour...

...whilst Vanna insists on a selfie with me!

Wet weather (+)

No excuses but there are lots of grandson pictures coming up! Normal service will be resumed ASAP...

'Mouillé', says young Alfie (= 'Wet')

But wet can be great fun...

...unless you're a furry chimp, left out on the swing in the rain...

...but later brought in to dry.

And rain brings snails - looks like a standoff going on!

Feeding time at the zoo: even Tonton Phil gets in on the act

Alfie's turn to eat...

...and earlier finishing the Shreddie-milk (yes, he is allowed to share Papy's cereal)

Meanwhile Alfie & Sacha enjoy a bit of cousinly love in the laundry basket (sorry photo isn't very clear)

Young Sacha's becoming more independent and very determined

A bit of airtime for Alfie

A lovely Hills family shot

New Dutch friends (+)

Our Dutch friends Monique & Simon left their caravan on the Baie d'Aunis for their friends Mirjam & Laurens to use, and you've guessed it: we got on like a house on fire!

La Paillote Happy Hour, of course. Cheers!

Yes, Laurens is 2m tall. The parasol was over the bbq as we had rather a wild & wet night (rain AND booze)! Luckily Big Dave's bbq expertise came to the fore.

Laurens, Mirjam with young Tom, all excellent English speakers

More pool shots: Phil & the Hills (great name for a band),

Tonton & neuveu,

and young La Tranche friends Séb, Anna with baby Alicia

One day at the Starfish Matt put a fake parking ticket on a bike chained to the railing, left there for several days. Hope the owner appreciated the joke!

Si & Alfie selfie...

...and checking some of the animals at a travelling circus.

Garden produce

We're getting lots of goodies from the garden and we're so pleased with the raised beds that we might buy more next year for the bottom of the garden.

New for 2015: tetragonia (also known as New Zealand spinach), a hardier alternative to real spinach in dishes

It's great to be able to grow more 'exotic' veg outside

After a slow start we've had good crops of French beans and tomatoes...

...these three with very strange shapes!

Already on the menu: courgettes...

...soon to be harvested: butternut squash,

pumpkins 

and Swiss chard, one of our favourites.

Don't forget the lemons!

Alfie helps in the garden

One thing's for sure: our two grandsons love being outside, and last year's decking investment is certainly paying off!

Alfie helps with the watering, getting himself as wet as the plants!

Here helping to water the onions...

...now all harvested and the raised bed planted with Brussels sprouts and cauliflower.

He's quite happy helping Mamie too - here collecting windfall apples...

...and playing with them, whilst Papy is hard at work on his phone!

Alfie found a long straight bean to play with (we found beans around the house once they'd left)!

Nadine took this wonderful photo of a bumble bee, enjoying one of our wild flowers

Alfie left us a beautiful art installation, still in situ I might add!

A surprise visitor

One Sunday afternoon Nadine 'stole' our car without me even noticing to do an extra-special airport run: yes, Philippe came to stay for a few days!

The men look ready for the off...

...with the youngest becoming more and more intrepid!

Another day there's Maman to help too

All our visitors this year have shared the shopping/cooking, taking a weight off our shoulders but adding it to our waistlines when it's a chocolate cheesecake made by Si!

Alfie doesn't look so sure on Tonton Matt's shoulders...

...but you can see the delight on his first pony ride!

Alfie's spelling and writing are coming on a treat: saying hello to his Nanan and Grandad in Hastings!