More family fun

Another week of family fun, now joined by Philippe & Gina for a few days too.

Sacha & Alfie, rivals at table football...

...but 'beer' buddies too (both photos at the Starfish).

Our guests had good weather but the pool wasn't open yet, so Alfie made do with the small paddling pool...

...not the only visitor on the decking!

We had to have a couple of visits to the Slice Café, Alfie sampling a chocolate muffin one day...

...and Easter Sunday brunch for everyone.

Easter greetings from the house residents!

It was lovely to get to know Gina...

...with photographic family evidence (the two youngsters playing hard to get).

Sacha with Papa Matt on the Vespa. He now has his own helmet for when he can legally ride pillion once he's three years old.

Alfie was a bit too shy to go for a ride on the campsite tractor, but was up for an exploration

Road rage on the decking. No vehicles inside, boys!

Nad & Alf come for Easter

As you can see I'm still running late with these blog updates!

It's now nearly Easter and Nadine & Alfie have settled into their Trenchtown home, leaving Simon sprucing up their Sheffield home to get it on the market (and with that time-machine magic, now sold and house purchase nearing completion)!

Once again the cousins were mighty happy to see each other again, here at Côté Plage awaiting lunch

What better than an ice cream on the beach for dessert, says Sacha...

...and Alfie totally agrees!

My regular walks continue, of course: the beautiful evening light over the boating lake...

...and the tiniest of jellyfish stranded at low tide.

Meanwhile Alfie shows off his beach bum trim...

...and has fun with Mamie down on the beach...

...even finding a starfish!

With Papy we investigate a very low tide...

...and make our way under the jetty...

...and along it...

...Alfie posing like a professional!

Impromptu weekend in Yorkshire

It was a sad weekend catching up with my old mate for the last time, but lovely to see the Hills and be able to help Nadine with Alfie on their planned visit to La Tranche.

I didn't arrive until late, one plane and four trains to get to Sheffield! So next morning it was bonjour Alfie. 

We had a trip out to Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, busy in the lovely weather 

We were spoiled by great views on the flight back to La Rochelle: La Tranche is somewhere here, the Île de Ré in the background...

Approaching La Rochelle airport a good view of the the road back to La Tranche

Two superstars returning to French soil...

...all too much for one of them!

Visiting old neighbours

As most regulars know, we usually combine a visit to the inlaws with a stay at Anil, Anita & Arun's, our next door neighbours from Bingley who moved to Dordogne the year after us.

There's still a lot to do in the house but it's getting there, the spiral staircase...

...leading to the mezzanine...

...with great views over the kitchen...

...and living space.

'Little' Arun in his room. It's hard to think of him as the baby next door at over 6 feet tall!

Tine & Anita chatting under the blossom on their land...

...and a very intricate hut in the trees not far away to catch wood pigeons.

New super-deluxe swimming pool, nearly ready to sample

Anil & Anita off on a night out in A's mid-life crisis sports car, Tine doing her door-holding duties

Real men at work (1): others just take photographs

Real men at work (2): others still taking photographs

Finally a night out at the restaurant to celebrate our 42nd wedding anniversary!

Ten years chez nous (Part 2)

Continuing my reminiscences over the last ten years, here's part two.

The kitchen was really old-fashioned...

...but not now. We love it!

The front of the house...

...has sprouted another floor.

Jean & Monique came with us and gave their seal of approval

The 'East Wing' as we know it...

...where Phil & his mates slept.

Mid transformation, the view from the new upstairs window...

...and the finished look: guest bedroom and studio.

Outside, total transformation...

We love the conservatory...

...and our outdoor eating space.

Meanwhile the dark & dingy garden store area...

...has become a shower room for the East Wing.

The apartments still overlook us, but who cares?!

I can't imagine there'll be as many changes in the next 10 years, but who knows?!