They’re here!

It’s been nearly a year since we saw them ‘in the flesh’ but finally the Hills 3 made it to France (hopefully Simon can join them later).

Nadine, Betty & Alfie at La Rochelle airport…

…and in the car back to La Tranche with Mamie & Papy.

First activity? The pool of course.

Sacha turned up for a cousins reunited…

…before a trip to the Starfish where Alfie is making an excellent impression of drinking a pint!

Next day a big family reunion at Jean & Monique’s with many more from the Galissot family

What’s all the fuss about? The view from la Cabane de Marie at 8am tells you why!

A fruity post…

…but some veg & flowers permitted.

There are so many figs in the second fruiting this year. The question is, will we enjoy them before the starlings & blackbirds?

There are also a few olives although our small tree seems to be somewhat temperamental 

There’s an abundance of apples…

…and pears this year. Hope there are no cockneys reading this!

We thought we’d lost our lemon tree earlier in the year but a bit of tlc goes a long way

The greengages await Alfie & Betty’s arrival on Monday (fingers crossed)

The strawberries are slowing down now but we’ve had plenty, and blackberries too

It’s hard the photograph French beans (‘haricots verts’ over here) but they’re stocking up nicely in the freezer

The planters to the side of the house have been stunning this year, particularly this geranium which seems to going for world domination!

No photos but we’re belatedly starting to enjoy our tomatoes (apparently other local gardeners are struggling too) and our once prolific courgette crop is still arriving in dribs & drabs.

Playing out plus

 I can’t tell you how good it feels to have Big Dave & Shan back in La Tranche. Essex in Trenchtown back together again!

We had a lovely housewarming lunch chez Geraldine & Rémi (far left) at their new holiday apartment, accompanied by friends & family

Your faithful blogger with the OTHER Martine (Geraldine’s Maman)

Tine sandwiched between Geraldine and moi

Matt & Geraldine: their friendship goes way back 25 years!

After touring round the unfinished complex we had a last view of their apartment as guests tidy up

Meanwhile back at home we’ve let the last few artichokes flower. You really see their link to the thistle family, but have you noticed the iridescent beetles making the most of the pollen (presumably)?

Just to show that it’s not always perfect weather here…

…when it rains, it rains!

I captured this on video on the main town square the other evening. As you can see there was nearly a nasty accident.

Oh dear, I'm getting to the end of my photos again

La Tranche is suddenly busy again and I feel less like facing the crowds...

The Starfish is a safe-zone though, here Matt's old mate Rémi (yes, another Rémi/Rémy, far right) and his friend Mickael. They've been installing a kitchen in Rémi & Geraldine's new holiday apartment. We're looking forward to lots of fun times ahead.

It wasn't such a fun time for the new owners of this house, not far from us. Luckily the driver walked away unscathed but it looks like the builders are assessing the damage.

The open-air chapel in La Grière is ready for action. I have to admit I've never attended a service there.

Matt, Cynthia & Sacha's old home is getting another level...

...literally!

Tikka came to visit and decimated a spade for the beach. Better than eating our strawberries though.

First flowers on the Albizia. That normally means Kate & Silv are due to visit, but times are far from normal.

Sacha is making the most of our little pool. It's quite good that Mamie & Papy fetch him from the summer school each evening!

Papy showing off his new phone with impressive photos of young Sach...

...this one showing the other front tooth dropped out too!

It's looking good for Nadine, Alfie & Betty to arrive soon, closely followed by Philippe. Fingers crossed that restrictions allow this.

Father’s Day treat & other things!

It’s great to see La Gargote aux Épices finally open again. There’s even the lovely Meghann outside clearing a table.

Sacha’s hiding his wobbly front teeth here. They’ve been loose for weeks now but don’t want to leave him. (**Breaking news: one fell out yesterday as I type this!)

Wobbly teeth or not, he was happy to make friends with Meghann’s niece over an ice-cream

A bit of food porn for you now: Tine’s rougail de gambas…

…and my chicken skewer with satay sauce, yummy!

On my daily walk I came across a marked-off area on the beach…

…and here’s the reason why: nesting gravelots (plovers) have laid their eggs in the upper beach and have asked for a bit of peace & quiet.

Back home and we tested Nadine’s solar lights in readiness for summer visitors. They work and look great!

Île de Ré: Last day (Les Portes-en-Ré & journey home)

Another great find: Les Portes-en-Ré with its beautiful church 

And here it is, to the right on this narrow street…

…with a cool sanctuary inside…

…complete with suspended sailing boat like most coastal churches.

Perhaps not the most beautiful spot for our picnic but we found shade at Rivedoux Plage, and that’s La Rochelle industrial area over the water

Just the Pont de Ré to take back now to hit the mainland (‘le continent’ as they say over here, much to my amusement).

It was only a short break but we had a great time, proving how you can feel on holiday not at all far from home.

Île de Ré: Last day (Le Phare des Baleines)

‘The Lighthouse of Whales’, what a great name! Sadly its name is because of all the washed-up whales on nearby beaches. We’ve still to see one though.

Anyone fancy the 257 steps to the top?

We didn’t go this time but I remember carrying an apprehensive Matt down when he was a toddler!

This is the old lighthouse…

…built by Vauban, famous for his Atlantic coast citadels.

The view over to La Tranche with an ‘écluse à poissons’ very visible at low tide…

…we have smaller versions at La Tranche, walls built to trap fish when the tide goes out.

Meanwhile visitors have been busy creating towers of rocks