Beach time

Last year Father Christmas brought a family present for the Clegglets: an inflatable standup paddle board.

Nadine was itching to have a go, Betty too

Oops, have you forgotten something?

Mamie to the rescue with Betty's lifejacket...

...and up Nadine gets!

A little later I think it's true love for Betty and Sylvie

That look says it all!

More cousinly fun and AlfnBets settle in

 I love summer when we can all get together

Apéritif time at the Starfish: Rémi, Matt, Sylvie, moi, Mathys, Nadine, Loulou & Cynthia

Rearrange 7 from 8: Matt’s got to work sometimes!

Now down to 4 but the drinks are still flowing

And look who’s here too: Matt’s old mate Martin aka Gimpy!

Back chez nous Alfie joins the boyband…

…watched closely by Betty and Sylvie.

Another day and Betty’s ready for the cycle-ride to the beach…

…whilst Alfie reacquaints himself with his surfer-dude role model!

AlfnBets arrive and a cousinade

Not forgetting Nadine

First stop, the pool of course

But look, someone else has arrived too: Loulou & Sylvie in a surprise visit (here with Monique, Jean and their grandson Mathys, working in the campsite office this year).

Monique looks happy, preparing AlfnBets' individual table...

...whilst they collect pine cones (hopefully for Papy's fires this winter).

A proper cousinade photo. You'll know who's who.

This is the second time that Alfie has sampled oysters. As a big seafood fan perhaps next time?

The children were really well-behaved...

...Alfie encouraging his sister to try things.

Back chez nous, the high temperatures continue...

...but there's always the pool and a drink to enjoy.

Les Nuits de la Tour (2)

In 2019 we missed the first performances of Les Nuits de la Tour with a cast of amateur local people telling the story of the tower. The pandemic got in the way, and three years later we were lucky enough to get tickets for one of the second series of shows.

The tower was used as the main backdrop throughout...

...sometimes with very real projections. 

A village was created to help tell the story.

Translated from the flier: 'Throughout time the villagers knew how to protect me...

...they revolted so that no-one could spoil my beautiful robe...

...they put their heart into cultivating the land...

...and maintain the marshes which have now replaced the ocean...

...I am ready to tell you my story.'

What a great production...

...but sadly no fireworks this time with the risk of causing forest fires.

I would definitely go back in 2023 although it's a shame that the dates are too early for British holiday-makers.

Les Nuits de la Tour (1)

I’ve already written a couple of posts on Le Tour de Moricq, our fairly local medieval tower which used to guard against invaders when La Tranche was an island and the coast was further inland than at present.

But what are all these people doing?

Sausage & chips for sale…

…to be enjoyed by good friends Maryse & Yves…

…and us two of course.

The crowd’s getting bigger…

…and the sun’s going down.

There’s an air of expectancy, don’t you think?

À suivre, as they say over here: to be continued!

La Musée Automobile de Vendée

I can’t say I’m a big motor car fanatic (just as long as they get me from a to b) but when you have a motor car enthusiast cousin stopping with you there’s only one local destination: the car museum on the way to Les Sables d’Olonne.

I can’t even think about anything to write!

There were lots of old cars…

…behind barriers…

…some with very strange wax dummies!

I quite liked this super-sleek one…

…and very interesting 2- and 3-wheelers!

Back to La Tranche and cooling off at sunset…

…with or without Tine!