Mouille Pieds (2)

The truck arrived whilst Stephen and Matt were at the notaire for the official signing. One of the lads phoned to ask if they could start unloading about 14 tonnes of equipment: permission given, phew!

By the time we got there most of the equipment was safely stored inside, Tinka happy to be back on French soil!

One of several fireplaces, this one in a back room

The stairs leading off from the entrance hall

Upstairs, dilapidated internal walls and 'interesting' decorations 

Above the stairs!

Mouille Pieds (1)

Many of you will remember last year when Stephen & Brian renovated the bar that was to become the Starfish & Coffee, and later brought our kitchen into the 21st century. Well, when holidaying here in the summer with Sally and Lois, Stephen found this old house just south of Luçon. Many, many months and lots of paperwork later they have finally signed and we went for a sneaky outside preview before work started.

Mouille Pied(s) = Wet Feet!

Three photos of the exterior of the house

and the outbuildings, which have been somewhat open to the elements!

Special post!

A new blog to share our holiday in Corsica can be found on http://ourcorsicanadventures.wordpress.com updates depending on wifi access! Stay tuned, folks...

Starfish at Le Rocher

We called in at Le Rocher one day on the way back from choosing some tiles in Longeville and came across a number of stranded starfish which Saint Tine swiftly saved, finding them rock pools to rehydrate in.

We've always been intrigued by the house on the far right which has been built into a wartime blockhaus!

The colours that day were wonderful

We hadn't realised how many starfish we were going to see

and different colours too!

This one was a monster!

These three photos show that starfish are good movers once in water. Have you spotted the saved urchin too?! 

Are you dancing...?

Commequiers & Apremont

We drove back to La Tranche following the inland route but felt we had to show LCA these two wonderful chateaux.

Firstly Commequiers, beautifully reflected in its moat 

Then onto Apremont with its earth works and impressive towers

And what better way to finish a good day: apéritifs at Guy & Isabelle's

Sione-sur-l'Océan

We love having guests, giving us the excuse to revisit places we've enjoyed since moving to Vendée. I'm sure Nad & 'Er from Brittany will remember the fantastic day we spent at Sion-sur-l'Océan almost exactly a year ago. A really lovely spot!

The view from our picnic spot, the tide way out

A stranded mermaid?

Your faithful blogger and LCA silhouetted against one of the stacks along this part of the coast, later the pathway was submerged by the incoming tide

Les Cinq Pineaux

Your faithful blogger disappearing under a natural archway

The stacks were a favourite spot for cormorants

The tide came in so quickly

The mermaid is now awake and has found her feet!

We even managed a paddle with two of us getting rather wet!

Le Trou du Diable (the Devil's Hole), a blowhole in the cliffs

Market day & another ragondin walk!

Recent high tides have left a lake just below the lifeguards' post. No doubt they'll be bulldozing sand there before long, ready for the holiday-makers. 

The new town square, still not finished. The children's roundabout has been erected just by the church (rather oddly)! 

The market stall where we bought our pansies

The market is just beginning to grow as more and more visitors arrive

We spied this nesting swan hidden in the reeds...

on our way to check on our local stork 

There were fewer coypus around as it was quite hot

but there was a herd of very young & curious cattle. 

Thanks to LCA for this fabulous photograph (and all others in this post)