The summer holidays draw to an end

Always a sad time saying au revoir especially when the weather's still perfect!

Nadine & Betty relaxing by Marie's beach bar... 

...where we met 'old' Bingley friends Sally & Stephen...

...some even venturing into the sea. Take my word for it, there's  Lois, Stephen with Sacha and Nadine with Alfie.

Betty grinning as (nearly) always, Alfie glued to the TV!

Tine enjoying a bit of quality time with Betty

Down at the Starfish with our Essex gang: Simon & Immy vs Alfie & Gemma on the table football...

...and Vanna getting sneaky cuddles with Betty.

Another day another bar, and Betty is enjoying cuddles with Angela at La Paillote

Last day for Nadine, Alfie & Betty, Betty decides to achieve one of her outstanding challenges

Cupboard door open: result!

Last evening and Matt joins us. Betty's rather nonplussed but Alfie & Sacha are as chirpy as ever.

Mostly Alfie

Alfie loves his holidays 'at France', as he says. You can easily see why!

He's become a mussel-aholic, with a brief moment of crisis before eating the tiny crab too! 

We even have tame grasshoppers as playmates...

...not to mention fluorescent beetles.

Down on the beach at low tide there are rock pools...

...sometimes with live crabs.

At low tide we can walk around the moored boats in the bay...

...and even under the jetty.

Then there are always new friends to be made...

...and fun times with cousin Sacha.

Summer odds & ends

A mixed bunch for you this time, from our long, hot summer.

In front of le Pavillon (now renamed l'Aunis) there are some new fountains where youngsters enjoyed cooling off when the temperatures rose too high

The views don't get better than this: Tine serving apéritifs in the pool!

Sadly I'm not as skinny as the latest version of me! 

Family photo opportunity in the Starfish: Phil, Gina with Betty, Tine, Nad & your faithful blogger

New for 2018: a beach tent, here getting good use for Tine, Betty and part of Nad in the garden

Nadine & Betty posing at Côté Plage, our favourite beach restaurant

Philippe looking as fashionable as ever

Tine's picnic tea creation...

...for two tired young grandsons...

...whilst Betty perfects her ballet moves!

Adam & Lisa come to La Tranche

Back in La Tranche Nadine, Alfie, Betty, Philippe & Gina all arrive, and some very welcome extras camping up the road: Adam, happy to visit old haunts and Lisa enjoying her first time in beautiful Vendée.

Adam & Ed enjoying the table football at the Starfish... 

...whilst Lisa manages to get a smile out of Sky! 

It's always good to have a beer buddy... 

...or three!

Another day Sky enjoys relative peace...

...before the invasion begins!

That's Phil holding Sacha

Betty is obviously another water baby

C'mon Alfie: ready, steady...

GO!

Le Château de Suscinio

Another day another château, but this time with amazing blue skies and a fairytale castle.

Who could fail to be impressed arriving to this view? 

The main building taken from the internal courtyard...

...and the same building in the 19th century (merci, Wikipedia).

Inside the main building lots of spiral staircases...

...view over the Atlantic Ocean

...and evidence of earlier floors.

A mirror conveniently placed to admire the structure of the tower...

...and a modern take on ancient legends.

To finish, beautiful craftsmanship in the leaded windows

 Merci, 'Er from Brittany!!