Bradford by night & bye bye Yorkshire

We arrived in Yorkshire just after the terrible Boxing Day floods, witnessing some of the damage done. Some people have had to move out of their homes for six months on health grounds. Hopefully the government and local authorities will be proactive to ensure no further flooding on this scale.

We did see lots of rain, but it didn't dampen our spirits as you can see:

Using my bus pass for the first time (yes, I know, it's hard to believe I'm old enough) we went into Bradford to see the latest Star Wars film at the Imax. The city looked great after dark with the Alhambra theatre lit up...

...City Hall and the mirror pool of Centenary Square...

...and the entrance to the new Broadway shopping centre.

One night we met old and new friends at the Chip n Ern, a new bar on Main Street, Bingley - and yes, we're still wondering about its name! 

Another day we stayed over at Jim & Les's. Here Les is showing off the new conservatory.

The following day, Pauline & David came over. Great!

The field by the caravan park was a mud-bath so we didn't make it to our local pub as often as we would have liked! 

However there's beauty even on a dull day:

a misty view from the caravan.

Back in Sheffield on our return journey, Si's got his hands full with Alfie, Louis & Matilda

Alfie has a musical moment with Tonton Philippe

Finally the obligatory photo of our drinks on the ferry!

Caravan Christmas & a new great-niece

There's often a few weeks' delay between events actually happening, and me posting them here. So let me take you back to Christmas 2015 when a lovely time was had in La Tranche with Matt, Cynthia & Sacha, and Philippe who flew over for a few days. A couple of days later Philippe joined us on our road trip back to Yorkshire, and a second Christmas Day at the caravan, with Nad, Si & Alfie.

Well yes, it's a squash but we did it again!

Plus this time, bubbly on the decking

Father Christmas being attacked by three reptiles and an amphibian - sounds like a rap band!

Later in the afternoon we drove to Horsforth to meet our latest great-niece Rosanna, named after her great-great-grandmother!

Alfie was totally smitten by her

Sorry, no picture of Dad Steve but proud Mum Vics took centre stage

Just a few weeks later look how Rosanna's growing. There's definitely some of my family genes there!

The new and improved Starfish & Coffee

It's been all change at the Starfish & Coffee in December, whilst Matt, Cynthia & Sacha jetted off to Bali, leaving the old folk to keep their eye on things.

Old windows removed, new wall built near the dartboard...

...and fake wall for security. You never know who might be knocking.

The entrance is now higher up the road...

...and there are much easier-to-use openings.

There's even an electric shutter on the entrance

The tiles look like wood and have been laid at a jaunty angle

There was a slight hiccup when they ran out of wider tiles. Luckily a further order from Italy arrived just in time!

It was all hands on deck to be ready for the reopening...

...but everyone was impressed with the finished product!

Painting the shutters & Alicia's tree

Now that the render is all finished on 'the turret' we thought we'd better tackle the shutters before the winter set in. It's a big job, with seventeen shutters of varying sizes, the front door and porch, and all the frames to be done. Using the trestle pairs it took four days to do one shutter. With four pairs of trestle tables I'll leave you to do the Maths!

We had two workshops: this one in the conservatory, and the other in the 'East Wing'

One of the artists in action

We're very proud of our efforts!

Now to repaint the render on the rest of the house, which is looking very jaded in comparison. That can wait for the spring though...

In early December there was the annual tree-planting ceremony in Les Floralies park, one for each new-born in the town.

It looked like young friends Séb & Anna's daughter Alicia would sleep through it...

...but she woke up just in time for the big moment.

Meanwhile Sacha's tree is now taller than Tine...

...and new arrival Victor was on hand to watch proceedings.

Wanderings

Whilst Tine enjoys one of her classes at La Faute I've been doing the 'big shop' at L'Aiguillon Super U, then going for a bit of an explore.

These are the mud-flats of the River Lay, with L'Aiguillon in the background,...

...the scene of the terrible storm in 2010 when 29 victims lost their lives.

I couldn't find any information about this permanent display by the bridge between the two towns...

...but this campsite is still not in use.

Venturing into L'Aiguillon I spotted this old windmill hidden away. This is as near as we got as it's privately owned.

Another day we did my regular walk through the houses to La Grière and back along the beach

There weren't a lot of people to be seen...

...except for a few kite-surfers.