St Ignace
Yesterday's weather: Too chilly for this time of year (but it's looking better today).
Happy Birthday to Lorna
Finally the sun has come out again, so we are going to get on with the chalet foundations today. When I say 'we' I mean Jon. I'll be in the kitchen making sausages. Later on I'll be down along our hedgerow picking sloes which are fat and juicy and just crying out to be drowned in a bottle of cheap gin, or vodka. Then there are the cats to groom, and lunch to make. I'm looking forward to the postman coming because he should have our latest delivery from Amazon, then an afternoon under the tree reading.
Oh, all right then, I feel guilty. I'm off to the garden to help Jon.
Tuesday 31 July 2007
Monday 30 July 2007
What's for breakfast?
Ste Juliette
Yesterday's weather was nothing to write home about.
We never used to eat breakfast. I would occasionally have a bowl of cereal in the office whilst deleting the truck loads of spam that I found in my e-mail in box every morning. I believe Jon has been known to have the occasional mid-morning bacon sandwich or sausage roll, but breakfast was not something we really bothered about during the week. Perhaps it was because we used to leave home so early. We were usually out of the house by 7.30 at the latest and eating at such an anti-social hour was just that, anti-social. In fact we didn't even speak some mornings. We had our own morning routines, taking turns in the bathroom in strict rotation, feeding the cats and cleaning their litter trays, then out through the front door and off in our different directions. In the last couple of months before our move we shared the car which meant a slightly earlier start for me, or a walk to the station, but breakfast never did figure except on Saturday and Sunday.
Now we are together all the time and no mornings are rushed so we find ourselves face to face across the breakfast table listening to the Today programme on Radio 4. Breakfast is becoming a challenge to me. I am trying to find something different every day, well, at least seven different options so we don't get bored. This isn't easy. jon doesn't like cereals; croissants are nice but only if they are fresh, likewise pain au raisin. I make my own bread a couple of times a week, but we're getting bored with toast and Marmite or honey. Boiled egg is another option but we try not to eat too many eggs each week. Fresh fruit salad makes a nice change, local melons are delicious at the moment, but I'm searching for something different.
I found a recipe recently for hash browns. They were delicious for lunch but I couldn't eat them for breakfast because they have chilli, green pepper and onions in. Breakfast is too early for such strong flavours. It's the same with fish. Kedgeree is a dish I could never face first thing in the morning - or kippers - just the smell of kippers would have me rushing from the room, reminiscent of days of morning sickness. We have a friend who has been known to eat cold Chinese take away for breakfast, and I remember another, the morning after a party, eating left over garlic bread.
So any suggestions for a nice bland breakfast dish will be recieved with relief.
Yesterday's weather was nothing to write home about.
We never used to eat breakfast. I would occasionally have a bowl of cereal in the office whilst deleting the truck loads of spam that I found in my e-mail in box every morning. I believe Jon has been known to have the occasional mid-morning bacon sandwich or sausage roll, but breakfast was not something we really bothered about during the week. Perhaps it was because we used to leave home so early. We were usually out of the house by 7.30 at the latest and eating at such an anti-social hour was just that, anti-social. In fact we didn't even speak some mornings. We had our own morning routines, taking turns in the bathroom in strict rotation, feeding the cats and cleaning their litter trays, then out through the front door and off in our different directions. In the last couple of months before our move we shared the car which meant a slightly earlier start for me, or a walk to the station, but breakfast never did figure except on Saturday and Sunday.
Now we are together all the time and no mornings are rushed so we find ourselves face to face across the breakfast table listening to the Today programme on Radio 4. Breakfast is becoming a challenge to me. I am trying to find something different every day, well, at least seven different options so we don't get bored. This isn't easy. jon doesn't like cereals; croissants are nice but only if they are fresh, likewise pain au raisin. I make my own bread a couple of times a week, but we're getting bored with toast and Marmite or honey. Boiled egg is another option but we try not to eat too many eggs each week. Fresh fruit salad makes a nice change, local melons are delicious at the moment, but I'm searching for something different.
I found a recipe recently for hash browns. They were delicious for lunch but I couldn't eat them for breakfast because they have chilli, green pepper and onions in. Breakfast is too early for such strong flavours. It's the same with fish. Kedgeree is a dish I could never face first thing in the morning - or kippers - just the smell of kippers would have me rushing from the room, reminiscent of days of morning sickness. We have a friend who has been known to eat cold Chinese take away for breakfast, and I remember another, the morning after a party, eating left over garlic bread.
So any suggestions for a nice bland breakfast dish will be recieved with relief.
Saturday 28 July 2007
How it all began
Ste Marthe
Yesterday's weather: dull, warm, sunny evening.
One chilly wintery day in 1980, Jon announced that our next summer holiday would be camping in France. As we had only had very few and short holidays in the early years of our marriage this came as a bit of a shock to me. How could we possibly afford an overseas holiday?
I trawled the newspapers, this being before the days of the internet, sending for brochures and dreaming of sunny days on a French beach. We found a company who seemed to offer the holiday we wanted at the price we could afford, booked up for two and a half weeks in early June and saved our pennies for spending money.
We had a small hatchback, five year old twins and a toddler who couldn't yet walk unaided and wasn't sleeping through at night. We selected various areas including the Vendee, the Dordogne, the Cote d'Azur and Paris. We booked campsites at all except Paris where we booked a hotel (luxury).
We were mad.
2,500 miles around France in a small car. I couldn't drive so it was all up to Jon and we had three little people, two of whom were very good at 'Are we nearly there yet?' and 'I'm bored' and 'I need the toilet' and one who was still in nappies.
We had the most amazing time. An empty beach in the Vendee, a peaceful hilltop in the Dordogne and the perfect campsite for kiddies on the Cote d'Azur. It didn't rain until we left Paris and then it rained all the way to Calais and back to the Home Counties. France was crying the tears we felt.
We were in love and decided that year that we would live in France once we had given up the day jobs. Year after year we dragged the girls around France, from nappies through puberty to teenage strops and missing boyfriends. We visited as many areas as we could and loved them all. The cars got bigger according to the length of the daughters' legs. We went from all-in holidays to a caravan, to a big frame tent and staying with friends.
And so, here we are. Living our dream and it is everything we wanted it to be. Why here? Well, we have been visiting the south west since that first holiday. We are within 3 hours of the Mediterranean or the Atlantic. The scenery is stunning, the weather is (normally but not this year) perfect; mild winters, hot summers and it is as far south as we felt we could drive in one day. There are two airports within 90 minutes both with low-cost airlines flying in from London and Birmingham, and the promise of another only 30 minutes away opening in 2008.
Sometimes my lovely husband has great ideas. The first holiday in France was one of his greatest.
Yesterday's weather: dull, warm, sunny evening.
One chilly wintery day in 1980, Jon announced that our next summer holiday would be camping in France. As we had only had very few and short holidays in the early years of our marriage this came as a bit of a shock to me. How could we possibly afford an overseas holiday?
I trawled the newspapers, this being before the days of the internet, sending for brochures and dreaming of sunny days on a French beach. We found a company who seemed to offer the holiday we wanted at the price we could afford, booked up for two and a half weeks in early June and saved our pennies for spending money.
We had a small hatchback, five year old twins and a toddler who couldn't yet walk unaided and wasn't sleeping through at night. We selected various areas including the Vendee, the Dordogne, the Cote d'Azur and Paris. We booked campsites at all except Paris where we booked a hotel (luxury).
We were mad.
2,500 miles around France in a small car. I couldn't drive so it was all up to Jon and we had three little people, two of whom were very good at 'Are we nearly there yet?' and 'I'm bored' and 'I need the toilet' and one who was still in nappies.
We had the most amazing time. An empty beach in the Vendee, a peaceful hilltop in the Dordogne and the perfect campsite for kiddies on the Cote d'Azur. It didn't rain until we left Paris and then it rained all the way to Calais and back to the Home Counties. France was crying the tears we felt.
We were in love and decided that year that we would live in France once we had given up the day jobs. Year after year we dragged the girls around France, from nappies through puberty to teenage strops and missing boyfriends. We visited as many areas as we could and loved them all. The cars got bigger according to the length of the daughters' legs. We went from all-in holidays to a caravan, to a big frame tent and staying with friends.
And so, here we are. Living our dream and it is everything we wanted it to be. Why here? Well, we have been visiting the south west since that first holiday. We are within 3 hours of the Mediterranean or the Atlantic. The scenery is stunning, the weather is (normally but not this year) perfect; mild winters, hot summers and it is as far south as we felt we could drive in one day. There are two airports within 90 minutes both with low-cost airlines flying in from London and Birmingham, and the promise of another only 30 minutes away opening in 2008.
Sometimes my lovely husband has great ideas. The first holiday in France was one of his greatest.
Cured salmon and basil sorbet
St Samson
Yesterday's weather: Beautiful.
When I checked the forecast for today it was supposed to be another beautiful day and so it was at 7am. A huge big red sun poked its head over the hill but has since been swallowed up by cloud. Shame. The tomatoes have been drying beautifully in the sun and just need one more day before I can put them into olive oil. They will have to wait until tomorrow now - if the forecast is correct.
I thought I would share a couple of recipes with you today. I am really enjoying the fact that I can now spend time preparing food and cooking rather than rushing home from work and cobbling meals together from whatever I find in the fridge. I spend ages browsing recipe books and reading variations of the same recipe. Then I usually make up my own recipe. Here are two that I have made this week.
Basil sorbet
400g sugar
500ml water
1 bunch basil
1 lime
Place sugar and water in a saucepan and heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Leave to simmer for about 3 minutes to form a syrup. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool.
Wash a bunch of basil and dry thorougly (I used a salad spinner)- note that you need a bunch of basil, NOT a small packet. Remove the leaves and place in a blender with the syrup. Blend until the basil is pureed. Then add the juice of one lime and blend for another few seconds to mix it in.
Place the mixture in a plastic freezer container and freeze for a few hours. When the mixture is almost frozen but not completely solid, take it out of the freezer and beat with an electric hand mixer or wooden spoon. Return the mixture to the freezer.
Before serving (you only need a little), leave in the fridge for about 45 minutes to soften slightly.
Although it would usually be used as a palate cleanser, I am thinking of serving it with some cured salmon.
Ginger and dill cured salmon
Take a very fresh salmon fillet and place in a dish with some grated root ginger, the juice of a lime and some rock salt. Sprinkle with fresh herb dill or fennel, cover with cling film and place a good weight over the top (a couple of tins of beans, for example) to press it down.
Leave in the fridge for 2 - 3 days. Drain off the marinade, leaving the herb on top, and slice as thinly as you can.
Enjoy.
Yesterday's weather: Beautiful.
When I checked the forecast for today it was supposed to be another beautiful day and so it was at 7am. A huge big red sun poked its head over the hill but has since been swallowed up by cloud. Shame. The tomatoes have been drying beautifully in the sun and just need one more day before I can put them into olive oil. They will have to wait until tomorrow now - if the forecast is correct.
I thought I would share a couple of recipes with you today. I am really enjoying the fact that I can now spend time preparing food and cooking rather than rushing home from work and cobbling meals together from whatever I find in the fridge. I spend ages browsing recipe books and reading variations of the same recipe. Then I usually make up my own recipe. Here are two that I have made this week.
Basil sorbet
400g sugar
500ml water
1 bunch basil
1 lime
Place sugar and water in a saucepan and heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Leave to simmer for about 3 minutes to form a syrup. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool.
Wash a bunch of basil and dry thorougly (I used a salad spinner)- note that you need a bunch of basil, NOT a small packet. Remove the leaves and place in a blender with the syrup. Blend until the basil is pureed. Then add the juice of one lime and blend for another few seconds to mix it in.
Place the mixture in a plastic freezer container and freeze for a few hours. When the mixture is almost frozen but not completely solid, take it out of the freezer and beat with an electric hand mixer or wooden spoon. Return the mixture to the freezer.
Before serving (you only need a little), leave in the fridge for about 45 minutes to soften slightly.
Although it would usually be used as a palate cleanser, I am thinking of serving it with some cured salmon.
Ginger and dill cured salmon
Take a very fresh salmon fillet and place in a dish with some grated root ginger, the juice of a lime and some rock salt. Sprinkle with fresh herb dill or fennel, cover with cling film and place a good weight over the top (a couple of tins of beans, for example) to press it down.
Leave in the fridge for 2 - 3 days. Drain off the marinade, leaving the herb on top, and slice as thinly as you can.
Enjoy.
Friday 27 July 2007
Tours, basil and tomatoes
Ste Nathalie
Yesterday's weather: just lovely
Today is the day that the Tour de France passes close to us. Do watch the race or the highlights if you get the chance. The nearest it point to us here is the small village of Lavercantière, in the area known as Bouraine. Lavercantière boasts a church and a chateau, a family run restaurant and views to die for. We are, of course, biased towards this stage but it does pass through some beautiful countryside, especially the first 45 kilometers. Unfortunately because of access, timing and the fact that I really must do some housework, I will not be standing by the side of the road eyeing up young men in lycra this lunchtime.
Yesterday's cooking test was a basil sorbet. We were served this in an Italian restaurant in Munich a few months ago and it was delicious. Since we had plenty of basil from our shopping expedition the other week we thought we would give it a try. I'll let you know how it turns out.
I am also trying to sun dry some of my cherry tomato glut, there are only so many tomato salads we can eat. So now that the sun has come out at last, we have placed the tomatoes on a cooling rack on a tray which is lined with foil to give them the most heat we can. We have to move the rack during the day depending on where the sun is, but they seem to be drying OK - as long as the sun holds out.
Yesterday's weather: just lovely
Today is the day that the Tour de France passes close to us. Do watch the race or the highlights if you get the chance. The nearest it point to us here is the small village of Lavercantière, in the area known as Bouraine. Lavercantière boasts a church and a chateau, a family run restaurant and views to die for. We are, of course, biased towards this stage but it does pass through some beautiful countryside, especially the first 45 kilometers. Unfortunately because of access, timing and the fact that I really must do some housework, I will not be standing by the side of the road eyeing up young men in lycra this lunchtime.
Yesterday's cooking test was a basil sorbet. We were served this in an Italian restaurant in Munich a few months ago and it was delicious. Since we had plenty of basil from our shopping expedition the other week we thought we would give it a try. I'll let you know how it turns out.
I am also trying to sun dry some of my cherry tomato glut, there are only so many tomato salads we can eat. So now that the sun has come out at last, we have placed the tomatoes on a cooling rack on a tray which is lined with foil to give them the most heat we can. We have to move the rack during the day depending on where the sun is, but they seem to be drying OK - as long as the sun holds out.
Thursday 26 July 2007
Calling Queensland
Ste Anne
Yesterday's weather: glorious
Coincidence, coincidence. Once more I have two events to mention.
Firstly my sister's saint's day. Regular readers will know that she is about to leave us for a couple of weeks r&r, not to mention a bit of retail therapy US style in Chicago, so the joke du jour will end for a while. Safe journey, Anne and have a great time. Oh, and by the way if you venture into Michigan look out for dried sour cherries, they are delish!
Secondly it's my cousin in Oz's birthday today, one of those 'big' ones with a zero at the end. Tons of love is being sent to Queensland from the UK and France. Of course when you are all partying tonight us European relatives will just about be having breakfast, but in France we'll try and fit in a glass of bubbly before it gets to midnight there. Happy Birthday Elaine. Have a wonderful day, you deserve it.
Now to home matters. We had planned to make a start on various projects this week but Jon has damaged his back. Nothing too serious, we hope but he's taking a few well-earned days off the heavy work and hopefully by next week we'll be ready to start digging, lifting, painting and generally working hard again. The weather forecast is very good for the next couple of weeks (if we can believe it this time) so we are fairly confident that we can really push on with some of the outside jobs. Hopefully a dry spell might also stop the grass from growing quite so rapidly, we can almost hear it growing at the moment.
Trying to make a garden out of a neglected wilderness is quite a challenge. As we are on the side of a rocky hill there is very little topsoil to work with. Next to the house used to be a barn.
This is now a big pile of rock as it appears to have completely collapsed, probably about 50 or 60 years ago. Jon worked hard to clear some of this area in the spring and we planted it with some low growing conifers and a few perennials thinking that as this was the only place we could plant for this year, at least we would have a little colour in the garden. Luckily it has proved a good growing place as the two lupin plants have almost completely taken over the upper level and are putting on a magnificent show. They will have to be moved as soon as summer is over. In front of the barn the 'grass' is more weed than anything else but regular mowing is proving to help kill off the weeds and encourage the grass.
Most of this year's plants are in pots on the patio, including the tomatoes (what is left of them) courgettes, peppers and chillies. We have two beautiful oleander plants which are beginning to put on a beautiful show of deep pink flowers, some fuschias and various other shrubs which aren't flowering at the moment but still look lovely in their pots.
We are beginning to plan next year's garden which will start from the edge of the paving around the pool. At least when the pool is dug out we will finally find out whether that area of garden was ever cultivated, which is what I am hoping for, or whether it is just another area that was neglected. The grass grows better over there so we are hoping it is the former which will make things easier for us. We are going to have to choose plants that don't drop too many leaves, or attract wasps otherwise we will spend too much time cleaning the pool and avoiding the wasps. It will be fun pouring over gardening catalogues this autumn.
Once again I am up and about early today. Kitten was scratching at the door at 6.30. I came downstairs and growled at him. That may sound cruel but it is the only thing he recognises to show that I am cross with him. If you raise your voice at him he thinks you love him even more and just purrs and rubs round your feet. But growling frightens him. I let him out and stayed up with a cuppa and this blog. It is a beautiful morning. Jazz has just come home and hoovered up a whole bowl of food. I don't know where she goes overnight but she is usually back here early in the morning. She's now settling down to a busy day of washing and sleeping.
I'm off to make another cuppa and wake Jon up. Don't want him to miss out on the lovely sunshine.
Yesterday's weather: glorious
Coincidence, coincidence. Once more I have two events to mention.
Firstly my sister's saint's day. Regular readers will know that she is about to leave us for a couple of weeks r&r, not to mention a bit of retail therapy US style in Chicago, so the joke du jour will end for a while. Safe journey, Anne and have a great time. Oh, and by the way if you venture into Michigan look out for dried sour cherries, they are delish!
Secondly it's my cousin in Oz's birthday today, one of those 'big' ones with a zero at the end. Tons of love is being sent to Queensland from the UK and France. Of course when you are all partying tonight us European relatives will just about be having breakfast, but in France we'll try and fit in a glass of bubbly before it gets to midnight there. Happy Birthday Elaine. Have a wonderful day, you deserve it.
Now to home matters. We had planned to make a start on various projects this week but Jon has damaged his back. Nothing too serious, we hope but he's taking a few well-earned days off the heavy work and hopefully by next week we'll be ready to start digging, lifting, painting and generally working hard again. The weather forecast is very good for the next couple of weeks (if we can believe it this time) so we are fairly confident that we can really push on with some of the outside jobs. Hopefully a dry spell might also stop the grass from growing quite so rapidly, we can almost hear it growing at the moment.
Trying to make a garden out of a neglected wilderness is quite a challenge. As we are on the side of a rocky hill there is very little topsoil to work with. Next to the house used to be a barn.
This is now a big pile of rock as it appears to have completely collapsed, probably about 50 or 60 years ago. Jon worked hard to clear some of this area in the spring and we planted it with some low growing conifers and a few perennials thinking that as this was the only place we could plant for this year, at least we would have a little colour in the garden. Luckily it has proved a good growing place as the two lupin plants have almost completely taken over the upper level and are putting on a magnificent show. They will have to be moved as soon as summer is over. In front of the barn the 'grass' is more weed than anything else but regular mowing is proving to help kill off the weeds and encourage the grass.
Most of this year's plants are in pots on the patio, including the tomatoes (what is left of them) courgettes, peppers and chillies. We have two beautiful oleander plants which are beginning to put on a beautiful show of deep pink flowers, some fuschias and various other shrubs which aren't flowering at the moment but still look lovely in their pots.
We are beginning to plan next year's garden which will start from the edge of the paving around the pool. At least when the pool is dug out we will finally find out whether that area of garden was ever cultivated, which is what I am hoping for, or whether it is just another area that was neglected. The grass grows better over there so we are hoping it is the former which will make things easier for us. We are going to have to choose plants that don't drop too many leaves, or attract wasps otherwise we will spend too much time cleaning the pool and avoiding the wasps. It will be fun pouring over gardening catalogues this autumn.
Once again I am up and about early today. Kitten was scratching at the door at 6.30. I came downstairs and growled at him. That may sound cruel but it is the only thing he recognises to show that I am cross with him. If you raise your voice at him he thinks you love him even more and just purrs and rubs round your feet. But growling frightens him. I let him out and stayed up with a cuppa and this blog. It is a beautiful morning. Jazz has just come home and hoovered up a whole bowl of food. I don't know where she goes overnight but she is usually back here early in the morning. She's now settling down to a busy day of washing and sleeping.
I'm off to make another cuppa and wake Jon up. Don't want him to miss out on the lovely sunshine.
Wednesday 25 July 2007
In search of lemon grass
St Jacques
Yesterday's weather: Horrible
Happy Saint's Day to Jack (and well done for winning all your races at sport's day yesterday)
Since our arrival here we have been searching for a source of 'exotic' vegetables. Lemon grass, fresh chillies, coriander. We preferred the little covered market in the centre of Cahors where we could, on occasion, find a fresh chilli imported from Morocco, but it was very hit and miss and we never did find lemon grass. Just around the corner from the covered market is a tiny doorway leading into an Aladdin's cave of loose tea and coffee. On the way through you pass tins and jars of loose spices, packets of poppadoms and a full array of cooking ingredients for Chinese and Asian cookery. The smell itself is enticing - but we still hadn't found any lemon grass.
In a moment of inspiration I searched through the archives of my favourite on-line community. My virtual friends who are the fount of all knowledge when it comes to living in France. Someone had posted details of a shop in Brive which, she claimed, had the best fresh fruit and vegetables, including exotics, that she had seen.
As it was so miserable yesterday morning, we bundled into the car and headed north. North is not my favourite direction as it reminds me of all those years of the French house being our holiday home and having to leave it after a short stay.
I digress (as usual). So, we found the shop recommended. It is called Grand Frais and we will be going again. And again. And again. We meandered around with saucer-sized eyes like two kids let loose in a sweet shop. The array of fresh fruit and veggies was amazing. There were varieties of lettuce we hadn't seen in the market, huge bunches of herbs for only 75 cents each and, you've guessed it, lemon grass! And birds eye chillies, huge hot green chillies, yams, coconuts, tamarind. Wow! And most amazing of all was a constant mist of water being sprayed over the display to keep everything fresh.
We filled the trolley with bunches and pots of fresh herbs (two different types of basil!), fresh vegetables and jars of Italian sun dried tomatoes in oil and artichoke hearts in oil. More ingredients for Chinese cookery and so much more. The car smelt fantastic on the drive home and now the kitchen is fragrent with basil, dill, parsely and coriander.
Even better, when we left Grand Frais we noticed a garden centre next door. Wow again! This is the best garden centre we have seen since we arrived. It has a wonderful range of plants, indoor and outdoor. Fruit trees, varieties of rose, perennials galore and all at good prices too.
But, guess what? It was 11.55 and they were just closing for lunch so unfortunately I couldn't also fill the car with plants.
Brive and home is an 80 mile round trip but so well worth it that we are going to make it a monthly visit from now on.
Well, I'm off back to the kitchen to use all these ingredients before they go off!
Tuesday 24 July 2007
The big freeze
Ste Christine
Yesterday's weather: Dire.
Yesterday's weather was just awful. In sympathy with the UK but not nearly as bad, we had rain nearly all day.
We listened to the dreadful stories on Radio 4 yesterday evening. The horrors of flooding we just can't imagine. It must be dreadful to see all your possessions completely ruined, whether people have insurance or not doesn't help when personal items like photographs are lost forever. It makes me think that I must back up all our photos onto CD as soon as I can. But that's the problem isn't it? 'As soon as I can' might be too late. It brings to mind again the question often asked 'What would you save first?' I have to say the cats, obviously, but photos and trinkets would be next on my list.
We had a bit of a disaster yesterday. Jon went to the freezer to get some prawns and discovered that I hadn't properly shut the door the day before and loads of food was beginning to defrost. Luckily not everything but we had suddenly to cook lots of dishes to stock the freezer for the next few weeks. Into the freezer goes cassoulet, chicken dishes, pork and apple casserole, Bolognaise sauce...... Now we know what's on the menu for the next month.
Yesterday's weather: Dire.
Yesterday's weather was just awful. In sympathy with the UK but not nearly as bad, we had rain nearly all day.
We listened to the dreadful stories on Radio 4 yesterday evening. The horrors of flooding we just can't imagine. It must be dreadful to see all your possessions completely ruined, whether people have insurance or not doesn't help when personal items like photographs are lost forever. It makes me think that I must back up all our photos onto CD as soon as I can. But that's the problem isn't it? 'As soon as I can' might be too late. It brings to mind again the question often asked 'What would you save first?' I have to say the cats, obviously, but photos and trinkets would be next on my list.
We had a bit of a disaster yesterday. Jon went to the freezer to get some prawns and discovered that I hadn't properly shut the door the day before and loads of food was beginning to defrost. Luckily not everything but we had suddenly to cook lots of dishes to stock the freezer for the next few weeks. Into the freezer goes cassoulet, chicken dishes, pork and apple casserole, Bolognaise sauce...... Now we know what's on the menu for the next month.
Monday 23 July 2007
All that jazz
Ste Brigitte
Yesterday's weather: Lovely
Last week I was checking the local summer guide to events in the area and found that one of the weekend's events was Souillac en Jazz. The website wasn't particularly good but I learned that there would be bands around the town on Sunday afternoon and from 1.30 there would also be a randonnée jazz, a walk, accompanied by jazz music. It didn't give any more information than the start place and time.
It sounded good so we decided to get down to the town early so that we could get a parking space and have some lunch before the fun started.
When we arrived we found that there were already 3 or 4 jazz bands playing in town and we wandered around, pausing here and there to enjoy the music. We took our place for lunch early, which was just as well as the restaurant terrace quickly filled up. There was a nice jazz quartet playing on the terrace of the bar on the other side of the square and it was all extremely convivial.
At 1.15 the band packed up and we were enjoying our post-lunch coffee. At 2pm we left the restaurant expecting to find the main part of town busy with bands and walkers, but there was nothing going on.
I collected a programme for the weekend's events and found full details of the randonnée jazz explaining that it was a walk from Souillac taking in a couple of local villages and back(several kilometers), all accompanied by two jazz bands and 'please come suitably equipped for a hike'. Unfortunately we weren't and my flimsy sandals wouldn't carry me further than a walk around town. We then found some more posters saying that the jazz bands would be in Souillac during the morning and then there would be two more events, a demonstration of jazz dance at 5.30 and a jazz circus at 6.30.
Now, we like Souillac. It is a very pretty medieval town with lots of narrow streets, a few little specialist shops and some bars and restaurants - but not much else. Certainly not enough to keep us occupied for another three hours before the dance demonstration started.
This is just one little frustration over here. There is a lot going on at this time of year but information is sometimes sketchy unless you happen to be in the very town where it is going to happen, and even then events can change times at the drop of a hat.
However, we had a very nice lunch in very nice surroundings accompanied by some nice jazz music. Who could ask for anything more?
Yesterday's weather: Lovely
Last week I was checking the local summer guide to events in the area and found that one of the weekend's events was Souillac en Jazz. The website wasn't particularly good but I learned that there would be bands around the town on Sunday afternoon and from 1.30 there would also be a randonnée jazz, a walk, accompanied by jazz music. It didn't give any more information than the start place and time.
It sounded good so we decided to get down to the town early so that we could get a parking space and have some lunch before the fun started.
When we arrived we found that there were already 3 or 4 jazz bands playing in town and we wandered around, pausing here and there to enjoy the music. We took our place for lunch early, which was just as well as the restaurant terrace quickly filled up. There was a nice jazz quartet playing on the terrace of the bar on the other side of the square and it was all extremely convivial.
At 1.15 the band packed up and we were enjoying our post-lunch coffee. At 2pm we left the restaurant expecting to find the main part of town busy with bands and walkers, but there was nothing going on.
I collected a programme for the weekend's events and found full details of the randonnée jazz explaining that it was a walk from Souillac taking in a couple of local villages and back(several kilometers), all accompanied by two jazz bands and 'please come suitably equipped for a hike'. Unfortunately we weren't and my flimsy sandals wouldn't carry me further than a walk around town. We then found some more posters saying that the jazz bands would be in Souillac during the morning and then there would be two more events, a demonstration of jazz dance at 5.30 and a jazz circus at 6.30.
Now, we like Souillac. It is a very pretty medieval town with lots of narrow streets, a few little specialist shops and some bars and restaurants - but not much else. Certainly not enough to keep us occupied for another three hours before the dance demonstration started.
This is just one little frustration over here. There is a lot going on at this time of year but information is sometimes sketchy unless you happen to be in the very town where it is going to happen, and even then events can change times at the drop of a hat.
However, we had a very nice lunch in very nice surroundings accompanied by some nice jazz music. Who could ask for anything more?
Sunday 22 July 2007
Apple ducking
Ste Marie-Madeleine
Yesterday's weather: mostly miserable but not too much rain.
Happy Birthday to Jon's Dad, Douglas
Sitting here and looking out of the study window, I see the red squirrels are at the top of the apple tree again. Every now and then they knock, or possibly throw another apple out of the tree. They don't appear to be bothered whether we are in the garden or not. Jon was throwing apples back up at one the other day for quite a while before he got fed up and moved into a nearby tree to sit and watch until we had gone indoors.
This makes walking under the apple tree quite a dangerous prospect just at the moment. If it isn't the squirrels throwing apples we are bombarded by angry flies who are gorging themselves on the squirrel's discards.
We do regret not being able to harvest the apples for ourselves but there are so many and most of them are too small to do much with. The tree is extremely old and hasn't been properly pruned for many a year. It's on the to-do list along with 499 other little jobs!
We have collected some good-sized apples from the tree which caused me to resurrect a recipe for apple scone which had been tucked away in a little book where I have been jotting down recipes since before we married. That makes about 34 years of recipes and the book is falling apart. I should probably add another item to the to-do list: Write up the recipes in a new book before it is too late and we lose them all forever. So that makes 501 jobs for later.
Yesterday's weather: mostly miserable but not too much rain.
Happy Birthday to Jon's Dad, Douglas
Sitting here and looking out of the study window, I see the red squirrels are at the top of the apple tree again. Every now and then they knock, or possibly throw another apple out of the tree. They don't appear to be bothered whether we are in the garden or not. Jon was throwing apples back up at one the other day for quite a while before he got fed up and moved into a nearby tree to sit and watch until we had gone indoors.
This makes walking under the apple tree quite a dangerous prospect just at the moment. If it isn't the squirrels throwing apples we are bombarded by angry flies who are gorging themselves on the squirrel's discards.
We do regret not being able to harvest the apples for ourselves but there are so many and most of them are too small to do much with. The tree is extremely old and hasn't been properly pruned for many a year. It's on the to-do list along with 499 other little jobs!
We have collected some good-sized apples from the tree which caused me to resurrect a recipe for apple scone which had been tucked away in a little book where I have been jotting down recipes since before we married. That makes about 34 years of recipes and the book is falling apart. I should probably add another item to the to-do list: Write up the recipes in a new book before it is too late and we lose them all forever. So that makes 501 jobs for later.
Saturday 21 July 2007
Rue des memoirs
St Victor
Yesterday's weather: Better than anticipated. Mr Meteo said rain, we had sunshine.
Happy Saint's Day to Vic.
We have been reading a book called 'Au Revior: Running Away from Home at Fifty'. The title itself appealed and when we read that the author was an Australian lady who ran away to South West France, we thought it would be a good read. It was. But what we didn't know was that she ran away to our little corner of France. What was even more surprising for us was that she had spent six months in an even smaller corner where we had spent many a happy séjour with some very dear friends of ours.
Yesterday afternoon we decided to take a little tour of Ms Moody's stamping ground as a trip down memory lane for us. We rarely go to this area since our friends, sadly, no longer live there, so it is some years since we took the route that we selected yesterday.
Through Cazals to St Caprais noting, this time, the little auberge mentioned in the book, which we had never actually spotted before (it is about 10 years since we last took this particular road), down to Frayssinet-le-Gélat (often confused with our own Frayssinet-le-Gourdonnais), through Pomarède where we once viewed a little house.
The little house in Pomarède, which you will now realise we declined, was an 'interesting' property. In the centre of the village (we had said to estate agents that we did NOT want to live in a village), with a very small plot of land which was being used as a short cut by a tractor as we arrived. The upstairs of the house had two bedrooms, one had to be crossed to reach the second which had a toilet placed in the corner of the room. Nice. There were french windows in the larger bedroom and no balcony so one had to be very careful not to fall out on opening them!
We were delighted that we had decided not to buy this property as the village has probably trebled in size since we viewed it. There are new properties going up all over this part of the Lot in particular. Our own little corner has a certain amount of building but not nearly as much. This is probably because we are on the edge of a National Park and also the ground around here is very rocky and not quite so suitable for new properties. Thank goodness.
From Pomarède we travelled south to Prayssac, site of our favourite weekly market but just out of striking distance for a regular visit. We stopped off here because there was a pottery fair on all day. We are looking out for some nice pots for our kitchen herbs. The plants don't last very long because we are using them all the time. We buy plastic pots of basil, parsley and chives and wanted to put them in something a little more asthetically pleasing. However, we were not going to pay 20 Euros per pot, pretty as they were.
Needing yet more DIY provisions, we then went into Cahors and called in at E LeClerc where I found three very nice clay pots for my herbs and they were only 2 Euros each! Bargain!
Back to the book. It was a good read and reminded us of many happy holidays in the 1990s. Thank you to our friends for letting us share your house for so many years.
Yesterday's weather: Better than anticipated. Mr Meteo said rain, we had sunshine.
Happy Saint's Day to Vic.
We have been reading a book called 'Au Revior: Running Away from Home at Fifty'. The title itself appealed and when we read that the author was an Australian lady who ran away to South West France, we thought it would be a good read. It was. But what we didn't know was that she ran away to our little corner of France. What was even more surprising for us was that she had spent six months in an even smaller corner where we had spent many a happy séjour with some very dear friends of ours.
Yesterday afternoon we decided to take a little tour of Ms Moody's stamping ground as a trip down memory lane for us. We rarely go to this area since our friends, sadly, no longer live there, so it is some years since we took the route that we selected yesterday.
Through Cazals to St Caprais noting, this time, the little auberge mentioned in the book, which we had never actually spotted before (it is about 10 years since we last took this particular road), down to Frayssinet-le-Gélat (often confused with our own Frayssinet-le-Gourdonnais), through Pomarède where we once viewed a little house.
The little house in Pomarède, which you will now realise we declined, was an 'interesting' property. In the centre of the village (we had said to estate agents that we did NOT want to live in a village), with a very small plot of land which was being used as a short cut by a tractor as we arrived. The upstairs of the house had two bedrooms, one had to be crossed to reach the second which had a toilet placed in the corner of the room. Nice. There were french windows in the larger bedroom and no balcony so one had to be very careful not to fall out on opening them!
We were delighted that we had decided not to buy this property as the village has probably trebled in size since we viewed it. There are new properties going up all over this part of the Lot in particular. Our own little corner has a certain amount of building but not nearly as much. This is probably because we are on the edge of a National Park and also the ground around here is very rocky and not quite so suitable for new properties. Thank goodness.
From Pomarède we travelled south to Prayssac, site of our favourite weekly market but just out of striking distance for a regular visit. We stopped off here because there was a pottery fair on all day. We are looking out for some nice pots for our kitchen herbs. The plants don't last very long because we are using them all the time. We buy plastic pots of basil, parsley and chives and wanted to put them in something a little more asthetically pleasing. However, we were not going to pay 20 Euros per pot, pretty as they were.
Needing yet more DIY provisions, we then went into Cahors and called in at E LeClerc where I found three very nice clay pots for my herbs and they were only 2 Euros each! Bargain!
Back to the book. It was a good read and reminded us of many happy holidays in the 1990s. Thank you to our friends for letting us share your house for so many years.
Friday 20 July 2007
Meet Hubert
Ste Marina
Yesterday's weather: pretty good really. Lovely warm evening.
Yesterday's lunch party went well. I had found a new recipe (lovely James Martin) for salmon, mustard and watercress pasta bake. I couldn't get watercress so we had spinach in it instead but it was delicious, and the tarte au citron went down very well - bottom not too soggy!
We had a very exciting night. We were sitting outside enjoying the warm evening air. The valley was very peaceful and I noticed that we had a visitor trotting along the patio investigating the drystone wall.
At last I found the pooing culprit. Here he is:
Yesterday's weather: pretty good really. Lovely warm evening.
Yesterday's lunch party went well. I had found a new recipe (lovely James Martin) for salmon, mustard and watercress pasta bake. I couldn't get watercress so we had spinach in it instead but it was delicious, and the tarte au citron went down very well - bottom not too soggy!
We had a very exciting night. We were sitting outside enjoying the warm evening air. The valley was very peaceful and I noticed that we had a visitor trotting along the patio investigating the drystone wall.
At last I found the pooing culprit. Here he is:
He spent a good 15 minutes snuffling around the wall, checking all the nooks and crannies and then suddenly became very self conscious after all the photographs I was taking and decided to squeeze himself into a hole and sat there watching us, watching him. I felt like paparazzi!
After a while, Misty came trotting past on her way indoors for 'a little something' (check out The House at Pooh Corner) before bed. She pulled up short and her nose was working really hard until she found the cause of the scent and peered into the wall. She has obviously met Hubert Hedgehog before as she didn't try to shake paws with him, but was very cautious, just letting him know that she knew he was there too.
We are hoping that Hubert is a very hungry hedgehog and will feast himself on our enormous slugs. He does look very healthy and well fed.
Jon and the deer have just passed the time of day together communing in the garden. The local animals are obviously getting used to us being here now and show no signs of concern about sharing our land. The hare has been back basking in the evening sunshine and deer are here on and off all day long. We will have to find a way of protecting them when the shooting season starts in September but for now they are all enjoying the summer.
Thursday 19 July 2007
It's all about you! (If you are my niece)
St Arsène
Yesterday's weather: lovely
The internet has been playing up all morning and it's too late to write properly today.
BUT. I can't let that one go by. It must be Charlotte (the future Mrs Henry)'s week - everything relates to her in some way so far.
Happy Saint's Day to Mr Wenger. I hope he has a good day. I'd say it in the five languages he speaks, but I haven't time!!
BTW - it's tarte au citron. I used bought pastry and I just hope it doesn't have a soggy bottom. But as a back up I also poached some peaches in white wine and vanilla!
Yesterday's weather: lovely
The internet has been playing up all morning and it's too late to write properly today.
BUT. I can't let that one go by. It must be Charlotte (the future Mrs Henry)'s week - everything relates to her in some way so far.
Happy Saint's Day to Mr Wenger. I hope he has a good day. I'd say it in the five languages he speaks, but I haven't time!!
BTW - it's tarte au citron. I used bought pastry and I just hope it doesn't have a soggy bottom. But as a back up I also poached some peaches in white wine and vanilla!
Wednesday 18 July 2007
Desserts and Blues
St Frédéric
Yesterdays weather: lovely
Happy Birthday to James. 21 today!
Poor Jazz was so exhausted that she stayed home all day and only stirred occasionally to eat. Which is one of her favourite hobbies. Sitting near a mouse hole patiently on guard is another. She has gone out now but already returned for a snackette this morning.
We are having people to lunch tomorrow and this always causes me a problem because I can't 'do' puddings. I'm a hopeless pastry cook. I read somewhere that you need special hands to make pastry and unfortunately I just don't have them . Even shop bought ready-rolled pastry goes wrong for me and tarts come out of the oven with over cooked edges and soggy bottoms.
It is the done thing in France to buy a dessert for such an occasion, but they are always so huge that Jon and I are left eating it for days after the lunch party and we don't really like desserts that much. I will probably fall back on my old favourite, chocolate mousse or crème caramel, I don't think I have done either of those for these visitors yet.
We will be starting with an old favourite, melon and ham. The local Quercy melons are just on the market now, late this year because of the awful weather. Only in France would such news as this make the front page of the newspaper, but it did yesterday. The Tour de France was relegated to the back page for the first time, and the Cahors Blues Festival, the biggest music festival within striking distance of us was somewhere in the middle pages. We won't be attending, not because we don't like blues (although, it isn't one of our favourite musical genres) but because Cahors is such a mess at the moment. They have dug up the entire main road through the town and won't finish until December; this makes parking virtually impossible unless you get to town before 8am - fat chance!!!
Of course, as we have planned to have people over for lunch tomorrow, the weather is about to break and the forecast for tomorrow is..... rain. The sun won't come back until Saturday, but next week looks good. We're not holding our breath though!
Yesterdays weather: lovely
Happy Birthday to James. 21 today!
Poor Jazz was so exhausted that she stayed home all day and only stirred occasionally to eat. Which is one of her favourite hobbies. Sitting near a mouse hole patiently on guard is another. She has gone out now but already returned for a snackette this morning.
We are having people to lunch tomorrow and this always causes me a problem because I can't 'do' puddings. I'm a hopeless pastry cook. I read somewhere that you need special hands to make pastry and unfortunately I just don't have them . Even shop bought ready-rolled pastry goes wrong for me and tarts come out of the oven with over cooked edges and soggy bottoms.
It is the done thing in France to buy a dessert for such an occasion, but they are always so huge that Jon and I are left eating it for days after the lunch party and we don't really like desserts that much. I will probably fall back on my old favourite, chocolate mousse or crème caramel, I don't think I have done either of those for these visitors yet.
We will be starting with an old favourite, melon and ham. The local Quercy melons are just on the market now, late this year because of the awful weather. Only in France would such news as this make the front page of the newspaper, but it did yesterday. The Tour de France was relegated to the back page for the first time, and the Cahors Blues Festival, the biggest music festival within striking distance of us was somewhere in the middle pages. We won't be attending, not because we don't like blues (although, it isn't one of our favourite musical genres) but because Cahors is such a mess at the moment. They have dug up the entire main road through the town and won't finish until December; this makes parking virtually impossible unless you get to town before 8am - fat chance!!!
Of course, as we have planned to have people over for lunch tomorrow, the weather is about to break and the forecast for tomorrow is..... rain. The sun won't come back until Saturday, but next week looks good. We're not holding our breath though!
Tuesday 17 July 2007
Phew, that's a relief!
Ste Charlotte
Yesterday's weather : very nice thank you. 28 deg. A bit of rain after dark, but that was very nice too - saves watering the veggies.
Ste Charlotte needs a mention - Happy Saint's Day, Charlotte - tell the boyfriend that it's traditional in France to receive flowers!
After a night tossing and turning, sighing and an overactive brain I had decided that I wouldn't write a blog today. I wasn't in the mood. Jazz disappeared on Sunday afternoon and we hadn't seen her since. Figgy tried to make a bid for freedom too yesterday evening but as soon as a spot of rain hit him, he was home again.
We were have a second cup of tea in bed (well, we can, can't we?) both feeling very miserable, we heard a few miaous from downstairs followed by a lot of biscuit crunching. We knew she was back but the two of us, followed by Misty and the Boy went to double check. We have no idea where she had been but she was very dry and very hungry, so we are hoping she had just got shut into someone's garage or barn.
She spent most of the morning under the fig tree with Misty while we were out buying the ladder (yes, he is going to use a ladder after all to get to the difficult painting bits outside) and seeing the mayor again with the new plans. Jazz is now completely flaked out in the lounge and probably won't move again until tomorrow, except for a bikkie now and then. As a special welcome home treat I even gave her some kitten food in jelly. I hope she learned her lesson and doesn't go to wherever it was again.
BBC Proms Season
The Proms season has started on a real high this year. We are already addicts (stops J from wathing Big Brother!). The first night was excellent, Sunday was even better and last night was equally stunning. We didn't know Rossini's Stabat Mater but it's going on my Amazon wish list. Sunday's Prom with the Soweto Buskaid Strings and two dance groups was one of the best things I've seen on telly all year. Let's hope it continues. We love watching them but just as much, we love sitting in the garden in the evening over a bottle of planning fluid just listening to the evening's concert. Cheers, m'dears!
Yesterday's weather : very nice thank you. 28 deg. A bit of rain after dark, but that was very nice too - saves watering the veggies.
Ste Charlotte needs a mention - Happy Saint's Day, Charlotte - tell the boyfriend that it's traditional in France to receive flowers!
After a night tossing and turning, sighing and an overactive brain I had decided that I wouldn't write a blog today. I wasn't in the mood. Jazz disappeared on Sunday afternoon and we hadn't seen her since. Figgy tried to make a bid for freedom too yesterday evening but as soon as a spot of rain hit him, he was home again.
We were have a second cup of tea in bed (well, we can, can't we?) both feeling very miserable, we heard a few miaous from downstairs followed by a lot of biscuit crunching. We knew she was back but the two of us, followed by Misty and the Boy went to double check. We have no idea where she had been but she was very dry and very hungry, so we are hoping she had just got shut into someone's garage or barn.
She spent most of the morning under the fig tree with Misty while we were out buying the ladder (yes, he is going to use a ladder after all to get to the difficult painting bits outside) and seeing the mayor again with the new plans. Jazz is now completely flaked out in the lounge and probably won't move again until tomorrow, except for a bikkie now and then. As a special welcome home treat I even gave her some kitten food in jelly. I hope she learned her lesson and doesn't go to wherever it was again.
BBC Proms Season
The Proms season has started on a real high this year. We are already addicts (stops J from wathing Big Brother!). The first night was excellent, Sunday was even better and last night was equally stunning. We didn't know Rossini's Stabat Mater but it's going on my Amazon wish list. Sunday's Prom with the Soweto Buskaid Strings and two dance groups was one of the best things I've seen on telly all year. Let's hope it continues. We love watching them but just as much, we love sitting in the garden in the evening over a bottle of planning fluid just listening to the evening's concert. Cheers, m'dears!
Monday 16 July 2007
Planning frustrations
Ste Elvire
Yesterday's weather: the same as Saturday. Lovely.
I'm at the kitchen table with floury hands this morning. We don't need to go out and the baker is closed anyway, so I'm making bread, and sausages for the freezer, and a nice pasta sauce, also for the freezer. A busy day ahead.
Jon is doing the preparation for painting the last few windows and the next job will be the foundations for the outdoor room. I've just heard back from my application to be exempt from getting a planning application that I haven't supplied enough plans. I have now to do another, three-dimensional plan of the area we want to put it on complete with all measurements. Pain in the backside! I've never drawn anything like that before, so it'll be a first. It certainly won't be totally accurate as we can't get to our boundaries to measure them exactly. Too many brambles and nettles in the way. In fact, the chalet that I submitted planning for isn't the one we have on order, although they are roughly the same size. Now I'll have to check that we have the measurements of the other one stored somewhere!
Jazz decided to take a night on the tiles last night but she hasn't been home yet today, and it's almost lunchtime. I'll have to take a walk and find her later on. The latest she's been home after a night out is 2pm, so I won't panic until then.
It's very hot again but more cloudy that the last few days. There's no rain forecast during the day so I'll have to get out with the watering can to try and keep my remaining plants alive. The unblighted tomatoes are cropping madly now and we are promised a good crop of green peppers - I'm keeping a close eye on slugs and crickets to make sure we don't lose anything else.
Yesterday's weather: the same as Saturday. Lovely.
I'm at the kitchen table with floury hands this morning. We don't need to go out and the baker is closed anyway, so I'm making bread, and sausages for the freezer, and a nice pasta sauce, also for the freezer. A busy day ahead.
Jon is doing the preparation for painting the last few windows and the next job will be the foundations for the outdoor room. I've just heard back from my application to be exempt from getting a planning application that I haven't supplied enough plans. I have now to do another, three-dimensional plan of the area we want to put it on complete with all measurements. Pain in the backside! I've never drawn anything like that before, so it'll be a first. It certainly won't be totally accurate as we can't get to our boundaries to measure them exactly. Too many brambles and nettles in the way. In fact, the chalet that I submitted planning for isn't the one we have on order, although they are roughly the same size. Now I'll have to check that we have the measurements of the other one stored somewhere!
Jazz decided to take a night on the tiles last night but she hasn't been home yet today, and it's almost lunchtime. I'll have to take a walk and find her later on. The latest she's been home after a night out is 2pm, so I won't panic until then.
It's very hot again but more cloudy that the last few days. There's no rain forecast during the day so I'll have to get out with the watering can to try and keep my remaining plants alive. The unblighted tomatoes are cropping madly now and we are promised a good crop of green peppers - I'm keeping a close eye on slugs and crickets to make sure we don't lose anything else.
Sunday 15 July 2007
Saints and souvenirs
St Donald
Yesterday's weather: Beautiful, hot but with a nice breeze to take the sting of the heat away.
It's my lovely Mum's birthday today. Happy Birthday, Mum.
We were sitting in the garden yesterday evening and the wind chimes were clanging away to themselves in the background. Jon turned to me and said 'She's everywhere isn't she?'. I looked around to see who he was talking about but couldn't see anyone - I assumed that he was talking about Mirabelle Veranda-Flapper again as I could see the distant waving of a tea towel but he said 'I wake up in the morning and the first thing I see is that lovely piece of furniture she gave us. I go downstairs and there is the window I've just put in that she gave us. Even out here; the wind chimes were a present from your mother. It's lovely, she's here all the time, my mother-in-law.'
We love it that our house is full of reminders of different people, some have visited, some haven't yet but we are hoping they will soon. We have shelf which runs the length of the kitchen and on it is a collection of pottery and glassware. We can say where each piece came from, some were wedding presents (33 years this year but I don't think they qualify as antiques just yet), others we have collected over the years or have been gifts. It is our shelf of memories and we love it.
St Donald
Regular readers know that I always head this blog with the saint of the day. In France, the saint's day is very important. Although a constitutionally secular country for many years, religion is still important to many French people, particularly catholicism and only recently the naming of children after a Saint become less common. The festival day of the saint of one's name is almost as big as a birthday.
Not a lot is known about the Scottish St Donald of Ogilvie but apparently he had nine daughters who were all saints. I'm sure that there must be a similarity there somewhere even though my parents only had two daughters and one son.......! Hang on, I'll just straighten my halo.
So, I thought it rather apt that today is the day of St Donald and I know that my Dad would have loved to celebrate today along with Mum's birthday. So, if you are raising a glass to Mum's birthday today, please also have one for Dad. If he's watching from on high, I know he'd appreciate it.
It is, of course, also St Swithin's Day today and the legend says that if it rains today it will rain for 40 days and 40 nights but if it is fine, there will be clear skies for 40 days and 40 nights. I think we've had enough rain this year. Let's hope we are in for a dry spell.
Yesterday's weather: Beautiful, hot but with a nice breeze to take the sting of the heat away.
It's my lovely Mum's birthday today. Happy Birthday, Mum.
We were sitting in the garden yesterday evening and the wind chimes were clanging away to themselves in the background. Jon turned to me and said 'She's everywhere isn't she?'. I looked around to see who he was talking about but couldn't see anyone - I assumed that he was talking about Mirabelle Veranda-Flapper again as I could see the distant waving of a tea towel but he said 'I wake up in the morning and the first thing I see is that lovely piece of furniture she gave us. I go downstairs and there is the window I've just put in that she gave us. Even out here; the wind chimes were a present from your mother. It's lovely, she's here all the time, my mother-in-law.'
We love it that our house is full of reminders of different people, some have visited, some haven't yet but we are hoping they will soon. We have shelf which runs the length of the kitchen and on it is a collection of pottery and glassware. We can say where each piece came from, some were wedding presents (33 years this year but I don't think they qualify as antiques just yet), others we have collected over the years or have been gifts. It is our shelf of memories and we love it.
St Donald
Regular readers know that I always head this blog with the saint of the day. In France, the saint's day is very important. Although a constitutionally secular country for many years, religion is still important to many French people, particularly catholicism and only recently the naming of children after a Saint become less common. The festival day of the saint of one's name is almost as big as a birthday.
Not a lot is known about the Scottish St Donald of Ogilvie but apparently he had nine daughters who were all saints. I'm sure that there must be a similarity there somewhere even though my parents only had two daughters and one son.......! Hang on, I'll just straighten my halo.
So, I thought it rather apt that today is the day of St Donald and I know that my Dad would have loved to celebrate today along with Mum's birthday. So, if you are raising a glass to Mum's birthday today, please also have one for Dad. If he's watching from on high, I know he'd appreciate it.
It is, of course, also St Swithin's Day today and the legend says that if it rains today it will rain for 40 days and 40 nights but if it is fine, there will be clear skies for 40 days and 40 nights. I think we've had enough rain this year. Let's hope we are in for a dry spell.
Saturday 14 July 2007
It IS cricket!
Ste Madalgaire
Yesterday's weather: Just gorgeous. 27 degrees
Madagascan proverb: You can hold a cricket in your hand but its song will be all over the field
I really hate ladders, so why, you might ask, did yesterday afternoon see me on a ladder up the apple tree?
I was fed up with the family of jays who were up there eating all the apples which are just becoming ripe. We had been sitting in the garden when an apple core dropped on the ground close by. The birds have been enjoying the fruits of our labours (well, we haven't actually laboured very hard with this apple tree) before we even get to see them ripen.
From the study window on the first floor, I can see the best of the apples at the very top of the tree. My ladder won't reach that high so I am sure the jays will be enjoying that crop today.
Whilst doing my usual investigation of the tomatoes and courgettes I spotted a strange green growth on one of the tomatoes which was just beginning to ripen. This tomato is on one of the plants that I am keeping a very close eye on for blight. Closer inspection showed that the growth was a bright green cricket, about three and a half inches long which had it's head buried in the tomato core. I didn't want to disturb it (just call me a coward, I'll confess) so I went to have another look later on. The tomato is now completely hollow, like an apple that has been cored and I couldn't see the cricket anywhere - until I moved the plant! Well, I know how you can avoid slugs eating your plants, but what to do about crickets? I hire Dickie Bird to send him back to the pavillion, I suppose.
Yesterday's weather: Just gorgeous. 27 degrees
Madagascan proverb: You can hold a cricket in your hand but its song will be all over the field
I really hate ladders, so why, you might ask, did yesterday afternoon see me on a ladder up the apple tree?
I was fed up with the family of jays who were up there eating all the apples which are just becoming ripe. We had been sitting in the garden when an apple core dropped on the ground close by. The birds have been enjoying the fruits of our labours (well, we haven't actually laboured very hard with this apple tree) before we even get to see them ripen.
From the study window on the first floor, I can see the best of the apples at the very top of the tree. My ladder won't reach that high so I am sure the jays will be enjoying that crop today.
Whilst doing my usual investigation of the tomatoes and courgettes I spotted a strange green growth on one of the tomatoes which was just beginning to ripen. This tomato is on one of the plants that I am keeping a very close eye on for blight. Closer inspection showed that the growth was a bright green cricket, about three and a half inches long which had it's head buried in the tomato core. I didn't want to disturb it (just call me a coward, I'll confess) so I went to have another look later on. The tomato is now completely hollow, like an apple that has been cored and I couldn't see the cricket anywhere - until I moved the plant! Well, I know how you can avoid slugs eating your plants, but what to do about crickets? I hire Dickie Bird to send him back to the pavillion, I suppose.
Friday 13 July 2007
We've been blighted and bitten
St Henri-Joel
Yesterday's weather: Started cloudy, ended clear and sunny - 23 deg.
The wettest spring on record here has, unfortunately, taken its toll on our tomato plants. The beautiful big tomatoes I've been nurturing have succombed to blight and I fear we are losing them all. The cherry tomatoes are prolific on the patio and seem to have escaped, although I am keeping a close eye on them. The plum tomatoes also seem to have escaped. Courgettes too, seem to have suffered from the excess rain and although they started well a few weeks ago, they have virtually stopped producing and their leaves are beginning to go yellow. So I will have to go to market this morning to stock up on vegetables.
Jon is taking advantage of a morning without rain to mow the lawn, which is looking very much greener than it has in previous years.
We took a day out yesterday and went to Figeac, a beautiful town to the east of here. We had a good lunch in the old covered market square and had a long time to wander around the narrow streets discovering all sorts of little shops tucked away. Figeac is one of the places we would love to live if we ever have to consider moving to a town in our dotage (some would say that has already come!). It is right on the River Lot and has everything we could need but it still retains a small town feel to it and doesn't seem quite as much of a holiday town as some of those nearer to us. This is probably because it is on the edge of the Auvergne region, one of the most remote areas of France, although it is still reasonably accessible by train, car and plane as good old RyanAir fly to Rodez.
We went to Figeac a couple of years ago for lunch with my mother. It was just a little pizzeria but they had tables set out in a pretty little courtyard and it looked very inviting. Jon and Mum received their meals but mine never turned up. After about half an hour of trying to find someone to bring my pizza, they had to relight the pizza oven and cook it for me as they had forgotten. Needless to say, we didn't go there yesterday!
Ankle biters
Mosquitos have arrived. We've not done too badly so far this year but we were sitting out yesterday evening listening to the radio and despite liberally spraying each other with repellant and burning a citronella candle we didn't escape. We've got a nice strong repellant which also works against ticks (ugh) but even though it is, allegedly, tropical strength, the mozzies don't seem to be averse to it. Avon Skin-so-Soft is the repellant I used to use before the threat of ticks, so maybe I should go back to that - or wear both.
Yesterday's weather: Started cloudy, ended clear and sunny - 23 deg.
The wettest spring on record here has, unfortunately, taken its toll on our tomato plants. The beautiful big tomatoes I've been nurturing have succombed to blight and I fear we are losing them all. The cherry tomatoes are prolific on the patio and seem to have escaped, although I am keeping a close eye on them. The plum tomatoes also seem to have escaped. Courgettes too, seem to have suffered from the excess rain and although they started well a few weeks ago, they have virtually stopped producing and their leaves are beginning to go yellow. So I will have to go to market this morning to stock up on vegetables.
Jon is taking advantage of a morning without rain to mow the lawn, which is looking very much greener than it has in previous years.
We took a day out yesterday and went to Figeac, a beautiful town to the east of here. We had a good lunch in the old covered market square and had a long time to wander around the narrow streets discovering all sorts of little shops tucked away. Figeac is one of the places we would love to live if we ever have to consider moving to a town in our dotage (some would say that has already come!). It is right on the River Lot and has everything we could need but it still retains a small town feel to it and doesn't seem quite as much of a holiday town as some of those nearer to us. This is probably because it is on the edge of the Auvergne region, one of the most remote areas of France, although it is still reasonably accessible by train, car and plane as good old RyanAir fly to Rodez.
We went to Figeac a couple of years ago for lunch with my mother. It was just a little pizzeria but they had tables set out in a pretty little courtyard and it looked very inviting. Jon and Mum received their meals but mine never turned up. After about half an hour of trying to find someone to bring my pizza, they had to relight the pizza oven and cook it for me as they had forgotten. Needless to say, we didn't go there yesterday!
Ankle biters
Mosquitos have arrived. We've not done too badly so far this year but we were sitting out yesterday evening listening to the radio and despite liberally spraying each other with repellant and burning a citronella candle we didn't escape. We've got a nice strong repellant which also works against ticks (ugh) but even though it is, allegedly, tropical strength, the mozzies don't seem to be averse to it. Avon Skin-so-Soft is the repellant I used to use before the threat of ticks, so maybe I should go back to that - or wear both.
Thursday 12 July 2007
A day out
St Olivier
Yesterday's weather isn't worth mentioning.
We're off out for the day today. The sun has finally come out and we are going to take advantage of it before the weekend which will be murder! It's Bastille Day on Saturday so a big holiday weekend for the French. Us English will be staying home.
More news tomorrow!
Yesterday's weather isn't worth mentioning.
We're off out for the day today. The sun has finally come out and we are going to take advantage of it before the weekend which will be murder! It's Bastille Day on Saturday so a big holiday weekend for the French. Us English will be staying home.
More news tomorrow!
Tuesday 10 July 2007
Birthday boy, reading and more dust
St Benoit
Yesterday's weather: Will it never stop raining?
IT'S LEO'S FIRST BIRTHDAY TODAY. HAVE A LOVELY DAY, LEO XXXXXXXXX
I finished a book yesterday. It's The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney. I won't give anything away but I struggled a little with it. I still can't make up my mind whether I enjoyed it or not.
I joined a reading group recently. We all live quite some distance from each other so the plan is to meet up every three or four months to discuss the books we have been reading. Soon it will be my turn to select the book of the month and I'm not sure how to go about it. The books we've read so far seem to have been picked at random from Amazon's top sellers, so I'd like to be completely contrary by selecting something different. Maybe Five go to Smuggler's Top by Enid Blyton - that's pretty different. I always liked George best in the Famous Five, but I think I secretly wanted to be Anne, the girly girl who had to be looked after all the time.
Jon is reading all the book group books too and we have time to discuss them between ourselves before we get to say anything to the others. Jon is way ahead of me in our personal reading list. This is partly because I am a sudoku addict - and also because I write the blog. The good thing about sudoku is that I can buy them here in France because the rules are the same!
Jon finished off the window this morning. We hope that we will soon be at the point where we can paint the kitchen but there is more work to do in there first. Of course now that the window has gone in, the hall and stairway need painting again too. They lead into the lounge so that will also have to be done, and I haven't even started on the bedroom yet. I'm still supposed to be renovating the wooden floors but I lost heart again yesterday when my nicely waxed floors went pink with all the brick dust. I'll get back to them again soon, especially if it never stops raining.
The pink hue around the house is still there, even though we had another thorough clean yesterday, and the dust still feels as if it is in our every pore. No wonder the cats don't appear to want to stay home much at the moment - three pink dusty cats, we would only be able to tell them apart by the miaow!
An update on the shed/garden room/bedroom, second shed and shower purchase is that I did hear from the bank that I could set up a transfer if I added another function to our bank account for a further four euros a month! Needless to say I told them what to do with their additional functionality. I contacted the company we are buying from and eventually we decided that I would send them a cheque. They should have received that now and the goods should be with us in three weeks - but watch this space! We still don't know exactly how they will be delivered, whether the sheds are in panels or slats so we don't know how long they will take us to put up, but hey, every day another challenge!
Yesterday's weather: Will it never stop raining?
IT'S LEO'S FIRST BIRTHDAY TODAY. HAVE A LOVELY DAY, LEO XXXXXXXXX
I finished a book yesterday. It's The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney. I won't give anything away but I struggled a little with it. I still can't make up my mind whether I enjoyed it or not.
I joined a reading group recently. We all live quite some distance from each other so the plan is to meet up every three or four months to discuss the books we have been reading. Soon it will be my turn to select the book of the month and I'm not sure how to go about it. The books we've read so far seem to have been picked at random from Amazon's top sellers, so I'd like to be completely contrary by selecting something different. Maybe Five go to Smuggler's Top by Enid Blyton - that's pretty different. I always liked George best in the Famous Five, but I think I secretly wanted to be Anne, the girly girl who had to be looked after all the time.
Jon is reading all the book group books too and we have time to discuss them between ourselves before we get to say anything to the others. Jon is way ahead of me in our personal reading list. This is partly because I am a sudoku addict - and also because I write the blog. The good thing about sudoku is that I can buy them here in France because the rules are the same!
Jon finished off the window this morning. We hope that we will soon be at the point where we can paint the kitchen but there is more work to do in there first. Of course now that the window has gone in, the hall and stairway need painting again too. They lead into the lounge so that will also have to be done, and I haven't even started on the bedroom yet. I'm still supposed to be renovating the wooden floors but I lost heart again yesterday when my nicely waxed floors went pink with all the brick dust. I'll get back to them again soon, especially if it never stops raining.
The pink hue around the house is still there, even though we had another thorough clean yesterday, and the dust still feels as if it is in our every pore. No wonder the cats don't appear to want to stay home much at the moment - three pink dusty cats, we would only be able to tell them apart by the miaow!
An update on the shed/garden room/bedroom, second shed and shower purchase is that I did hear from the bank that I could set up a transfer if I added another function to our bank account for a further four euros a month! Needless to say I told them what to do with their additional functionality. I contacted the company we are buying from and eventually we decided that I would send them a cheque. They should have received that now and the goods should be with us in three weeks - but watch this space! We still don't know exactly how they will be delivered, whether the sheds are in panels or slats so we don't know how long they will take us to put up, but hey, every day another challenge!
La Maison Rose
St Ulrich
Yesterday's weather: Eventually foggy - see below
Our house turned pink yesterday. I blame Merv. If it hadn't been for him putting in a nice stained glass window between his hallway and lounge we would never have even thought of it. And if Mum hadn't had this really nice leaded window that she wanted to get rid of, we wouldn't have even started it yet. So I blame her too. Jon looked very colourful yesterday with pink dust in his hair and a layer all over him (even up his nose and in his ears, thought I'd share that with you). He was, as you might say, in the pink, tickled pink and pretty in pink. And no, ex-colleagues, there is no photograph!
I'll explain. Our house is a couple of hundred years old and made from local stone. The walls are about 1m thick. The inner shell of the house and all the internal walls are made from these ghastly red bricks, some sort of honeycomb affair. Yesterday Jon started work on fitting the window between the kitchen and the stairwell to let more light into the kitchen. We covered everything in the kitchen with dustsheets and hung another over the stairs to prevent dust getting upstairs into the lounge. Well, there was nothing wrong with the idea and I think some of the dust actually landed on the dust sheets rather than under but the rest of it is still drifting around the house this morning giving the inside of the house a warm pink hue. The angle grinder (now you know why we bought it) would have been far more user-friendly had it had it's own vacuum cleaner attached to it (has anyone ever thought of inventing one of those?).
We spent a couple of hours clearing up last night but now the dust has settled again so this morning it is back to collecting up the next lot of dust and washing all the curtains. Hope it stays dry today! The trouble is, we know from having the house rewired last summer that the dust will hang around for a couple of weeks yet. Where are Kim and Aggie when you need them?
The weather stayed dry most of the day until, of course, we had the kitchen furniture outside when the heavens opened again. But we did get an amazing rainbow to follow.
Monday 9 July 2007
Beanz and Lycra (they don't mix)
Ste Amandine
Yesterday's weather: Thunder, followed by grey skies, followed by thunder, followed by rain, rain, rain, rain.....
Mr Blumenthal's baked beans turned out very nicely thank you. OK, so I didn't follow the recipe to the letter, otherwise they wouldn't be finished until August but even taking a few short cuts they worked out very well. I personally would add a little more Worcestershire sauce and tabasco sauce than Mr B's recipe but they still were very nice on toast yesterday lunch time. For the uninitiated, Heston Blumenthal is a British chef who is interested in taking food to it's absolute limits. He is self taught and experiments with amazing taste combinations. He has won three Michelin stars and his restaurant has been runner up 'Best Restaurant in the World' for the last three years.
We had a super dinner last night. We are fond of Far Eastern cookery and we had two lovely dishes from Madhur Jaffrey's Far Eastern Cookery, a book based on her 1989 television series (how long ago???) It's one of our favourite books, we haven't been disappointed with any of the recipes in that one. Those of you who know us will know our collection of cookery books, we had a cull before we moved out here but still have a bookcase and a half, and I'm collecting yet more recipes all the time. I've recently discovered lots of really interesting cookery blogs (well, it was wet yesterday and Jon was watching the Tour de France - more on that later), and I've got a collection of recipes that I've taken from various magazines in the past. What with all the novels, dictionaries, DIY and gardening books, I'm surprised this house isn't collapsing under the weight of paper.
Le Tour
Yes, the Tour de France started yesterday in England. What's that all about? Shouldn't they rename it the Tour de France et Angleterre? I was amazed that it was 230 km from London to Canterbury, last time we did that trip it was only about 80 miles which, even with my lousy maths, doesn't come to 230 km.... It's actually very exciting because the Tour is coming here this year to our little corner of France. On Friday 27th July it will be passing quite near to our house on the leg from Cahors to Angouleme. Cahors itself is already gearing up with various events planned for the days leading up to the stage and the route will be lined with people for hours ahead of the actual race. These people are mad; they will take their picnic tables and chairs, the full four course French lunch with wine, and all for a few seconds viewing men in skin tight shorts on bikes.
I was wondering what the attraction was until I wrote that last sentence. Hmm, where did I put that picnic basket?
PS - this was written by Sue, not Jon!!!
Yesterday's weather: Thunder, followed by grey skies, followed by thunder, followed by rain, rain, rain, rain.....
Mr Blumenthal's baked beans turned out very nicely thank you. OK, so I didn't follow the recipe to the letter, otherwise they wouldn't be finished until August but even taking a few short cuts they worked out very well. I personally would add a little more Worcestershire sauce and tabasco sauce than Mr B's recipe but they still were very nice on toast yesterday lunch time. For the uninitiated, Heston Blumenthal is a British chef who is interested in taking food to it's absolute limits. He is self taught and experiments with amazing taste combinations. He has won three Michelin stars and his restaurant has been runner up 'Best Restaurant in the World' for the last three years.
We had a super dinner last night. We are fond of Far Eastern cookery and we had two lovely dishes from Madhur Jaffrey's Far Eastern Cookery, a book based on her 1989 television series (how long ago???) It's one of our favourite books, we haven't been disappointed with any of the recipes in that one. Those of you who know us will know our collection of cookery books, we had a cull before we moved out here but still have a bookcase and a half, and I'm collecting yet more recipes all the time. I've recently discovered lots of really interesting cookery blogs (well, it was wet yesterday and Jon was watching the Tour de France - more on that later), and I've got a collection of recipes that I've taken from various magazines in the past. What with all the novels, dictionaries, DIY and gardening books, I'm surprised this house isn't collapsing under the weight of paper.
Le Tour
Yes, the Tour de France started yesterday in England. What's that all about? Shouldn't they rename it the Tour de France et Angleterre? I was amazed that it was 230 km from London to Canterbury, last time we did that trip it was only about 80 miles which, even with my lousy maths, doesn't come to 230 km.... It's actually very exciting because the Tour is coming here this year to our little corner of France. On Friday 27th July it will be passing quite near to our house on the leg from Cahors to Angouleme. Cahors itself is already gearing up with various events planned for the days leading up to the stage and the route will be lined with people for hours ahead of the actual race. These people are mad; they will take their picnic tables and chairs, the full four course French lunch with wine, and all for a few seconds viewing men in skin tight shorts on bikes.
I was wondering what the attraction was until I wrote that last sentence. Hmm, where did I put that picnic basket?
PS - this was written by Sue, not Jon!!!
Sunday 8 July 2007
Today, I will mostly be cooking baked beans
St. Thibault
Yesterday's weather: Glorious, but read on.....
Today's message: Happy Birthday, Bernd. Have a great day
We spent most of yesterday in the garden, having decided that since there was this alien thing in the sky we would check that it didn't fall out!
The bank didn't phone about the transfer I want to make to pay for the garden stuff and shower. Hopefully they will call on Monday.
It was one of the rare evenings we've had so far when we were able to sit outside until after dark. The valley is usually very quiet in the evenings but our peace was shattered by a passing combine harvester (ooh arr, ooh arr) which trundled past and then took off up the hill opposite where he continued to drone on working until after dark. He obviously knew what was in store as just after 3am we were woken by flashing lightning and heavy thunder which went on for quite a while. We didn't get out of bed to investigate. Although the storms here can be really spectacular we didn't really need to watch every flash of this one.
Having got back to sleep we woke to that funny ball of fire in the sky again which was spoiled but a huge clap of thunder and another storm suddenly hit. Jazz has been out all night and only just returned, full of burrs and goose grass and slightly damp!
Having told you all that we don't miss English foodstuffs much (apart from tea - BTW Jim, that tea bag hasn't arrived yet!), today I will mostly be cooking baked beans. We like to try cooking something a bit different when the weather is iffy, last weekend it was the plum jam and some chutney, this weekend it will be Heston Blumenthal's baked beans. I was pleased to see that the recipe doesn't call on any blow torch, vacuum cleaner or industrial paint stripping machines, so I don't think it will be beyond our capabilities. Another recipe I have tried from time to time is Gary Rhodes' salad cream (this one isn't published on the Internet so I can't share it with you due to copyright). The salad cream is lovely with a potato salad which is what we dined on last night together with some of my home made sausages cooked on the barbecue. Life isn't all DIY round here, you know.
Have a great Sunday chaps, and don't forget to let me know where you are reading this from; I still haven't found out who lives in Gloucester!
Yesterday's weather: Glorious, but read on.....
Today's message: Happy Birthday, Bernd. Have a great day
We spent most of yesterday in the garden, having decided that since there was this alien thing in the sky we would check that it didn't fall out!
The bank didn't phone about the transfer I want to make to pay for the garden stuff and shower. Hopefully they will call on Monday.
It was one of the rare evenings we've had so far when we were able to sit outside until after dark. The valley is usually very quiet in the evenings but our peace was shattered by a passing combine harvester (ooh arr, ooh arr) which trundled past and then took off up the hill opposite where he continued to drone on working until after dark. He obviously knew what was in store as just after 3am we were woken by flashing lightning and heavy thunder which went on for quite a while. We didn't get out of bed to investigate. Although the storms here can be really spectacular we didn't really need to watch every flash of this one.
Having got back to sleep we woke to that funny ball of fire in the sky again which was spoiled but a huge clap of thunder and another storm suddenly hit. Jazz has been out all night and only just returned, full of burrs and goose grass and slightly damp!
Having told you all that we don't miss English foodstuffs much (apart from tea - BTW Jim, that tea bag hasn't arrived yet!), today I will mostly be cooking baked beans. We like to try cooking something a bit different when the weather is iffy, last weekend it was the plum jam and some chutney, this weekend it will be Heston Blumenthal's baked beans. I was pleased to see that the recipe doesn't call on any blow torch, vacuum cleaner or industrial paint stripping machines, so I don't think it will be beyond our capabilities. Another recipe I have tried from time to time is Gary Rhodes' salad cream (this one isn't published on the Internet so I can't share it with you due to copyright). The salad cream is lovely with a potato salad which is what we dined on last night together with some of my home made sausages cooked on the barbecue. Life isn't all DIY round here, you know.
Have a great Sunday chaps, and don't forget to let me know where you are reading this from; I still haven't found out who lives in Gloucester!
Saturday 7 July 2007
Aliens in the sky, party time, and consumer frustration
St Raoul
Yesterday's weather: Better
I woke up this morning and my eyes hurt. I couldn't understand it. Every time I tried to open them they just wouldn't work. Eventually, by turning on my side and facing the wall I could just about open them without them hurting. I got up and wandered around the room.... looked out of the window and noticed something very strange. There seemed to be a big ball of fire in the sky!! I just don't know what it could be! I seem to remember something similar happening a few weeks ago but I think that some wet stuff falling out of the sky put the fire out again.
Anyway, we got up and had breakfast (toast and Marmite, we're not totally weaned yet) and the big ball of fire is still there. I don't know if anyone else is suffering from this phenomenon but if so, please take heart in the belief that it won't last long and normal rain will be resumed shortly.
Party boy
A few days ahead of his first birthday, Leo is having a party today. I understand the bouncy castle is already set up and there is a heap of food available. Sausage rolls and party rings (you know, those nice round iced biscuits with a hole in the middle full of E numbers to make all the kiddies hyperactive all night) are piled high ready for the screaming kiddies to arrive. Apparently Leo's Daddy got carried away with the BOGOF in Morrisson's last night.
Have a lovely time, family. Sorry we can't be with you.
Frustration of buying
We've been trying to order the shed/garden room/bedroom. Found what we wanted, added a floor and a terrace and proceeded to checkout where my bank card didn't go through. Back to the start and it lost all the items in the basket. So we found what we wanted, added the floor, terrace, and this time, a water butt too. Went to checkout, tried my bank card again and it still didn't go through. Back to the start, no items in the basket. Found the shed, floor, terrace and water butt again. This time we added another smaller tool shed to the list. Went to the checkout and decided to use Jon's card this time. No luck. So we gave up, decided to take some planning fluid and come back this morning.
So, we logged on. Found the shed, terrace, floor, water butt, second shed and added a shower unit (it's a really lovely one, got hydro-massage jets and all....). Went to checkout and noticed that I could pay by bank transfer. Good idea, I thought, we'll do that and get it over with before we decide to spend any more money! So, we log on to the bank account - no option to add a new account for transferring money. Great. Eventually found that I need to complete a form on line with all the details and then the bank will phone me (when they get round to it) to check the details again and set up the transfer.
I don't know if the bank is working today. We do hope so. We're also wondering when the pantechnicon (big lorry) will turn up with all our stuff. All hands will be to the deck that day.... Anyone fancy a week's holiday doing DIY?????
Yesterday's weather: Better
I woke up this morning and my eyes hurt. I couldn't understand it. Every time I tried to open them they just wouldn't work. Eventually, by turning on my side and facing the wall I could just about open them without them hurting. I got up and wandered around the room.... looked out of the window and noticed something very strange. There seemed to be a big ball of fire in the sky!! I just don't know what it could be! I seem to remember something similar happening a few weeks ago but I think that some wet stuff falling out of the sky put the fire out again.
Anyway, we got up and had breakfast (toast and Marmite, we're not totally weaned yet) and the big ball of fire is still there. I don't know if anyone else is suffering from this phenomenon but if so, please take heart in the belief that it won't last long and normal rain will be resumed shortly.
Party boy
A few days ahead of his first birthday, Leo is having a party today. I understand the bouncy castle is already set up and there is a heap of food available. Sausage rolls and party rings (you know, those nice round iced biscuits with a hole in the middle full of E numbers to make all the kiddies hyperactive all night) are piled high ready for the screaming kiddies to arrive. Apparently Leo's Daddy got carried away with the BOGOF in Morrisson's last night.
Have a lovely time, family. Sorry we can't be with you.
Frustration of buying
We've been trying to order the shed/garden room/bedroom. Found what we wanted, added a floor and a terrace and proceeded to checkout where my bank card didn't go through. Back to the start and it lost all the items in the basket. So we found what we wanted, added the floor, terrace, and this time, a water butt too. Went to checkout, tried my bank card again and it still didn't go through. Back to the start, no items in the basket. Found the shed, floor, terrace and water butt again. This time we added another smaller tool shed to the list. Went to the checkout and decided to use Jon's card this time. No luck. So we gave up, decided to take some planning fluid and come back this morning.
So, we logged on. Found the shed, terrace, floor, water butt, second shed and added a shower unit (it's a really lovely one, got hydro-massage jets and all....). Went to checkout and noticed that I could pay by bank transfer. Good idea, I thought, we'll do that and get it over with before we decide to spend any more money! So, we log on to the bank account - no option to add a new account for transferring money. Great. Eventually found that I need to complete a form on line with all the details and then the bank will phone me (when they get round to it) to check the details again and set up the transfer.
I don't know if the bank is working today. We do hope so. We're also wondering when the pantechnicon (big lorry) will turn up with all our stuff. All hands will be to the deck that day.... Anyone fancy a week's holiday doing DIY?????
Friday 6 July 2007
Back from shopping - where are you?
Ste Marietta Goretti
Yesterday's weather: Hmmmmmmm
We've gone shopping this morning. Please come back later
OK we're back now. Got enough food in for the weekend and a new toy for Jon - a big angle grinder - we know how to live, don't we? It's scary, the roads are suddenly so busy (we saw at least 50 cars on the 20 minute drive to the supermarket) and we know that it will just get worse this weekend when the French holidays really take off, and will last until the end of August. We are hoping that the visitors will bring the sunshine with them at last, but the forecast for the next week is still very disappointing.....
So, where are you?
I've been looking at the statistics for my blog and apparently the majority of people reading it are in the Gloucester (UK) region. Funny thing is, we don't know anyone in Gloucester but apparently they know us, so, bear with me (as the telephonist says) and, when you read this, please send an anonymous comment just to say where you are reading from.
We've had a few visits from Australia (G'day Aussie rellies), some from the US (Howdy you independents), one from Spain (Buenos dias, que tal?), 33 visits from Paris (since I think I'm the only person in France who logs in I don't really have a lot of faith in this report) and none at all from Germany, which is disappointing since Bernd won't read his birthday message on Sunday! We've even had a visit from Indonesia (who on earth....?).
Happy Friday all you workers! We're going to have lunch in the garden (and if it's sunny I bet you'll all be going down the pub for yours).. Have a good weekend.
Yesterday's weather: Hmmmmmmm
We've gone shopping this morning. Please come back later
OK we're back now. Got enough food in for the weekend and a new toy for Jon - a big angle grinder - we know how to live, don't we? It's scary, the roads are suddenly so busy (we saw at least 50 cars on the 20 minute drive to the supermarket) and we know that it will just get worse this weekend when the French holidays really take off, and will last until the end of August. We are hoping that the visitors will bring the sunshine with them at last, but the forecast for the next week is still very disappointing.....
So, where are you?
I've been looking at the statistics for my blog and apparently the majority of people reading it are in the Gloucester (UK) region. Funny thing is, we don't know anyone in Gloucester but apparently they know us, so, bear with me (as the telephonist says) and, when you read this, please send an anonymous comment just to say where you are reading from.
We've had a few visits from Australia (G'day Aussie rellies), some from the US (Howdy you independents), one from Spain (Buenos dias, que tal?), 33 visits from Paris (since I think I'm the only person in France who logs in I don't really have a lot of faith in this report) and none at all from Germany, which is disappointing since Bernd won't read his birthday message on Sunday! We've even had a visit from Indonesia (who on earth....?).
Happy Friday all you workers! We're going to have lunch in the garden (and if it's sunny I bet you'll all be going down the pub for yours).. Have a good weekend.
Thursday 5 July 2007
The usual question
St Antoine-Marie Zaccharia
Yesterday's weather: Sun and cloud, not very warm
It is an unwritten rule: 'Where expats gather together, so shall they asketh the question: What do you miss from home?
So, here is a list of what we miss:
BUT (you knew there'd be a 'but' didn't you?), the one thing we cannot live without, the thing we would go to the ends of the earth to obtain is a decent English tea bag. Twinings English Breakfast is favourite but even an Asda cheapie would be better than the tea bags we find in France. We cannot start our day without a nice cup of tea, I need it to wake up and Jon needs it to help him mentally organise his job for the day. After that, we're fine and often don't have another cuppa until the next morning.
We had a kettle; we let it leak:
Our not repairing made it worse.
We haven't had any tea for a week...
The bottom is out of the Universe.
~Rudyard Kipling
Yesterday's weather: Sun and cloud, not very warm
It is an unwritten rule: 'Where expats gather together, so shall they asketh the question: What do you miss from home?
So, here is a list of what we miss:
- Family
- Friends
- Banter (you can't rib people you've only just met)
- Choice of restaurant food - we are making our own Indian, Thai, Chinese etc., but you can get the occasional Italian meal. Luckily we have found a little shop where we can buy almost all the spices we need (loose) and they even do (for a price) Pataks curry sauces although we haven't resorted to that yet.
BUT (you knew there'd be a 'but' didn't you?), the one thing we cannot live without, the thing we would go to the ends of the earth to obtain is a decent English tea bag. Twinings English Breakfast is favourite but even an Asda cheapie would be better than the tea bags we find in France. We cannot start our day without a nice cup of tea, I need it to wake up and Jon needs it to help him mentally organise his job for the day. After that, we're fine and often don't have another cuppa until the next morning.
We had a kettle; we let it leak:
Our not repairing made it worse.
We haven't had any tea for a week...
The bottom is out of the Universe.
~Rudyard Kipling
Wednesday 4 July 2007
Snakes and ladders
St Florent
Yesterday's weather - very mixed. I am boring you yet?
Today's title is a bit of a red herring as we haven't actually seen a snake yet this year. We did hear one rustling in the undergrowth a couple of weeks ago when I was walking Misty (yes, I walk the cats sometimes). She went to investigate and came back in a rush when it hissed at her. We have Western Whip Snakes here (amongst others, but those are the biggest). We rarely see them but they are quite impressive when we do. Luckily they keep away most of the time. They are black and yellow and grow quite large but are totally harmless. Well, the hiss is enough to scare anyone away as I found one day when I was hanging out the washing a couple of years ago.
As I mentioned the other day, Jon is painting the outside of the house. I've done some of the shutters but I've run out of Hammerite in the nice green so I'll have to source some more in the local Mr Bricolage. Our dilemma is how to paint the upstairs window surrounds as they are very high. We looked at buying some scaffolding but the ground isn't flat enough to get it close to the house, so it looks like it will have to be a ladder, even though neither of us like ladders or heights. The problem is that we can't get a roof rack on our little car and a ladder won't fit in the boot without hanging out another 6 foot and I don't think that would be a particularly good idea. So it's back to the drawing board - unless anyone out there has any (sensible) suggestions? (Abseiling from the roof is not an option).
Yesterday's weather - very mixed. I am boring you yet?
Today's title is a bit of a red herring as we haven't actually seen a snake yet this year. We did hear one rustling in the undergrowth a couple of weeks ago when I was walking Misty (yes, I walk the cats sometimes). She went to investigate and came back in a rush when it hissed at her. We have Western Whip Snakes here (amongst others, but those are the biggest). We rarely see them but they are quite impressive when we do. Luckily they keep away most of the time. They are black and yellow and grow quite large but are totally harmless. Well, the hiss is enough to scare anyone away as I found one day when I was hanging out the washing a couple of years ago.
As I mentioned the other day, Jon is painting the outside of the house. I've done some of the shutters but I've run out of Hammerite in the nice green so I'll have to source some more in the local Mr Bricolage. Our dilemma is how to paint the upstairs window surrounds as they are very high. We looked at buying some scaffolding but the ground isn't flat enough to get it close to the house, so it looks like it will have to be a ladder, even though neither of us like ladders or heights. The problem is that we can't get a roof rack on our little car and a ladder won't fit in the boot without hanging out another 6 foot and I don't think that would be a particularly good idea. So it's back to the drawing board - unless anyone out there has any (sensible) suggestions? (Abseiling from the roof is not an option).
Tuesday 3 July 2007
It's the WI, Deer.
St Thomas
Yesterday's weather: not as bad as threatened. Warm, sunny with cloudy spells.
First off, I have a sinking feeling. I think it is the birthday of someone I know but I can't for the life of me find my diary with all the birthdays in it. So, if it's you, I do apologise, have a great day and please let me know who you are. And while I'm at it, Happy Birthday to Tom Cruise, Ken Russell and Tom Stoppard (well, why not?)
I have made jam. I know, I know, it doesn't sound very exciting, but it's a first for me. I have been looking for a particular type of plum tree to grow and haven't found one anywhere. It's called a Mirabelle, the fruits are small and orange and very delicious. I have been hankering after one. Then on Sunday I looked up and over my head was a tree groaning with small orange plums. I was very excited (well, as you know, I don't get out much) and we picked a kilo or two of these plums. So, I made jam with them and it is lovely on a slice of walnut bread for breakfast in the morning. The only trouble is that it isn't orange, it's red, so obviously they weren't Mirabelles and I will have to start all over again.
Oh, Elk *
It's only 10 am and we have already had two visitors this morning. One hare and one deer. If you look very hard you will spot him (or her).
Pretty eh? Sorry I didn't get a photo of the hare but I didn't see him personally.
*in joke for one in the know - HT!
First off, I have a sinking feeling. I think it is the birthday of someone I know but I can't for the life of me find my diary with all the birthdays in it. So, if it's you, I do apologise, have a great day and please let me know who you are. And while I'm at it, Happy Birthday to Tom Cruise, Ken Russell and Tom Stoppard (well, why not?)
I have made jam. I know, I know, it doesn't sound very exciting, but it's a first for me. I have been looking for a particular type of plum tree to grow and haven't found one anywhere. It's called a Mirabelle, the fruits are small and orange and very delicious. I have been hankering after one. Then on Sunday I looked up and over my head was a tree groaning with small orange plums. I was very excited (well, as you know, I don't get out much) and we picked a kilo or two of these plums. So, I made jam with them and it is lovely on a slice of walnut bread for breakfast in the morning. The only trouble is that it isn't orange, it's red, so obviously they weren't Mirabelles and I will have to start all over again.
Oh, Elk *
It's only 10 am and we have already had two visitors this morning. One hare and one deer. If you look very hard you will spot him (or her).
Pretty eh? Sorry I didn't get a photo of the hare but I didn't see him personally.
*in joke for one in the know - HT!
Monday 2 July 2007
Where's ya bin?
St Martinian
Yesterday's weather: Will you British please stop sending rain south?
Happy Monday everyone.
I have one of my least favourite jobs to do this morning. Our rubbish isn't collected and today I will have to tour the local bins looking for one empty enough to pile in a weeks' worth of recyclable rubbish. All household rubbish in rural France is collected from big wheelie bins placed at strategic points where there are a collection of houses. For the three houses along our track the nearest bins are on the other side of the main road. Unfortunately the same bins (one for household waste, the other for recyclable rubbish) also serve another 5 houses and I haven't yet worked out which days they are emptied, there doesn't seem to be a pattern. So, on any given day of the week they are likely to be full to bursting and we haven't recycled for a week.
The good thing about recycling here is that everything goes in one bin. Plastic, cardboard, polystyrene, tins, they all get sorted at a depot. Glass goes elsewhere and there are even fewer of those, so it could necessitate a visit to any of the 4 nearest villages to find an empty glass bin. We are recycling much more here than we did (to our shame) in England because it is so much easier, we are also composting as much as possible so our household 'smelly' rubbish (things that can't go on the compost or be recycled) is considerably less too.
Unfortunately we don't go out too often. Well, there is so much to do here and every excursion takes half a day; not to mention the fact that we are so happy to be here that we don't like to go out that much. So, the rubbish gets done once a week. Jon has volunteered to start painting the outside of the house (while the rain holds off for an hour or so) so I am on bin and shopping duty this morning.
I will just put on a balaclava and hoodie. I just hate people thinking that I have been hoarding my papers, wrappers and plastic bottles.
Diana Concert
Did anyone watch the concert yesterday? What were your highlights? I must say that I thought the sight of those two princes bopping away (even if William did look a bit like his Dad from time to time) was great. I am a little suspicious of Tom Jones' hair - only a really vain man would dye his eyebrows quite that dark, don't you think? Good to see Take That back together again too - shame about Robbie, perhaps he thought it was beneath him? Jon really surprised me by saying that P Diddy and Kayne West were fantastic. Rod Stewart was amazing....
Yesterday's weather: Will you British please stop sending rain south?
Happy Monday everyone.
I have one of my least favourite jobs to do this morning. Our rubbish isn't collected and today I will have to tour the local bins looking for one empty enough to pile in a weeks' worth of recyclable rubbish. All household rubbish in rural France is collected from big wheelie bins placed at strategic points where there are a collection of houses. For the three houses along our track the nearest bins are on the other side of the main road. Unfortunately the same bins (one for household waste, the other for recyclable rubbish) also serve another 5 houses and I haven't yet worked out which days they are emptied, there doesn't seem to be a pattern. So, on any given day of the week they are likely to be full to bursting and we haven't recycled for a week.
The good thing about recycling here is that everything goes in one bin. Plastic, cardboard, polystyrene, tins, they all get sorted at a depot. Glass goes elsewhere and there are even fewer of those, so it could necessitate a visit to any of the 4 nearest villages to find an empty glass bin. We are recycling much more here than we did (to our shame) in England because it is so much easier, we are also composting as much as possible so our household 'smelly' rubbish (things that can't go on the compost or be recycled) is considerably less too.
Unfortunately we don't go out too often. Well, there is so much to do here and every excursion takes half a day; not to mention the fact that we are so happy to be here that we don't like to go out that much. So, the rubbish gets done once a week. Jon has volunteered to start painting the outside of the house (while the rain holds off for an hour or so) so I am on bin and shopping duty this morning.
I will just put on a balaclava and hoodie. I just hate people thinking that I have been hoarding my papers, wrappers and plastic bottles.
Diana Concert
Did anyone watch the concert yesterday? What were your highlights? I must say that I thought the sight of those two princes bopping away (even if William did look a bit like his Dad from time to time) was great. I am a little suspicious of Tom Jones' hair - only a really vain man would dye his eyebrows quite that dark, don't you think? Good to see Take That back together again too - shame about Robbie, perhaps he thought it was beneath him? Jon really surprised me by saying that P Diddy and Kayne West were fantastic. Rod Stewart was amazing....
Sunday 1 July 2007
Dishes and cloths
St Thierry
Yesterday's weather: Fantastic, 26 degrees with a nice breeze
We have a new hobby. A few minutes every now and then are spent trawling through the thousands of channels on our new satellite system trying to find something sensible to watch. We got the system so that we can watch main-stream French TV but we haven't yet been able to align the dish to the correct satellite. This is not an easy task as it relies on one of us up a ladder moving the dish and the other testing the signal on the TV. So we have doors and windows open and one of us (usually me) running from the TV to the window to say what, if any, signal we have managed to find hoping that Jon hasn't moved the dish a fraction of an inch in the meantime. I think we have got as far as the 'M's in the listing now. Media TV was particularly boring (Italian), and the 'Coming Soon' channel (also Italian)was thrilling stuff (not). I can't wait for the zeds. Zoology TV? That will probably be Italian too.
Flappers
We were up early this morning having a cup of tea on the patio at 7am. Sunday mornings are the quietest of the week here. No traffic passes on the road below us, all we could hear was the sound of Mrs Veranda flapping her tea towel.
View across the valley (April 2007 - before the trees were in leaf)
Mrs Veranda (not her real name!) is someone I have aspired to be for a long time. She lives on the other side of the valley to us and, although we can't see her or the rest of her household because they are too far away, we are aware of their presence. Mrs V gets her washing on the line by 7am every day. She airs her bedding over the balustrade of the veranda and is forever flapping. She flaps tea towels, towels, floor cloths, dish cloths and I'm sure she would flap her husband outside to dust him off if she could. Of course by the time we hear the flapping she has already gone indoors just because of the time it takes for sound to travel across the valley. So, as I say we have never seen her and wouldn't know her if we bumped into her in the village store and, actually, the desire to get my washing out on the line earlier than her is beginning to wear off now. However, I think it's time to get outside and beat the rugs.
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