Brittany Bird

The English Riviera!

2010-01-16T07:13:00.000-08:00

Whilst in Blighty for the festive season, we went to visit one of my brother in laws and his wife and their 3 children. They run a hotel right on the seafront of one of the sunniest places in Britain ‘ so it is reported'. Eastbourne! I love it there but put me by the sea, in the sea, on the sand or pebbles and I am a very contented Guernsey girl. It was great to catch up with them on their 2 days off between Christmas coaches ( crimbo packages start in October!) and see the refurbishments they have made since our last visit. Me and himself spent 2 months there pre opening helping them bring the hotel back to life after they bought it in 2005 and it was an interesting time indeed. I won’t go into how our car at the time‘Kevin the Peugeot 205’ got crushed by the local council and we made the local rag in a write up because of said disaster, illegally done I may add. The crushing not the article!

We went to a traditional English pub decorated to the max with festive attire to which many folks come every year just to see what works of art have been created for the customers. We stayed in Room 1 which has since be revamped and much improved since our working and rest time there. This hotel is not all pretentious and arty farty and does not come at fancy pancy prices for a designer breakfast sausage and organic toms . It is a traditional and friendly hotel in a fabulous location. The service and standards would take some beating . I love staying there and it was utter bliss having a cuppa in hotel boudoir whilst watching t.v and partaking of a proper bathroom ensuite. If only we had more time and could have stayed another night.

Anyway if you find yourself in Eastbourne, look them up. The welcome is warm and fun and views fantastic. It is a short walk into Eastbourne centre. Have some fish and chips, a 99 on the pier and relax at the MARINE PARADE HOTEL with Jerome and Carol - hosts fantastique!

I hope to be back there verrrry soon!

From little Bangers...........

2010-01-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

BIG ONES grow.........
I was quite proud of the progress!!!

My first sausage making lesson!

2010-01-07T03:43:00.000-08:00

Whilst in the UK during Christmas, my brother in law invited me for a sausage making experience in one of the best equipped kitchens I know. It should be as his wife is a very established cookery writer, food stylist and has produced many a wonderful book with a myriad of tantalising on the tastebuds recipes. I received a couple of her new books this trip. Chef School and from her Hamlyn range, Tapas and Cake. Give her a Google!. She could have been in the eye of the media many years ago before all these celeb chefs hit our screens but chose to remain behind the camera and the pages of her books and magazine articles.

The b. in law, knowing how I love a pure decent banger, set to with me and I created my own melange of flavours.
This is a pic of my first attempt, next update will be a photo of the progress!

Pork, sage and lemon then Lamb, mint, ginger and moroccan spices ( a splash of St Emillion red wine)were the flavours chosen for this experience.
The machine was acting up so it was a 2 person operation and it required some physical effort more on the brother in laws part!.
I am looking forward to trying them out though the tasters we cooked before going for the big squeeze into the skins seemed pretty tasty to me and I have it on good authority from someone who knows that the pork and lemon were a big hit!

I will pursuing this home made method as then at least I know exactly what is going into them!
So much for my thoughts on giving up pork or lamb.!

Pretty in White

2010-01-05T13:42:00.001-08:00

A picturesque scene chez nous but not so pretty when the drive iced up and the car would not move!

Lots of catching up to do!

2009-12-31T06:16:00.000-08:00

I have not been blogging for ages. I miss it. I have had my head down work work working and now got a bath installed and sleeping in a bed upstairs or should I say, up the ladder!
Troublesome boiler but underfloor heating and rads are working. Hooray!
Making apple and walnut chutney from our trees for gifts for the family at Christmas. I am very excited as sis in law who is a cookery writer has given me 2 more of her new books!
Dragging myself back out into the garden after the wet weather and attacking yet more brambles.
Painting windows and more walls!
I don't know where the days go to!
I promise to do a better update soon!

Happy New Year to everyone!

What weather!

2009-11-24T01:01:00.000-08:00

Rain wind, rain, wind rain. That about sums up the weather at the moment here in Brittany. I got off lightly when I moved here last year. Everyone telling me the weather would be wet and the wellies hardly got much of an outing but this year is different. I am very bored of it and hibernation is the key. The animals are sensible. Or if I was a cat I could cuddle up on the sofa like these two of my 3 contented moggies! That is after they have done the morning hunt routine and brought in a mouse or shrew and munched and crunched through it. Yuk!

Happy families

2009-11-20T03:05:00.000-08:00

I love this photo of our friends from the Languedoc taken at Larmor Plage. They came to visit early September and we certainly packed alot in very few days.
Oyster purchase and eating, little Mathilda loves them! Breton teeshirts are being sported down South, Lorient U pens visited, paddling as the photo shows and lots more besides.
Juliet is a Master of Wines and they brought a wonderful Languedoc supply for us. Ooooh.
It was far too quiet once Mathilda and ma and pa had left. She loves Abba songs and the sound of her 4 yr old little voice singing was much missed when they left. She was an utter delight. Come back soon Mathilda and sing "Dont go wasting your e- otions". Dont you just love it when children mix up the words. I do!

What have I been up to...

2009-11-14T04:27:00.000-08:00

Goodness me, I have had NO time to do this blog and I miss it.

Where have I been,,, working working working working on the renovation! I am pooped!

A couple of weeks in Guernsey, went for my sisters birthday for 5 days and stayed nearly 2 weeks!

Had some friends make a flying visit for a weekend.

Much has progressed in that time chez nous.

A recyled boiler, ( see picture) now gives us our underfloor heating. Bliss and the mogs love it

Radiators in the boudoir, wow, first time in 6 yrs I have had heating proper

A completed dressing room.

2 new floors laid upstairs, one to go, bed removed from the downstairs camp and dining table in.

Microwave and toaster located from storage and tumble dryer ( much needed) brought inside.

Painted bedroom , hallway and bathrooom

Some insulation has been laid in the loft space

Window installed in the loft.

Ceilings painted.
Enough of that for now. I am off to brave the gusty Morbihan to get some much needed shopping and makes lots of soup to keep up the energy for the week to come!

This week we hope to have an upstairs loo, very exciting. Hubby has rescued a toilet from the barn left by the previous owners. He loves the shape, hmmmmm! Is Swiss according to a search on the net and the boiler is German. It is fun to recycle. Which reminds me I must turn the compost!

Where have I been??

2009-10-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

I have been off the map with my blog as just been mad mad busy with renovations, yep yours truly jet washing the front of the house ( been inundated with offers of photo shoots from the glossies, ha ha!) guests to stay, taking visits to check up on my family.
A proper update will come up soon. My brain is a little tired as I type this at 01.15 a.m! A bientot!

Les Vieux Metiers

2009-08-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

Each year in a village not far from here a one day fete is put together to help the modern world understand how things were done in days gone by.

It was fascinating!

Watching logs being cut without modern machinery

Butter being churned in a box

Wool being spun on wheels

Cider being made through the old pressing system. Delicious free tasters!

Mattress fillings being.. well not sure what he was doing really.

Breton Cob horses showing their strength.

Numerous items of machinery being used for numerous tasks.
Oxen pulling carts and so much more.
The weather was perfect. So much effort for just one day. It was great so see so many children there too seeing that life existed quite efficiently without all the gizmos of today and it certainly made me appreciate modern facilities too!

Sunflowers - Tournesol

2009-08-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

Planted in April and this is the result. Yes the sun does shine in Brittany so hence these cheery flowers are almost double my height and I am 5ft 3"!

Abbaye de Bon Repos

2009-08-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

As night fell on the borders of Morbihan and Cotes d'Amor, a scene was set, an audience waited patiently for an annual performance for which I believe they were not to be disappointed with.

Each year there is an open air illuminated production in the wonderful Abbey grounds. This year told of how the Abbey came to be built and the historical events surrounding its life from 4000 BC and how it fell into ruin.

What a fabulous production and the moon just happened to rise moon above the setting which added to the ambience. Some of us even thought this was too much of a coincidence and in light of the fact the technical side of things was so spot on, we thought it may have been a projection!

400 cast/1200 costumes/40 horses/30 or so hunting hounds

Light projections onto the Abbaye were perfectly positioned to fit the Abbaye outline

Fire eaters - rather them than me.

I was quite amazed at how this produced. So much so it really is hard to explain. I suggest you look at the website to get a better idea of what it entails. The producer must be one of the best as how to co ordinate adults, children and animals with safety issues of fire and rehearse this slick production bearing in mind it is all done in the dark with only limited floodlight and natural fire light for the cast to see their way. The music was wonderful and I am looking to see where I can get a disc of the eerie, calming, inspiring, emotive and stimulating sounds.

I was fascinated how it all came together. Hats off to the team, it was truly brilliant and my husband felt it one of the best pieces of theatre he has ever seen. I tend to agree and I have seen plenty.

If you are ever this way in August, and this appeals to all ages, I recommend this as a total MUST SEE but take a blanket. It starts at 1030 at night or thereabouts and at 1 a.m it can get a bit chilly on the extremities!

The proceeds of this production go into the funds for restoration. And very rightly so!

Brittany Birthday

2009-08-06T04:08:00.000-07:00

Some dear friends and ex neighbours from the village where we lived in the Minervois came to visit to see the 'project' and happened to be here for my birthday. A great present indeed.

They decided to camp in the hangar. Offers to stay indoors were kindly refused incase visits to the salle de bain were required in the night via the ladder and after much vino this may have proved a little dangerous!

We whizzed them around Lorient, Larmor Plage, Auray, Carnac and Vannes. The weather stayed dry thankfully and we had a couple of bbqs, attempted hula hooping and swing ball, volleyball over the washing line and attempted to catch fish in the Blavet with wine in hand of course and, played 'their version' of rummy into the early hours. A full on couple of days.

My birthday gift was this 5 litre vrac of wine from Pouzols cave, the neighouring village to where we were. They thought I maybe missing the local hooch. 95 cents a litre.!! The white disc you can see was a gift from the bar owner of the village. Alka Seltzer!

I did make sure they tasted wine from this region but realise we did not even have a drop of cider!

It was too short a visit really and was so sorry to see them leave but they will be back for longer next time. Maybe more than 5 litres will be required!!

Leave of absence

2009-08-06T03:57:00.000-07:00

Life has been mad mad busy so le blog has gone by the wayside for a while.....

Roof repairs

I had a ??? birthday with visitors from the South camping in the hangar

Family visits - installed in gites near Pontivy.

Back repairs... too much work on the garden!

Sun deprivation,, the weather has been just dire. This rainbow was a welcomed colourful sight though one day! Somewhere over it there maybe sun?????!!!!!

Monsieur Hugo - looks a bit strained!

2009-07-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

Recently spending 6 days in my island of beauty, Sarnia Cherie I thought about Victor Hugo and his connections with the island. Here is a bit of info about him. Did you know...................

Guernsey’s living history book begins with Neolithic Man and a burial mound called the Les Fouillages possibly the oldest manmade structure in Europe.

The islands formed part of Normandy from 933, forging a link between Britain and France that survives locally in Norman Law, surnames and Guernesaise, the local language. Guernsey sided with England in 1204 when King John lost Normandy to Phillippe Augustus of France. There was a castle built called Castle Cornet to repel a French invasion. In the summer the midday gun is fired. A cannon but no balls!
In light of he is French, lived in the island of my birth, that a Britains Got Talent contenstant chose a wonderful song from the musical created from his work written in the islands, here is a little info on this talented and interesting man……………………

Victor Hugo left France in 1851 for an exile that would last 19 years. Following a short period of time in Jersey, Victor Hugo went to Guernsey and was instantly captivated by the island. Anyone who has visited will know why!
During his fifteen years on the island he wrote some of his most famous works. Here he completed many of his masterpieces, including La Légende des siècles, Les Misérables, William Shakespeare, Les Chansons des rues et des bois, Les Travailleurs de la mer and L’Homme qui rit.
Victor Hugo's home, for most of his exile in Guernsey, was Hauteville House, which remains today as it was left.
On 16 May 1856, thanks to the success of his Contemplations, Victor Hugo bought Hauteville House in Guernsey, a large white building with a garden overlooking the sea. An enthusiastic collector of secondhand furniture and bric-à-brac, he brought back a profusion of chests, sideboards, carpets, mirrors, crockery, figurines and other objects from his excursions around the island. He put his boundless imagination to work on the house, spending months overseeing a major conversion on a medieval pattern, which gave this unique building an inner force and mystery. Hugo lived in Hauteville House until 1870, when he returned to France after the fall of the Second Empire, but he stayed at Hauteville again for a year in 1872-73, for a week in 1875 and for four months in 1878.

Et voila! A little bit of French history linked to my birth home.

Finally moved in!!!

2009-07-15T02:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are in the project! First couple of days sans loo and hot water but had the fridge up and running and used a makeshift tap out of the wall and a bowl to function with! . Ham sandwich for dinner and a glass of rose! All rather dusty and make shift but it is home! Shower and loo now working hidden behind what appears to be a salubrious brown curtain!

Work is non stop! Where our bed is located ( note kitchen bathroom bedroom and lounge all in one room!) we wake up to the view of the river and the cows in the field beyond.

We were lucky to have a friend come with all the whizzy equipment to chop down trees down the drive so they were cleared for France Tel coming to install the line. Will be taking us a while to chop them all up but how very lucky and fortunate he helped. Hoorah phone and internet. A climb by 2 ladders to access them and our clothes but no matter.

It is amazing what one takes for granted like turning on a tap and getting hot running water and being able to jump in a shower,

It is wonderful to listen to the bird song and look at the vista and it is really useful actually to be camped out here to get a better idea of where things will eventually be put.

I was very excited to retrieve the furbabes who had to be in a cattery for a couple of weeks. They are yearning to go out and will be doing so once a 2nd gate has been installed. However the male has managed to bag a bird which must have flown in from eaves!.

Aching muscles, hands to be scrubbed til they are sore, a list of jobs goes on and on but it is wonderful to watch progress. A magic wand maybe good sometimes but maybe less satisfying. Friends are planning to visit so looking forward to that.

So, enough of this blog for the day, I must get back to the list. More soon!

Wedding in the Minervois

2009-07-14T01:59:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a mad time and I have been without regular internet access or time to update le Blog! 3 days back in Brittany after a trip to Guernsey then 10 hrs on the French railway system to head off for the Minervois to see my husband after 16 days of separation and to attend the wedding that I have watched develope and assisted with along the way.
It was perfect weather and a wonderful day and it went just all according to careful planning for the young and charming couple. Set in the grounds of Chateau Agel it was very romantic indeed. The bride was on red bull towards the end of the meal to maintain stamina for dancing at the fabulous disco!
The last guest was returned to their accommation at 0545 a.m. We have to admit defeat at 4 a.m!
The weather was wonderful and reliable but 120 degrees farenheit is rather exhausting to function in.
Luckily our friends have a lovely pool to cool off in. I caught up with as many people as limited time would allow. A fun but exhausting time that would set to continue on our return.......

Off to the Minervois

2009-06-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

Whilst the timing is not ideal, it is also very good. I am off South on the French railway to a wedding which I have been involved with helping organise with various things throughout the year. Cannot wait to see it all come together and the lovely couple have a wonderful day. So excited for them!
A wedding fit for a Princess indeed it will be!

I plan to get some much needed fun and relaxation with friends, staying in the village of Mailhac where we used to live before dashing back here to move into the Hameau finally within 2 days. We have a deadline that cannot be shifted!
Who says that having no bathroom, stairs, bedroom blah blah blah is necessary to make a comfy home problem?!!

Will have no net access very soon so posts will be scant for a while!

Bon weekend, wish me luck ! I will be wishing the bride and groom luck. Ah, a good wedding is so good for the soul!

Cidre – a plenty in the North

2009-06-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

I am occasionally trying the Breton cider which accompanies crepes and is traditionally served in ceramic bowls/cups. There are many local ciders here and they tend to have a smooth creamy taste in my limited tasting experience. Anyway it depends which one you try of course. I have been doing a bit of research on the production. Here is some info………………..

Until the mid-20th century, cider was the second most-consumed drink in France (after wine) but there was an increase in the popularity of beer and this then displaced cider's market share outside traditional cider-producing regions.

We have a cider press in one of our buildings. I think it was built inside as cannot see how they got it in through the tiny front door. This is a shame as would love to have it as a feature in the garden. ( will not be producing own cider yet) Not high on the list of things to do however.

Breton cider making employs the technique of keeving (from the French cuvée). In keeving, calcium chloride and a special enzyme are added to the pressed apple juice, causing protein in the juice to precipitate to the top for removal. This reduces the amount of protein available to the yeast, starving it and therefore causing the cider to finish fermenting while sugar is still available. The result is a sweeter drink at a lower alcohol level but still retaining the full flavour of the apples, without dilution.
I never knew that! Interesting , better informed yet?

Doux is a sweet cider, usually up to 3% in strength. 'Demi-Sec' is 3–5% and Cidre Brut is a strong dry cider of 5% alcohol and above. Most French ciders are sparkling

Here endeth the reading lesson on cidre for the moment. Get out there and try the tastebud test!. Breton and Normandy cider wins hands down over a Strongbow but the West Country, well I am not sure what they would have to say about French cider over their wonderful Scrumpy. There is room for more than one good cider in the world of course!

Lack of comms

2009-06-11T03:25:00.000-07:00

Dear FOLKS
So sorry no blog update. Work on the project has taken priority and by the time we drag our bones back it is very late at night. We did have 3 hrs off 2 weekends ago and collapsed at Lamor Plage.
We do now have underfloor heating laid and a concrete floor on top, and found a roofer to come and finish that. Wow, feel like progress is being made. Cannot wait to get in there!
We then have moved temporary accommodation and had no internet access or phone!
I am off to Guernsey next week so will be busy there but will see what I can do with the blog!! So there we are a quick update indeed and I will back with chat very soon!!
A bientôt xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Don't forget to look up..

2009-05-20T16:11:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we tend to forget to look upwards instead of straight ahead all the time. I raise my gaze alot more since I have lived in France to see what architecture I can feast my eyes on. I just spotted this modern creation out of the corner of my eye in Nantes.

Loved the fact someone thought of doing it. Am surre it is not the only one in FranceQuirky hey?

What a difference 3 days makes - an update...

2009-05-16T01:28:00.000-07:00

Well, what a difference 3 intense days can make with my newly renamed...

GARDENING GODDESS.

Wow, she is amazing and I have learned so much.

Long days, one was 10 hrs, one forgets the time when on a mission and it does not get dark ‘til late. Lots of tea, lots of work and stiff to our bones each night hobbling out of the van and into a bath was the daily routine!!

She built some fab steps out of tree trunks, ( see pic, does not do the work justice really - trust me they are genius) never expected this wonderful creation would be formed. A shrubbery area was organised and planted, rockery formed, I was taught how to plant properly, a mountain ash tree was relocated, and loads more besides. My confidence is now increased and I feel more able to manage the space and my inspiration has returned.

She even brought across sunflowers and sweetpeas in her hand luggage and this luggage was all that she had and it was the smallest bag I have ever seen anyone travel with. How thoughtful. If only she was here all the time but she has her own garden to attend to back in the UK but she

will be back.

Next time I will sit her down with a cocktail overlooking the river as she so deserves some R and R time rather than working like a Trojan but she said, "Well you know me, I won’t be able to resist getting my fork out and digging,",,, oh well, I may just have to give in to that!! .

Thank you my friend you are a total Star! I owe you big time!

'Gardening Angel'

2009-05-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

I have been very lucky with advice and plant donations by some people I know here who are far more experienced in the Titchmarsh/Dimmock/ Percy Thrower world of Brittany flora and fauna. I have been taking the gardening books to bed though!
Monday looms and I am not wishing the days away but my Guardian Angel of which I believe there now must be one just for this moment, is sending me my own ‘ Gardening Angel’ straight from the skies, arriving at Rennes airport . A dear friend and a demon in her terrain who loves a project ( let’s face it she has got one with our place!) is coming to boost my limited gardening knowledge with hands on help. I will be so relieved to have her angel wings fluttering round the landscape. ( think it will more like a dog with a bone, won't let go until it is finished! I really cannot quite believe she will soon be here!

ANGEL THERAPY

*****************
"Angel therapies are a type of New Age Therapy based on the overwhelming knowledge that communicating with angels is a major key to healing"

Well this Angel from the heavens of Guildford will be assisting me on my way to healing my frustrations and helping me make the ‘broken house’ (as a friends daughter calls it), start to get re-established outside regardless of what is going on inside. Watch this space for before and after shots, maybe just pre and post blistered hands but am sure I can post a pic of my freshly planted cider barrels if nothing else!!!!!!1

Moulin de Sebrevet - local flour mill

2009-05-05T00:15:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky to have a working flour mill 300 metres from our new place. It is run by the grandaughter of the lady who used to live in our house.
In fact hubby has headed south with 2 x 25 kilo bags of a mix of types of flour for some people we know that run a creperie in Beziers.
There is a wonderful choice of flour and it is well known in the area and stocked at the local supermarkets.
I took a bag to a friend who in turn gave it to La Table Bretonne owner who in turned used it at his restaurant and his diners were most impressed hence the delivery in larger quantities!

I am ashamed to say that I have yet to make a single thing from this local supplier. Totally unforgiveable but I have been busy working on making a kitchen so I can cook with the flour eventually! There is an old bread oven in the little house, (chaumiere) nicknamed the pizza oven. I close my eyes and can imagine that wonderful dough cooking and filling the walls with that always comforting aroma!

Here is some flour and bread info........

According to a joke, French law bans walking more than seven paces from a boulangerie without pinching and tasting a just-bought baguette. The joke states that the penalty for this offense is unknown, because it is a law no one has ever been able to break.

During the 19th century Brittany was producing 50 percent of the buckwheat flour but at the end of 19th Century potatoes and new types of cereals were grown instead. In the 80’s and 90’s Brittany had to import flour from Russia or China

French bread is required by law to avoid preservatives, ( get this wrong in translation and oops – preservatives means condoms in French!) and as a result bread goes stale in under 24 hours, thus baking baguettes is a daily routine.

French food 'police' also define that bread as a product should only contain only the following four ingredients: water, flour, yeast, and common salt. The addition of any other ingredient to the basic recipe requires the baker to use a different name for the final product. As a result, the traditional baguette is made from a very lean dough, made from bread flour, with an average protein content of 11.5 percent. I not so sure about that. I bought a baguette from the supermarket the other day and there were 7 ingredients in it. Perhaps those from a supermarket come under different regulations??

Buckwheat, originally brought to France from Asia during the Crusades, began to be cultivated in Brittany in the late XVth century. This type of grain came to be an essential crop The original galettes, made with buckwheat flour, were peasant food, the bread of the people. At this time, regular wheat flour, which did not grow well in Brittany’s soils, was expensive and hard to come by, thus reserved for the nobility! No change there then!

Flour comes in grades. The grades are based on the amount of flour which has been extracted from the grain of wheat. This ranges from 70% of the grain for white flour, type 45, up to 95% for wholegrain flour - type 150. The browner the flour, the more husk is in it, and more husk means more herbicides, insecticides etc are found in the flour, unless you choose organic. Type 45 flour is for pastries, 55 is used for white bread, and types 65, 80, 110 and 150 are for various kinds of brown bread. The higher the type, the browner the bread.

Enough facts for today but I will leave with you this...... the baguette is said to be originally from Austria,, tell that to the French - not!

Spring flora

2009-05-04T04:11:00.001-07:00

It is so wonderful to watch the seasons come and go. The blooming of flowers always seems to inspire.

There are bluebells everywhere and this carpet of the delicate flowers greets me each time I enter the drive to my temporary accommodation and sends me on my way with a smile when on my way out.

How to repoint a stone wall- see instructions!

2009-05-01T02:46:00.000-07:00

Voila! Yours truly – re-pointing one of the ground floor walls that will have the stairs going up beside it. It is the end wall of the big room where the dining area will be. It is important it gets done before other walls in the property are made pretty so the stairs can go in after the concrete floor is poured and, therefore, we have a very remote chance of moving into the place however basic and believe you me it will be basic!! Many love to put up plaster board walls for a number of reasons. It is a quicker end result, it is convenient for hiding pipe and cables behind, provides insulation. Personally I feel it is sacrilege to cover up these walls made years ago but they do take time and interior walls are better to do than exterior due to heating issues.

It is a slow process, especially for a perfectionist like me (a job worth doing and all that) but worth it in the end. I have never done it before but am enjoying seeing the fruits of my labour and learning something new. I have chosen a particular colour mix to compliment the original wall and am happy with my hunch on that score.

The list of jobs goes on and I hope to keep up my ‘terrier’ type drive to quote my husband whos’ stamina never ceases to amaze me. He is enviably fit ( fitter than me and he is 12 yrs older) and he is the crème de la crème of terriers himself! Woof !

How to repoint a wall the facts!..................
1 part enthusiasm, 2 parts listen to the boss, 3 parts ( very important this one) ensure plenty of tea and coffee is forthcoming, take time to stand back and look at your progress and pat yourself on the back.

Easy! You have a perfect mix for a renovated stone wall!!

Nantes

2009-04-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

Wow look at this ceiling! It is hard to capture the wonderful cute/chic/ stylishness of this shopping arcade in Nantes. Truly delightful and the mouthwatering delights of chocolatiers, shoes and sundries are too much for a girl to take!

I had an appointment later in the day so decided to go early and have a look at what this place had to offer. All of Nantes centre was just fab and anyone interested even only everso slightly in French clothing and shoes, oh the shoes,,,,I would defy them not to be drawn in by the wonderful items on offer

There were fabulous restaurants and cafes to choose from and around one of the main squares with a fabulous fountain and statues is a great setting to have lunch, or just a coffee and people watch. You will be seeing more pics of this great place.

I diverted my gaze and did not go into one shop!! I do intend to go back again sometime very soon with my funds are a bit more inflated!

Family visitors - cookery writer

2009-04-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

A bit of a scant effort at the blog recently as we have had visitors. Sis in law came over with her husband for 5 days to view the renovation project. She is a wonderful cookery A bit of a leave of absence from my blog recently. Sis in law came over with her husband for 5 days to view the renovation project. She is a wonderful cookery writer and food stylist and I always get a bit nervous w lhen cooking for her.! My nerves are always unfounded though. Her brother is a trained chef and restaurant/ hotel manager and has managed some very high profile restaurants. Help I am surrounded by cooking talent!

The weather was dire. Such a shame. They were hoping to help in the garden but realised the work was far more labour intensive than just cosmetic chopping and pruning. There is nothing left to prune almost. We did manage to cover some ground in the tourist trail.
Auray,Vannes, Trinite sur Mer ( link here)Carnac all in one afternoon
Lamor Plage, on another raining day for lunch though I meant to get to Erveden Plage. No matter!

Hennebont market 10 mins from the mud bath project was busy. We had a rustic lunch complete with artery clogging rillettes and my brother in law made a fabulous dent in uncovering some stone ready for me to repoint. Not bad for a chap who freely admits he cannot even put up a shelf to be let loose with a stonking great big electric concrete bashing tool.

Prawn curry and dhal was cooked courtesy of my brother in law ( he is a dab hand at making his own sausages and his pork pies, well!) in one night with The Apprentice and 2 other nights we went to local eateries. Crêpes out in one of the many in a local establishment was a little unatmospheric!. Was us 4 and 2 others. Not the best foriestiere but after nearly 3 bottles of vino between 3 of us whilst waiting for the other half anything tasted good.!!

We had some laughs as we always do with them despite the weather and they will be back in August but not able to stay with us as there will be no spare bedroom but they will see progress already a week after their departure and so, I hope to show them alot more by then and maybe they can deadhead some pansies or something more relaxing than bramble hacking!

Evening sounds

2009-04-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

Look at me aren't I beautiful?
Yes you are Mr Peacock
This is not the best pic but it is rare to get to see this fella. He lives down the drive, turn right and up the road a bit.
I have only seen him once before but did not have my camera on me then.
I hear him every night 'calling'.

When I was a child I went to a place called Brownsea Island with the Brownies and the place was full of these wonderful birds. I fed one an Opal Fruit, or Starburst to you youngsters. I never forget seeing this square sweet going down his throat whole!
Us naughty Imp patrol chased them to get them to put their tails up. They did. Cruel children!
Peacock feathers someone once told me are bad luck!

I did not forfeit any brownie badges for my act of naughtiness and I continue to be amazed and appreciate the wonderful colours that nature bestows on us.

Le Creuset

2009-04-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous mini Le Creuset that sis in law bought me on her visit from a fab kitchen shop in Vannes. She understood how frustrated I am getting at not having all my tools and utensils to hand. We need to start adding to the collection to make numbers of these little darlings at least up to 6. They are not the cheapest cooking pot in the shop but wonderfully adaptable. Paté, mini bourguignon, cassoulets etc. I love them. Cannot wait to use it.!!

Eating at the Mole place

2009-04-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

I am thinking there are so many crepes one can try. I have a few more on the menu to experience.

However I spotted this sign for one in Vannes. I must try it seeing as it is my nickname!!

Nothing in particular

2009-04-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

Been a bit busy to write and still a.m. A new posting has gone into wrong date order so I have indeed done one since last Sundays post box pic. It is underneath the post box.

Just a quick line for today. Have got sis and bro in law staying and been busy. Not much fun in this awful rain for them but we have had some good laughs so far.
My back has gone 'out' and trying to find a miracle worker to help me walk. I don't have time for things like this. Got too mcuh to do and am sure the husband is worrying I won't be fit enough to repoint the upstairs landing to be and would much rather be doing that than waddling like a duck.

This pic is one of the fallow cows in the field opposite the house. A peaceful life. Walking from one end of a field to the other grazing. They all made me laugh as when we called them, all of them lined up in a row at the fence. I failed to have my camera in my pocket at the time!

I am not writing about the Hameau at the moment as it is no longer a hameau but just a pile of stones maurading as a house with a half finished roof no 1 ( the roofer has disappeared) a septic tank and all in a mudbath of terrain minus numerous lovely trees and hedges. I am in mourning and am desperate to find some order and make the land pretty again. We need it to stop bloody raining first.!! Progress is being made but it is just getting a whole lot worse before it can get better and I need to get some plants/shrubs in to get on the case of establishing some flora and fauna.
My friends daughter calls it the 'Broken House'. How very accurately observant of her!

Hand made

2009-04-12T02:15:00.000-07:00

Voila, here is my new post box that my husband made. I love it! I did not want a standard metal box on a pole and am determined to keep everything as rustic as possible and, of course important that I have one as I redirect the mail for the 3rd time in 7 months!. He came up trumps indeed.

This is the most finished item in the whole place.!!!!!!! We are experiencing a few delays.

I was rather shocked to return from my trip to see 2 rows of trees have disappeared to make room for the septic tank, there is a better view of the Blavet though and the JCB had churned up lots of land besides. Argh, my lovely terrain! I knew it was going to happen but not quite so prepared for how it would affect the layout of my dreamed for land. Forget the saying 'I cannot see the wood for the trees', I cannot see the land for the lack of them ! I will attempt to take some cuttings from the leylandii and the rest will be used for firewood. I really don't like to demolish living things unless totally necessary but if we want running water to the house it had to be!

Roof no 1 is nearly finished but I am struggling with vision for the overall project!! But in the words of George Michael ' You gotta have faith'

Repointing of a wall is my next job in what will be the landing, very necessary in the process of trying to get us moved in I am told as it is near where the staircase is going to go. The hole in the ceiling is there waiting expectantly for the wooden hill to semi sanity.

The cows in the field opposite are providing an element of tranquility and a Woodpecker tapping away is a charming sound to work along to. Helps to make it all worthwhile! If only he could peck out some stone in the wall to give me a hand!

Watch this space.....................................!

Bon Amis

2009-04-12T02:10:00.000-07:00

I thought it most fitting that I looked up and saw this sign in Beziers whilst showing a friend a new eatery to add to her list. She is a lunch Queen! 'La Table Bretonne' restaurant is near the impressive cathedral and is run by two lovely people that I met through a local friend. A bit like coals to Newcastle for me these days eating at the creperie.

After my few days in the UK - staying with a friend and her husband with whom I went along to a wedding party with and met some very talented and fun people, catching up with 2 work colleagues who are friends who cemented their relationship at our wedding and have a gorgeous little boy as a result, and then time spent in between wedding planning with the Languedoc amis, I thought this sign represented how lucky I am to have such lovely friends.

I wish I could see more of the ones spread further afield in lovely places such as Brazil and Bermuda, and some not so lovely ones like war zones but they are always in my thoughts.

I remember this little saying was written in my autograph book when I was younger. However I consider all my friends new or old platinum quality! It is often said us Leos are very loyal to all we meet.

Make new friends but don't forget the old

The new ones are silver and the old ones are Gold

Poul Fetan - of days gone by

2009-04-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

Poul Fetan is about 10 minutes away from the Hameau and is a well known tourist attraction. voici! It is a working museum with a traditional baker, potter and farm. The thatched buildings from the 14th to 16th Centuries and have been lovingly restored. The “villagers” are dressed in traditional costumes and you can watch them dying and spinning wool, butter-making, washing linen in the river Blavet and carrying out other tasks of yesteryear. You can also try the delicious breads and cakes cooked in the traditional community bread oven.

It opens on a more regular basis from April. I will be taking my sister and brother in law there when they come over in a few days time.

Pacques

2009-04-09T04:28:00.000-07:00

Easter looms, I remember in my childhood collecting primroses to decorate the windows at the local church and I always used to get a mug with an egg in it. My husband loves the Easter Bunny in chocolate form though also did used to have 2 real bunnies of his own too. Choccie bunnies are less maintenance except when working the result of too many of them off your tum!

I was doing a bit of research on tradtions here in France. This was a new one to me....

Poisson D'Avril (French Easter Fish)
Everyone knows of chocolate rabbits, but did you know the French delight in chocolate fish? Although not directly related to Easter, poisson d'Avril are enjoyed throughout the entire Easter season. These fishy little friends start appearing in shops on April 1st, when children use paper versions to play an April Fools type trick. The 'trick' is to stick a paper fish onto the back of as many adults as possible, then run away yelling, "Poisson d'Avril!" (April fish!). The tradition is several centuries old. Some say it evolved from a silly 'fish trick' where one would send an unknowing person to market to buy freshwater fish when it was not in season. In French culture, food follows season, and even children know when (and when not!) to buy oysters!

Fleurs

2009-04-08T05:23:00.000-07:00

The beautiful array of flowers sold Friday mornings in Beziers down South.

Cider

2009-04-08T02:50:00.000-07:00

Brittany and Normandy are known for their cider production. I have tried a few. They certainly have a sophistication that differs from teenage cider tasting days! The taste of the Breton cider is generally quite creamy and I buy the BRUT, trying various producers slowly but surely. I must observe what producer they serve in the local creperies.

I came across this sign advertsing the cider from which regions they stock ( yep another one!) in the old walled town of St Malo.

Narbonne

2009-04-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

Alot of my time in the Minervois recently was spent in Narbonne

It is such a pretty place with the Canal de Robine running through it, Les Halles indoor market and wonderful cathedral with a fabulous unfinished organ loft. It is a manageable town to navigate. I don't like sprawling cities or massive malls.

The cobbled side streets are cute and colourful and the beautiful central square displaying an ancient Roman road as one of its attractions is one of my favourite places to take a coffee and people watch. When the sun is shining all the better.

9 day trip, 4 different beds, 5 modes of transport, no internet access so hence posts are behind, watch this space, more to come!

St Malo Beach

2009-03-26T02:42:00.000-07:00

I like this picture and not sure why. I took it whilst waiting at St Malo for hubby to collect me.
There is alot in the picture. The groins, people walking, a kite/sand surfer, an island in the back ground and just a little part of a fortress on the right. It was a glorious day and if I had not had my holdall and supplys of salad cream for a neighbour in tow I would have kicked off my boots and been on the sand. I have a strong desire to always place my feet on the sand when I see it. Maybe because I spent so much time as a child on the beach it is a comfort thing! I cannot imagine a child going through life and not feeling sand between its toes, even if it is only in a sand pit!

Fitness regime

2009-03-22T04:41:00.000-07:00

For years I had been a very fit person indeed. Won't bore you as to why I am not so now but that is about to change!!. However during this trip in the UK I have been looking forward to a yoga class ( not on the beach like this piccie but will be at least be at coastal location!)!

I may even be bouncing round my friends huge living room in the South of France inbetween wedding appointments to a dvd to keep up the regime.

Many would think this mad and would be going out for lunch and walking it off along the canal! Expect I will find some time to fit that in too!

Brittany-Brighton- Languedoc

2009-03-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

I will have limited access to internet from this weekend for the following 9 days week so my updates maybe scant

I am going to be a student and a confident/translater/chauffeur.

I am heading for the UK and staying with a dear fabulous fellow 'Leo' friend in Hove near Brighton somewhere I have spent alot of time when I lived in England. I used to live down the coast and have friends in the area and many brilliant memories. This weekend will be adding to memory lane.

Together we are continuing our holistic studies and probably will be laughing alot along the way.We are like peas in a pod. We should be twins. We met on a train from East Croydon to Central London one morning years ago, standing room only in 1st class. There were no seats in 2nd class anyway. We got chatting and became firm friends since that chance meeting, though,.... I believe it was not chance, it was MEANT TO BE!

Included over the weekend itinerary is discussing ideas for the future, a yoga class, catching up with 2 ex work colleagues and a wedding party and that all important laughter!

I will then be heading to Hertfordshire before flying south to the Minervois to help a friend who has a daughter getting wed locally in June.

I hope to be able to catch up with friends at some point but the schedule will be full on.

I am sure there will be time to fit in a lunch or two between discussions with caterers, hairdressers, car viewings, florist discussions and maybe some wine tasting just to be sure the correct vintage and cave is finally is decided on with the help of our expert!

I must look for my vitamins to keep up the pace!

Slate less

2009-03-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

The first building at the hamlet has now no slate on its roof. The boys have been up there disposing of the old ones and making a big mess as they lob them off onto the land below. Forget seeing the wood for the trees, cannot see the land for the slate!

Anyway, wind and water tight we shall be before too long as far as the roof is concerned anyway.

Next task, putting in the septic tank. Am dreading what a mess they will make of the trees and bushes infront of the place when the JCB gets its claws into the soil but it has to be done and will be worth it in the end.

I am trying to be helpful but realised that I had a hidden fear of being on roofs like my husband. Not much use there then am I? I am happy staying on terra firma getting shredded by brambles. Almost there with the clearing of those but do think I should have got a goat to do it.

I am going to be very busy with other things in the next week or so and they do not include attempts of looking like the Milk Tray man on the roof!

St Malo restaurant

2009-03-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

I took this photo inside the old walls of St Malo ( home to the Jacques Cartier who discovered Canada) whilst I took a wander waiting for my lift back to the Morbihan. Such a pretty sign I thought and along with the pretty striped awnings made the restaurant look very inviting. I will let you know how it was if I ever get back to try it!

What people say!!

2009-03-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

On my ferry journey back to St Malo I met up with a couple of friendly and chatty travellers. One was en route from Weymouth to Jersey via Guernsey.

I reflected after my first chat with the initial traveller at how amazing it is what people will tell you. I met a lovely lady when I was going off to Guernsey on the evening Friday ferry. She lives 4 hrs away and was from Jersey but lived in France 16 yrs, family back in Jersey, divorced, married a French man, works for a Finnish company....It reminded me of a time I was delayed at a packed Gatwick airport and got chatting to so many people and how friendly people are and how much of their life info they will divulge!. Maybe I have that kind of face (whatever that is) that people spill their life stories too.

This is what I learned from traveller who boarded at Weymouth and was heading for 4 days in Jersey and I still did not catch his name. I am sure he won't mind me sharing this with you as he shared it with a complete stranger, yours truly.

He lives in Oxford in the oldest cottage in his village. He has lived there 38 years. It backs onto a graveyard where 2 monks are buried with chained bibles.!

He used to be in the RAF.
He drove 27 ton trucks at one point after he left RAF.

He trained German Shepherds for the police force.
He worked for the Duke of Malborough at Blenheim Palace.

He charges 16 pounds an hour for his work, painting and decorating.
He has owned 70 greyhounds. It was his hobby. He has no pets now.

He won 10 grand on the lottery and put 4,000 into premium bonds
He has visited Orlando 13 times or maybe 15. ( I was trying to take in all the info!)

He has just come back from a weeks cruise that included a stop at the Bahamas.

His wife left him for someone he knew and he has to pay her a remaining percentage of his asset ( he stated the amount too!) ( already paid her off a lump sum )if he dies, goes into a home or marries again.

He is 72 and looks about 52.

He gave me his lucky stone to hold for 5 mins that a gypsy gave to him years ago and he said he believed it had brought him luck.

Maybe some of it will rub off on me. He had a lovely 'karma'. Goodness knows what I ended up telling him!

Fascinating stuff hey??!!

Baliwick bound

2009-03-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well life may slow down a bit for a day at least now Papa has gone back to Guernsey and pre my work role recommencing at the Hamlet.

I assisted my Dad on his journey back to Guernsey at the weekend and managed to grab a couple of busy days there before heading back to the Morbihan via St Malo.

I never really forget how beautiful an island it is but my love for the island is deepened when I am on its soil drinking in the flora and fauna and the beautiful clear light. No wonder Renoir came here to paint and Victor Hugo chose this as his place of exile for many years.

I visited my new born great nephew, attended the local Eisteddford with the added bonus of seeing one of the great nieces be part of the performing group that came 1st! I walked on the cliff paths through Bluebell Wood down to one of Guernseys beautiful beaches called Fermain Bay where there is a great restaurant I want to go back and try. The views from the cliff tops in this part of the island are stunning. One can see the sister islands of the Baliwick. To own one of the properties on this cliff elevation with the magnificent views to the islands, I can only dream of affording. I won't give up hope however!

This picture is of Castle Cornet in St Peter Port with the island of Sark in the background. The Castle was build in the 1200s by the Enlgish Crown after King John lost Normandy and then it was taken by the French in 1338 then later occupied by the Germans in 1940.

My sis and myself enjoyed a sundrenched refreshment whilst having the opportunity to feast our eyes on this view complete with water skiers and reaffirming how privileged we are to have this as our birth home. Am I biased? Yes, of course, and with every justifiable reason!

Lorient U Boat Stations

2009-03-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

I took Papa to see the U Boat stations at Lorient ' Base de Sous Marines'.

He lived through the 2nd World War but never had reason to seen these buildings thankfully.

Whilst there we witnessed a team of men rebuilding a U Boat. Not sure why. There is one in dry dock and it really makes one think about those who were on board and the life and times of those years.

I met a sub mariner whilst I lived in Brazil. A very jolly fellow. I think indeed that those that had such a life would indeed have to maintain a sense of humour. A claustrophic existence.

I will stick with travel that takes me above or on the sea rather than under. I will be travelling on Friday with my father on a ferry to Guernsey. Hardly the height of luxury but I find it relaxing. I have been on a cruise ship but only one used for school trips many years ago. The SS Uganda that ended up being used in the Gulf War. Maybe one day I may go again on an up to date floating palace but in the mean time I salut those that are brave enough to be stuck leagues under the sea.

India

2009-03-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

My sister in law has just spent a colourful holiday in India

I am in the process of completing an Indian Head Massage course

An ex work colleague and friend is taking part in a gruelling crossing of the Indian Ocean in a rowing boat!

Take a look at his task ahead for charity. Rather him than me. My gosh, what a challenge ahead they have but all in a very good cause.

Pretty as a picture!

2009-03-04T00:26:00.000-08:00

I took this picture during the first week of February whilst in the Minervois. What a glorious and cheery sight this tree was.

Papa and sis are here

2009-03-03T03:26:00.000-08:00

I have been very excited as my father and sister arrived this weekend from my birth home of gorgeous Guernsey. The day they came was my Dads 85th Birthday. I cheated and bought him a brioche creamy raspberry creation and not much was left. He has a sweet tooth! I am so pleased he can now see where we are and where we will be living! However the weather did not hold in our favour the day they arrived and luckily the pansies I planted the previous day at the hamlet helped cheer up their first viewing of the place.

My father used to go to school in France at Fougeres. I am looking forward to showing him this area and drawing on his knowledge of what bird is singing and what plant is growing and where best to put the veggie plot. I wonder what he will make of the UBoat Station at Lorient? Perhaps will be a bit haunting. He was evacuated to the UK from Guernsey during the 2nd World War. Lots of stories to tell. He was based at an army camp with Hughie Green for those who remember who he was!

He loves nature and animals so my cats are getting more spoilt with love than usual. The Ginger one slept with him on his bed the first night. She deserted us!

I have had the extended pleasure of my sisters company. She was returning the next day on Aurigny Airlines ( or known locally as Joey ) a little 14 seater prop plane that serves inter island of the Baliwick but flyes Dinard to Guernsey. Long story but we saw it taking off without her on it. It left 20 mins early as sis was not at check in by about 2 mins delay so they let the plane go. Grrrrrrr. Anyway we spent Saturday night together. Lucky for me. Not ideal for her as she had places to be but c'est la vie though I still think that the plane should not have left 20 mins before schedule. Mind you that is what makes this successful and safe island airline service initmate and not like production line of travellers.
I am off back up to Dinard again today. This will be the third round trip in as many days to that area of France. I will be doing it again on Friday as am going back with Dad to 'Sarnia Cherie' Gem of the Sea as it is affectionately known. In the mean time I must work out a schedule for Papa and pray the weather picks up!

Vannes

2009-03-01T08:44:00.000-08:00

I love Vannes. It is sooo pretty and charming and the fortification is just fabulous. Timber framed houses, a port, interesting architecture, winding alleys with chic boutiques. So much character. I think it is my favourite town in the immediate radius.
Founded over 2,000 years ago at the inland edge of the Gulf of Morbihan, the growth of Vannes was based on its harbour.

The Romans provided the basis for the medieval fortified town. Towards the end of the 14th century the town became one of the favourite residences of the Dukes of Brittany. I am not surprised. The battlements were extended towards the port, doubling the area within the town walls. They are most impressive.
Within the town walls many timber-frame houses can be found in the narrow streets and I just love looking at them and imagining life in the 'old' days. They surround the Cathedral, which was rebuilt from the 15th century onwards. This is a very impressive Cathedral with many many confession boxes! This “wooden town” is also complemented by a “stone town” dating from the classical period.

If you get a chance go! Have lunch at one of the cafes near the portal gate to the old town whilst listening to the yachts masts tinkle from the gentle movement of the water.

Fishing on the Blavet

2009-03-01T08:36:00.001-08:00

There are many pursuits to partake of on the Blavet River which can be accessed from the Hameau within 2 minutes walk. They include ..kayaking, cycling or walking along the tow path and fishing or sitting having a picnic sipping Breton cider. Yep am sure that is a pursuit!
My husband is quaking with excitement at the thought of getting the fishing gear out (still covered in mud from when we had a flood in our previous home to 2. 5 metres!) and cast his line. When he has time of course.!

The Blavet provides excellent fishing we are told by the locals. The Blavet is famous for its trout, salmon, zander, pike, perch, carp, bream and tench. Well that is as maybe and I can see the appeal of sitting quietly for hours on end away from the renovations but not the appeal of eating any of these.

I don't like much fish which is most unfortunate as there are a wonderful array to choose from fresh water and salt water and fabulous shell fish. If he gets a salmon I will eat it but don't even think of asking me to look the whole thing in its beady eye before prepping it. YUK!!! Present it to me head and tailess and I may just cook his catch!

Flora and Fauna

2009-03-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

The brambles have got the better of me!

I have given my muscles and patience a repose and I have decided to take a friend up on his offer of going in with his JCB and getting the b..........rs from the roots instead. It does not matter that the chicken area will be messed up, the chickens won't know if it is all pretty or not and am sure will appreciate some nice soil to mosey around on

I am keeping my focus on getting the chickens and my friend here took me to view some of these birds located at the home of one of her friends. They are very relaxing and amusing and so many people seem to keep them. They are also a practical asset. I will be baking like mad and eating alot of omelettes!

I am also looking forward to seeing the hydrangea I uncovered from the dreaded brambles which is in bud and I am told will be blue - hopefully like the one in this picture! The land is looking a bit sad and of course after yearning for all this outside space I want it to be lovely toute suite but I must wait and just take solace in what will be and try not to think of the JCB digging up the other parts of land that are necessary for future development of the renovations! Eeek!

How many brambles? Focus - think of the chickens!

2009-02-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

Question...How many brambles do you think can grow in an acre of land during a 10 yr period of an uninhabited or untended land space?
ANSWER... too damn many!!! ARGH

I was at the new abode today via a visit to the helpful secretary at the Mairie trying to sort out electric supply ( EDF say they have no record of the property - don't ask!)

I therefore thought I would make the afternoon worthwhile and bash a few more brambles. It was very satisfying as I totally uncovered the chicken coop and 6 rabbit hutches and a lovely stone wall. I will not be keeping rabbits to eat I may add as this is what these hutches were originally for.
This particular space is crying out for some chooks to peck around in and I look forward to purchasing them from the local market and am taking votes on names!. Even though the space is not a part of the land that can be seen immediately as it is behind the barn, I feel it could be used very wisely for fresh eggs as indeed it was originally so used. I will be back tomorrow to continue my mission which feels endless. I will focus on the end result in order than I can justify the aching limbs and numerous scratches and the evil attack of the brambles.

Watching Mr Robin hop about and hearing those cows moo again makes it all worth it, plus the sun was warm warm warm. I feel sooo lucky and hopefully the chickens will feel the same.

A dedication.. Footprints in the Sand

2009-02-25T03:32:00.000-08:00

I took this photo at Lamor Plage on New Years Day. It reminded me of the poem that follows. I am dedicating this posting to a wonderful woman who lives in the Languedoc and has had more than her fair share of grief in the last two months and this week is experiencing much emotional pain. Religious believers or not it does not hurt to think that maybe we can call on some higher force whatever it maybe to draw some strength from now and again.

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,“You promised me Lord,that if I followed you,you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,

“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,is when I carried you.”

Pancake Day French Style

2009-02-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

In France the main day eating pancakes is Candlemas on the 2nd of February. This holy day is six weeks after Christmas and is the day that Christ was presented at the temple by his mother.

The French name for Candlemas, “Chandeleur” comes from the word “Chandelle” which means candle. It was custom for the people to bring back the lighted candles from church to assure good crops for the year to come and to chase the evil.
In France it is custom to prepare “Crêpes” for “La chandeleur”, which symbolises, wealth, good crops and health for the year to come.
Its form and colour evoke the Sun which is finally returning after the dark winter. It keeps the mould away from the crop and protects the home from harm. Pancakes must be tossed with a coin in the hand so as to ensure prosperity throughout the year. Whoever manages to toss his pancake without dropping it on the ground will have good luck until the next Candlemas.

I have never been that good at flipping pancakes and need to have no distractions not even holding a coin in my other hand! Lucky or not!

Welly Boots

2009-02-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

I had a comment from one of my followers about my pink wellies. I love my wellies. They are very special if not the conventional green. I like to be different sometimes! They are a treasured and special gift from my girlfriends down south the 'Languedoc Lasses'. I can totally believe they were thoughtful with this gift but it took nothing away from the fact I was utterly touched when they presented them to me on a girls night in Narbonne at one of the lasses 'town' residence. After a couple or more of my favourite cocktails 'Caipirinha' (Brazilian rocket fuel I had no troubling in embracing when I lived there) I had to be stopped from wearing them into town for dinner.!

They are so jolly and bring a smile to my face everytime I wear them. Funny I feel geographically closer to les girls via footwear!

However I am glad to say it is not as wet as everyone said it would be up here but I put these babies on whenever I want to and they make me feel good! Thank you lasses for brightening up this bit of Brittany!

Weed whacking..........

2009-02-20T10:01:00.000-08:00

Ever since we saw the Hammeau for the first time I have been itching to get my hands on the land!!! Where will the potager go? ( I bought him in doors a book on growing ones own veg for Christmas - but I seem to be the one who will end up cultivating carrots!) where will I put the herb garden?

First things first though to clear the jungle! I have never seen so many brambles. It seems to be never ending! I went up there first day not armed with proper tools but found a rusty sythe and was determined to get clearing. My knuckles were swollen from whacking against the weeds but I uncovered a huge hydrangea bush to my husbands delight as he likes them. It is coming into bud so it will be fun to see what colour it may add to the surroundings.

My job will now be easier as my husband has bought me a petrol brush cutter to cut through those stubborn interloper plants. It has its' own harness as it is rather heavy however, I may have shoulders like Arnie soon.

Day 2 of clearing and did it with shears. Ouch ouch, I am suffering still. I have terrible scratches on my arms despite covering up. My hands are sore,neck and shoulders and back tender! I made fab progress though. Hubby said I was a weeding demon on a mission! I found some land that I did not know was there complete with chicken coop!!! We think we really ought to get some hens now, just three and are having fun thinking up names for them and finding out about breeds etc.

It was beautiful up there Sunday with the birds singing, the cows gently mooing and the sun twinkling on the river. Idyllic. I love it!

Can you see the kitchen yet??

2009-02-20T09:57:00.000-08:00

Ha Ha!

The first day of renovations entailed knocking down 2 partition walls to make one big space that will become a kitchen/diner. I was so excited to see the total space finally. I cannot wait to get my country table in and patio doors to the back of the land and a stable door where the existing front one is. I am determined to work damn hard to make it happen sooner rather than later!

What do you think of the oven in the corner? Can you picture the finished space???!!!! Wish us luck!

My new Door Bell!

2009-02-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

Hooray!! Seeing as there is SOOOOO much work to do at the Hammeau and it will be a long while before any of my personal items can be unpacked, this is one thing that I can put in place without impeding renovation works.

My very rustic cutesy door bell. I love it! As I have dreamt of having a place where my cats can do proper cat things like hunt and scratch on real trees instead of manmade ones indoors , I had to go for a cat motif on the bell. My husband kindly bought it for 'us' whilst visiting Auray market this week. I am trying not to turn into a mad cat woman though some of my friends may say it is far too late for that! It goes up today. I cannot wait for my first visitor to ding my bell!

Crêpes and Galettes

2009-02-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

Just down the drive from the Hammeau there is a 'Moulin de Farine',( flour mill) and it happens to be owned by the daughter of the lady that sold us the hamlet. We went to visit to buy some flour for someone who owns a crêperie in Beziers, Languedoc and got chatting A lovely girl indeed and glad that she will be our neighbour. I shall be buying my flour from them of course.

The day we signed for the house we went for lunch at Crêperie nearby in Baud called Les Vieux Temps. We all agreed how yummy our savoury filled galettes were so I thought I would share a recipe with you.

Savoury or sweet whatever your prefer. Sweet crêpes are made from flour called Froment and usually served with anything sweet, lemon and sugar, hazelnut spread etc and savoury known as Galettes from Blé Noir are usually filled with all manner of savoury combinations. Enjoy with a cup of Breton cider of course!

For the real french Galette, you’ll need ........ ( this is a recipe I follow)

500g buckwheat flour/ble noir

4 dessertspoons of plain flour

1 egg

1 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of milk

40cl cold water

2 dessertspoons of oil

1. Sieve the flour into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the egg and salt. Mix well. Whisk in milk and 5cl water. Add the oil and leave to rest for up to 24 hours. An hour will suffice.(Makes about 24)

Savoury fillings. One can prepare crêpes/galettes, leaving one side less-well cooked than the other then prepare the fillings, place the galette (less cooked-side down) on a preheated pan and garnish. Once garnished, reheat gently, fold and serve immediately.However, some people cook the galettes completely, leave to cool, brush with melted butter, garnish, fold and reheat in a preheated oven (200°C) for about 6 minutes. The advantage here is that they can be prepared in advance and reheated and everyone can eat at the same time.

Forestiére - my favourite!

600g mushrooms chopped

60g butter

melted1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic crushed

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

4 teaspoon cream

salt/pepper

1. Melt a little butter in a pan. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and garlic and continue cooking until mushrooms are cooked. Throw in the parsley. Spread the rest of the melted butter on the galettes. Add the mushroom mix and a teaspoon of cream.

2. Fold the outer parts of the galette into the centre, forming a square. Reheat in a preheated oven (200°C) for 6 minutes.

Carnac - Archaeological wonders

2009-02-18T10:08:00.001-08:00

The fascinating Menhirs (standing stones)/ aligments clustered in and around Carnac which we visited with our family visitors this week.

4kms of them. Imagine how they got them all there, how long it took them and what they did once they were up??? Most of the stones were erected between about 4500 and 1800 BC though it is said some maybe older.
One of the main groups of stones is called 'Menec' with 11 rows of about 1,100 stones that stretch for 500 yards!

There are many theories as to what exactly the stones were for, from some sort of astronmical observatory designed to predict times for planting crops to temples of sunworship or fertility rites.
Regardless of whys and wherefores they are very impressive in the Breton sunshine.

It's Ours!!!!!!!!

2009-02-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

We did it!! You can just about see it all through the trees.

We now own the Hammeau! Was a great day. Signing was pleasant, 5 of them and us of course. I was strangely nervous! The notaire was fast and efficient and luckily we had not forgotten to take any important documents or such like! Took about an hour in all with a celebratory coffee with the vendors at the cafe next door.

We then went headed to a local creperie for lunch with the husbands brother and his wife. We had lovely savoury galettes and cider then off to the hammeau and popped opened the fizz to peruse our new habitat. The previous owners were there clearing the wood and the junk ( 10yrs of unwanted rubbish as the place had been empty that long!)even though officially not supposed to be there but they are lovely people and will be our neighbours so we did not kick up a fuss and there really was no need.

Next stop was to visit the local foie gras producer ( I know some of you may not agree with this but my brother in law loves the stuff) and to follow was a whistle stop visit to see the U boat stations that survived the bombing at Lorient. We have been trying to give our visitors a good overview of the area in 2 days. Quite tiring but alot of fun had by all! That evening we were off out again for a delicious and indulgent celebratory meal in nearby Baud.

The work started today with unloading of some furniture to empty the van in order that all the necessary tools, tile slates etc could be accommodated. Let us hope the weather holds for the roof repair 1st phase as it has been glorious of late ande the bird song has been delightful.

4 days and counting......

2009-02-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

A good Valentines gift to each other I thought would be us toasting our new home today but despite not being too superstitious, we still did not want to leave anything to chance and declined signing on Friday the 13th. Tuesday will be St Valentine for us and the fizz is on ice to share with the brother in law and his wife. I hope the reality is not as such that I am permanantely on the fizz to block out my worries of this project! Here is part of it, other pics to follow. The far end white bit is the starting point knocking through to the other buildings you can see. I am dying to get no end of games into the barn space, to plan my potager and herb garden and of course to get cracking of course on making this place habitable and be there all the time to sit outside and enjoy the view of the Blavet river and the songs of the numerous birds I have seen. The cottage behind these buildings is so chocolate box too. I cannot quite believe it will be ours!

A privileged view

2009-02-13T05:56:00.000-08:00

We are very lucky to walk 30 seconds and get this vista. Revisiting the donkeys that belong to our ex neighbour down South and spending more time around these amazing creatures I am warming to the idea that the field at the front of the hammeau needs to be filled with a cute rescue donkey or two. Donkeys pine I am told so one must have something with them. They would certainly keep the grass down in an eco friendly way and may come in handy for when all the friends and family children visit!

A Vigneronne Cave in Mailhac

2009-02-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

Back to Bretage

2009-02-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

Well we are back and whilst I am sad to leave friends behind and the vineyards that are heading towards their next crop I needed to come back to Brittany for a number of reasons but I reckon for my health! All this making the most of my trip has played havoc with my digestion,
my liver and my sleep requirements. I also of course have to prepare for a 3 day visit by one of my brother in laws and his wife and return to the loving fluff balls and........ sign for the hamlet.!!

I have had a wonderful week indeed and have been driving 'Vanessa the Van' Renault 4 kindly loaned by some other friends. Visiting the choir and airing my lungs which I realise are out of practice hitting a top C! Walking round the vineyards, feeding the ducks in the park with our friends grandchildren and realising whilst keeping the 3 yr old entertained I knew the words to the Spiderman theme tune!! Of course celebrating our friends 40th was a big part of the trip too. The piccie is obviously of her cake made by a friend of us all. It was as delicious as it looks. I have done much more besides whilst poor hubby has been working and then packing the monster with our furniture. Our dear friends with whom we stayed have spoilt us so much and fed us up so well. During our week we have eaten in with them and out at friends and I have worked out that we have had not had a morsel of French food at all, well I made a pissaladiere for friends fortieth and tried a bit of that but we have had Hungarian, Chinese, Indian, Italian, traditionnal British and a fabulous Mexican dish for which I must find the recipe. I will be cooking a traditional French meal for our visitors and going out for galettes/crepes over the next few days!

Right back to house insurance quotes, I hope someone out of the 3 calls me back before we sign for it next week.

a very hurried update

2009-02-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

I type this hurried update in a dear friends kitchen in the village where we used to live whilst he and hubby are playing Wii tennis. We have been enjoying the hospitality of Le Bar Mailhac patron Laurent for a couple of hours at apero time and now back at our friends house. Also important was a meeting with our notaire to sign papers on the hamlet.!! Final signing day is 17th Feb!!!! We could have done it on Fri 13th and both are not overly suspicious but did not want to leave anything to chance!!!

The week here is sooo busy and two very late nights sleep deprived ( my eye balls hurt!) and wine overload are catching up with me but I am loving every minute! Last night ( weds) we had such a fun evening with friends who cooked us a fab curry, the dhal was fab though our hostess realised half way through what was was missing from it,,,, all the spices! She is pregnant however so hormones can be a wonderful excuse for blips such as these. It did not detract from the continued tantalisation on our taste buds. I don't know why but I am enjoying every mouthful of food I am eating on my visit here.

I also had the chance to bring out the child and untalented artist within with crayons belonging to their gorgeous son and some coloured card and I allowed my artistic juices to flow whilst the boys had intellectual conversation about the world! I have to add i was asked to give this drawing lark with child crayons a go ! Goodness knows what it turned out like if I was to look at it in the light of day with sleep and a non alcoholic infused hand!

The weather today has been glorious and sun warm on my face. Bliss. The mountains are looking wonderful and the vineyards looking ready to start their journey to producing their 2009 grapes.

I am taking photos but yet to download to our laptop and attach to my postings. Sorry, I will find time. I am on an alien albeit apple mac, keyboard feels strange, boys getting very noisy and competitive at their game so will sign off for now. I will be in much need of my healing and meditation/relaxation group tomorrow morning!

3 days in...

2009-02-04T04:08:00.000-08:00

Sorry folks been busy busy busy catching up with people so behind on my updates and this will be brief too
The monster made it here and the journey was not too boring. So many trees down around Auch from the horrendous winds.
Our friends cooked us a wonderful goulash and we went to bed tired but relieved we made it down in good time.
The weather has been raining and cold but today the blue skies are in view, the ducks and swans in the local park are basking in its rays and so am I. It is actually warm and looking at the buds on the trees in our friends garden is inspiring to know spring is finally on its way!
We had a wonderful feast Tuesday night, our friends husband loves to cook, lucky us. Tonight we are at friends for dinner then tomorrow catch up with our Aussie friend who has been on his Alaskan travels. Importantly too we sign some papers on the hamlet! It seems the disappearance of the immobiler is not hindering the process, fingers crossed and then by 17th Feb it will be all ours then the callouses will be evident and handcream will be much needed!
I will update you when I can, the laptop is here but no WIFI and of course with such a social diary ..........
A la prochaine,,,,,,,,

Off to the Minervois..

2009-01-30T03:48:00.000-08:00

We are heading back to the Minervois in the 'monster' van this weekend. It will be 10 weeks since we relocated to Brittany. Whilst down south work commitments call, signing papers for the Hammeau (though the immobilier has gone into liquidation so not sure where that leaves us?!) and more importantly, la piece de resistance, a dear friends big 40 celebrations! Hubby will be working and I will not though I will be loading furniture. I plan to make the most of the time which includes - catching up with much missed friends and their children, visiting Les Allez Cats and exercising my lungs. A wonderful choir to which I belonged and I miss. Singing is sooo good for the soul. I shall be sourcing mini bottles of olive oil at L'Oulibo Olive centre for a friend who is marrying down that way in June, taking in the market in the village where I will be staying, walking along the Canal du Midi. I am also excited to see a dear friend and neighbour who has been in Alaska for 2 months (rather him than me) and arrives back in the south the same week we do. It will be a given that we must get back to our village bar, Le Bar Mailhac to catch up and see Laurent the owner. And of course prepping my dancing legs for the party on Saturday night. The Birthday Girl http://www.chezlouloufrance.blogspot.com is the 2nd youngest of the Languedoc Lasses if my over 40 memory serves me right. I must compile some tips for life over 2 x 20 but she won't need many as she knows how to live life well and to the full already!

I cannot wait, I am loving it here but naturally miss the area where so much happened in the 6 yrs I was there. I have abstained from wine for a while now, no vineyards in view here so the temptation is less and the wine drinking culture is not the same. I am sampling the local cider occasionally! I will be making up for that when I am in the company of those who are well practiced at sampling the local grapes, all in the name of upping my wine knowledge of course! Chateau La Marquise is a favourite I will be reacquainting my tastebuds with and Blanquette de Limoux, well what is a special party without fizz! http://www.lestroisblasons.com

I will also tune my ear back into the Occitane twang! Du Vin, Non, DU Vanga!

BREIZH vs OCCITANE

2009-01-29T07:58:00.000-08:00

Is if it was not enough to ensure one is constantly learning another language, ( don't get me wrong, I love stimulating the language learning part of my brain ) Brittany puts a whole new slant on the language as it has in fact, rather than dialect a whole different patois/lingo of it's own. Occitane in the Languedoc I had just got my grey matter tuned into, sounds like....Ving Blang for Vin blanc, Du Pang for pain, Demang for demain etc and a few other Occitan expressions I learned along the way. Not all printable!

Up north there are completely new words to learn. Though the the Bretons of course speak the general French we know, one can feel positively more local with the use of the Breton version. Breizh" in the Breton language. On one of our house hunts when stopping to ask directions, we were spoken to in Breton, totally lost then! Here is some info..........
It is a Celtic language related to Welsh, Cornish, Manx and Scottish and Irish Gaelic. The Breton people are close cousins of the Welsh and Cornish, having emigrated to Brittany from Britain during the 4th through 7th centuries.

Breton is spoken in Lower Brittany, roughly to the west of a line linking Plouha and La Roche-Bernard (east of Vannes). Roche Bernard is about an hour from where we are located. It comes from a Celtic language community between Great Britain and Armorica (present-day Brittany), and even Galicia. It was the language of the elite until the 12th century. However, afterwards it was only the language of the people of West Brittany (Breizh Izel), and the nobility, then successively the bourgeoisie, adopted French. As a written language, the Duchy of Brittany used Latin, switching to French in the 15th century.

Today, Breton is still spoken as an everyday language by about 200,000 people. At the beginning of the 20th century, half the population of Lower Brittany knew only Breton, the other half being bilingual. By 1950, there were only 100,000 monolingual Bretons, with even fewer nowadays. Breton is now considered to be an endangered language.

In 1977, schools were founded to teach Breton by immersion. They taught a few thousand young people from elementary school to high school and they are still attended today.

Today, Breton is the only living Celtic language which is not recognised as an official language.

I will keep you 'posted' as to how I get on but perhaps will not be writing a whole post in Breton for a while yet!

Home safe and sound..

2009-01-29T07:44:00.000-08:00

Well he made it, albeit arriving at 0530 a.m and waking me up because I thought I had left the door unlocked but alas non! My fault but could not rest until he was in safe anyway. Poor chap was exhausted after his whirlind trip and having to fit in a quick supermarket sweep for the store cupboard. Lots of teabags, ( am trying decaff as drink too much tea) some pork and leek sausages, a housey mag for ideas and various other bits and pieces I won't bore you with but the ban saw from his parents garage is going to come in very useful. Nor will I post a pic of the monster van at the mo. It is hilarious. So big, not white, a dirty shade of silver. It is having a once over pre its journey to the Minervois to ensure all secure to load up the wardrobe, woodburner and all the other stuff collected over the years can securely make it up here. We now have 3 vehicles again. Ronnie the Renault is poorly but will be fixed soon. Drive shaft problems, well it is 29 years old and my Hyuandai which is not to be driven by anyone but me without grovelling to my feet as this is the most youthful and reliable one of the lot and needs to be looked after!
Right, off to the stables to watch our friends little girl practice her jumping skills. She is so adorable bobbing up and down on a Shetland pony. I will attempt to work on my slight fear of these wonderful beasts always thinking they will munch my hand off. Maybe I will stick to the smaller ponies at the moment rather than the horses.

Man and van on way....

2009-01-28T04:46:00.001-08:00

Well, the new, well 2nd hand van has been purchased and will be hitting French soil about 2200 hrs complete with some carpentry tool from the in-laws garage, much needed for the Hammeau, a super quick shopping supply from the supermarket and I suspect a tired husband. Still, am not going to feel sorry for him as he had fish and chips last night! I need to go and move the other cars from out the front though I am tempted to get him to park it in another spot as fear the size of this thing will block the view from my windows of the fields and trees. I am told there is room for a party of 30 people inside this monster. Let us hope then with some careful planning we can therefore get all the furniture in when we head down South at the weekend.

Crêpes or Galettes?

2009-01-27T04:04:00.000-08:00

All around here there are signs for Crêperies, no shortage on choice of where to partake of this tasty nutritious and sometimes indulgent local dish. I have been doing some research - asking some local people about methods etc taste buds directly testing at a local creperie, (home experimenting and I am not a confident cook) and hope one day to have the actual proper cooking utensil for this simple dish. I am addicted!

Galettes originate from Haute-Bretagne (Upper Brittany), or Gallo country, and Crêpes from Basse-Bretagne (Lower Brittany). Depending if you are a sweet or savoury person, you may prefer the Crepes de Froment (wheatflour pancake) or the Galettes de Sarrasin (buckwheat / ble noir pancakes).
The crêpe Froment is generally used as the sweet version can be coupled with a variety of toppings , traditionally including lemon and sugar or both, hazelnut spread, chestnut spread, anything and everything you fancy. I am a sucker for maple syprup and cream. Not very traditional French but too delicious to care about that sometimes! Calorie overload! I like lemon and sugar for a lower cholesterol indulgence.

My favourite savoury version is Forestière but again the taste buds and choices are there to be tempted with whatever you choose. Ham, cheese and egg is very popular. I want to try spinach, parmesan and roasted cherry tomatoes. Maybe swop parmesan for mozzarella and the spinach for basil another time!
Traditionally, Breton cider in a cup would accompany this wheat fest!

For a Galette, you’ll need " ( makes about 24)
Recipes vary of course this is just one I have followed

500g buckwheat flour
4 dessertspoons of plain flour
1 egg
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of milk
40cl cold water
2 dessertspoons of oil

Sieve the flour into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the egg and salt. Mix well. Whisk in milk and 5cl water. Add the oil and leave to rest for up to 24 hours but one hour is fine. Some people like to prepare crêpes/galettes, leaving one side less-well cooked than the other.

To cook
Turn the batter. Heat a non-stick pan, put a light knod of butter in
(swirl the pan to distribute the melting butter ; the pan must be hot
enough to hear the butter fry but not too hot for the butter must not
get brown !), pour a small laddle of batter on the pan while swirling it
to distribute the batter evenly (this is the important trick !).
Don't forget crepes must be very thin ! Cook until golden brown, turn
the crepe upside down and cook the other side the same way.
Do that again for each crepe.

You can prepare fillings in advance, cook the galette (less cooked-side down) and place on a preheated pan and garnish. Once garnished, reheat gently, fold and serve immediately.

However, some people cook the galettes completely, leave to cool, brush with melted butter, garnish, fold and reheat in a preheated oven (200°C) for about 6 minutes. The advantage here is that they can be prepared in advance and reheated. Also, everyone can enjoy eating them at the same time!

MY FAVOURITE FILLING……. Galettes Forestière

600g mushrooms, chopped
60g butter, melted
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
4 teaspoon cream
salt/pepper

1. Melt a little butter in a pan. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and garlic and continue cooking until mushrooms are cooked. Throw in the parsley. Spread the rest of the melted butter on the galettes. Add the mushroom mix and a teaspoon of cream.
2. Fold the outer parts of the galette into the centre, forming a square. Reheat in a preheated oven (200°C) for 6 minutes.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

B.........dy vehicles!

2009-01-27T03:38:00.000-08:00

Vannes to Paris Montparnasse, Paris Gare du Nord to Calais, taxi to port, one hour wait, ferry to Dover, train to Sussex, car ride to final destination. Total time, 12 hrs approx!! All in the attempt to view a much needed work horse vehicle in Surrey by my husband to replace the one that collapsed on 21 Dec. ( see offending vehicle in photo!) Vehicles 2nd hand are just so much more expensive here. He could have got to St Malo in 2 hrs and taken the ferry from there but he is prone to not having very good sea legs and the ferry in winter is a 7 hr one! He will be back Wednesday via a shorter route, a drive, a ferry then drive this end hopefully with a small supply of shopping if he has time. That is IF the vehicle is all it says it is on the net. Crossing everything possible that is that flexible!. We need that van! We need our furniture moved out of storage and up here and we need a trusty work horse to lug bags of cement, tools and no end of items for the renovation so then we have somewhere eventually to put our furniture!!Please let this be 3rd time lucky. Will be the 3rd van in 2 yrs. Not had much luck so far! Still I have the winning Euromillions ticket for this Friday ( power of positive thinking!) so perhaps I can buy him a whizzy all mod cons new one on Saturday!

A must see movie

2009-01-25T00:56:00.000-08:00

Saturday evening saw us venturing out to Vannes, one of my favourite towns here. Such a charming port with architecture that makes you feel you are living in another century especially at night with the illuminations on certain buildings. We went to see Slumdog Millionaire, there was a queue! A drink in a nearby quirky bar afterwards was the perfect place to discuss how great we thought this film was. Fabulous cinematography and the key 3 characters portrayed when children was just wonderfully acted.
No wonder it won 4 Golden Globes and is nominated for 11 Baftas. It is hard to describe why we thought it was just so good and I want to see it again AND, at the end my husband had a tear in his eye, but maybe the words from a tabloid British paper, The Daily Mail helps sum it up for me. 'Brilliant in a million different ways'
Go see it!

Auray

2009-01-24T03:09:00.000-08:00

This is the pretty port of Auray on the south coast of Morbihan. www.auray-tourisme.com
In 1776 Benjamin Franklin landed here on his way to seek the help of Louis XVI in the American War of Independance. We walked its pretty streets and had a hot chocolate at a cafe under the heat of 4 outdoor burners keeping us warm. I just loved the fact that I could sit outside on a January day watching the people enjoying the Sunday sunshine whilst savouring some delicious handmade chocolates from a nearby store cashing in on the Sunday strollers. It must make a fortune with people like us being lured in by the temptations in the window and then thinking we only have a little in our pay by weight bag and when they weigh it it comes to 7 euros! My husband is a chocoholic so it would never be wasted or not appreciated. I said we should try and make them last all week, he said as I knew already that it would lucky if they lasted the afternoon. 9 p.m the last one was devoured!

A place to hide..

2009-01-24T02:56:00.000-08:00

Voila! Here is Gingy girl cat in her hidey hole Friday night. Not one of her best poses, it was rather late.
I found it rather amusing as I could not find her before I went to bed and even looked into this box a little then on a 2nd look lifting the lid completely after we had checked her usual haunts and this place is not big to search, hubby found her here. She had cut her paw, small injury, lots of blood, bit like a paper cut and I wanted to check she was okay.
That was AFTER he turned off the dishwasher ( my first ever dishwasher in 42 yrs!) to see if she was in there. Hilarious really but after a friend switched on their washing machine only to find their kitten was going round on a cold cycle I am paranoid about them sneaking in places that are not the most conducive for sleeping!!
Gingy likes to sleep in odd places, bidets, empty ones, fruit bowels. As I type she is upstairs on the windowsill, cannot be that comfy, Tabitha is on a cosy leather pouffe from Morocco ( typical Tabs) and Tigsy is gazing out of the window thinking perhaps about his next furry gift he can bring us.

The Blavet River

2009-01-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

This picture is of the Blavet River which can be seen from the window of what will be our kitchen at the Hammeau. Not long to go now. Eeek! can you see the river in the middle of the picture? It is a wonderful view, easier seen from the elevated position of the Hammeau in winter with the leaves off the trees.
The Blavet runs from central Brittany down to the coastal port and town of Lorient on the Atlantic coast. I think my husband has visions of partaking of the salmon fishing here. We are told that it is good. I cannot remember the other fish that is common to catch here. Time off from renovations for good behaviour may well see him getting his wish. I can see the appeal of fishing but would prefer to have a bash at the kayaking or riding my bike along the tow path then stopping at the restaurant at Pont Augan for a coffee, cider, etc..

FRIENDS

2009-01-22T04:10:00.000-08:00

'One friend, one person who is truly understanding,
who takes the trouble to listen to us as we consider a problem,
can change our whole outlook on the world'

Dr. E H Mayo

Why Michie Mole ?

2009-01-19T04:47:00.000-08:00

How did the nick name 'mole' bit come about? Many years ago, far too many than I wish to recall I was staying with a dear friend of mine for a while. I am Godmother to her eldest daughter. Said Godaughter came into my room one morning quite early whilst I was still in bed and I was bleary eyed. She went down to her mother and said 'Michie looks like a mole' and hence the name has stuck. Different variations of this nick name are used. Moley, Mole in the Hole etc. The name has even stuck with a couple of friends in the Minervois and my friend up North here has a daughter who is attempting to adopt it but started with Michie Mosh! I have a wonderful Mr Mole doorstop given to me as a leaving gift from a special friend down South and he will eventually grace our new home when I have a door to stop him with and a floor to put it on!
Mole fact eats 2 – 3 times its own body weight each day, or night as it is nocturnal.
Mole – Mexican yummy sauce
Mole – a character in Wind in the Willows
Mole – a river in Surrey, England
Mole – in French translates to taupe, unit of substance, ( de beaute- beauty spot) no surprises that one one means many things in French depending on which context!
Adrian Mole a well known character in books by Sue Townsend
Mole fanatic – www.moleplace.com!!!

Baaaaa...............

2009-01-19T04:09:00.000-08:00

Could this be the view from my kitchen window sometime this year I wonder????!!!

THE BRETON FLAG

2009-01-19T04:04:00.001-08:00

Goats, chickens, sheep or none of these??

2009-01-19T03:43:00.000-08:00

Having taken on what potentially will be a dream property, with it comes alot of land that needs attending. I cannot wait to to set up my potager for my home grown veg and a fresh herb garden. However some of the space is rather in need of constant maintenance. A small meadow at the top of the property and a field at the lower part. There has been much talk amongst friends as to the most cost effective and eco friendly way to maintain these areas. Goats, so cute, eat everything in sight and need to be tethered to avoid your hydrangeas, turnips and washing going awry. Sheep, more effective and less invasive on everyday life. Someone I know has a pet goat, follows him everywhere but creates havoc. He is just the right height to butt his horns on my shins too. I would love to try and make my own goats cheese but having experienced milking goats the reality may not live up the the charm of the idea of being as self sufficient as possible. Goats need milking each day and distracting whilst doing so.
We may foster some goats. There are a few ads sometimes for 3 mths fostering required if people go away or they have no grass or flowers left for these creatures to munch through!I love the idea of ‘ The Good Life’ like Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal in that fun sitcom but am not quite sure I am ready for that just yet. I will stick to my brush cutter to whack back the brambles, lower the grass levels for smooth space hopper races and then sit back and consider where the veg garden, heavenly herb patch and the possible goats and / or sheep may go.Chickens, well sensible to have lovely fresh eggs but again don’t like to think of them being penned but dont’ want the foxes to get them either and, how will the furbabes take to them. I am well informed by hardy poulet owners it is not necessary to have a cockerel either. Just as well I am not good in the mornings and the even though it is a wonderful sound, even if I trained the bird to bring me in a cuppa I don't know if I am ready for this kind of alarm call just yet!

I love surprises....

2009-01-15T04:56:00.000-08:00

And so did one of my lovely sister in law who is featured here with yours truly.
I could not write about what I was going to be up to this weekend just gone otherwise our surprise visit to UK and the whole big birthday party surprise cover would have been blown!!!
Joanna Farrow is my hugely talented Home Economist, cookery writer and food stylist sister in law. Google her. She creates dishes with such minimal fuss with maximum delicious results and easy to follow fail safe recipes. 3 of the 5 brothers and sisters of hubbby are involved in the food industry in different ways.

Our gift to her in with a couple of the other siblings was The Big Fat Duck Cookbook by Heston Blumenthal which we believe there are only limited editons published.
Anyway, we arrived Friday night in the UK and had to lay low until 2000 hrs Saturday night. Not that easy as the Birthday Girl lives close by and each time the phone rang at the mum in laws we let it go to ansa phone just incase it was her!
She had no idea of the surprise at all and was overwhelmed we think when she entered the wonderfully traditional country pub 'The Hatch' to here her friends and family singing Happy Birthday!
I managed to take a good few photos but then my batteries ran out and I had no spare. Other family members were minus cameras so it was just me to attempt to capture the moments of this big ?0 birthday. I love taking photos but was hoping to take more but was loving the chatting too!
We had a great time over the quick few days. I got my hair cut in UK for the first time in 5 yrs. Was very relaxing. We caught up with a dear friend who is a fabulouus photographer and kindly accommodated our wedding shots.www.robinbeckham.com. He was off to photograph the Prime Minister the next day! We were cooked a delicious breakfast at the birthday girls house the morning we were leaving with delicious mushrooms, bacon which I never eat these days but love as a treat and some wonderful homemade bread and fresh fruit smoothie!
Have a wonderful birthday year ahead Joanna x

Gingy stuck up a tree.

2009-01-15T04:41:00.000-08:00

Trees are a new thing to my moggies. They were rooftop cats and have been enjoying the delights of the flora and fauna in their present surroundings but in this case a little too much!
In this picture at twilight, Gingy girl climbed to this look out point then meowed in panic as to how to get down mad thing. Being a slightly overprotective owner I borrowed a ladder which freaked her out rendering her adventurous enough to bound to the tree next to this one and climb high into the branches.
2 pairs of hands ( one set in said branches shaking them!) and ladder extension to full capacity later, Gingy was back chez nous munching biscuits.

Been away...

2009-01-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

Well it is Tuesday night, I have been away since Friday night attending a surprise big birthday for my sister in law so could not write about going as she may have found out!
Will update in a day or too. Was great to go but glad to be back too.

Film endings

2009-01-07T03:52:00.000-08:00

Having not seen many films for a long while I seem to have watched a fair few whilst nurturing my journey to renewed health over the season. However I seem to have watched 3/4 of many and missed the endings

Does anyone know how The Terminal with Tom Hanks finishes???? Funny this as once I was delayed at an airport as I was heading out to Guernsey for my mothers funeral and stumbled across the idea when I got talking to alot of people and thought about a book about people one can meet at an airport.It is amazing what complete strangers tell you!
I watched Bend it Like Beckham for the first time. Very good I thought and quite funny.
Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans chest for the 2nd - i love Mr Depp in this role and the costumes too. Perhaps it reminds me of my youth and the image of Adam Ant in his flowing sleeves and pirate image.
Meet the Fokkers for the first time, missed the ending but it was repeated so caught it.
What Women Want for the first time. God I love Mel Gibson always have
Lethal Weapon 4 for the umpteenth time
Con Air for the 3rd time, so American and hate Mr Cages accent but do like this, I am also a sucker for stunts, explosions etc so love the ending.
Into the Wild - fantastic cinematography. Sad but love the idea behind the boys way of approaching life.
The Changeling at the cinema. Very impressed with Jolies acting.
Finding Neverland - Mr Depp again. I Lurved this, I cried.
Poesidin ( spelling maybe wrong) very predictable but had to stay and watch to the end. I have developed a small fear of flying and now in Brittany convinced I would only take the ferry for a while but this put me right off boats!
Bits of the 2nd Chronicles of Narnia. Never seen 1st one. I love the Lion though but I am biased being a Leo star sign!
I received the DVD Mama Mia for a gift.
Hm, am sure I have missed some out

The weather myth

2009-01-06T06:33:00.001-08:00

The sun does shine in Brittany despite what people say.This picture was taken on a trip to familiarise ourselves with the vast wonderful coastline. I cannot think for the life of me where I was! I do remember having a yummy chocolat chaud though looking at this scene.
I am doing an avid weather forecast comparisons each day.. Brittany has had NO rain to speak of and the sun has shone most days since we arrived. A couple of drips yesterday the 5th. My wonderful wellies are not getting full use as yet but I am told Jan and Feb it rains alot. Great..... we must address the roof problems at the Hammeau soon as poss.
It rains more in Nice, Toulouse and elsewhere however. Also we dont have the whipping winds from the Languedoc here.

Butter would not melt..

2009-01-06T06:12:00.000-08:00

Hm,,, well this is Tigsy my male cat, brother to the two girls. Not one of his best shots but taken on the day he brought me his third gift since discovering wonderful hunting territory. Yes, a lovely little mouse. Luckily this one he did not bring into the house. The last gift was large and alive and escaped behind the washing machine only to emerge a couple of hours later in the downstairs loo whilst I was in it!!
Hubby saved Mr Mouse, let me off the hook. He cannot stand bird and bats flapping around and I was the one down south who also had to capture and save those that came in from Tigsys hunting expeditions. How he did not fall off the rooftops catching them I do not know. We did not have a garden but terraces so they were rooftop cats.
All of them have done a flying act down to the street. it was a long way down. Lives used up for sure!

2009-01-06T06:01:00.000-08:00

We came across this house whilst investigating the tow path of the Blavet River which runs directly opposite our new place. New neighbours? I would love to look inside. Over the years I have developed much interest house interiors. Perhaps stemmed from living in our lovely 12 century village house which was originally part of the old Remparts of the village. Plus numerous friends and acquaintainces living in many of the village houses and watching the renovations develop. I always appreciate that many of the buildings have been standing for years and years and were built without modern day tools and aides.

A few days into 2009

2009-01-06T05:57:00.000-08:00

I received a gift today from a friend I was at college with……… ????? years ago. Bless her, a lovely surprise a handknitted scarf in purple hues. I had a phase in my life where most of my wardrobe was purple!! I have a photo somewhere of yours truly at a restaurant in purple top, skirt, ( I loved that skirt, ra ra style and short ) shoes etc.. However one time when I helped a friend with a hair show that was choreographed for charity and put on by our hairdresser at the time, I partook of hair colour or multiple colours and when I went home it just clashed with the purple wardrobe.
Strange that now I have one pashmina scarf in lilac and that is it until the friends gift arrived today!! I somehow think he phase in my life when I was head to toe in hues of lilac purple etc should stay in the past until I embrace the famous poem, when I am old I shall wear purple. I still love the colour but these days my favourite is white. My fortieth birthday theme was ALL white. White kind of symbolizes new beginnings and is a very cleansing ‘colour’.
I will close this with a thought for the day on friendship courtesy of a very dear friend of mine as she sent me a desk calender with quotes regarding friendship. I value friends very much indeed and profoundly so this has been highlighted to me during the last 2 weeks.
We are all travellers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend
Robert Louis Stevenson

New Years Day

2009-01-06T05:52:00.000-08:00

New Years DayWe were determined to go out and about as we did not make it on New Years Eve. We went to discover a couple of places. A beach called Ervden and then down to the Quiberon peninsula. Both were busy. Sand / kite surfing, lots of cute dogs braving the wind at Ervden and masses of people at Quiberon. I imagine in tourist season this is just buzzing but New Years Day found every café packed with those out blowing the cobwebs away and boy did it work, it was a freezing wind. I don’t miss the winds down south I have to say. I do miss my friends and my comfort zone.In a week or so I will be going gung ho finding out more about the area and I WILL join a gym. I am doing it gradually and making progress. Our house signing should happen later in the month too. 1st stop, well immediate progress that can be made is that there are 2 partition walls to be knocked down and I am thinking I will ask if I can get the tool in one hand, a glass of champers in the other and whack! – here is to the next phase in our life. I think we are mad!

Apres Noel.......

2009-01-06T05:43:00.000-08:00

Well I am just about getting somewhere near normal. ( what is that I wonder??) I feel like I have been on another planet since about the 19th Dec. As I have already said, I fell foul to this horrid strain of flu that many have experienced and I still don’t feel 100 percent. My ears are blocked and I feel like I have been underwater and not quite surfaced!. The central region of France I read somewhere had the biggest concentration of sufferers of the grippe and Brittany was the next heavily affected. Christmas comes with so much expectation and the flu really did put a dampener on proceedings for many I know! The hubby previously had a cold and was getting better until here came back here.
We didn’t manage to wander around the pretty town of Vannes or lovely Lorient pre Christmas soaking up Christmas spirit and wandering how I would ever decorate my shop window with such flair if I had one, a shop that is, luckily I don't live in a place without windows! Nor did I partake much of the alcoholic type of spirit. I have noticed here that folks don’t seem to drink half as much as us Minevois residents, but then being surrounded by the vineyards and wine being a big part of life down there then 'tis not surprising.
I know I must embrace more of the northern region wines ( a lovely Bordeaux, I am informed Bordeaux wines are some of the most favoured of French wines still) to try and I will but I was in a local supermarket and stumbled across a lovely red from La Liviniere down south, a very well known village for its wines and surrounding areas too and took comfort in a glass or two of this lovely stuff. Domaine Prat d’Olivier 2005.
So, our Christmas was more subdued than planned though the one day I seemed to have taste buds thankfully was the 25th itself. Thank goodness as our dinner was just yummy. Tender turkey,sausages in bacon, brussel sproats, roast potatoes – my favourite, I could have a whole roast with just potatoes!, We ate rather a lot after a starter of smoked salmon and did not even attempt Christmas Pud, cake or mince pies. I have since made up for that. The Christmas cake was homemade by my friends mother and was one of the nicest I have ever tasted. ( apologies to my mother God rest her) Mind you my eyes were bigger than my belly ( anyone else know that expression?) and I overdid it with my cup of tea post Christmas!
Ah ah, as I type, the news is on and they are saying it is not too late to get a flu jab. I will get one. This is the 2nd festive season on the trot I have been ill and I always normally pride myself on not getting sick and let’s face it there are better things to do at Christmas than to be popping paracetamol and keeping the makers of tissues in business.

A snuffly update

2008-12-23T15:20:00.000-08:00

Well been laid low with flu, boo hiss! Not ventured out at all as far too poorly so nothing much to report I am afraid. We did brave the Christmas shoppers today to get some much needed food. Both rather useless for each other. The cats are not good nurses.
I am feeling a bit home sick for family and friends but the thought of having to pack and travel with shaky limbs and body temperature hot and cold is the last thing I could face. However at least I dont have a daughter with scarlet fever like a good friend down south. They are quarantined for 10 days! I thought scarlet fever went out with Charles Dickens!
With Christmas Eve approaching I am praying we wake up feeling better and can get some fresh air in the forest. In the UK there are reports of horrid strains of flu and it seems it is on the French shores too. Then again, it seems a common occurance at this time of year!
Deck the halls with packets of mouchoirs, the ones with menthol in are all well and good but sting your nose!
A la prochaine

At last he has arrived!!

2008-12-21T03:36:00.000-08:00

Yeyyyyyyyyyyy hubby and super Ronnie arrived at 330 a.m! What a hero chugging through the night in the 1980s vehicle! A little blip at Bordeaux but thankfully rectified. Car loaded with as much as possible including my Mr Mole doorstop which was a wonderful gift from a dear friend.
All kitties pleased to see him and for the first time since he left all 3 honoured us with their presence on the bed. Hubby is a light sleeper and so me thinks it won’t be for long they have this luxury.
I of course am delighted to see hubby too. I only wish I was in better health as he is still poorly too. Hey ho c’est la vie! We have had some home made carrot and coriander soup and I am dosing myself up with tablets as we are due to go to dinner at some new friends we have made. Am looking forward to a cuddle with their puppy ‘Fleur’ and of course the meal too!

Broken down

2008-12-20T04:08:00.000-08:00

Well
See the pic of my lovely Ronnie Renault 4 in the previous post? Well that is what the hubby will be now attempting to use to transport himself up here with. His work van collapsed at Carcassonne this morning and he just spent a packet on some repairs. So, he won't be here for the big TV result show tonight but no matter just as long as he gets here poor man! He is en route to unload the van of some of the contents of our house that are still in storage which he was bring up, head off to collect Ronnie then start again. Doubtful he will arrive until Sunday morning.
I am still feeling dog ruff and so want to get on with some things. I have been offered to eat with our friends steak and chips tonight as long as me and my germs sit at another table. They have been SO generous, supportive and kind and made the move here so much easier. See the link to their wonderful accommodation for holidays.www.bergeronnettes.com Wow, a luxury, the other half rarely eats red meat these days and therefore nor I. The best has got to be Argentinian in my book. Oh for a churrascaria in Brazil. The best meat I have ever tasted. Well, I did have the pleasure of trying some Argentinian beef in Le Bistro in North London. Heaven.
Right, must must must get on and send positve vibes to my beloved and Ronnie and hope they both make it up here unscathed! The heater works in this precious old 1986 car, much used by the Vigneronnes in the Minervois. Have only seen 2 up there whereas they are so many of them down in the vineyards. Ah, cannot wait to see them both. Had some fun times in the car. Thanks to Simon who has 3 versions and convinced us this would be a great run around vehicle. If Ronnie makes it think i will give him a make over of at very least buy him a new sticker for the boot. People have brought me back stickers from all over, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Australia...etc Maybe this pic of my neighbours cute donkies ( hubby would like one himself) may prove that the old methods of transport are more reliable!!!

Am I mad????????

2008-12-19T15:07:00.000-08:00

What am I still doing up?? It is 00.08 and the sniffles are getting worse but….. I am hooked on getting this blog organised. Grrrr… I also have no idea why my lovely new laptop, Dell, bought in UK, set to UK languages keeps reverting everything into French. My French is perfectly adequate but why is it doing it?? Not best attempted to sort at this time of night/morning with a cold. That is it off to bed really now to read my book and recharge the batteries for another attempt at this tomorrow!!

4 weeks into my new surroundings.....

2008-12-19T13:55:00.000-08:00

It is now 19th December and I have a cold, how, why now??? I have not updated this blog as planned so regularly! Hubby still down the Languedoc, ( he with cold too!) will be three weeks on Monday since I saw him. I sent him off with some wonderful local goats cheese in seaweed for my dear friend for the fete du fromage on her blog. See her link. It went down well and I must purchase some again for myself. I gaze at the cheeses on offer in France and wonder if I will ever get through them. Lou Lou is doing a good job for us all with her tastings.I have a Christmas tree. I am soooo excited. We have not spent many Christmas seasons on French soil, always visitng family and friends so seemed somewhat pointless to have a real tree, well am sure the 3 furbabes would have enjoyed destroying it. I am loving my tree, it is so cute and in the window for the neighbours to see and cheer them en route to their abode. I feel more at home here with my very own decorations collected over time. I just adore it. Feeling more festive now! The prettiest ones are from the Christmas market in Vienna when I was on a work conference weekend. A fabulous market with arts crafts and food a plenty. Utterly a true Christmas experience in a stunning city. I did buy a tree in a pot that I will plant in our new property when we get it. On track for a signing in January!! Will be a far cry from our historical house in the remparts of charming Mailhac but cannot wait to be surrounded by so much land. I have been researching goats and may decide to just loan some for a while to keep the grass down before I take the plunge. Yes, people do need to have foster homes for goats whilst going on trips. They eat everything in sight! I would love to think I would milk my own and make my own cheese but I think I will be concentrating on the renovations first and foremost and getting the place habitable for us to move into. Maybe I may get a Golden Guernsey breed to fly the flag from my home island. They are I believe not easy to obtain though.The kits are lurrrving the forest and fields. 2 of them came in soaking tonight, it has not rained here at all so I suspect they found some damp boggy area which was perhaps deeper than first expected! I have captured a couple of the many fab sunsets so must post them on this blog when I work out how to fit them to size for the page!!Right, up the wooden hill as my papa says with hot water bottle and hot toddy and hoping I feel less rough for his homecoming! If he leaves on time he should just should be in time for the wonderful dance programme final on the BBC !!div>

Languedoc Lass to Brittany Bird ?

2008-12-08T14:58:00.000-08:00

Thursday 20th november
Well we arrived. A long 9.5 hr journey but enjoyable in the main except for the thick fog on the very last 20 mins of our journey. I don’t like driving in the dark at the best of times and 3 hrs of it was quite enough on the motorway and then ‘Hubby’ led the way on the last bit through dark forest roads. It only cost me 63 euros in petrol to get here!
The gite belonging to our friends whilst we renovate our next home is warm ( central heating – the first time in 6 yrs I wont need an electric blanket, flanalette sheet, 2 hot water bottles and get undressed whilst in bed!) and all so new and I am liking the idea of smaller properties by the minute! The kitties were SO well behaved ( now dying to feel the grass under their paws and scratch on trees but they must wait!) How many times can you listen to the same CD over and over? Answer, a lot. Me and the kits have had enough of Sade for a while. I must get my IPOD adaptor for the car! I stuck to this CD as was fairly chilling for my drive
We are going to get slowly organized unpacking bits and bobs over the next few days and visiting our Languedoc mate on Saturday and showing him Hammeau Tallene we are buying so he can report back to the south first hand at just what a task it is going to be!
Our friends cooked us a meal for our arrival, in fact a dish I made for them a few weeks back. They kindly thought we would feel more at home! Monday sees us off to see the new film The Changeling in the nearby main larger village of Baud about 8 mins away. We both really wanted to see this film and even in this rural location they have Version Original films that come to town! How civilized! We will be taking a trip to investigate Rennes and a walk on the beautiful coast line here is a must. 20 mins is the nearest. Maybe a start to finding the best creperie will commence and which butter from Brittany is best though we don’t really use it, in the name of research etc!!??
We have no t.v for now (not that watch t.v but company when alone curled up in new central heated abode with my kits and the hubby is toiling on a terrace down South. I will rectify that before my hubby heads back south for a week or so. In the mean time will watch my favourite show on friends big screen. It is not cold by the way! Everyone who knew we were moving up here said about the rain and the cold. Granted it has a damp edge but the sun has shone plenty and the sunsets have been wonderful.
Our phone will be connected on 25th November ( ha – all being well as originally FT called our friends to say that their phone would be cut off on that day?)
Right, back to sorting stuff out before I also tackle admin that has to be done. Borrrrring!