2014-09-30 Lamalou the aftermath.

 

As several of you already know , there was a disaster in Lamalou-les Bains . Already saturated by several days of rain, a thunder storm finally broke a dam and flood water cascaded down through the town….like a tsunami …….. several people lost their lives. There are many pictures online of the disaster itself…….we took these 2 weeks after…and its still terrible.

We had owned a studio in LLB until recently, and feel greatly for all the people caught up in this awful mess.

Not a very good pic, but the river you can see is usually no more than a trickle…and this is two weeks later !

 

This is a bridge DESIGNED to withstand flooding….there are “fin” shaped concrete structures flat side facing downstream, designed to allow trees to flow over the bridge….several of them broke. Note also the red reinforcing bars !

Just some of the damage in the main river.

2014-09-28 How we are looking today !

 

2014-09-25 How we waste our time !

 

We bought new “smartphones” and we have a new laptop……..trying to find out all about them after lunch one day….Dave discovered he could operate the camera remotely with his phone !

10/10 for nerdy-ness !

so at a count we have 4 pieces of technology all going at once……not bad for CAILHO ……ggggggggguuuuuuuuuurrrr !

You might also note the slightly more down to earth collection of cafetieres and beuriers ….go on ask me !

AND the FRENCH dictionary !!!

2014-09-21 In the September Garden

 

We have not seen a lot of praying mantis since the hatching in the spring…so pleased to announce that a few did survive the deluge ! she is climbing the glass bedroom door.

Marrows, Pumpkins and the newly named Buttkins (butternut x pumpkin, we think)…..we have another 10-12 left in the garden…of the pumpkins !

St Micheals have started, this one was in the garden !

OK…..so not in OUR garden…but each year we pass these plants,  they are along the valley toward Lamalou…..and each year we search for signs of bananas…..this year there are some, but September might be a bit too late to ripen?

I planted this Virginia Creeper thinking the foliage would be like this for all autumn……..this is the first year of actually catching it before the wind blows them all away !

2014-09-20 Spiders in September

Every year they come in….and they seem to get bigger !

For scale she  is in a straight sided Guinness glass…….

2014-09-17 Big Storm in Cailho

 

This is a night (16th-17th )  we will not forget in a hurry……here is the aftermath on the road ( a great time to be without the 4x4 !!)

However will say that the next night(17th-18th) was less traumatic for us…but 5 people died in Lamalou just along the valley, they were swept away in the flood…….

2013-09-13 Moving the post !

 

Ok…..When the construction was started we didn't think about the size of the windows…just the best fit to the house.

Turns out the standard (cheapest) window is 5cm larger than the gap we have …..so our helpful friend Roger said..” move the post” after due consideration, it didn’t seem such a daft idea……..so Dave moved it……pity he chose the 13th…but at least it wasn’t a Friday !  

Success !! (well its still there at the mo !)

2014-09-12 Spotted flycatcher…we think !

Dave found this little bird on our doorstep….it hopped on to his foot !

Probably had crashed into our door…

So we kept it in a box and feed it water…and the next day in a small cage borrowed from Annick (thanks!) and after a few hours we were able to let it go….not the best take off, probably due to a bruised wing…but it flew so we are happy.

2014-09-12 Vegetables…..Courge mainly !

 

We have ordinary Marrow, pumpkins and butternut squashes….but we also had this grow (from a packet of seed !) which we think is a cross between a butternut and a pumpkin…so we have called it a buttkin……however it probably wont come true from seed, but I have saved some anyway….each buttkin has weighed between 5.5 and 7.5 kgs…AND THERE WERE ELEVEN ON THE PLANT !

If anyone wants seeds ????

 

 

Moment of truth !

a surprise….it is formed like a butternut inside…..but with orange flesh…….good job we like soup and curry made with pumpkin !

Happy gardeners, freezer, curry eaters….and neighbours…. !

2014-09-10 Bee ?

I have included this as a request….any one seen a bee like this before, or know its name ?

It would appear to carry its pollen underneath its body and not in pollen sacs ? its whole abdomen  is yellow. i will TRY to include a vid to show its movement.

 

2014-09-07 Last day at Argeles

 

Good to know the campsite is clear and concise about its evacuation plan !!

Just RUN might have been better )

 

 

An ancient fishing village…….

I have made this picture big,  as the stripe of white/pink along the shore line is actually Flamingos !…..we didn’t see any, any closer.

i think you all know what THIS is ???

2014-09-05 Banyuls sur Mer Aquarium