2009-03-10 Wood gathering

Some of our tasks like gathering firewood, sound far more romantic than the reality !!
This tree has lost a vital part.........we've probably burnt it by now !
PS this is not the way it was supposed to happen, we didn't realise this tree had been entwined in the next tree for years, and the live tree had grown branches through the dead one, so it stayed hanging, instead of falling !!!

The bootful of bootaful booty .

Dave making short work of some longer bits................
The truth of this is, we spent about 2 hours collecting and cutting (already fallen) chestnut wood, got about a stere ( m3) and a half , which is about 70€ worth !!

2009-03-05 Lower Terrace gets a face lift........

As usual in reverse order !!
Lower Terrace in about the same state as it is now, small wall along the front to bring it to nearly level, chippings put down, just awaiting the stone topping. (sounds like a cake!!)

'Stone Henge' as it was affectionately known, has been removed, took 3 guys to shift it !!

Starting the work, a little bit of snow in the air, but some sun later, stones removed from terrace , 'Stone Henge; still in place.

2009-02-24 Visit to the Aquarium Montpellier

Excellent visit to the Aquarium, something we have meant to do for a long time!!!





no descriptions needed i think !!

2009-02-25 Venus?

We think this is Venus, as seen from our terrace looking up the mountain.
But we could be wrong???

2009-02-24 Visit to Lodeve with Fritz & Almuth

Frederic and Almuth invited us to join them, to collect their "marmalade" (chestnut confiture) from the factory at Lodeve...........



Dave is invited to inspect the factory, and take a few pictures.

Here is the shop, they process products from artisans who do not have the correct facilities at their farms. there is a vast range of products, from ginger confiture to sun dried tomato pesto........yum yum !!

2009-02-15 Walk to the wild side

Dawn, 16th Feb

over the other side of the vally, amongst the olive trees.
The water is so cold, the icicles are forming around the weeds trailing in the water.

We still have snow
Quite a lot !

2009-02-15 Saddest Day since we came to France.

We have lost Squeaky, he left on Sunday 15th Feb, and we have looked, called, put up posters, but to no avail.............we are now 2 weeks down the line, and we fear the worst. He may have just been following his male instincts, but he was neutered at 6 months, so we think that unlikely.


We hope to bring you better news next month....................

2009-02-14 St. Valentine !!

Feb 14th, and Dave prepares to take me out for the day and to a RESTAURANT !!!! (he's trimming his beard) There are no pictures of the rest of the day(and evening) because we forgot the camera !!! However, if you are interested we will take you to the restaurant as it was probably the best meal we have had in France!!!

2009-01-26 Wind Damage!

A few pictures after the storm............

2009-01-25 The old dears do!!

Here we all are at the annual dinner and dance, and yes there was dancing !!

This one's for you Roger & Cheryl, see who's Queen for the day??




This is for you Malc, so glad you made it, just to be invited to the Old Dears Do was it worth it !!

And just to prove there was dancing, i have included a short video.......no its not us waltzing !!!

2009-01-24 La Tempête

On 24th January 2009, we had what is locally known as La Tempête, this is a storm with winds exceeding 100mph............our friend Malcolm was on his way to us and had had to take refuge in an aire, as his camping van was being blown across the lanes on the auto route. At 3.30 we lost our electricity, and as it got dark we prepared for an unknown number of hours/days without power. We played scrabble !! well you cant sew and watch telly in the dark !! (or play scrabble properly) and retired early to listen to the wind. Malcolm had decided to stay exactly where he was...very sensible.

This picture is taken with a flash, the amount of light was more like picture two !!
Ahh how romantic..........
Dave playing scrabble in the dark, note the large pots of water on the fire......

We were lucky our electric returned 24hours later, some people in Le Sahuc for instance were not so lucky, having lost thier electic at noon on the 24th it wasn't reconnected until the evening of the 27th................

2009-01-20 Our Winter Wonderland

Some winter images.................
the Dolman a mossy rock
waterfall
another
morning from Cailho


i think these last three images, would link up for a really good picture, but i don't know how to do that, i'll have to find a man who can !!!

2009-01-07 Cider, Cake and Friends

We went to Patrick and Anik's house for an Epiphany party, traditionally you eat cake made with franzipan and drink cider. The cake/cakes contains three fèves ( small figurines) and who ever finds the feve is king for the day !!!*
*The Three Kings traditionally arrive this time after Christmas! (they were French of course)
On this picture you can see Nathan, Jean-Luc (KING) and Patrick.

it snowed again, although this doesn't look much, i didn't take photos later as Dave was too busy helping people, either by towing them up the road (M Phalipou) or fitting chains.....the snow got quite deep and slushy........Squeaky found a good viewing place.
see real flakes!!
He much prefers his basket by the fire with his new quilt !!

or, a passing person to snuggle up to, he's not like his mother !!!!