Hi everyone,
Posting's been a bit of a nuisance lately since my virtually brand new, shiny (but cheap) tablet specially bought to make online access easier while away insists on misbehaving the majority of the time. I've been getting almost to the point of attaching a big stick to one end and using it as a shovel instead, it would be just as useful there. However I am working on getting it sorted ASAP and after that there should be actual video posts, more photos and better blogging!
So, on with the post. As I had Saturday off I spent the morning sitting out on the lawn reading one of Paul Theroux's classics and relaxing in the Sun, exactly how a Saturday morning off work on the French coast should be spent (or you could replace the lawn with the beach, either way).
I decided to spend the afternoon in town since there was a big Harley Davidson meet going on all weekend! They were even offering people the chance to have a trip around town on the back of them! Unfortunately by the time I half managed to figure out how to ask about this and convince myself that my awful French wouldn't annoy the bikers too much they were almost finished for the day and by then it was really too late - maybe for the best though: if I'd made it onto one of those beautiful bikes I may have decided I wanted to keep it! One day!
Anyway after gazing at the bikes all lined up along the sea front for long enough to appear a bit suspicious/desperate I tore myself away with one final look before wandering up some side street. Fortunately it lead me to a nice little cafe where I successfully managed to get a drink without speaking a word of English - although my tea and bad accent probably gave me away. As I sat there contemplating life's mysteries there was suddenly an almighty noise from the top of the street! This was shortly followed by another, and another. Car horns. Was there a traffic accident? A lost cow in the road perhaps? Or ....a wedding party. That's right, apparently the way to celebrate getting married in this area, or maybe all of France, is to confuse the life out of all the non-locals by driving away from the church in single file blasting their horns while everyone hangs out of - or sits on the edge of - the windows and sunroofs and making as much extra noise as possible extracting cheers and clapping from the passers by
But, excitement over I wandered back down to the seafront and found - next to a giant permanent plant filled dinosaur - a real dinosaur (well someone dressed as one) wandering around meeting the kids. Alongside this big green dinosaur, providing the music was what looked a little like a band of morris dancers...three of them played brass instruments and the fourth played the banjo - an interesting combination but the music was actually pretty good so I hung around until they finished their set. However considering I spent most of the time sitting in plain sight, notebook in hand, they may have assumed I was a low key local journalist - lets hope they don't start browsing through the local publications looking for a review!
Now I had intended to stay for the Witch Doctor gig but with at least 2 more hours to wait I was already shattered and decided to call it a day instead. Considering how the wind and rain picked up just after I got back though, and the music started at least an hour late I think I probably made a good choice there.
Sunday morning was spent preparing vegetables and helping make dinner as Anne and Tom had friends visiting for lunch - Philip and Debbie with their daughter and Derek with his wife and two daughters.
The meal lasted at least 3 hours, with a few breaks for entertainment - two babies and a toddler do provide a fair bit of entertainment. Philip and Debbie said they would see about helping me find places to go further down the coast which was great of them. By 5.30pm however the kids were getting cranky so it was time for everyone to head home. However it was a great afternoon and I'm pretty sure the kids loved having new people to play with.
Unfortunately my evening was spent rowing with technology but what can you do, other than chuck it out of the window....
Monday morning was bright and sunny and even warmer than normal - a perfect time to paint the fence panels that we bought earlier in the week. This ended up taking the whole morning since it was trellised and there wasn't enough paint to waste any, but it was a good job for the morning. After a late lunch it was weeding time once again - they just grow so quickly! This time it was the perennial bed/jungle. I got rid of virtually everything except for some tansy and some poppies - a fresh start was definitely needed. Once I'd finished put a few layers of new compost on the bed although the chickens reclaimed the compost heap before I'd totally finished - oh well, clearly a signal to finish for the day.
Once again my evening was spent arguing with my computer but after a quick phone call from home I felt a lot calmer and settled and finished the night with a book and an early night.
Work yesterday began with watering all the plant pots - over 30 - and each needed at least a gallon since its been quite dry lately. However this was done with water very slowly drained down from a huge container of rain water, so I had to wait a while for the water to get through to the lower tank. In the mean time though out came the weed killer to make the drive and parking area look all pretty and once that was done it was food time. After food and a cuppa it was weeding O'clock again - this time it was in the garden of one of the rented cottages. The owner's been away for a little while so the garden was starting to get all overgrown. But after multiple nettle stings, and many trips to the compost heap the mission was over and so was another long, but satisfying day at work.
Now for today's excitement - well to be honest it's just been a day of housework, computer admin and not a whole lot else really.
On that note I shall leave you all with some more pretty pictures!
See you next time!
Posting's been a bit of a nuisance lately since my virtually brand new, shiny (but cheap) tablet specially bought to make online access easier while away insists on misbehaving the majority of the time. I've been getting almost to the point of attaching a big stick to one end and using it as a shovel instead, it would be just as useful there. However I am working on getting it sorted ASAP and after that there should be actual video posts, more photos and better blogging!
So, on with the post. As I had Saturday off I spent the morning sitting out on the lawn reading one of Paul Theroux's classics and relaxing in the Sun, exactly how a Saturday morning off work on the French coast should be spent (or you could replace the lawn with the beach, either way).
I decided to spend the afternoon in town since there was a big Harley Davidson meet going on all weekend! They were even offering people the chance to have a trip around town on the back of them! Unfortunately by the time I half managed to figure out how to ask about this and convince myself that my awful French wouldn't annoy the bikers too much they were almost finished for the day and by then it was really too late - maybe for the best though: if I'd made it onto one of those beautiful bikes I may have decided I wanted to keep it! One day!
Anyway after gazing at the bikes all lined up along the sea front for long enough to appear a bit suspicious/desperate I tore myself away with one final look before wandering up some side street. Fortunately it lead me to a nice little cafe where I successfully managed to get a drink without speaking a word of English - although my tea and bad accent probably gave me away. As I sat there contemplating life's mysteries there was suddenly an almighty noise from the top of the street! This was shortly followed by another, and another. Car horns. Was there a traffic accident? A lost cow in the road perhaps? Or ....a wedding party. That's right, apparently the way to celebrate getting married in this area, or maybe all of France, is to confuse the life out of all the non-locals by driving away from the church in single file blasting their horns while everyone hangs out of - or sits on the edge of - the windows and sunroofs and making as much extra noise as possible extracting cheers and clapping from the passers by
But, excitement over I wandered back down to the seafront and found - next to a giant permanent plant filled dinosaur - a real dinosaur (well someone dressed as one) wandering around meeting the kids. Alongside this big green dinosaur, providing the music was what looked a little like a band of morris dancers...three of them played brass instruments and the fourth played the banjo - an interesting combination but the music was actually pretty good so I hung around until they finished their set. However considering I spent most of the time sitting in plain sight, notebook in hand, they may have assumed I was a low key local journalist - lets hope they don't start browsing through the local publications looking for a review!
Now I had intended to stay for the Witch Doctor gig but with at least 2 more hours to wait I was already shattered and decided to call it a day instead. Considering how the wind and rain picked up just after I got back though, and the music started at least an hour late I think I probably made a good choice there.
Sunday morning was spent preparing vegetables and helping make dinner as Anne and Tom had friends visiting for lunch - Philip and Debbie with their daughter and Derek with his wife and two daughters.
The meal lasted at least 3 hours, with a few breaks for entertainment - two babies and a toddler do provide a fair bit of entertainment. Philip and Debbie said they would see about helping me find places to go further down the coast which was great of them. By 5.30pm however the kids were getting cranky so it was time for everyone to head home. However it was a great afternoon and I'm pretty sure the kids loved having new people to play with.
Unfortunately my evening was spent rowing with technology but what can you do, other than chuck it out of the window....
Monday morning was bright and sunny and even warmer than normal - a perfect time to paint the fence panels that we bought earlier in the week. This ended up taking the whole morning since it was trellised and there wasn't enough paint to waste any, but it was a good job for the morning. After a late lunch it was weeding time once again - they just grow so quickly! This time it was the perennial bed/jungle. I got rid of virtually everything except for some tansy and some poppies - a fresh start was definitely needed. Once I'd finished put a few layers of new compost on the bed although the chickens reclaimed the compost heap before I'd totally finished - oh well, clearly a signal to finish for the day.
Once again my evening was spent arguing with my computer but after a quick phone call from home I felt a lot calmer and settled and finished the night with a book and an early night.
Work yesterday began with watering all the plant pots - over 30 - and each needed at least a gallon since its been quite dry lately. However this was done with water very slowly drained down from a huge container of rain water, so I had to wait a while for the water to get through to the lower tank. In the mean time though out came the weed killer to make the drive and parking area look all pretty and once that was done it was food time. After food and a cuppa it was weeding O'clock again - this time it was in the garden of one of the rented cottages. The owner's been away for a little while so the garden was starting to get all overgrown. But after multiple nettle stings, and many trips to the compost heap the mission was over and so was another long, but satisfying day at work.
Now for today's excitement - well to be honest it's just been a day of housework, computer admin and not a whole lot else really.
On that note I shall leave you all with some more pretty pictures!
See you next time!
The 'real life' dinosaur
If anyone recognises this unusual quartet let me know!
Home sweet home
My bedroom view, complete with fish!
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