Getting hotter!

The weather here has been amazing over the last few days, what a change from two or three weeks ago, the river Vezere water level has now dropped a lot over the last few days and the weed that flowered last year early May is now only just appearing, you can see on the picture above, taken from under Le Moustier bridge toward La Roque, that the ducks are feeding frantically on whatever they find off the plants (not quite sure what it is they're feeding on but i'm sure someone will tell me).

Wild Frontier!

 

We had to have a trip to Riberac for some plumbing spare parts a couple of days ago so used the journey to have a look around the Charante area that we haven't visited before, then stopping off in the beautiful village of Aubeterre sur Dronne for some wedding organising business we had some lunch in an italian restaurant and i spotted this in the stair well on the way up to the toilet, an original large french version 1956 Walt Disney film poster, a bit frayed around the edges but in great condition...oh and the pizza we had was great too!

Old postcard of La Roque

Wherever I have lived before I have found the best way to research local history pictorially is to collect old postcards of the area you are living in. Here's my first since our move to France, on Ebay it was advertised as an original mid 1930's postcard of La Roche Saint Christophe showing the rock in it's pre health and safety days! A great find which will be framed and displayed as soon as possible, hopefully I'll find some more of the area soon!

A new coat!

Whilst I've been away in England for the last few days Philippa has been busy finishing off the house windows. After we'd refurbished all the shutters a few weeks ago with the help of our good friend Dave from Stafford, all the frames have now been painted and it all looks so much better, probably the first time the windows have been decorated for many years.

After i arrived at Bergerac airport early this morning, we went to the local garden centre and have bought many new plants to go around both the swimming pools...more pictures to follow!

Last week 12 degrees....

...today, 32 degrees! After a bit of a problem with the house swimming pool, eventually we've sorted out the problem and the pool is now up and running so everything is in order, and yes, there has been a very brave person, who has been swimming this early evening.

Meanwhile, in the barn, another couple have built a nest so here they are waiting for me to get out of the barn and let them get on with things! It's all going to be a bit frantic in a few weeks time when all the eggs hatch, can't wait!

A beautiful morning

Just a quick post to show off the newly refurbished gite swimming pool area with a picture taken early this morning, after all the rain everywhere is so green, a view lovely to wake up to in a morning!

Beer lovers arrive!

All the work on the outside and inside of the main house plus the stone gate posts were finished just in time as we welcomed 11 german guests to Les Granges yesterday afternoon, our first big group of visitors this year, 9 of which also came here at the same time last year. As usual they have brought some very interesting beers from their country, a beer called Hartmann plus the one above being from a brewery in Bavaria.

You may remember the picture last year of the Borussia Dortmund football scarf hanging on the house gates, well, they're champions of the top german football league yet again this season so well done to them, at least they have plenty of liquid refreshment to celebrate with!

Sun at last!

Today has been the first good day for 3 weeks, at last, work on the house guttering and roof repairs was started last Friday and will be completed by the end of this week, plus I've been working with a friend (and neighbour) on taking down and re-erecting the front gate stone columns (below), which also will be completed by this Saturday afternoon when our german guests arrive once again, long may the weather stay bright and sunny!