Merry Christmas everyone!

Looking through my archive of pictures, the above is about the most relevant picture I can find to this time of year, taken 2 years ago showing the front of our property in January after a light fall of snow. No sign of snow at the present although temperatures are forecast to drop to -6 degrees next week, so some pretty severe frosts soon!
We're not in France at the moment though, we have travelled back to the UK for Christmas and just after New Year our youngest daughter, Nicola, is getting married in North Yorkshire, England, so as you can imagine it's going to be a hectic couple of weeks over here!

I took the picture above a couple of days ago whilst we were in Sevenoaks as we walked around a country estate owned  by the National Trust, we really were only a few feet away from this beautiful deer, shame there wasn't any snow on the ground then I could have used it as a festive pic!

Happy Christmas to you all,

Late November, really?!

It's been an amazing few weeks here in Le Moustier, we've never known it to be so warm at this time of year, we have had lunch sat outside every day bar one day for the last 3 weeks. Work is still going on with the tree felling and the mist still keeps rolling in up the valley as night falls.

We went into Sarlat six days ago to do a bit of shopping, We had a wander around the old town area and I couldn't resist taking these pictures for our guests who have always had to go and visit this wonderful place, to experience the hustle and bustle of this amazing tourist attraction especially on market days, well, this is what its like in late November, still as beautiful but spot the difference!

Photographers view!

A few weeks ago, the photographer who took pictures at our eldest daughters wedding here last year, came to stay for a week with his family. A bit of a 'bus mans holiday' for him as we asked him to take some new interior pictures of our house and gites which are as I write being applied to our web site.
It wasn't all work as they did manage to go out a lot during the time they were here to see some of the sights, these two pictures showing views only a stones throw away from our property, above, at the bottom the track opposite and below a lovely shot of Le Moustier bridge.

Just one of the interior pictures below showing the house kitchen, plenty more on show on our web site soon!

Timmmmm berrrr!

Just had a quick bike ride down the track to see how many more trees have been felled and this was the sight that greeted me! They are now felling the poplar wood that is on our side of the Vezere and opposite the main entrance to Le Roque (you can just see Peyzac church to the right of the pic above the maze), a much larger area than the first work that took place at the bottom of the lane opposite Les Granges. It'll make a massive difference eventually to the views all round so can't wait to see the outcome when all the work is finished.

The picture above is one I took a couple of days ago in the early morning showing as the sun came up the mist slowly being burnt away. They're very fresh mornings now, great for walking though!

On the turn!

After 5 days of no internet and phone due to a faulty connection, we're back on line, at last!
Autumn is definitely here although we are still enjoying lunches sat outside in the sun with temperatures still in the mid twenties, even though at night it's in to single figures.
We still have guests on site, a family from Germany who have had brilliant weather since their arrival a week ago and it's looking as though it will be as good for the rest of the week, they have even been swimming in the gite pool, must be the thermal cover that's working!!
Great weather for us also, still busy with lots of work on the gites after a very busy year plus clearing up in the grounds and plenty of bonfires to clear the waste, it is a great time of year here in the Vezere valley..

Who likes Gateaux Noix?

Well if you do, it's good news if you are coming here, this is just about the last of this years harvest of walnuts and there's at least 3 times more than last year and half of last years were not fit for eating due to the very wet spring.
No problem this year, they are drying really well in the top 20's temperatures we've got at the moment, so better get the nut crackers oiled and baking tins at the ready!!

One man and his chain saw!

After many years of rumour about the poplar trees next to the river Vezere being mature and ready for felling, work has finally started this week. Every day one man has felled about three quarters of the wood to the right of the little cottage at the bottom of the track opposite Les Granges.
Not sure just yet if they are all coming down but what a difference that will make to the views!