FRANCE - March - April 2011

After my return from Andalucia, and updating the website and patrickclips, most of my time was spent getting treatment for a heel problem. Hence the March update was abandoned. The first trip to France, to open up the house, was made at the end of March. The weather was remarkable, and lasted until departure. The Portsmouth ferry terminal was severely disrupted in preparation for the opening of the new hi tech terminal building in late April, early May.

One of the best things about this early crossing is the abundance of blossoms and flowers. On the way down the roadsides were white and yellow, with hawthorn hedges in blossom, dandelions, gorse, primroses and more, with flashes of bluebells and violets. The fields were yellow with dandelions or rape, and there were many orchards full of white and pink blossom. Village gardens were also alive with even brighter colours. During the time I was there the trees were sprouting their new pale green leaves.

At Ambrieres there were more major roadworks being carried out, from the Varenne bridge, up the hill towards Gorron. The road is being widened and new surface water drains, telephone and power cables laid. The ground just below me is being used as the site depot and store whilst the work is being carried out.

The row of poplar trees is now gone, and the land has been landscaped and terraced down the slope. It is rumoured it will be a public garden area.

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The Mairie on the hill opposite, and the gardens, are also being renovated, ready for an open day at the end of May.

My time was mainly spent tidying up the garden and cutting the grass, three times in fact ! Many shrubs were in flower, and the vine, pear and peach trees looked promising. Even the first crop of yellow roses was starting to open.

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The weather eventually made 29 - 30 degrees, far too hot to work in the afternoons. It was still sunny when I left, although not quite so hot.

Le Local has now been transformed, and has re-opened as Le Chat Noir. It still does buffet Sunday lunches, also, I hear, Saturday morning fried breakfasts. Steve's "Fish and Chips" van still visits every other Wednesday.

On the last Saturday I went to see Sara playing at the Mayenne Theatre, featuring many bassoons, and, after lunch on the Sunday at La Petite Reigniere, briefly visited the Gorron town celebrations, with funfair, flower and street stalls... even a pedal car race.

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An old style car attracted much ihterest .....

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The funfair was well attended later in the afternoon: there was also line dancing, and an hour of "Celtic jazz" at the Gorron Mediatheque.

The usual shopping visits were made to Gorron and Mayenne, a roller blind was installed in the upstairs washroom, and more wood for door and window trims is now sorted ready to stain and fix.

All in all a brief, but essential, early visit.

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