France ..... April - May 2014

The first visit of the year was timed for the start of the Fastcraft from Portsmouth to Cherbourg .

After a noisy, crowded journey ( being the first Fastcraft service in 2014 ) I eventually arrived in Cherbourg half an hour late. With the car heavily loaded I made my way down to Domfront - calling in on Chris and Julie to drop off various things. The car felt much lighter after doing this and unloading my stuff - and the same the next day, after dropping off things for Sara and Tone. How I miss the MPV !

A quick shop at Gorron was needed, since it was Easter weekend - and more to the point since I had forgotten to pick up the grassbox and key for Chris's mower, I had to buy a lawnmower ( he was off for a few days to the UK for Easter )

Saturday I assembled the mower and cut both the upper and lower grass .... and paid for it on the Sunday - I ached all over.

Easter Monday was catch up with Sara and Tone over a meal at their place.

Then there was the French SIM card saga ...... Unable to top up my tablet normally, using my visa card, I decided to buy a French SIM card. I had to return twice to Mayenne before it worked fully ( on internet ) and later to top it up - since it wouldn't top up from a voucher !

On the Thursday I went with Sara and Tone to a new restaurant they had discovered at Les Bois .... also a pizzeria at weekends... and on Friday I went to hear Carys singing a Le Chat Noir for an Italian evening. She has recently been invited to play and sing at the Gorron musicfest in June.

I went over to Chris for a meal and chat on the Sunday afternoon, since he was now back from the UK, and on the Tuesday went to Chantrigné for a meal with Sara and Tone and Chris.

The weather was typically April - sunshine and showers. Most annoying for getting things done outside but good for the flowers and fruit. The battle with dandelions was hard to win ( next door garden ) ideally a first cut in late March or April is best to cut off the flower heads.

The Judas tree ..............................................................................................Strawberry flowers

Cherries ( if the birds don't get them ) ................................................................ Pears ......................................

The vine was starting to sprout ............................................................................. The land next door...........

The peaches were also looking good, but as with everything, time will tell.

Again the patter of tiny feet at La Petite Reigniere ... two of the cats produced four kittens each !

( Photos sent by Sara )

There was a vide grenier at Le Pas on Thurday May 1st , which was a Bank holiday in France. On the 4th May I went with Sara and Tone to two vide greniers in the Laval direction .... the second one was very big but involved a long walk uphill on the way back! With temperatures reaching 24 degrees it was quite warm for the weekend.

My main relaxation however was watching the snooker from the Crucible, which finished on the Monday with a win by Selby. On the Tuesday I returned to the UK, stopping off in Ceaucé for a meal with Chris on the way. The ferry was more like usual - easy parking and not crowded.

RETURN TO PHOTOS and TRAVEL INDEX
RETURN TO MAIN INDEX