FRANCE - August - September 2009
| Before I left for France I started work on the hedges. The huge root was about two thirds of the root of a vine, which grew every year in the leylandia hedge. Clearing the bottom growth should deter the foxes - who like to visit my back garden when I am away. | |
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On arrival the fireplace
was finished with a plate and liner. It was then tested to check the smoke was coming out of the chimney, and not into the bedroom above ! All seems well, and it is now ready for use should I be there in the winter months. I have plenty of scrap wood - and a supply of 'briquettes'. |
| Doors were made for the
new downstairs cupboard, which I started last visit. These were then stained and hung. The cupboard was shelved, and now provides much needed storage, to help clear the room of tools and working material. An additional power point was installed. |
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Tone and the Tonettes
were playing at the Désertines fête on the first
weekend. The following weekend was the Ambrières fête, complete with fun fair, road races for cyclists, and ending up with the batucada band and fireworks down by the river. Next came the Cigné fête, also with the batucada and fireworks - also a fire eater. For videos see patrickclips - ( link on menu page ) |
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September is still a good time to visit the area, with many local fêtes and other activities. Trips were made to Laval ( Bethany is now at a Lycée there ) and, of course, Mayenne. The weather was generally quite hot, and very dry. The milk strikes look like resuming in October ( after the harvest season ! ) - there were many notices to that effect.
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( Above ) Le Local, at Couesmes-Vaucé, where an excellent Sunday roast ( buffet ) can be had ..... and part of the Mayenne market.
During my stay all the English inhabitants of my road, plus other friends, arrived at various times. But I also socialised with some French friends - which enabled me to use French, since most of the time English was spoken - or English TV watched !
Cupboards have been made for the upstairs bedroom, fitted in part of the chimney space. The cupboard doors ( to match the bed head and tailboard ) were also made and stained, but await hinges from England before final fitting. The main window was fitted with catches and a curtain pole provided, ready to take a curtain now being made.
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Outside, despite being very dry, the geranium plugs eventually did very well. A look at the holly tree makes one wonder what the winter will bring. There were pears and grapes in abundance - although the birds had started sampling the latter. A start was made on strengthening the main garden wall, and tradifarging the joints ...... even on the Sunday morning of departure !
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In the last few days, taking advantage of the exceptionally good weather, a brief visit was made with Tony to the Iles Chausey, ( to the west of Granville ), although due to the lack of wind sailing was not possible. But the trip made a welcome break towards the end of four weeks of working. The Iles Chausey are certainly attractive, with many sandy beaches ... a bit reminiscent of Herm Island ( south of Guernsey ). A video of the trip will be on the patrickclips channel shortly .
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.......... Skipper Tony .............................................. A view over the sound ( at Grand Isle )