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The Ambrieres
Fete and fireworks was on the Saturday after arrival. A short video of the Batucada band has already been uploaded to the patrickclips channel on Youtube, ( link on main index page ). |
FRANCE-September / October 2010
I returned to France in early September, after a couple of weeks catching up with hedges and lawns back at home, where I also took down a tree which had grown up in an awkward place over the last 15 to 20 years or so !
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The Ambrieres
Fete and fireworks was on the Saturday after arrival. A short video of the Batucada band has already been uploaded to the patrickclips channel on Youtube, ( link on main index page ). |
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With fine dry weather continuing, most of the first week or so was spent tradifarging another large section of the garden wall, and laying a weather apron against the house wall on the roadway |  |
The River Varenne at Ambrieres was very low due to the weeks of dry weather.
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| A tractor trailer
overturned by the bridge at Ambrieres. Fortunately for the cottages it was carrying silage; but it still caused quite a hold up when the traffic was stopped to right the trailer and pick up the contents and trailer debris. |
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| The Cigné Fete
was another Batucada outing, with fireworks later in the
evening. On the Sunday morning following there was a good boot sale. A videoclip of the Cigné events will be on patrickclips. ( Link on main index page ) |
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An after lunch Sunday walk with Sara and Tony took in a section of the Colmont river.
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One afternoon there was a sudden thunderstorm. This saw the start of more unsettled weather although it was still warm. I had gone for a walk and got soaked !
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The pears were abundant, as were the grapes. In all an excellent year for fruit.
| The last week saw
the start of major roadworks to replace main power cables
and telephone distribution. Both are being put under the
main roads around Ambrieres. The land at the bottom of the garden was transformed into a works site and overnight parking, with much heavy machinery, cable, cabins and heaps of road fill. |
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As the last few days became more unsettled I worked inside on the upstairs loo, painting, tiling and starting the final wood trim. Although time was found between showers to prune the taller trees and shrubs, and the scatter some grass seed where the summer sun had burnt the grass away. I also picked the last of the grapes.
The last Saturday evening was the farewell do at Le Local, which will shortly be under new managment, opening again in early November.