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Author Archives: Al in France
Eclipsing the pique-nique
Common at this time of year are the many small local events; picnic’s, music evenings, night markets, concerts, quizzes, brocantes, exhibitions, fairs…in fact almost any excuse you can think of to have a ‘get-together’ and for communities to just get … Continue reading
Posted in Local travels, Sky
2 Comments
That was our National Day!
The sun shone on the festivities and it seems that a very good time was had by everyone…all 300+ of us. Kick-off was midday and within minutes the wine was flowing, people were mingling and chatting, handshakes and kisses were … Continue reading
Our National Day
There is a quiet busyness in the village this morning. Sundays are usually even more sleepy than usual but today there is a low rumble of trucks and vehicles around the village green where tables and benches are being set … Continue reading
If Wordsworth was French…
‘I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden …… Sunflowers!’ I am sure that William Wordsworth would have been moved to write … Continue reading
Posted in Flowers, Village
2 Comments
All Good Things….
…Come to an end! Well, it just isn’t possible to always stay on holiday, no matter how nice a time you are having! The reality is that I was ready to come home even though I was truly enjoying the … Continue reading
Burning in Bonn!
Well, perhaps ‘burning’ is a bit of an exaggeration, but the heatwave across Europe continued and it seemed to be getting hotter. The expected high was 39c but with the humidity they said it was going to feel like 45c. … Continue reading
Posted in Germany, History
4 Comments
Getting hotter on the West Side
As hard as I try, it seems impossible to avoid this heat. Of course I am not alone seeing as most of Europe continues to be barbecued by the current blast from Africa. We had to go to Cologne by … Continue reading
Posted in Germany, History
2 Comments
Cool Cruisings
The heat continues and it seems that Europe is slowly baking to a crisp. I have always thought that once we are over 30c, anything is hot, but 40c is just crazy and I am pleased to have avoided the … Continue reading
Posted in Germany, History
4 Comments
Managing the German Heat…or not!
I’m playing catch-up, being a day behind with posting, and I think it will be like that the next few posts! I am blaming it on the heat, but in reality I am having too good a time to spend … Continue reading
Posted in Germany, History
2 Comments
Hot on the tracks!
So, yesterday I took the train(s) to start a short break in Gemany. There is something really nice, in my mind, about train travel. It is easy, certainly cheaper considering the price of fuel and road tolls, and less tiring. … Continue reading
Posted in Friends, Germany
2 Comments
Summertime, an’ the livin’ is easy
As the famous song says, the livin’ is easy, especially now that it really does feel as if summer has arrived. It has been a strange spring and summer up till now with wetter and cooler temperatures than expected, and … Continue reading
Staying Home
Although there is a change on the wind today, the weekend has been absolutely glorious. The thermometer climbed above 30c, the sky was clear and as the days progressed it would have been just plain silly to do anything other … Continue reading
Posted in Garden, House
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Learning from History?
With the European elections coming up soon, the hoardings have been put up in the village and gradually the various parties will stick up their posters. The first one has been pasted onto their allocated space and my only question … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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La fete de la victoire
Under a leaden sky and with clouds pregnant with precipitation, a small group of us gathered around the village war memorial to celebrate the day in 1945 when France was liberated at the end of WWII. It was a simple … Continue reading
Posted in History, Village
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Lucky May
This morning dawned with clear skies, the sun beating down and the birds singing as if they were going to burst. Being May 1st, it is a public holiday here in France – “Fête du Travail” – International Worker’s Day … Continue reading
Posted in Flowers, Nature
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On the doorstep
It seems that April has almost passed me by, and I haven’t posted anything. It isn’t that there hasn’t been anything happening. Au contraire, I don’t feel that I have stopped for breath. Being spring, the garden has taken plenty … Continue reading
Posted in Local travels
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Leaving like a lamb
Can we really be at the end of March already? It seems only yesterday that I was posting about March coming in like a lion, and here we are, on the cusp of April and the month, true to the … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Seasons, Village
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Close to Home
To say that I am exhausted would be an understatement. Now that we have some glorious mild temperatures and an extended period of dry weather, I am busy sanding and painting les volets (shutters) on the house. Being new, they … Continue reading
Posted in Chateau, History, Local travels
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The wearing of the green
Well, I couldn’t resist it. It is St Patrick’s Day, after all! However, I am avoiding the obvious pictures of green-clad leprechauns and shamrocks, pots of gold and Guiness! Anyway, there aren’t too many of them sitting around in rural … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Seasons
3 Comments
One for the rook, one for the crow.
Following on from my post of a few days ago, I have now shifted all of the soil; several tonnes of it into my new raised bed (for my potager), and the rest now levelled out for a new grassed … Continue reading
Posted in Garden
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Water of Life
Whilst making our lunchtime stroll around the village, my nostrils started twitching…you know that kind of thing when you catch a smell in the air and you think you know what it is, but then again, you’re not sure. Then … Continue reading
Posted in Village
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Lions, Frogs and Gendarmes.
So far, March is living up to the old proverb of coming in like a lion. We have been battered by strong winds, hail, torrential rain and clouds scuttling across the leaden sky at break-neck speed. Generally the weather wouldn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Garden, Nature, Seasons
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Spring….or not?
There will be many people arguing if March 1st really is the start of spring. Take your pick…today is the meteorological start of spring or you can wait for the astronomical start with the vernal equinox on March 20th. I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Flowers, Nature, Seasons
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Saintes
Mid-February and we are basking in very spring-like temperatures; 15 – 18c, and one corner of the garden, which is a real sun trap, recorded 20c the day before. It really is essential to make the most of this kind … Continue reading
Posted in History, Local travels
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Cranes
Almost 30 years ago I was living in Canada in Northern Alberta. As you can guess, winters were long and hard, but very enjoyable. However, after far too much snow and ice and regular temps of anything between minus 10c … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Seasons
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Valentine’s Day
I can’t decide if this is natural or the product of some secret lovers who carved a heart into this tree. My wistful, romantic side wants to believe that they met in ‘lovers lane’ years ago and declared their undying, … Continue reading
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Early one morning….
Weather-wise, it feels as we have had little else other than rain, damp, fog and overall misery these past weeks, so when we get a nice day it gladdens the heart and soul and it sort of makes it all … Continue reading
Posted in Seasons
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February…at last.
It is often quoted that February is the border between winter and spring. Thankfully we have now left January behind. I always think that the first month of the year is such a long, tiresome month that feels endless and … Continue reading
Posted in Seasons
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Wet.
There is something perfectly lovely and cosy about waking up to the sound of heavy rain beating down on the tiles and lashing at the windows whilst being inside, still in bed, warm and dry, Maggie pushed into my side … Continue reading
Posted in Village
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Another day.
Who would have believed that a day could change so fast? We have been spolied by the generally mild winter so far, with above average temperatures, certainly no snow (rare for this area), and little in the way of storms … Continue reading
Posted in Seasons, Sky
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Freezing Fog…UGH!
If there is one thing I really hate, it is fog, followed very closely by freezing fog. I let Maggie out at 6h30 whilst it was still night…bitterly cold, frost covering the dark world and millions of stars twinkling so … Continue reading
Posted in Maggie, Seasons, Sky
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Golden Glory.
Look out and see an ascending sun; Her light dances upon frosty blades of grass in early morning; as dawn breaks and fog parts. Surrendering to a fleeting warmth. (Copied from ‘Valley of Light’ by Lily … Continue reading
Posted in Seasons, Sky
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Last Supper…Indian style!
So, my last day in the UK for now and this morning was a day of packing bags and boxes into the car. This past week I have had both my brother and sister-in-law joking that there is still plenty … Continue reading
Posted in Familly, UK
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Winter Scenes
I am still here with my brother and sis-in law and my stay in the UK is starting to wind-down. I can’t believe that the time has passed by so quickly. This morning brought the first really cold morning of … Continue reading
Posted in UK
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Another Year…..
As one year ends and the new one starts, I find myself with my dear brother and sister-in-law in the UK. Nothing says ‘celebrate’ more than being with family and friends. All thoughts and desires are to the coming year … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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And So It Begins Again….
Time passes and here we are in another year. As always, we say “where did the last one go”? and bemoan the passing of time. I’m spending this one with family in the UK, so it’s a fantastic start to … Continue reading
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Family Visitors
I’m now in the process of playing ‘catch-up’, so the next number of posts will be from July when my daughter, Amy, and her husband, Damien, visited from New Zealand. Having made the long flight from New Zealand and Australia … Continue reading
Posted in Chateau, Familly, Local travels
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Longest, Hottest Day
Not only is it the longest day, but it is also the hottest day. And there was I, thinking how nice it would be to move to somewhere cooler than Australia! Ha! We are currently in the middle of a … Continue reading
Posted in Seasons
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Chilling in the Heat
Can it really be six months since I arrived here in France? It really doesn’t seem possible, and by saying “where does the time go?” I am leaving myself open to all sorts of (rude) comments about how old I … Continue reading
Posted in Garden, House, Seasons
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Hugo!
People always say that time is a healer, and although it is going to take a long time, I can now post about Hugo who sadly died a week ago in a tragic accident. My world came to a complete … Continue reading
How to Learn French…
I have always been told that the best way to learn a language is by immersion. Get in there amongst the locals, try to make conversation, don’t be afraid of making a mistake, have a go and other such worldly … Continue reading
Posted in House
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Life on Speed
I have to say that it really is as if nature is on drugs. I turn my back and before I know it, something new has surfaced, or existing plants have grown another few cms overnight. It’s like nature is … Continue reading
Posted in Flowers, Garden, Seasons
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Rape in the fields!
No, not that kind of rape! When I was living in the UK it was always called rape, but rapeseed is known as canola in other places, and colza here in France. Whatever you call it, the countryside is transformed … Continue reading
Posted in Seasons, Village
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Dried Fish!
You know that horrible feeling you have when you something isn’t right? What has happened? Why? Did you do something wrong? Is it expensive? I had all those feelings and more last week when I suddenly noticed that the water … Continue reading
Posted in Garden
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La Rochelle
When it’s raining and the skies are leaden, it’s always nice to think back to the glorious weather of last week when we managed 24c. Come back soon sun and warmth! It was a bit of a last minute plan … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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First Quarter
I really can’t believe that exactly three months ago, I landed in a very cold and frosty France, starting my new life here in the Deux-Sèvres. So much has happened in that short time: no water when I arrived, then … Continue reading
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Verteuil-sur-Charente
The great thing about living in this region is that you really don’t have to travel very far to enjoy the delights of small towns and villages, relatively traffic-free roads, and at this time of year, few tourists. The wonderful … Continue reading
Posted in Chateau, Local travels
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Almost Spring
We are being lulled into a false sense of security by unseasonal mild weather. It’s still Februaury and even though the seasons are changing, we aren’t out of winter just yet. These past days have been nothing short of beautiful, … Continue reading
Posted in Flowers, Hugo, Seasons
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What a difference a day makes
The routine with Hugo is becoming established and we try to manage 3 walks a day, one of them a long walk, usually in the afternoon. He seems to have bundles of energy and never tires…until the end of the … Continue reading
Posted in Village
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Frustration in a box
All of my well-laid plans to keep a regular blog from my arrival went totally to pot! Not from any fault of my own I hasten to add. It all stems from the lack of internet and the frustrations of … Continue reading
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