Archives
- May 2019 (3)
- April 2019 (1)
- March 2019 (7)
- February 2019 (5)
- January 2019 (7)
- January 2018 (1)
- August 2017 (1)
- June 2017 (2)
- May 2017 (1)
- April 2017 (4)
- March 2017 (2)
- February 2017 (4)
- January 2017 (1)
- December 2016 (1)
Author Archives: Al in France
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
2 Comments
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
2 Comments
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
Leave a comment
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
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
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
1 Comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Bonne Année 2017
The start of a new year and a start to my new life here in France.I’ve actually been here now for 3 weeks and geting settled is all part of the adventure. I think that not a lot has happened, … Continue reading
Posted in Christmas, Hugo
Leave a comment
Au Départ.
And so it begins……my move to a new life in France. I’m just 2 days away from leaving Brisbane, Australia. The removal company have packed up everything and I’ll see my belongings in 3-4 months time. It seems like an … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
2 Comments
