June 2012

Another busy month has passed at Vue de Duras. Hugh has settled into his role as Marketing and Infrastructure manager, although the shutters are still not painted! Apparently you can't paint outside when it is raining or too hot, and for the last month there has been no in-between.
Still, the pool is looking great, and has had some use, and it now has some lovely decking down one side.

Our new decking

We have had visits from some more of Hugh's colleagues-

Karen and Gav

One of whom stayed in the 'annexe'....

Vue de Duras 'annexe'

...and following an intensive ladder training course trimmed the dead fronds from our palm trees!

Mark up the palm tree

Guests who are willing to climb ladders and cook delicious meals are always welcome!
We have also had a visit from Alex and the lovely Sarah....

If arriving a couple of weeks before the rest of the family was a ploy to get the best room, it didn't work, as they ended up on the bed settee, as we were full of paying guests. It was lovely to see you both, and we hope you will be back before too long - good luck with the exam Alex.
We have also had a visit from Hugh's long-lost uni friend, Dave, now living in California.

He also had to sleep on the bed settee, but still provided plenty of wine to go with the reminiscences and cooked us a lovely meal! We look forward to seeing him again - next time with wife Beth.
We have been noticing visitors of a different kind in the garden too....

A very large cricket

A dragonfly

A Hummingbird Hawk moth

 We have an abundance of birds nesting. The Black Redstarts featured in the last blog fledged successfully and there are magpies and goldfinches nesting in the tilleul tree as well as the doves.

Fledgeling Black Redstart

We had a fleeting visit from Elodie on Peter, and her friend out for an evening ride.

Despite Hugh's onerous duties, he is still finding time to pursue his photography hobby - although he is keen to point out that he was on his way to the Boulangerie for the breakfast croissants and baguettes when he stopped to take advantage of this lovely sight. 

A view of the Chateau across the hay field.