A whole year at Vue de Duras

Well, here we are, a whole year later!
A year ago today, we arrived in Duras, to take a look at the house that was about to become ours.

What a year since then. Look back over the blog for details!
This week has just about seen the last of the builders with the re-roofing of the back of the house. We're hoping that the coming winter will be a bit warmer in that part of the house, now that it has new insulation and is water-tight.

We have re-used all the old tiles on the lower roof, so it looks just the same, but we know it's better. Clearing the ground beneath the overhang, where all the new tiles had been stored for months, I found the remains of the roof before the last one, but it looks so much better now.

We have had a good first year for our B & B business, with guests still arriving - mostly house hunters at the moment, but the year has also seen holiday-makers -English, French, Dutch, Australian, and guests at weddings at the chateau in Duras - mostly French. We've enjoyed meeting them all, they've been a lovely bunch of people, thank you to all of them. We've also enjoyed visits from friends - none of whom over-stayed their welcome and we look forward to seeing them all again!

Our newest venture is 'tea and cake on Sunday afternoons'. 

Earl Grey cup cakes, ginger cake and coffee fudge cake

Tea with a view

Tea with a view - and some shelter!

Join us if you're near-by. Ring first just to make sure (details on our web-site).
 3-5pm Sundays.

A few photos to sum up the last month.

A Sunday morning hot air balloon.

Autumn sunrise.

Newly planted vine next to the gite terrace - grapes for eating.

Newly planted birch trees, by the pond.

Weeping willow

Passion flower to grow over the fence

Geoff and Judith, enjoying a lovely September day with us.

I'd like to think that these are the collared doves hatched in our palm tree!

Autumn sun set.

Early morning alarm call!

A beautiful car belonging to some of our lovely guests.

Bits and bobs

The chicks have become a little too free range when it comes to wandering into our neighbour's garden, so their wanderings have been curtailed a little.

They're getting just a bit TOO confident!

They are now confined to quarters until a bigger pen is made around the orchard for them.

The winner of the 'I can keep the dead toad long enough to eat it' competition!

The B & B and gite are filling up - Hugh will soon be able to retire! We had a house full of perfect guests, celebrating a silver wedding anniversary, last week. Thank you, Vince and Julie, Joy and Steve, Rae and Mia, Andrew and Lesley, we thoroughly enjoyed your party - all week!

The perfect guests!

Vince opening Champagne to get the party going. Apparently all the
jokes have already been made by his colleagues!

Missing from the picture - the photographer, Hugh of course, and lovely number one daughter, Ellen, on a weeks 'holiday'. She somehow managed to stay out of all photos. I'm sure Nicole must have some on her antiquated film - I'll publish them as soon as they arrive so we will have proof of a lovely week.
During the week, a visit to Domaine Gourdon for a spot of wine tasting and buying. Thanks to Jonathon for an enjoyable and educational session, and coping with all Steve's questions!

No spitting!

Plenty of drinking - and buying.

It's sunflower time in the south-west of France. As well as the beautiful green of the vines, the growing maize, and the ripening plums are fields and fields of sunflowers. A small selection of  all the photos - you just HAVE to keep stopping and snapping!

This one because I love the way the one flower is facing the opposite way
 to all the others - confused or independent?

Two flowers for the price of one!

And this one because this is the vegetable garden I aspire to. I was supposed to be looking at the pottery on display at Castelmoron d'Albret, but this caught my eye over a low wall above a long drop!

Long time, no see!

It has been a long time since I lost blogged. With good reason - honest!
Over the last week, we have had our first guests. All went well - I hope they will agree- and the house, which has been a hive of industry is almost quiet again. Hugh has been here- for the third weekend in a row- he has returned to Upton this evening, leaving Nicole and I with Rob and Susie, Hugh's son and daughter-in-law and they are going home in the morning.
I should start by going back to the end of January, where the last blog left off.
Kath arrived for the weekend, and spent most of it painting. I had been putting off decorating the lounge because of the size, but together we got started and I just needed to finish it off after she left. First guests were booked in by now, so deadlines were looming.

 

The room is now finished, mirrors reinstated, wood burner lit - very cosy!  Thank you, Kath.

I then finished off the second bedroom..

 

....finally, just about ready for the first guests - both rooms booked for the whole week! Hugh had to drive over with last minute purchases of mirrors and light fittings, all fitted with minutes to spare!

At the end of the week, Rob and Susie arrived and have earned their keep, chopping wood and helping to strip the ivy from the palm tree - future family visitors please take note!

Meanwhile, over in the gite......

                                                         last seen with no roof, has been transformed...

 

Inside is also taking shape... the plumbing is in place for the shower rooms and kitchen.

The terrace is ready for the roof pillars to be added....

Our next guests are not due for a couple of weeks, so we can now start on the next bedroom - after we have been to choose tiles and work surfaces for the gite.
In the meantime, we have found time to smell the roses (or look at the crocuses anyway!) and enjoy the sunshine.

That's all for now, no promises for the next blog, but I'll be back as soon as I can!