Weather

In January I had a visit from my three lovely offspring - much anticipated and quickly over! The weather was lovely, just perfect for walking - on one day of the three they were here! The other days were wet or foggy - oh well, you can't have it all - it was lovely to have them all here together.

Ellen, David and Nicole

A beautiful January sunrise.

 Apart from seeing Ellen, David and Nicki, January was long and dull.

February on the other hand has started with the most amazing weather (and frozen pipes and cold draughts!)

I'm told that this sort of weather is very rare, so please excuse all the photos. How beautiful is this place - in any weather! 

Unfortunately the chickens don't agree. They are really disgruntled! They hate putting their feet on the snow, and refused to come out until I had cleared a patch for them. But, they are still laying.

No way!

We're not coming down - and you can't make us...........I did, eventually they had to be lifted off.

You want us to do what?....

We're not stepping on that!

Three days later, and no further snowfall and it still looks like this....

 Temperature hasn't risen above freezing since Saturday, and not forecast to do so for the rest of the week.

Swim anyone?!

 Lovely as it looks......roll on summer!

Happy New Year to everyone

What a year it's been! To top off our fantastic year, Orla Elsie O'Connor arrived, a little late, on Christmas Eve.

Congratulations to Rob and Susie on the arrival of Orla

We had a lovely party last night, with lots of our friends, plenty of wine and food. A fantastic way to end a fantastic year.
I've just skimmed back over the year, and it's hard to believe how far we've come. There is still lots to do, decorating to finish off and most of all the garden to sort out. In March I was hopeful of starting my vegetable plot - that didn't happen, but I'm going to try again this spring. I still haven't done anything about getting bees - but I've not given up on the idea yet. Plenty to do! The coming year will see more changes, the biggest one being Hugh finally retiring from the day job in March and moving out for good. I can't call it retirement, because that is the last thing it will be!
So, a few photos taken over the last couple weeks in and around Vue de Duras.

Christmas at the Chateau in Duras

Duras from the Chateau

Finally, the two 'spare' cockerels go to their new home, joining 150 Light Sussex hens - lucky boys!

The Christmas market in Duras

 

A visit to Bordeaux just before Christmas

Sunrise

Piglets when they arrived at Domaine Gourdon

My Christmas present from Ellen, David and Nicole

After the rain.

Collecting the Christmas tree with Lizzle.

 Following being featured on ITV's Little England, we are in this month's Living France, an article about being filmed for the tv programme

To see the article, go to our website - and wait patiently for it to load.

Happy New Year - hope it's a good one for you all!

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.