Whatever happened to August?!

Another month has whizzed by, sorry to those of you who have been badgering me for an update.
So ....what has happened over the past month...? Well, we've had visits from friends...

Phil and Liz

The little Jacksons

Enjoying pony rides in Savignac.

Visits from family....

Susie and .....

Rob....enjoying the pool and the sunshine.....

...together.

Hugh was here for half of August....

..master of all he surveys (he thinks!)

He was very busy......

Trimming the palm trees...

and sticking loose tiles back in the pool.

Some jobs are trickier than others - securing umbrellas for instance!

We have also enjoyed the night markets in Duras, Monsegur and other local villages.

Hugh and Rob....

and Nicole, enjoying Duras night market.

Other visitors have included plenty of paying guests - thank you to everyone who spent a little time with us over the summer. I'm pleased to say that all our guests have been delightful, and we look forward to meeting many of them again.

Other guests, uninvited, but mostly welcome have included...

a heath bee fly - friendlier than it looks, I believe

Hoopoes, that I thought were long gone, but are just not calling any more.

 A partidge, one of a large group that roam through the garden, orchards and vines.

One of the toads enjoying his daytime retreat. They spend their evenings roaming the terrace eating all sorts of bugs.

The roses have been flowering all summer.

The grapes have been ripening.

These are merlot grapes, in the vineyard at the bottom of our garden.

Some pictures of the vendange at Domaine Gourdon. OK, so mostly pictures of everyone having a lovely  lunch provided by Lesley, for everyone who had helped pick, firstly the Sauvignon and then the merlot grapes. 

Just to prove that some work was done!

Coffee time!

This area of France is in the middle of the vendange now, the harvesting of the grapes that make the wonderful wine of the Duras appellation - come and try some!

So, a very busy month and a fantastic first season for the Vue de Duras chambres d'hotes and gite. 

We couldn't have done it - certainly in the style we managed - without Nicole, who has now returned to the UK ready to start her new job next week. So thank you Nicki, for all your hard work, your inspiration, for keeping me going, for feeding me when I didn't want to cook (often!) and just for the unexpected pleasure of your company for the best part of a year. Thank you!

Thank you.

Finally, good luck to both my lovely daughters, who are starting new jobs this week, Nicole, for an interior design company in Worcestershire and Ellen, for the National Trust in Gloucestershire. Enjoy!

All change again...

The doors have gone on the gite today - a secure, water-tight building at last.*

 

Jim and his digger arrived this morning to dig the hole to bury the new septic tank - never to be seen again - but very important!

Almost gone....

      I hope everything is in the right place!

All that earth has got to go somewhere...

The earth will be banked up against the terrace of the gite to reduce the drop, to make the bank of a pond and level out some other parts of the garden for a petanque pitch and a place to pitch a tent or two - Liz and Phil - that's especially for you and Eleanor, Isabelle and George!!

The beginning of the pond - water in it already!

The trees we planted in the autumn are showing signs of spring now...

 

Nicole has been busy making croissants- they were delicious! The next batch are proving right now, and look just as lovely.

Another shopping trip to Ikea and we came home with a little treat - solar powered mini-lanterns. I don't know how they fell into the basket! They were a bargain, honest Hugh, and look how lovely they look - AND no running costs!

In case you were worried that we're working too hard.....

Hugh in the bushes!

Me with a cup of tea in the sunshine.

All for now, but things are changing quickly now (including our bank balance!) with all the finishing touches, so more photos soon.

*Footnote....
When I said "at last" I mean that I am very impatient to see it finished! It is by no means a comment on how long (or not) the builders are taking! It is amazing how much has been done in such a short time. And I'm very happy with it all. There you are Chris - grovel over - we are happy to see it all take shape, thank you for your hard work and patience with me!