How did it get to March?!

Oh dear, how did that happen? The last time I looked it was only January - I think we have been hibernating! Or else 4 posts in January just exhausted me!
So, what has been happening at Vue de Duras? We have had a false alarm thinking that spring had arrived....

Peacock butterfly.

Primroses

Red legged partridge

 ......and then it snowed again, and hailed, and rained.

Valentines day

Valentine's day has come and gone, along with the second anniversary of our chambre d'hote.

Happy Anniversary!

We had a little spring break in St Jean de Luz, a beautiful day followed by .....snow!

Snow in St Jean de Luz

The harbour entrance at St Jean de Luz

The harbour

Oyster catcher

While there, we hopped over the boarder into Spain for a Tapas lunch in St Sebastien..needless to say Hugh didn't have octopus (neither did I!)

Octopus on the Tapas menu

Tapas bar

On the way back, we called in to Biarritz, for a quick visit, cut short by the snowy weather.

The beach at Biarritz

I have been trying to decorate the kitchen, I'm getting there - the beams have been treated to prevent insect problems, the ceiling and walls painted and a dresser 'shabby chic-ed'. Hugh keeps moving - anything standing still too long gets the 'Annie Sloan' treatment!

And today is Hugh's birthday! We are celebrating that, the first year of his 'retirement', and, coming soon......

......the completion of the shutter painting! Nearly there now, let's just hope there is enough time between the end of the bad weather and it getting too hot!

A bientôt  X

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!