...a little while later.....

The first of May is a public holiday in France, so we downed-tools today in the tradition of May Day and went in search of lunch at Domaine la Boissiere, Soumensac.......unfortunately so did everyone else! It is another of this area's 'best kept secrets', no English voices to be heard, the rules unclear, but there were definitely no seats to be had, all tables were claimed with cloths and baskets, everyone brings their own 'couverts' then queues up for their bottles of wine, oysters, duck breasts etc - it smelt delicious. No chance of waiting for a table to finish, everyone is there for the duration. Next year......we'll go armed!
We did manage a glass plastic cup of wine from the fountain before we left.

So, no long lunch for us today, I may as well finally update this blog!
We started the year with a break in beautiful Valencia

 Signs of spring followed shortly afterwards, the cranes making way their way back north, painting recommencing and the grass needing to be cut!

Followed by a visit from Nicole and Tom and one of the first vide-greniers of the year.

We tried to increase our exercise with a couple of walks and using out bikes (it didn't last long!)

We had a day or two playing golf...

resulting in broken club for Hugh. It was NOT sabotage, I won fairly!
..before getting down to some preparation for our summer season.

With some help from our lovely friends we have painted the eaves and constructed a pergola to give us some shade and shelter.....

 ..having first repaired the table....

We can't wait ro get a bit more use from the newly shaded terrace.
We have done a spot of wine tasting at the Maison des Vignerons

The next lesson....

 Hugh continues in his quest for the perfect 'Vue de Duras'..

We have been to a couple of music events arranged by 

First a soiree New Orleans with Dale Blade

then Texas Martha and the House of Twang

 While I had a quick trip back to the UK, Hugh went bargain hunting in the rain at a vide-grenier, and found these coffee cups - of which I approve!

Our usual round-up of wildlife

Our new chickens...Lemon Cuckoo Orpintons, Welsummers (which lay the greeny-brown eggs below) and a little brown hen. 

Family news next - Alex (standing next to Noel Gallagher at a recent football match, pictured in the Daily Mirror) announced his engagement to the lovely Sarah. Congratulations, can't wait to buy a new hat! 

..and finally.... our new postcards have arrived....

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Spring may be here

I don't like to be too optimistic about it - you never know what's around the corner! But the signs are there. On Saturday afternoon Hugh, Nicole and I went for a walk that was mentioned in Birding Dordogne by David Simpson. It was around the L'Escourou Reservoir near Eymet. We didn't see much in the way of birds (our fault I suspect, as we were so busy enjoying the sunshine!), but I did spot these little signs....

Dog violet

Cowslip

 

 

I was thrilled to see these growing near the banks of the reservoir, it reminded me of the springs of my childhood.
The following may or may not be a sign of spring - but it certainly means the sun was shining!

Nicole at work!

Also achieved this weekend....

Thank you Hugh for my new compost bin.

Also now finished, is the study/library/lobby/entrance hall/vestibule.....room still to have a name settled on it!

Nicole and I managed to turn this around in just a few days, in time to welcome our next guests....so I suppose she deserved her rest in the hammock!
Talking of signs of spring......I am still looking for the perfect photo of the returning cranes. Every time we hear their distinctive call, I rush out to try again. However close they are, they always seem miles away in the photo! This is the best of today's attempts......

...still not clear enough!

Spring IS around the corner!

Blogs are like buses!

You wait for ages and then two come along at once!
Just thought I'd add a couple of photos from the weekend.

Rob, Susie and Nicole enjoying the sunshine.

Cranes on their way back from wherever they have been for the winter - a sure sign, I'm told, that winter is over ......fingers crossed

 

 

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!