...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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Three years on.......

Well, we've been here three years now, how did that happen?!
We've come a long way with many changes to the fabric of the building, the business and ourselves along the way. For a round up of those changes - they're all documented on this blog somewhere, have a trawl back through, I can't pick out highlights because that's what I think I publish here anyway - I save you from the mundane and the boring bits (I hope!).
Right then, what's happened in the life of Vue de Duras since the beginning of August......

We've had all sorts of weather..

Calm and clear, perfect for hot air balloon

Stormy and beautiful

The beginning of misty mornings

Incredible - but short-lived rain

and more rain!

Then a late summer heatwave which coincided with Tom's visit along with his friends

Sorry Adam and Genevieve, you'd already gone!

 

 We ate and drank well....

Simple chilli for night one - the evening was a bit 'chilli' too

Table for 14 at Famille Moutier - 6 courses, with a different wine for each one, all for 35 euros

The cheese board at Moutier's

Mmmm...lovely barbeque

Sunday dinner, slow cooked lamb and all the trimmings

Wine tasting by moonlight!

More wine tasting this time at the Fete de Vignerons at the Chateau in Duras in August

   All this eating and drinking has to be balanced by exercise!
                             Tom and friends...

.....other guests.....

Diemut's, before breakfast yoga

and Paul's kettle ball

Even Hugh and I, on a short 'almost end of season' break in Arcachon

  ..whatever the weather..

obviously not as cold as it looks!

 With winter coming on we were grateful for help with stacking the first log delivery - thank you chaps!

excellent job!

some are built for hard work.......

the team, job done!

 Over the summer we enjoyed nights out at the night markets and the medieval fairs - this one at Monteton

We managed a couple of days out, this one down on the Canal de Garonne at Lagruère

Lovely spot for lunch

We've had visits from friends, 

Sue, Sean, Kate and Emma, passing through going south, then heading north again!

Barbara and Jonathan and Nick Berg came for a short break - the Vue de Duras 'campsite' sprang into action again

At the night market in Duras with Jonathan

Mark, on his annual trip to trim the palm trees

 and camp..

And family too. David and Nicki came for a week, not so lucky with the weather this time and David managed to avoid the camera completely! Nicki did a quick reupholstery job on the furniture on the gite terrace (I've almost finished Nic!) 

before and after

More photo's from a relaxing break in Arcachon

                                Coffee with a view...

                                and mussels for lunch..

Time to sit and think

We have just returned from Paris, another short break to see Fleetwood Mac, who were just brilliant!

The best photo I could manage on my old style phone!

 A bit damp, but lovely nonetheless..

bridge of locks

and then in Versailles..

the hall of mirrors

The wine harvest is now in....

although apparently not a good vintage, the spring was too cold.

The logs are stacked ready for the cold weather (see above for the help in stacking them so beautifully).

And as usual a little round-up of the wildlife spotted...

Rhinoceros Beetle

glow worm in the dark

and with a light shining on it

 

Gatekeeper butterfly

A busy couple of months when you look at it like that! And back to the day three years ago that started it all....