To compare the view in February and today...
What it doesn't show is that it is freezing cold today, despite the blue skies, there is a North wind blowing and it's bitter!
Since the last blog, I have made a flying visit back to the UK. On Mothering Sunday, which was also Hugh's birthday and the weekend of his retirement, we shared a lovely meal with most of our children (we missed you Alex and Sarah!)
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| Matt, Tom, Nicole, Dave, Rob, Hugh, Fiona Ellen, Susie and Orla |
We went to the White Hart at Fyfield, who looked after us very well, despite us changing the booking and having a late start due to some lost car keys. So, Hugh finally retired from the day job, to work full time (and more!) at Vue de Duras.
He had a fantastic send off from his work colleagues, with lots of good wishes and euros for a tree and a brass plaque to go with it.
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Hugh may, one day get a chance to relax and enjoy those fruits, but not until he has finished painting the shutters....
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| six done...... |
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| ...twenty to go! |
Our offspring thought it amusing to design T-shirts to match our new lives!
But little time for marketing until he's fulfilled his role as 'infrastructure manager' (I don't think it would fit on the back!) I like to think that mine is the French meaning of 'boss' although I have had a busy week cooking!
Since Hugh's 'retirement' we have been trying to have days off to explore the area around us. We have managed one day out in four weeks! On a warm and sunny day a couple of weeks ago, we went to the Dunes at Pyla, near Arcachon. When I went with Nicole and Dave last summer, there were stairs up the side of the dune - the highest in Europe. They weren't there this time, so we had to climb up the sand, with lots of stops to admire the views. And what views!
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| Looking West over the Atlantic |
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| Looking East over the pine forest of Landes. |
We had a leisurely lunch next to the lake at Sanguinet, Hugh's favourite sort - 12 euros 50 for three courses including wine!
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| Sanguinet |
We now have signs to help our guests find us - they seem to be working as we have had plenty of guests! The gite is now booked out for the whole summer, and we have a good number of bookings for the B&B too. Our guests seem to like it here and we're very happy too!
Finally, an update on what Nicole is up to. She and her friend Neesha are swimming 25 miles over 25 days in April, they are just over half way now, and still in need of more donations to Cancer Research UK. They are hoping to raise £5000 in memory of Neesha's friend James.
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| Nicole and Neesha |
See the article in the Worcester News
and go to Just Giving to donate to this fantastic cause. They have raised just over £2000 so far.
Well done girls!
