Update

Little England update.

We now know that our first appearance will be in episode 8, on 31st October. Then in episodes 11 and 12 on 21st and 28th November.

A bit longer to wait - thankfully!

The blog you've been waiting for!

I've been in two minds about publishing this one - but here goes.....

The date for the tv programme we were involved in has been released! It is called 'Little England' and starts at 8pm on Saturday 12th September on ITV. There are twelve episodes and I have no idea which episodes we will be in - or even if we have made the final cut.

I will be watching from behind the sofa - please be kind to us!

I apologise in advance for anything stupid I said or did in front of the camera - they MADE us keep saying how excited we were about everything!

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!

Catch up - overdue again!

Despite all my good intentions it's been a month again! I've finally given in to the hectoring by he who shall remain nameless - but we all know who he is!  We have been busy. The gite has been booked out for the last three weeks or so, and is full until the middle of September, which we are thrilled with. So far guests have been delightful and full of complements, even when the weather has been a little damp and thundery. (It has improved now - honest!) The Bed and Breakfast branch of Vue de Duras has also been busy, so there has been much laundering, cooking and cleaning going on, with not much time for blog writing. Nicole has been working hard, but has escaped back to the UK for a week. She will be back here for two weeks, and then back to Worcester permanently as she has landed what looks like a fantastic job, which apparently she is going to get paid for as well! On the subject of jobs, Ellen, lovely eldest daughter has also landed the job of her dreams this week too, clever girl ended up with a choice of two. Well done El!

So..news updates and photo's today.

A new fence around the pond for safety's sake.

It looks a little stark at the moment, but I see it as a  blank canvas begging for  plants to add colour and form!

Added at the same time as the fence, a bit of trellis to give a little privacy to the gite terrace 

Already planted with a beautiful bougainvillea.

A swing added to the tree - irresistible! 

I spotted a baby redstart outside the window - they are living in the fig tree, still being fed  by the adults.

The chickens have had an extension built, they now have three times the amount of room to scratch about in. Here they are heading through the hole in the fence into the extension for the first time.

One of our 'hens' - crowing! We still think there may be three or even four cockerels where there should only be one!

Basket of plums picked from the orchard next door. Unfortunately, it's been such an odd year weatherwise, that they are not big enough to be sold as Agen prunes, so many will be left to rot on the trees. They make lovely jam and desserts!

While I didn't get to make a vegetable garden this year, I did squeeze a couple of courgette plants in amongst the flowers.

and a butternut squash - I think!

 So, that's the news for now. I will try to do better!

Morning mist and baby redstarts

This morning, as I was on my way to let the chickens out, I noticed that the chateau at Duras was hovering in, and then disapppeared into the mist. It soon burned off to leave a bright and sunny day.

The second brood of redstart chicks are growing, making far more noise. They refuse to make an appearance for the camera though, obviously on strict instructions not to talk to strangers! I rush out every time I hear them, but they go completely silent when I approach.

P.S.

Thought I would just share this. I was on my way down to the coop, to lock up the chickens and this was the view that greeted me at the front door. Wow! (Looses a bit in translation though.)

Jim the Digger

Jim the Digger was here today, Filling in the old pond (nice and level - so perfect for camping on!) and digging a channel for the electrics to run a UV filter and pump, to keep the new pond clean and the water fresh to water my plants. The fence around the new pond is going up later in the week, so all will be safe in the Vue de Duras garden.

Who is that lurking in the sunflowers?!

Hugh was here at the weekend, and trying to relax a bit more than of late. We still managed to pack a fair bit in though. New tyres for the car, house full of guests, meals to cook, tv to buy and set up in the gite. Still time for a fantastic meal at Famille Moutier (look at the menu - well worth a visit if you are staying at Vue de Duras), and for some lurking in the sunflowers! 

The weather has been great, the pool is at a fairly constant 30 degrees, all meals have been taken outside and we had a lovely weekend with Chris and Sarah. 

Bookings for our lovely chambre d'hote and gite are coming in thick and fast - Hugh WILL be able to retire soon! Roll on the day....