April

As is now traditional, I am starting this update with an apology for the length of time since the last one! I have been really, really busy.

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!)

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.

Hugh may, one day get a chance to relax and enjoy those fruits, but not until he has finished painting the shutters....

six done......

...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!

Looking West over the Atlantic

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!

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. 

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!

Weather

In January I had a visit from my three lovely offspring - much anticipated and quickly over! The weather was lovely, just perfect for walking - on one day of the three they were here! The other days were wet or foggy - oh well, you can't have it all - it was lovely to have them all here together.

Ellen, David and Nicole

A beautiful January sunrise.

 Apart from seeing Ellen, David and Nicki, January was long and dull.

February on the other hand has started with the most amazing weather (and frozen pipes and cold draughts!)

I'm told that this sort of weather is very rare, so please excuse all the photos. How beautiful is this place - in any weather! 

Unfortunately the chickens don't agree. They are really disgruntled! They hate putting their feet on the snow, and refused to come out until I had cleared a patch for them. But, they are still laying.

No way!

We're not coming down - and you can't make us...........I did, eventually they had to be lifted off.

You want us to do what?....

We're not stepping on that!

Three days later, and no further snowfall and it still looks like this....

 Temperature hasn't risen above freezing since Saturday, and not forecast to do so for the rest of the week.

Swim anyone?!

 Lovely as it looks......roll on summer!

Happy New Year to everyone

What a year it's been! To top off our fantastic year, Orla Elsie O'Connor arrived, a little late, on Christmas Eve.

Congratulations to Rob and Susie on the arrival of Orla

We had a lovely party last night, with lots of our friends, plenty of wine and food. A fantastic way to end a fantastic year.
I've just skimmed back over the year, and it's hard to believe how far we've come. There is still lots to do, decorating to finish off and most of all the garden to sort out. In March I was hopeful of starting my vegetable plot - that didn't happen, but I'm going to try again this spring. I still haven't done anything about getting bees - but I've not given up on the idea yet. Plenty to do! The coming year will see more changes, the biggest one being Hugh finally retiring from the day job in March and moving out for good. I can't call it retirement, because that is the last thing it will be!
So, a few photos taken over the last couple weeks in and around Vue de Duras.

Christmas at the Chateau in Duras

Duras from the Chateau

Finally, the two 'spare' cockerels go to their new home, joining 150 Light Sussex hens - lucky boys!

The Christmas market in Duras

 

A visit to Bordeaux just before Christmas

Sunrise

Piglets when they arrived at Domaine Gourdon

My Christmas present from Ellen, David and Nicole

After the rain.

Collecting the Christmas tree with Lizzle.

 Following being featured on ITV's Little England, we are in this month's Living France, an article about being filmed for the tv programme

To see the article, go to our website - and wait patiently for it to load.

Happy New Year - hope it's a good one for you all!

We've been on the tv - it's all over!

Such a long time since the last blog - I always seem to start a blog like a confession - forgive me, it has been six weeks since my last blog!
I have been busy - of course - some guests, some decorating, some gardening, much cleaning/tidying/stacking and moving of logs/lighting and cleaning fires etc etc. I've spent a week back in the UK, visiting family and friends and getting my M&S fix!
But mostly it's been a time of waiting and watching the tv to see how we would be portrayed on ITV's 'Little England'.
Well, its over, we've been on the telly, and it wasn't too bad! So, here are some pictures of our film 'crew', back in the early summer. We'd like to say thank you to them for making us look good, for being kind and gentle, for the lovely photography of this very beautiful area of France that we have made our home.
So, Kate and Suzi, Simon and Ashley, and everyone involved in the editing,...Thank you from all of us.

Filming Morgan - the 'chicken whisperer'!

Right....what next?!

Off to the Marie with my dictionary. Note Tom in the background, pretending he's not there!

The chicks are in a box in the car, and we are at Domaine Gourdon!

Ssh!...quick they haven't seen us......!

'Dutch Courage'

Take a break!

'Cheers!'

Nearly done.

After the rain..

Photographing the photographer!

You want me to do what...?!

What did she say?!

Ash in the gite......

and outside.

All finished and ready for guests - and not raining yet!

So. What next at Vue de Duras?

The January edition of Living France (out later this month) has an article about us, just in time for Christmas reading.

Our bookings for the gite are going very well, just one week left in the whole of July and August next summer, how fantastic is that? So if you are thinking of booking a week, do it soon! Go to www.vuededuras.com for availability. 

Christmas is coming, and Hugh will be here for a couple of weeks - I may even let him have a bit of a holiday!
March will see Hugh finally giving up the day job and taking up his new job as full time pool maintenance man/marketing and accounts manager.....
and I may even do a bit of teaching!