Oh flip,
the swimming pool has shrunk, and we are calling it minime pool. Mike and I sat in the warming weather looking
at the gaping gap where the big pool usual goes and decided that this late in
the season we did not have the courage or enthusiasm to put it up. Always
looking for the compromise in life we went out at 5 o’clock on a Saturday
afternoon and bought the biggest small pool we could find. It was erected in a
blink of an eye and with the solar heating attached was warm enough to splash
around in within three hours. 
The hottest days on record quickly followed and we spent an adorable three days under the tent, in the pool, out in the sun and back under the tent. It was a wonderful way to take advantage of what could have been a passing figment, but has actually lasted a good week and is still hanging on in there
I was happy
to sit in the shade and catch up with my HOSS needlepoint cushion cover. I
started this work 2 years ago thinking that I would work on it in the winter,
but the light is not good enough in doors and I really need to find the time
when the sun is out to sit quietly and stitch. It is nearly as satisfying as
digging over a veg bed, but is a lot less stressful on my old bones.
We were
shocked by the atrocity in Nice only because it seems so near to home for us. I
put my flag out in thought of all those who were affected. We went to the
Mairie and I noticed that the flag there was tied with a black ribbon as opposed
to flying it at half mast, so we did the same and left it there until the
official 3 days of mourning were over. As you would feel emotional for your
home country in crisis we find ourselves too frequently in mourning for our
adopted country and are not in the least bit timid in showing our feelings.
The mobile
homes are occupied for the next few weeks but Mike and I had to pick up our
skirts and get them habitable as we found ourselves behind schedule. We only
advertise to the French on Le Bon Coin and as a result bookings come very late.
We had three days to get the vans de-winterised and although it is not a
massive job it has to be done, and done well.
Once the
punters are in we have little to do with them. We count them in and out every
day and at the end of the week they all go home happy. The first two bookings
pay the annual bill and after that we are in profit. I am the official tax
collector for the tax sejour and feel that we are now quite bonefidably French
with that little qualification under our belts.
We love a
bit of spontaneity and a messenger ping on my kindle mid-afternoon with an
invite to BBQ launches a fun and happy evening with hosts Shirley and Mark. I
love to see a chef in a pinny, it always means that something is cooking and it
is always good. Just goes to show that on the spot invites are fun. The
fundamental ingredient in this event is not to hesitate and just say Yes please
….. We are on our way xx
We drove
past the manoir in Catz and had to stop as there was a flurry of activity. The
roofs have been ready to tile for 4 months and I noticed that slates on the
other side are now being laid. Hopefully they can keep up the momentum and get
all these roofs watertight before the autumn slips by into winter again, we
wish them good luck .
My new
little hedge is coming on OK, although the moles have rammed their way through
the line. Mike assures me they will not be
effected…..I hope he is correct. The
digger came over for a little outing to push all my grass cuttings back into
the hedge so it can compost down. In a years’ time all with ugliness will be hidden
behind my new little hedge but it will not disguise the smell of turned compost
but as we have to remind ourselves many times….we live in the country and that
aroma, is normal. poooo
Whilst
I have Mike in good spirits I suggested we hit the to-do-list and this hedge
was well over due for a sever talking to. We are trying to open up the vista
from the house to the garden and clearing out over grown hedges is top on the
list. We are unsure if this aged hedge will recover and we are quite determined
that if it does not, then it will be grubbed out and replaced. Standing back we are pleased with the overall
effect, so now all I have to do is clear up and wait to see what the hedge will
do for the aesthetic value of this little corner of the orchard
We are
totally delighted with the dahlia garden this year. I have moved tubers for the last time and I will
protect them in position here during the winter. Lifting and storing this many tubers
is a job I no longer wish to do and
as we are trying year on year to find the easiest way to get
jobs done this one is decided, and the Dahlia
garden will remain here for ever . … Lovely.
With all
the lovely hot weather and long evenings there is nothing better than meeting
your mates Graham and Ann for Moules frits in Isingy-sur-mer. A lovely warm
evening with all the atmosphere of a little gem, holiday destination in
Normandy. A good chance to catch up and make plans. It is nice to go out and
just be waited on and not have to wash up, that is Ann’s and my excuse and while the pound conversion
rate is still bobbing along OK we can all afford it and long may that remain
the situation.
Here we are enjoying dinner on the patio, it is so simple and enjoyable. Courgettes are obligatory at the moment before the sweet corn swells and it is a matter of eating as much as you dare of the veg ripe for picking. I have frozen loads for those winter days when the effort makes it all worthwhile
And to
finish the evening a game of numbers to exercise the brain. We also play
scrabble and crib. They do say, a couple who play together stay together and I
guess we are a good example of that. I
play scrabble every day against the kindle android and Mike takes over my game
if I am loosing. We are at least making good efforts to use our brains as well
as our Braun and that hopefully means we can still do a good days work and hold
a plausible conversation, and possibly, all at the same time. xx
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