Website link

http://sites.google.com/site/chambresdhotespoitoucharente/

This is the link to my website where you can find wonderful farmhouse B&B in the sunny French countryside-- please take a look--and note that I ve a special offer of 4 nights for the price of 3 to anybody quoting ref blo2009!

HOUSE BUYERS ARRIVE FOR CHAMBRES D'HOTES

So here we are at the end of February already. We've just had the most glorious week's weather. I've just got back from walking the dogs along the River Charente which runs alongside the field at the bottom of the garden. The wild flowers are increasing in number every day--celandines everywhere now. The birds are singing loudly and today both dogs decided to go for a swim to cool off. Once upon a time I would have panicked at Battie going in the river, when there are lambs bleating loudly on the opposite bank. In Anglesey I quickly realised that if I could see sheep on the horizon, so could she--and without anything better to do she would go & round them up.

Here, in France, as long as she has her ball, she doesn't seem to give sheep a thought! --of course, there are times when you long to go for a walk without having to throw the wretched thing for her!

Not only has the weather been great, but I've had B&B's 2 weeks running. The first couple came with their 3 gorgeous dogs--2 bulldog bitches--both as soppy as they come-- and what I think was called a 'spinoli'-- a large Italian hunting dog. They'd all driven down from Yorkshire, come through the tunnel--signed the 'Acte de Vente' for their new home in France--and then they crashed out with us for a couple of days whilst waiting for their furniture to arrive.

Then yesterday I had my next visitor. Another prospective house buyer-- this time for a holiday home. The house purchase is nearly complete, but a few plans for house improvements were being sought. The ultimate compliment:-- 'if my improvements turn out as well as yours, I'll be thrilled!!'

Anyhow, it all went very well--we've made some new friends, and also got back into the swing of B&B-ing!

This morning, Gilles, our French farmer rapped loudly on the door & told Geoff that he'd got 'un problem' -- the upshot of this means that Geoff is driving him, and a hired trailer to Chalon-sur-Saone ( about 5-6 hours east)--starting off at 3.00 this (tomorrow?) morning, where they'll collect a 2-furrow reversable plough. They anticipate being back by 2pm! I think we're getting about 12 month's supply of wood in return. Although Gilles doesn't speak English, and Geoff's French is a little wobbly ( & that's being very polite!)--I can't see that they'll have too many problems. For some reason it is much easier to communicate with the local patois-speaking peasants--who talk slowly--and mime everything, than with the more educated French, who have a much greater vocabulary and insist in speaking horribly fast.

On Sunday--March 1st-- Jacki at Beau Regard ( next door--well, 100m up the road!) is holding her 2nd eventing/showjumping week-end.

The first was at the end of November. After building a super course of 17 fences and jumps--in duplicate, so that beginners and more advanced riders could cope, the turn-out was non-existent ( 2 horses!). This was because there was a'tempete' the night before. Trees were uprooted--rooves were blown away-- and , although we turned up to serve teas, and the fish & chip van turned up with food, most people stayed away. It was all incredibly disappointing.

I'm back in the tea caravan --and I hope we have a lot more people taking part this Sunday.

see:-

http://www.centredebeauregard.com/ for details.

Valentine's Day

THE VALENTINE BALL!

This year--probably because it was on a Saturday, Valentine's Day has been celebrated in just about every village in France --in style!

We went to the dinner dance at La Chappelle Baton. We said we might be a bit late as the England-Wales rugby match didn't finish until after 8.oopm ( hooray--Wales won!--although Geoff wasn't so amused!)--- but people were still queuing to buy tickets at the door when we rolled up.

The first drink of the evening was a bizarre concoction of rose wine and pamplemousse ( grapefruit). Not something I'd want every day, I thought , as my glass was topped up for the 3rd time!

As usual all the tables were beautifully decorated. Napkins were folded in heart-shapes. Flowers were arranged in heart-shapes---and glitter hearts were sprinkled all over the table cloth. Every table was named after a dance style. We were on 'rock'-- along with another English couple, 2 members of thesalle de fete committee ( French)--who rushed off to help serve meals and generally arrange this and that-- and Monique ( French), whose English was far superior to all our French---but who had to flee outside every 20 minutes for another fag!

Jean-Pierre --the regular animator--provided the music--on his accordion, his synthesizer-- and for the very few youngsters, his DJ stuff!

The average age of the party-goers was nearer 60 than 40--so the accordion was played for most of the evening.

The pasa-doble was popular, but the Viennese waltz provided the best entertainment. Watching elderly ladies, dancing together, spinning round and round, with very serious looks on their faces--I'm sorry to say--caused us much amusement! And they must have come back to dance it 3or 4 times throughout the evening.

I'm not sure whether the dances were between the food courses --or vice-versa! Both went on until the small hours of the morning. About 2.00am somebody came around with a bottle which said 'whiskey'--- and poured out generous tots of brandy to all and sundry. At that point we decided it was bed time--but I heard the revelry continued for at least 2 more hours!

On the way home we passed Charroux Fotball Club and Asnois Salle de fete--both with people falling out of the doors on their way home! It seems that Valentine 's Day was taken seriously by young and old in France this year!

Blue skies and sunshine!

Yesterday I saw my first celandine of the year. Of course the snowdrops have been up for sometime

and the pansies in the garden seem to flower all year round---

but to get out--without your wellies-- and see blue skies and warm sunshine makes you feel good to be alive!

Then, of course it's back to waxing the floors ( for me!) and insulating the ceiling in the undeveloped part of the 'grenier' (for Geoff).

A few more days like this and we'll be able to start work in the garden.