BIKERS!

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I've just received a thank you e-mail from Jan & Bob. That means that it's at least fortnight since they stayed with me. Events here in France are happening too quickly! I can't keep up with my blog-- but that's summertime for you!

Jan & Bob run the Chester Motor Club and used to stay with us at Fferam Fawr when racing at the Anglesey circuit. That was sprint cars though. They've kept in touch as they hope to retire to France one day. This year their holiday was a tour of France, coming down from Lancashire and crossing to St Malo. First stop--for 2 nights, was US!

I was collecting veg in the garden when a bike came down the lane with 2 riders in black leather. 'Must be lost' I thought as the pillion rider got off and came over to me. The helmet came off--a shake of the head--and lo! 'twas Jan!

I never knew they were bikers, and were doing the tour de France on a motor-bike. Of course, bikers have a rather scary image-- I think it's all that black leather. Underneath they are all pussy-cats though!

Well, it was lovely to hear all the news--and all the flattery!---' the racing circuit in Anglesey is absolutely terrific-- but we so miss you--the B&B is not the same there without you!' ( Flattery gets you everywhere!)

They spent a couple of days with us-- a walk along the 'chemins' through the quiet countryside to Charroux, with a glass & a bit of people- watching at the Bar-- a lot of sitting around in the garden--and eating barbecues, and then a trip to Civray market before setting off to Toulouse on the next leg of their journey.

They also left us with some new ideas! Living in an isolated place-- plenty of stables & barns that would easily provide lock-up sheds-- long quiet roads & chemins ( well, already the local quad club runs along them --27 quads , all in convoy last Sunday!-- so I don't think the odd motor-bike or two will cause offence!)--- what an ideal spot for biking holidays they said.

I was discussing this with a biking friend who lives in Charroux who has been toying with the idea of doing guided bike rides. We've decided to get together and see if we can promote this idea!

CHARROUX OSTENSIONS

Sunday June 17th saw the streets of Charroux decked with flowers ready for the 'Ostensions' parade of relics.

This happens every seven years and 2009 has seen similar events in Confolons and other towns and cities in Poitou-Charente.

Ministers and officials and congregations from the church dress in all their finery and parade around the town exhibiting all the relics stored in the Abbaie vaults.

My thanks go to Jane & Peter who took all the photos for me as I couldn't get there and man the tea-stand for Mrs T's teas at Jacki's 'concours de cross'--which she'd thoughtlessly organised on the same day!

It looked a super day and they took so many pictures that it was hard to decide the best to display here on my blog. I feel -- although having fun at Beau Regard, that we rather missed out on some serious French culture.

Hopefully I'll manage to get there to see it again in 2016!

Brocantes and marches des fleurs!

May 31st saw Genouille's big annual event. It started at 7.30am, in brilliant sunshine, with a brocante. Geoff and I headed off there at about 9.00am, by which time it was heaving!
There were stalls on either side of the main street, all the way around the sides and the middle of the paddock going to the 'aire de loisir 'car park,--and then back again along the footpath! I think the whole of Poitou-Charente turned up!
Geoff & I have been suffering from a nasty snuffle that has been doing the rounds (swine fever? peut-etre!)-- and we abandonned the brocante after a couple of hours. I bought a pair of red wellies for Joe for 1 euro! Whether they'll fit the next time he comes to see us remains to be seen!
The day at Genouille continued without us----with a petanque competition, a chou-croute feast, a folk-bal and finshed off with a firework display! We were tucked up in bed by then! Next year................!

The warm sunny weather has seen everybody out in the garden. Already we are eating strawberries, broad beans, peas, lettuce, spring onions, radish & spinach from the garden! The early cherry trees have yielded loads--but the later ones are only just beginning to ripen.

The 'Halles' in Charroux saw its annual 'Marche des fleurs', when all the locals were seen leaving with armfuls of geraniums, exotics and bedding plants. One wonderful stall was selling metallic giraffes ( and metallic sunflowers, owls and wild boar!)-- whilst another was selling chocolates and cognac! Well, this is France!

Flaming June!

Little Owl sitting on a post in the garden!

We've actually had hot weather for the last few weeks--until Saturday--when we said, OK, the garden needs the rain desperately!

Today is Monday, the frog pond is overflowing, the flowerpots are sodden and the lettuces and strawberries are splattered with mud!

Enough is enough!

or do I mean--an oeuf is an oeuf!

Geoff has actually given up gardening and gone upstairs to start the renovations on the RHS of the staircase.

The original plans had this as a mirror image of what we've already done---ie 2 large en-suite bedrooms--- but this time with mezzanines above.We have decided to amend this idea and make a gite. This would have to incorporate an extra staircase to the downstairs bathroom & utility room--which would be turned into a kitchen /diner, with a new outside door leading to the garden at the back of the house--giving it a private entrance away from the B&B's.

I can't believe we'll ever fill 4 en-suite bedrooms--- but I can see that families may like to come & stay for a week's self-catering holiday.

This has had every friend who has been in the house to redesign/rethink and generally tell us what should be done. I am quite happy with my new plan. Geoff is a little more wary ( but then, it is he who does the building work!)

And , of course, people coming for longer stays means we might yet get a swimming pool!

Since I last wrote in the blog the wild life has been busy. We have our own private 'Springwatch' here at Maureville.

There are swallows nesting in the shed next to the dogs, black redstarts have young in the next shed . Sparrows are nesting in the leylandii hedge. Blue tits have a nest in the cracks of the house wall. The kestral is back again with her nest in the eaves at the back of the house--whilst the little owl-- who is quite the rowdiest bird in the garden-- has a nest in the eaves at the front of the house. This is an improvement on last year when the owls nested in the chimney--which led to all sorts of problems!

The little owl can be seen every morning from my bedroom window, taking food to his young, or squawking loudly at Boris!

The photo above is the best I've been able to manage--(he is sitting on the post in the middle of the picture)--but birds never stay still enough for a really good photo!

I'm now trying to take one of the hoopoe. I don't know where the nest is, but he can be seen every morning digging for worms in the short tufted grass next to where the cars are parked.

The HUNT BALL. ( French style!)

We got to bed at 3 am this morning!

After a week's visit from Joe-- our grandson, with his parents & his other Granny (she's Granny Rosbif, and I'm Granny Frog's-legs) we each pinched 20 Euros from the kitty and headed off for La Chappelle Baton salle de fete, where the local 'chasse' were holding their end of season dinner dance.
The 2009 'regime' -- which had already lost much of the impetus from the start of the year--completely ground to a halt last week. If we weren't eating at a local restaurant (on the terrace overlooking the lake at St Martin L'Ars, or at the Hotel du Commerce in Civray) we were indulging in buying up all the locally produced wines and cheeses and pates at Civray & Ruffec markets-- and then having picnics. So having completely lost the dietry plot, I thought we might as well finish the week with a typical French celebratory 6 course supper!

We've been going to dancing classes at la Chappelle Baton every Tuesday night for the last month. It's a great cheapo evening out--2 Euros each & take your own refreshment! Although Gill & Mike, who take the class, are English--and the class is held in a sort of English -Franglais, it is well supported by the local French --who love to dance, as well as numerous English, who can't , but want to join in at local festivities. ( That's us!)

So last night was our first chance to put our lessons to the test.

Geoff & I are happy freestyle dancers--occasionally complimenting each other on the floor. The minute we have to hold on to each other, the brain & the feet loose contact--and sadly, last night was no exception.
As elderly Frenchmen & their partners spin round & around, doing the Viennese waltz, or the pasa doble, we waited to hear a gentle waltz.
We could have attempted the tango--but find cornering difficult--and the floor was very crowded.
The 'madison' though was attempted-- the steps of this changes according to which village you live in. Gill had done lots of research and taught us the 'La Chappele Baton' madison--- only to find a much simpler ( Thank heavens!) version being danced last night ( at La Chappelle Baton!!) The madison tends to be danced only by girls--and men who join in have their own versions of the steps--which they happily dance, whilst the girls keep in unison. This can be confusing.
The meal was great.
Glasses of rose wine ( ie--pink, not made from roses--I've not got accents on my keyboard!) were handed out on arrival-- at about 8-8.30ish. We mingled and chatted for about an hour & then found seats at the table.
A glass of kir was then give as an 'aperatif '-- and baskets of bread for those who couldn't wait any longer!
A local pate with cornichons was followed by quiche-- interspersed with dancing.
The 'chasse' wives were responsible for serving--so it was quite slow as the were all keen dancers. Mostly with each other--- mainly as their husbands were manning the barbecues.
Eventually 'trous' came round. This was a small apple sorbet doused in brandy. In spite of the salle de fete heaving with over 200 party- goers, portions were generous. Seconds of the trou followed the first.
By that time we were all up & dancing.
The next course was 'steak and frites'-- very large, and amazingly they were rare rather than raw as seems to be the norm in a lot of French restaurants.
It was well after midnight when a bowl of lettuce and cheese was handed round. We'd consumed all the free wine and resorted to the 5 euros a bottle stuff by now. ( Water is always available--and very necessary--to the unlucky person who draws the short straw & is the driver!)
About 1.30am we saw the profiteroles-- one strawberry, coffee and chocolate each-- followed a bit later by seconds for all those who could manage it!
Meals in France usually finish with coffee and brandy-- but the dance floor was full and our table had been taken over by French Manchester United supporters ( heaven forbid!) who wanted to talk football with the Englishmen on our table ( 1 Man U, 2 Chelsea & 1 rugby fan !)--it's amazing how a few drinks and they all understand each other, regardless of whatever language is being spoken!
Anyhow, another hour passed-- people with children ( there were at least a dozen!) started to drift away ( although 2 babies were asleep in prams, 1 child slept on the table, and 2 more slept on mattresses in the corner of the room!). There wasn't a coffee cup in sight--so Geoff and I decided it was time for us to leave.
I've since learned that coffee and cognac appeared at 3 am--when at least 100 stalwarts were still boogeying. They've got some stamina these French!
My one regret is that I forgot to take the camera--so sorry, no pictures!

May goings-on!

The sun is shining , there's masses of gardening to be done--and I'm stuck indoors on the computer.

I'm creating a brochure. I was rather pleased with the map--which I'd poached from my neighbour's brochure for 'Centre de Beauregard'--- but having re-drawn it on my computer it doesn't want to be 'inserted' from 'word'--and the scanner's having a wobbly. So that's all gone on hold.

Meanwhile I've had a baking session for next week's visitors, which has gone quite well alongside sorting out e-mails.
I'm not a fan of 'facebook'--but it's one way of knowing where my wayward nomadic son has got to. I understand he's on a bus to Buenos Aries.......... and then the flight back to Taiwan, where he's lived for the last few years. He spent all the 'SARS' outbreak in Taiwan--where there were plenty of outbreaks. The last 5 months have been spent travelling all over S America. A couple of weeks ago he said he was scuba diving off the coast of Columbia. Since then he's been working on a pig farm in order to earn enough to get back for his flight from BA as he'd been robbed & was a bit short of cash.
I haven't needed to mention 'swine flu'.................. everybody else on his facebook has already done so!

This week-end saw Jacki hold her 4th 'Cross country & show-jumping fun day'--I helped Mrs T with the teas. It was a lovely day, but not a very good turn-out. We put this down to other events taking place over the May holiday.
Geoff was thrilled to be put on the water-jump where he spent a happy couple of hours watching kingfishers on the River Charente!

Charroux Tourist Office sent me a brochure this morning......................
20-24 mai 2009 is their 'Festival de la randonnee'--- it's their 3rd year of this event which includes:-

Saturday 16th at 16hrs....the official inauguration of the Festival, the 'lancement' of the tourist season followed by an opening 'spectacle' and an 'aperatif'!!!!

Wednesday 20th mai ( this is franglais at its worst) there's a 'folk ball' ( ie--evening dress unlikely to be seen!) 6 euros

Thursday 21st mai 8.30am Randonnee 'la Terre de nos Ancetres'
This means that there is a guided ramble up to the pre-historic grottoes at Chauffaud...where there will be entertainments.
This is followed in the evening at 8.30pm with a cine-debate on the theme of 'joys & pains of rural life over the last 50 years' ( in French!)

Friday 22 mai at 9am is a randonnee around Charroux.

Saturday 22nd has a big multi-randonnee--bikes, push-chairs, horses & foot-soldiers! with lunch en-route sur reservation for 12 euros. In the evening there's a soiree musicale, in the parc du chateau de Rochemeau.(7 euros)

Sunday 24th May is the final day--again a randonnee in the morning and at 2pm a'baladoreve' to be held in the garden of la 'Grande Maison' --culminating in the 'pot de cloture' still in the garden of the big house at 6pm.

It all sounds a bit dry--but is really a bit of a get together & a wander round and a chat to one and all..before eating & drinking!

The wild flowers are in full bloom along the chemin around Maureville now. The early orchids are nearly over, as are the cowslips and bluebells. I haven't seen a coypu in ages......the chasse culled them quite ruthlessly this winter. Geoff found a yellow and black Fire salamander in the woods----in perfect condition, but dead.
Walking along the chemin at the back of the house two days ago, was a 3 foot grass snake, which had been cut in two by the tractor.
The swallows, sparrows and numerous blus and great tits are nesting quite openly around the house and garden. I saw a hoopoe a month ago--but not since.Geoff fears the same of his wheatear. The kestral has a nest in the back of the house like last year.
The black redstarts are here, nesting in the barn again. Nightingales and chiffchaffs and blackbirds have nests around and about--and are making a lot of noise. At night the owls are really noisy. The little owl can be seen regularly, but others are more discreet--and think we are deaf!

So that's about all for now--back to the gardening whilst the sun is shining methinks!

Well, Easter has come & gone, and I seem to have neglected my blog somewhat!

Yesterday I went down to Charroux to pick up brochures and leaflets of forthcoming events for this summer--only to find that most wouldn't be ready until the beginning of May. On a more positive note, I did manage to register my B&B with them, and leave some business cards.

The dates that I have managed to get so far include:

Sunday 3 May Cross Country and Show-jumping Fun Open Day ( Beau Regard, Asnois) horses!

Thursday 21 May Marche aux Fleurs (Charroux)--annual flower sale
(Dejeuner:produits regionaux et aux gouts de fleurs)

Sunday 31 May Vide Greniers ---7hr-19h ( Genouille)--village fete and car boot sale
( also entertainments, Petanque competition-14h, Evening meal of 'choucroute garnie' -19h-22h, fireworks from 22h30 and finally at 23h - Ball a Papa ( dancing!)

29-30 May, 5-6 & 12-13 June Spectacle Nocturne (Nouaille Maupertuis) --Le Tresor des Rois-- a sort of Mediaeval whodunnit taking place throughout the village flowing the theft of a precious stone once belonging to Eleanor of Aquitaine. Entertainments, jousts and wine --once the thief is found!

Sunday 28 th June Journee Medievale (Nouaille Maupertuis)--the annual mediaeval day's feast and tournament laid on by 'Nouaille1356'.

Further details of these last two events, both requiring tickets can be obtained from glen.proudfoot@wanadoo.fr

Sunday 14 June Ostensions Septennales ( Charroux) --every 7 years--since 1862, the relics from l'Ancienne Abbaye saint-Sauveur de Charroux are paraded through the town.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
31 July &1 and 2 August Les Peintres dans la rue (Charroux) Every year painters come to charroux and set up their easels and paint various sites of the town. Villagers dress up to depict living tableaux of famous French paintings. This year there will be scens by Renoir, Rubens, Manet, Velasquez and others.



I shall add more dates as soon as the Charroux tourist office makes them available!