Singing in the rain

We were all a little hung over following our lovely (superbo) French meal the night before but we still managed to start the day with a trip to the bakery to get bread, croissants and cakes in Guern. After two breakfasts we were off to drag the old log out of the stream where Zebedee swims. We used straps, a rope and a hoist and also lots of energy to move it to the side. Then it was straight off to chop the dead tree down near the bridge with an axe. It surprised me just how much energy is required to do this, maybe it was my technique. No time left but to prepare for the big race, the real Tour De France coming past our house. I got dressed up and had a quick go on Steve’s bike to get us in the mood whilst Steve tried to take a photo of me but I was just too quick for him.

It was a shame as it drizzled most of the day with only short intervals of sunshine but we made the most of waiting for the bikes by starting on the beer that we bought in the supermarket yesterday. We even managed to get some of the bits that were thrown at us by the carnival cars. Claire looked real dapper in her green wellies and blue coat. Following the precession that we had watched the day before the bikes came and went in a few seconds and unfortunately our camera hadn’t enough charge to video it, so I put it on charge ready for the big event, tonight’s BBQ, the grand finale where we cooked, were merry and sang (sort of).

Market Day

We ended up talking and drinking until after 1am in the morning on our first night so were a little later than normal getting up. Following our farmhouse breakfast we were off to a small market town called Josselin. As some of the roads were blocked in anticipation of Saturdays Tour de France we had to take the long way around to get there. It was very busy and lots of local produce was on sale including all different kinds of foods, cheeses, breads, cakes, meats, oils etc. The local castle was also very impressive, especially being alongside the river.

Once we had fed the dog and ourselves we were off to the crossroads to watch the carnival pass by where they throw small packages out to the children to keep them interested. We didn’t manage to get any so we lost interest. This procession follows the cycle race and goes on for some time. All over this area there are camper vans parked along the roadside trying to get the best positions to watch the race. We don't know what the white bikes are doing along the route. As the race is scheduled to come past our house tomorrow and a huge camper was struggling to park opposite our drive we decided to move the 2 cars into the drive so we weren’t blocked off.

Following this I decided to shift a few rocks away from the fall in preparation for the mending of the wall so Steve could rebuild another stone wall to make it look better. Zebedee was very keen to help until he decided to chase his tail.

Following beer and champagne laced with Cassis (Kir) we were off to the restaurant Tourelle for dinner. I didn’t think it was possible but it was better than the meal our first night. I went for the goat’s cheese with mozzarella andchorizo whilst Claire had the prawns and crab with baby asparagus called samphire. Steve had the same as Claire whilst Sue went for the giant gambas.


Before this even came they served a hot appetizer which included scallops amongst other things. We all had the steak for main except Sue who had lamb and all this for 21 Euros each. This was followed by a cheese course between main and sweet. Mmmmmm yummmmy, can’t wait until breakfast!!! We all thanked our host in our best French whilst Claire had the final word, “Superbo”.

Tour De Grounds

We set off to Steve and Sues about 9.45am but I had told the sat nav to avoid Toll roads and it said it would take us 6 hours. I tried again but this time without avoiding them and it changed to 4 hours. Even I’m not that tight! Long journey but quite a pretty run and we stopped for a light lunch at a transport café where we had the dish of the day (pasta and chicken curry). We stumbled across Steve’s house by accident, recognizing the place from some photo’s he had sent me and pulled into their drive. I had originally thought that their drive was to the right of their house but when I drove down it, it took us to the village. We arrived to find the pair of them hard at work in the mill.

We had a tour around their grounds which took quite a while, through forest and by their stream and along the viaduct. The house and Mill was built in the 17th century by the stream and the viaduct was built so that the water could be diverted to drive the water wheel and turn the mill stone. They have already renovated the farm house where they live and have now started to convert the old mill into a 3 double and one twin bed Gitte with 2 bathrooms upstairs and a games room and workshop downstairs. This is a real renovation project that makes ours look like a walk in the park. Steve seems to be doing most of the internal stud work while Sue seems to do all the big jobs like turning the forested jungle into a garden. She has even turned her hand inside where she has done all the plastering. Considering the amount of work they are doing everything themselves, electrics, plumbing, floors, windows, walls, even the 200mm square oak lintels above the new windows.

Steve and Sue had warned us before we arrived that excess rainfall had caused their retaining wall to collapse only a few weeks earlier but luckily insurance will pay for it to be restored. Zebedee, their lovely dog, followed us everywhere around his extensive grounds that he uses as a play ground. Steve threw a rock into the

stream and he was off to retrieve it. Once he had it out, he played and wrestled with it for ages. I hope this film comes out this time and I don’t screw it up like last time.


The day was finished off with a meal at one of their favorite restaurants where we all chose from a 3 course meal menu for 18 euros. Claire adventurously started with snails whilst the rest of us had langoustines. Three of us had the steak but Steve went for the duck then we all had their favorite profritter rolls. This place Le Villa Pondi was fabulous with excellent service, you have to try it!

Tour De France

Off to a flying start, woke up late for the first time in weeks we didn’t wake up until 6.30 so we ended up leaving about an hour later than our intended time. Of course, by this time junction 14 was clogged up and it took us an hour to get on the motorway. Just got going and it all came to a stop start with the road works. Got through the road works and onto the M25 when it all came to a stop again. A rotten nightmare of a journey to Newhaven where we were to catch our car ferry over to La Havre then drive to Brittany where we intend to tour for a few days. An old colleague Steve that I used to work with 15 years ago and his wife Sue moved out here to renovate an old mill 2 years ago so we will be stopping with them for a few days and touring the rest under their supervision. Whilst on the M23 we had a huge thunderstorm and torrential rain for a while and even with the window wipers on full I couldn’t see much. We finally arrived in Newhaven exactly on time, an hour before departure so it didn’t matter in the end. Long cues and very slow check in was the game and then we had to sit and wait to board the Seven Sisters. Finally it was our queues turn to board so I started my engine up, or at least tried to. Flat as a pancake, I had left my lights on full during our whole wait in the queue without the engine running. I asked one of the officials for help and he talked to someone on his walky talky and shortly later a van came flying up. By this time we were the only ones in the car park and everyone else was on board. I opened the bonnet and he got the engine starter out, but something was missing, the leads. The van went flying off again and I talked the others into giving me a push which they did successfully and we were finally off but the staff on the boat wouldn’t let us pull up behind the other cars, preferring to direct us to the other side of the ship as close to the front door as they could get us.

We had a very pleasant journey finding a lovely wind shaded spot in the sun where we chatted, read the papers we had brought and drank lots of wine. Before we knew it we were there and I only had time for 2 cups of coffee. This journey with car and passengers cost us £89, a great price for a 5 hour crossing. Luckily Claire had found us a hotel for the night within a mile of the port called the Parisian where the sat nav found perfectly and we got one of the 2 parking spaces outside on the busy road. By this time the thunderstorm we had experienced at home caught us up and the heavens opened. A nice little hotel room, Claire did well again as it only cost about £40 between us with breakfast. The staff were unusually nice and tried very hard with their English. They also recommended the café restaurant next door to eat where we had a 3 course meal with coffee for 10 Euros each. Both our meals were lovely and it was time for our bed whilst watching tv in French.

Grand Designs

Nothing much in the way of excitement in the camp over the weekend but as usual there was the ongoing hub of activity. Despite it being the weekend, Phil was still up with the lark and working hard in the garage by 5.30am. He managed to finish the suspended false ceiling, erect all the kitchen units and fit them in the larder room and at back of the garage, now called the utility room. I can’t remember what my jobs were so they can’t have been that significant but I do know that I wasn’t sitting down with my feet up reading the newspapers. Still all credit to Phil and his DIY skills and the garage and the larder shed are looking loads better.

It hasn’t all been work and no play; we managed to fit in a walk to The Giffard on Friday night where we spent a happy hour or 2 and on Saturday we took time out to have lunch at the carvery at Peartree Bridge with Steve and Ed. Ed went into the back of a truck on the M6 last week and wrote his car off and is borrowing my little KA until he can sort out a new vehicle. Fortunately he wasn’t injured and escaped with just a few scrapes and bruises. We finished the weekend off with a cycle ride to David Lloyd for a Jacuzzi and a shower and somehow ended up back at The Giffard on Sunday teatime for a pint. It’s not a bad life I suppose?

Since going to the BBQ at Louise & Mark’s last weekend Phil decided that we must have a gas BBQ. First up we had a look in B&Q and then went on to Tesco’s but he couldn’t find one that fitted the bill. Phil remembered that Costco had a huge range last year so after Tescos we went to have a look there. Phil had left the house without any breakfast so he was very happy to get a free cup of coffee and 2 pieces of cake as we went into the store. Unfortunately we couldn’t find any gas BBQ’s but we did leave with a big supply of meats in readiness for Phil to cook on the new BBQ.

Eventually Phil did fine a BBQ that matched his requirements in Homebase. I have to say it was the most expensive BBQ in the whole shop but I didn’t say anything at all about the cost, even though I was tempted. Phil kept expecting me to raise objections and kept giving me funny sideways looks but I am not as stupid as he thinks I am. I figure to justify his expense he will have to use his BBQ every day for the rest of the summer and this, in turn, will get me out of the shopping and the cooking for sometime to come. Now he can marinate and baste to his hearts content while I sit back and watch him! Actually I did feel sorry for him yesterday afternoon. After spending 2 hours putting the new super duper gas barbie together, the old gas cylinder wouldn’t fit so he ended up having to fire up the old charcoal Webber because he promised Harriet a BBQ when she finished work. Still it didn’t matter, his marinated minted lamb chops were to die for and we had a nice evening sipping wine and redesigning the garden (as you do).

Phil was back at HomeBase first thing this morning getting a 10kg lightweight bottle of propane. Thankfully it fitted and it was just in time for Phil to cook our lunch. More marinated lamb, new potatoes and salad laced with chilli. It was very nice and hopefully I won’t tire of BBQ food. I don’t think I will; Phil was reading his Barbeque cookery book in bed first thing this morning which has given him lots of ideas for different things. I had completely about Phil’s new design plans for the garden from last night so it came as a bit of a shock when I came outside after lunch to find him digging up the pivot hedge around the patio. Whilst I have been outside typing on the laptop he has now completely got out the entire hedge and has jammed it in the green wheelie bin. He has already been out and brought some chocolate wall tiles and tomorrow he intends to lay these on top of the brick wall where the hedge was. I think his vision is to ‘bring the outside inside’ or something along those lines. I’m forever on at him for procrastinating so I suppose I should be pleased that he is jumping in with both feet and getting on with the job. And I guess I am, but he is going a bit too fast for my liking and I prefer to have a firm strategy. Also I like to finish one project before going on the next.

With some help from Jim, Phil managed to find a company that sold an automated remote garage door system for £800 plus VAT and has already placed his order. The company wanted another £800 for a team to come out and fit them but Phil has decided this is too much money and we will fit them ourselves. I have a few reservations about doing it without a team but I suppose if it all goes belly up then we can call the company out as a last resort. The door system arrives next week and what can I say, but watch this space. One thing for sure, it won’t be straightforward; things with us never are. Hey ho…………….

Does my bum look big in this?

The good thing about seeing my sisters (Julia and Louise) is that they say it as it really is - and some more. Phil doesn’t always tell me the truth because a) it might cost him money and b) if he tells the truth he will inevitably get some grief. He can’t win really and I don’t blame him for lying. But the sisters never lie; when Louise looked deep into my eyes at the B-B-Q and told me she must get an upper eye lift very soon, I knew my eye-lids (being the older sister) must be really droopy. Actually I’m well aware that they are very saggy. I simply must get surgery. It’s not just a case of vanity; they are so saggy it affects my eye sight especially when I’m tired. I can live with all my other saggy bits but the eyes are important, they are, after all, the windows to the soul. Phil says he won’t allow me to have it done, but you know once he says I can’t do something it makes me even the more determined! But that said; I’m not good in the pain department so maybe I’ll wait for the sisters to do it first and check out the pain thing before I get it done. Either way (Phil) it’s definitely on the wish list).

The last 3 days have been fairly boring and I’m not sure I have enough to blog about today. We (mostly Phil) have been working solidly on the garage. It’s looking good but if I realised how much hard work it was gonna be, I may just have put up with the concrete floor. Phil got up all the plasterboards on the brick walls and then he had to cover up with special filler stuff for plaster.
After it had dried he then had to sand all of the joins down. This was a hard job and there was dust everywhere. He huffed and grumbled all day. Still he was happy when he'd finished and then it was my turn to get stuck in with the painting. Forever the optimist, I thought I would get away with just one coat but because it was paint straight to plaster, I had to do 2. In all honesty it could probably do with a third coat but it aint going to get one.

While I was painting Phil made up the base and wall units and fixed them to the back wall of the garage. We got the units at B&Q and thought we had got a real bargain when we got the doors for just a pound each. However when we got them out of the box we realised that we had brought 600wide doors for cooker hoods and not to fit the bog standard base units. It was a shame really because when we went back to B&Q all of the bargain doors had sold out. Never mind we ended up with white country style doors which I really like, just a shame they were £12 each instead of a pound. Some you win and some you lose.

In the middle of fitting the doors, a rep from an automated garage door company turned up to measure and quote Phil for a remote controlled garage door. Phil has always wanted remote controlled garage doors and has been talking about them for years. But the rep wanted £2,500 for his door system which is far more than Phil wants or can afford to pay. Personally I do think the existing doors do look shabby but whether a remote system will add value to the sale price, well I’m not sure.

Things go backward before they move on and we are in such a mess not just in the garage but in the conservatory and the garden too. Mess alarms me and I’m not good at it. Today the aim is to fit the skirting and then get all the boxes and everything out of the conservatory and up in to the storage area in the garage eaves. I will be happy if we can achieve this today and then I can give the house a good clean. Our overall aim is get the storage shed leading into the garage finished by next Wednesday which is the day before we got to France but I’m not sure if this target is realistic. But if anyone can do it Phil can; I’m sitting here blogging, its only 7.20am and already Phil is shopping in B&Q!

We are family

I have to say that we had a really great weekend. On Saturday morning we loaded up the car and drove down to Lowestoft to see Phil’s Aunty Daphne. She’s not really his aunt, she’s a second cousin but Phil has always called her Aunt Daphne since he was a little boy. It wasn’t a great journey because it was pouring with rain all of the way down but traffic wasn’t too heavy and we made it in just under 2 and a half hours. We went for lunch at the local Harvester just round the corner from Daphne’s house and a few hours later we were on the A12 heading for Louise & Mark’s house in Woodbridge.

Louise and Mark have a big house with a large garden and tend to host a family B-B-Q every year or so. Thankfully the drizzle had stopped and the sky was clear when we arrived late afternoon. As usual Mark and Louise had everything organised to perfection, these two certainly know how to entertain. Soon everyone had arrived and before too long the party was in full swing. The top picture is Louise & Mark at the back, with my dad, me and Julia in the front row.

When I get together with my family I understand where my addiction to wine comes from. They all like a drink (or 10) so its obviously strong in gene pool! I had to laugh at Doug who at 88 managed to get through half a bottle of brandy and a few beers inbetween topping up with his oxygen tent.

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This is Maureen with my nephew Daniel.

Doug (grandad with Uncle Brian)
Mark having a well rest at the end of the night

and below Louise and Ian happily posing for the camera!

Phil was on fine form and rocking and rolling before it even got dark. No change there!

I think most of the family had gone home by eleven but Louise & Mark and Julia me and Phil stayed up after midnight. It was at this stage Phil twigged that Louise & Julia were now his sister-in-laws and likewise Mark was his brother-in-law and kept calling everyone brother and sister. He is so funny sometimes when he's not grumpy. Shortly after this, he dropped his camera on the decking. It was at this point that I decided it would be a good idea to go to bed.

We were all feeling a little worse for wear the next morning but with endless cups of orange juice, tea and coffee, we all perked up a bit. It was a lovely morning and we sat outside eating bacon and sausage rolls which Mark cooked on his gas B-B-Q. After we had breakfast Grace, Louise & Mark's cat which into the house with a baby rabbit in his mouth. Mark rushed in and managed to prise the rabbit from Grace but it was a bit of a struggle. Phil was fascinated and captured the moment on camera.

Phil drove like a madman and we were back home just in time to watch the build up of the French grand-prix, with a beer of course. After this we watched Big Brother which Phil had recorded. After that I got out the sunbed and fell asleep outside in the garden leaving Phil to watch the qualifying of the grandprix which he'd recorded on Saturday. The wind woke me just before 7 and I went into the lounge to find Phil fast asleep on the sofa. Two hours later and we were tucked up in bed. Just goes to show how old we are getting. Can't keep up the pace these days.