Nearly 3 month since the last update, three months! Sorry (as usual). We?ve had crap weather and good weather, unfortunately the crap seems to have outweighed the good until the last 3 weeks. It has not been particularly cold but unseasonably wet, with more overcast days than clear days. The vegetable plot is not doing very well, not sure why but probably need a few trailer loads of cow poo dug in this winter to improve things next year. More bloody digging!
The only things that are really flourishing are the weeds, if I could sell them I?d be a rich man! The grass is pretty rampant as well, it has to be cut at least once a week, but to keep it really looking good, twice a week would be better.
The fruit trees have turned out to be a huge disappointment this year, after a promising start a late cold snap buggered everything up, so whereas last year we had about 10 wheelbarrow loads of fallers, this year we?ll be lucky to get 10 apples. There were 3 pears but the bugs have eaten 2 of them. If we were dependant on the garden for self sufficiency in fruit and veg we would be bloody starving by now!
We were a little upset to find out that a new house was to be built opposite us on the other side of the road, but having met our new neighbour to be (Bruno) and seen where the house will be etc we are looking forward to him moving in. I?m sure my French will improve once he has taken up residence. He is 35, and will be building the house himself for his wife and stepdaughter. He hopes to have it completed by early next year?.
Our hover mower (well, Pats old one) had been playing silly buggers for a while, I?d bought a few new bits, made a few bits in true Bodgit and Buggerit style and generally nursed it along each time I?ve used it but it finally went tits up when the exhaust bolts sheared. We are now the proud owners of a new Macillister mower. Hope it lasts as long as the old one!
Jan?s Dad and her 2 sisters (Fiona and Mary) came out for 2 weeks in May; they all helped with the gardening, which was much appreciated. We had a few days out as well, when the weather permitted, which wasn?t as often as we had hoped. Mary was really taken with the area and would love to move here if she could, another convert to the French way of life!
We had hoped to get the pool up before Jan?s Dad arrived but I hadn?t levelled the earth in time (it?s in a different position to last year). Anyway, up until the last couple of weeks it hasn?t been pool weather. It?s all finished now, filled up and lovely to relax in on a hot day.
Rokxy has become a little sod when we go out leaving her and Daisy behind. We always caged Daisy as she will chew up anything but Rokxy had been fine until recently. She now seems to want to eat everything when we?re out, so, I have made another cage, large enough for both of them when we?re not home or to take when we stay with friends.
Jan?s niece Samantha came out for a visit in June, she had just finished University and while she was here found out he had passed and is now a qualified Pharmacist, well apart from a year of on-the-job training and a final exam next year! We all celebrated with a glass or two of champagne.
Recent Comments