Blah blah blah, usual apologies for slow update. I think we’re in a parallel universe as I’m sure it’s only 3 weeks since my last update but the rest of the world has moved on nearly 4 months!
At this time of year the farmers are watering the maize almost continually, which means if you need your car washed, just drive along the road until you find a place where the sprinklers are soaking the road as well. Mind you, I’ve not tried stopping and shampooing the car, perhaps that would be a little too eccentric for the French!
Through the Car Wash
In early May we went to stay with friends Rob and June for a few days. There is some beautiful countryside in that area (Bergerac), we had a couple of days out driving around the local villages, very picturesque. The dogs generally behaved themselves, except when we went for a meal at a small restaurant. We parked the car in view of the restaurant so that the dogs could see us but that didn’t stop Daisy howling. I just pretended they were nothing to do with us and suggested their owners should be ashamed about leaving dogs in the car unattended!
Rob and June were going to come to stay with us for a couple of days but Jan had a tummy bug so we thought it best to postpone their visit. Luckily I didn’t catch whatever it was that Jan had, as I’m a man I’m obviously immune to such mundane ailments. Well until August, when I had a bad case of dysentery with E.coli complications. That was my initial diagnosis but it turned out to just be a bad case of diarrear direear direhere the shits.
Daisy was 2 on the 19th June, Rokxy on the 15th July, so we had a joint birthday party for them, well not really as they’re dogs for god’s sake! They might be spoilt but I’m not that sad yet!
The vet told us that Rokxy would quieten down after she was two but there’s no sign of it yet, she still thinks that everything we do in the house or garden is a game for her to join in!
Over the past couple of months I’ve fixed computers for friends Bruno, Maggie and Barry. Bruno has said he will cut down any trees we want felled as payment for fixing his PC. Barry’s PC was a sod to fix, he’d got quite a few virus’s including one that was a bugger to get rid of. It must be all that modern heavy metal jazz he keeps downloading (I think that’s what it’s called….). I also pointed our friend Graham in the right direction to download music etc. Not that he would do such a thing, being a fine, upstanding, law abiding pillar of the community but it’s good to know all about these things anyway!
Mid June we had a message on our voicemail from Jan’s Dutch Aunt and Uncle (Ad and Elly) to say they were on holiday in the area with their caravan and had called at the house while we were out. They called later to say they had booked in at a local campsite and would stay until Jan’s Dad came out (Elly is Jan’s Dad’s sister). It was good to see them as it had been several years since we last met. They took us for a meal and we arranged that they would come to the house the day after Jan’s dad and Andrew (Jan’s nephew) arrived. We didn’t tell Jan’s Dad they were coming and the look of surprise on his face was worth the little white lies we had to tell to keep the secret! Ad and Elly stayed with us for a couple of days, parking their caravan in the garden.
Ad, Jan and Elly
While Jan’s Dad and Andrew were here we went to the Lascazeres Fete, they were a bit apprehensive about going, especially Jan’s Dad, but after an apertif, when the music started he really enjoyed himself. The food was excellent as usual, with plenty of wine for all. After the meal and coffee the mayor bought round the amagnac and eau de vie (or eau de mort as he called it!). Eau de vie is an aquired taste, it is very strong and takes your breath away when you drink it. It probably doubles as paint stripper or oven cleaner when not being drunk at local fetes!
Band at the June Fete
We all went to the Jardin Massey in Tarbes, it’s the first time we have been but we will go again as it is a very pleasant way to spend a few hours on a nice day. We have driven past there many times but it is much larger than it appears from the road. There is no charge for entry and parking is free in the streets around the park (I’m starting to sound like a bloody travel brochure!).
Jardin Massey, Tarbes
Jardin Massey again
Lascazeres had a car boot sale in June (I think it may have been the first one), Barry and I managed to avoid going, Lyn and Jan had the pleasure of trudging around the stalls. There’s far too many of these vide greniers around here…
We had our electricity supply upgraded to 9Kw (from 6Kw) to accommodate the new water heater I have installed. We also have cheap(er) electricity overnight and a 2 hour period in the day, this means we can run the water heater purely on the cheap rate, unless we have a lot of people wanting showers when we will need to give it a boost at peak rate. It took the guy from EDF all of 2 minutes to change the supply, it’s done by magic through the computer controlled meter.
Jan’s sister Fiona broke her toe, silly bugger dropped a settee on it, although it was apparently Andrew’s fault as he was holding the other end. That’s the problem being male, if you’re within 50 metres of something going wrong it’s your fault! Fiona made a full recovery after a few weeks off work, just in time to go on holiday, she had so much time off it’s almost like being retired…
We invited Bruno, Sylvie and their daughter Gwendolene for aperitifs one evening. We had a good time, they stayed for about 3 hours, my french was stretched to it’s limit as usual!
We met up with Ray and Trish for lunch while they were on holiday near Biarritz in a small village called St. Sever. We had a good meal and a long chat and arranged to call and see them on our way back from the UK. Unfortunately Daisy had other ideas and came into season, so we couldn’t risk her and their dog Ugo getting jiggy with it! While we were in St Sever I was reversing out of a parking space when a metal parking bollard jumped out and attacked my front nearside wing and bumper. More scars to add to those already adorning the car, don’t you just hate delinquent bollards etc?
In early July we went back to the UK for a couple of weeks, quite a long journey over, we crossed the channel on Speedferries but it was delayed by over 3 hours so we had to sit in the car in the pouring rain in Boulogne port. The dogs didn’t seem bothered about spending all that time couped up in the back of the car, even Rokxy wasn’t bothered about trying to chew anything, not even Daisy’s ears!
The rain continued to piss down all the way from Dover to Cowplain, the traffic was heavy as usual, I do so miss having to spend hours travelling a few miles..NOT!
On Saturday 12th July we went to Gemma’s wedding (near Cirencester). On the way there we stopped off in Swindon to see Jan’s sister Mary and her family. All the nephews and nieces are growing up fast, makes me feel old..
Gemma’s wedding and reception was held in a converted barn in the middle of nowhere, the place has been renovated very well and is an ideal spot for a wedding set in open country side, beautiful. It was the first time we had met her husband Jamie, he seems a great guy and they make a lovely couple.
Gemma looked absolutely stunning in her wedding dress, as I mentioned before, we have known Gemma since she was very young and it was very touching seeing her so radiant and happy.
Gemma and Proud Dad Pat
Gemma, drinking already, surely being married is not that bad!
Gemma and Jamie making it all legal
The weather behaved itself for the wedding so all the photos could be taken outside, with the trees and fields as a wonderful backdrop.
Stop Press! Just heard that Gemma and Jamie are expecting their first baby and Judith’s daughter India is also expecting a baby, both due in April next year, congratulations from us oldies in Lascazeres!
We stayed with Jan’s dad as usual in England (apart from one night with Matt and Debs), thanks again Dad and Matt and Debs, time rushed by as usual, unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to see any friends on this visit, apologies for that but hopefully next time….
On the Sunday before we returned home a crowd of us we went up the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. This was the tower that was originally planned to be called the Millennium Tower, unfortunately there was a flaw in this plan, it wasn’t built by 2000. Rather than wait until 3000 before opening it, they decided to call it the Spinnaker Tower and it was opened in 2005. One of it’s attractions we couldn’t sample was the outside glass-sided lift, this hasn’t ever worked properly, maybe they’re saving it until 3000…..
Having said that, the views from the top are amazing, you can see as far as the eye can see! There is a glass section in the floor of the lower deck, 100m straight down! It’s a strange sensation looking down as you walk across it. Jan wouldn’t walk on it, even though Marc and I jumped up and down to show it was safe! Give that bit a miss if you suffer from vertigo!
Spinnaker Tower at night, from Spice Island
View Across Old Portsmouth and the Solent from Deck 1
The Quickest Way Down from Deck 1
Marc and Andrew trying to convince Fiona the glass floor is safe!
Jan and his Grandsons, Deck 1
While we were in England, Lyn and Barry kindly watered our flowers and veggies for us. This was good news and bad news really, good news, the veggies flourished, bad news, the weeds did even better! We’ve renamed the veggie plot to the ‘weed patch’ as there are far more weeds than veg.
We had mixed success with the vegetables, some did really well but others struggled. Spinach was a total failure, courgettes of course were more than plentiful, 6 plants, producing 10 courgettes a day (well, it seemed that many!). They also have this unique ability to grow from a courgette to a marrow overnight. Next year I’ll take Barry’s advice and just grow 2 plants, there’s only so many ways you can cook courgettes without getting sick of the sight of them.
While we were in England I had to go to the doctor as I had a strange feeling in my right leg (this was entirely different to the feeling I get in my middle leg!). The doc said there was nothing to worry about and my personal doctor (Jan) said it was probably a trapped nerve. It comes and goes and never hurts so I’ve put it down to another sign of old age…
Talking of old age, it’s my 60th birthday on the 10th September, we have hordes of visitors coming to help me through this traumatic milestone, which I suspect will need large quantities of alcohol to smooth the transition from 50s to 60s!
I don’t think of myself as being nearly 60, partly I suppose because I’ve been lucky enough to have got this far without any major medical problems. I still think I’m a 20 something hippy although the body sometimes reminds me I’m far from it!
Anyway, ‘they’ say that you’re only as young as the woman you feel, problem is, Jan is nearly 56 so if I want to seem younger I obviously need a younger woman to feel. Any offers in a plain brown envelope or via email, marked ‘I want to help Rob feel young again’.
Two days after we returned from England we went to stay with Ian and Marianne for a couple of days. My aunts Peggy and Joan were there, we went out for a meal in the evening in the buvette by the lake at Puivert. Lots to drink and lots of laughs as usual, wonderful time!
Strawmen
On the way back we saw straw men pushing hay bales in a field near Foix, they didn’t seem to be having much luck in moving them, personally I’d have used a tractor…
While we were in the UK we picked up a ‘proper’ dog cage that Marc had got for us, this prevented any repeat of our last visit when Daisy and Rokxy endeavoured to eat their summer kitchen.
The day after we got back from Marianne’s our friends Alan and Angelika (plus children, Jenny and Oli) called in for one night on their way back from holiday in Spain. We had a few beers and reminisced about the good old days as usual, their visit was all too short but we hope to get up to Rennes to see them later in the year.
As Alan and Angelika left, I was already on my way to Bordeaux to pick up Jan’s niece Samantha and her boyfriend Paul. They stayed for about 9 days and had a good time. We had met Paul a few times before but it was good to get to know him better. He had hurt is foot before coming out here, turned out he’d broken 3 bones in it, that’s usually the outcome when you have an argument with a brick wall! Didn’t really stop him enjoying himself, we all went swimming at a local lake (Lake Lupiac) where there is an artificial sandy beach with a cordoned off area for swimming. The water was very warm, the sun bloody hot, even Jan got a few red patches by the end of the day, while poor old, sorry young, ‘white as a sheet’ Samantha had to cover herself in factor 500 sun cream! She had quite a good tan by the time they left though.
Sam and Paul, Col du Tourmalet
We went to Donjon des Aigles, the bird of prey display, Sam’s been before but Paul wanted to go so we went again. We’ve been 5 or 6 times now, I think I’ll see if they do season tickets! It’s a really good show so I don’t mind going again, well maybe, perhaps, or I might give it a miss next time, not sure really, we’ll see….
The weather was pretty good for Sam’s and Paul’s stay, they went in the pool a few times although the water temperature was only about 25 degrees, not as hot as last year.
Samantha heard that she had passed her final exams just before they came out, this meant she would be managing her own pharmacy when she got back to England. We’re all really proud of her achievements, especially as she is blond!
The Sunday after Sam and Paul left was the Lascazeres Moutouade(lamb feast). It was a lovely hot day, we went with friend Bob and his neighbour Monique. The food was excellent but the band were not up to the standard of previous occasions and the rosé wine was one level above vinegar, most unusual. Still, at least it stopped me drinking too much!
Two weeks ago friends Pat and Judith called in for 5 days on their way back from their holiday in Italy, just a minor diversion of several hundred kilometres! It was great to see them as we didn’t have much chance to talk at Gemma’s wedding. We had a lazy time, went to Lupiac for a swim a couple of times. They took us out for a lovely meal in Bassoues. There was a group (Driving South) playing at the restaurant, mostly english/american rock and roll music, they were excellent and really made the evening special.
So, since June we’ve had lots of visitors, been back to the UK and done 3 parts of bugger all in the house and garden, still there’s always the winter to catch up…. However, before then my Sister and and husband Chris arrived on 1st September, Marc is arriving on the 7th September and Jan’s Dad and Fiona on the 9th, should be fun, especially on 10th September when we expect about 30 people, aaarrrggghhh!
Congratulations to our neighbours Bruno and Sylvie on the birth of their son Pierre, he weighed in at 3.26 Kg, Mum and baby doing fine, we saw him last week when he was 2 weeks old. He’s a beautiful baby, Jan wants to kidnap him!
Top Gardening Tip
When your wife says “It’s OK to mow the daffodil stalks in the lawn, the flowers have finished”, don’t assume all long green stems are daffodils, some are a rare blue daffodil, otherwise known as an Iris. These flower much later than daffodils but cutting them off at ground level significantly reduces their chances of producing flowers i.e. completely buggers their chances. Oh well, another lesson learned, very complicated this gardening lark!
We’ve been accepted into the French health service, just waiting for our Carte Vitale. We had to make a couple of visits to the local CPAM office with a long list of forms, including a letter from our Mayor to say we are residents. The main application form I downloaded from the net, most of the official forms you need for all sorts of things are on the net here. Makes things a little easier as it gives me time to work out what they’re asking before going to the office and airing my crap French!
This is my last update as a 50 something, next time I’ll be 60, much more sensible and wiser. So, you may expect the mature thoughts of a senior citizen, rather than the inane meanderings of a juvenile mind. You may expect that but you won’t bloody get it!
Jan, Jane, Chris and I are at Ian and Mariannes as I finish this update, just an overnight stay. We had a swim in Puivert lake this evening, I say ‘we’, Jane, Chris and Ian chickened out, big girls blouses!!
I’ve just read through this update and realised I’ve been very good and not said bollocks once, ah, now I have, bollocks….
Ta-ra for now
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