What is this used for?

A quick one tonight...

Take a look at the old hand tools, especially the one in the middle... They were on display at the Marché Fermier; Marché Gourmet in Chaveignes.

We can work out what most of them are likely to used for but not this one...

Any suggestions please?

Incredible eye sight...

This Robin was obviously on the lookout for something, perched 4 metres up on a branch...

an afternoon snack perhaps...

Got ya!...

Now that's what I call good eyesight...

A walk around Le Lac in Châtellerault.

We last spoke about the Le Lac in Châtellerault in August when we first became aware of it. Yesterday afternoon we had a walk around it. The site was well used in the summer and as we saw yesterday, it is just as popular at this time of year. 

There were people out, like us, for an afternoon's walk...

The walk round the lake took us about forty minutes but considering the time we spent taking photos, half an hour is probably a realistic timing.

The children's play areas were entertaining a number of little ones, whilst older children and teenagers could make use of a basket ball and tennis courts..

 And what's the point of a lake if you can't throw stones into it??

Unless, of course, you're fishing in it....

The sunshine set the autumn colours ablaze.

And after a most enjoyable walk round it was back home for a good old Lancashire Hotpot. You can't beat it on a cold day!

Grande Vente Emmaus 2

This afternoon, it being a lovely autumn day with the sun shining and very little wind, we decided a walk around the lake in Chatellerault would be nice. However... over the weekend in Chatellerault it has also been one of the many Emmaus sales held at the Parc de Expo. We have been once before back in May 2011 and blogged about it here.

So it was a case of 'two birds with one stone'... Bric a Brac in abundance...

 Clothing in huge piles...

 And how many of you are old enough to remember these beasties... and had a pair just like 'em?

Anyway we struck gold: we have been looking for a stand for a copper kettle my Mum had given us. We have looked at every brocante and vide grenier we have been to with no success, but today...

Just the job.

We also picked up a couple of espresso coffee cups which struck our fancy... Limousine porcelain, as well...

Both items were very expensive, being priced by the kilogram, they came in less than €1

We also bought a book on French Grammar at the pricey sum of €0.5.

It was interesting to note that the per kilo prices had halved since we were last there in May 2011, a sign of the time perhaps?

Following our happy trip to the Parc de Expo we walked around the lake... but more about that tomorrow.

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree...

We had some unexpected visitors to our garden this afternoon...

Can you see what they are yet?

Yes a covey of Partridge, there were at least seven although we only managed to photograph five all together.

We suspect that they had arrived in our garden in order to escape the hunters, who could be heard in the local woods, horns a blowing...

At the time of writing they were still there... happily eating some of last years bird seed we scattered around for them.

As they are behind our 1.75 mtr high fence we wonder if they have the intelligence to fly out over it, instead of scurrying backwards and forwards along its base.

We are sure the local cats will make them fly somewhere tonight! Perhaps into our Pear Trees which are just adjacent to where they are!!

Mill Weir at La Roche Posay

Today's blog follows on from our reflections blog yesterday, where we mentioned the weir giving the perspective of a split screen.

Looking from the old railway bridge it was difficult to see the actual layout of the River Creuse but what was obvious was the length of the barrage across the river.

Looking at it on Bing Maps gives you a better idea of the scale. A quick estimate is that it is around 400 metres, that must make it one of the longest in the area... unless of course anyone knows of another long one...

The "Mill" which the barrage serves is another question...

Having done several searches we cannot find anything on the internet about it... other than this old postcard.

This refers it it as "Station Thermal de la Roche Posay"

You have to ask "Is this where the spa water comes from?"

If you do have any info on the building we would like to know.

Footnote...
Jim and Pauline will be pleased to know that when we did the first search on Google their Gite was the first and third entries that came up out of over 17 million hits... You must be doing something right Jim...

Reflections...

Jim and Pauline invited us to go for a walk with them along the river at La Roche Posay.

It was a warm, sunny afternoon with a gentle breeze, blue skies and a clarity of light which only autumn seems to offer.

The reflections on the river gave us some lovely photo opportunities... Looking towards the weir gives the unusual perspective - almost as if it is a split screen shot...

 

Here the clouds add to the reflections of the trees lining the river banks...

The play of light and shade on the bridge is mirrored in the water below...

All in all, it was a really scenic route..

Thanks to Jim and Pauline!

A Feast of Fungi

Before Colin got out the mower we took a walk round the garden spotting the fungi which have literally 'mushroomed' all over the place..

 

And before you ask..... No we won't be risking eating any of them! Perhaps we should attend the Fungi Foray on Saturday 27 October in the Foret de Loches!

DIY Nuns!

Photographed at Brico Depot yesterday.....

Could this be the start of a new advertising campaign???

Orange Squash..

Yesterday's Marché Fermier Marché Gourmet at Chaveignes included an exhibition of squashes grown locally. The colours were wonderful and the shapes intruiging..

 

There were a number of displays but this arrangement, by three children from the school in Champigny sur Veude, showed lots of imagination...

As if we weren't all 'squashed' out, we went from here up to the Chateau du Rivau, where again the squashes were out in force...

Full marks to this one for its size..

And these for the most unusual shape and texture..

This display showed the different varieties labelled...

So, two minutes to commit to memory then we'll start testing.... Your time starts now!
ps. This also tests your eyesight!