With Apologies to Blake's Tyger....

Spider, spider burning bright

In the forests of the night...

What immortal hand or eye 

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

Chédigny Brocante and Loches...

As today is Stephens last day with us and after his hard work this morning helping to stack the rest of our firewood...

We treated him to the brocante, in the picturesque village of Chédigny!!

Stephen's description was first class... "It's all the stuff that people couldn't put on Ebay"

We did buy something! BUT not this little beauty... I was whisked away by 'my wife' and now can only look at the picture and dream!!!

On our way home we also gave him a quick tour of Loches...

It was a very good afternoon out...

It will soon be upon us!

Winter that is...

So time to get everything ready whilst it is still nice and dry...
Kindling is gathered and stored.

Yes we know... We also know it is cleaned well.

At the same time as we were chimney cleaning, our six steres of wood arrived.

and as usual tipped in a pile ready to stack. We have this year cut and stacked all the willow from the pollarded trees of two years ago.

So this six steres will have to go in an adjacent stack...We did make a start BUT it will have to wait for another day...

At least we have some help this year, So Steve, get a good nights sleep and a good breakfast and we will get the better of it in the morning...

Marriage!

This sums it up...

Life before marriage...

Life after marriage...

Only a joke, it's still great after a whole two weeks!!!

What Season is It??

We noticed an unseasonal flower in the garden when we came back to Braye on Monday.. We didn't think we'd been away that long but already we have spring flowers blooming...

How time flies when you're enjoying yourself!!

Red Admirals and Sedum.

Our sedum flowers have been a 'hive' of activity with numerous bees and other insects enjoying the nectar. One of the most colourful has been the Red Admiral.

Canada Geese on the Ribble

One of our regular walks when we are back in the UK is along the banks of the river Ribble from West Bradford to Grindleton. Going down one side and then returning up the other.  On Sunday there was very little water in the river and it was as low as we have seen it for a long time

A view of the village of Chatburn with Pendle Hill in the background. The day was somewhat misty!

What did surprise us was the sight of several Canada Geese on the river.

We can only assume that they are just passng through, although the internet indicates that they are resident in England. We will keep an eye out next time we do the walk.

First Day of Married Life!

Guess where we've been today?

Need another clue??

The beautiful English Lake District... and out onto Windermere in a little motor boat. And once again we were blessed with the most wonderful weather...

Then a visit to Ambleside where we spotted this...

Gaynor... is there something you're not telling us??!

September 10th, 2014: Our Wedding Day!

We could not have wished for a better day than today!

From first thing this morning the sun was shining and the temperatures were more like those we experience in France, than in the north west of England.

It has been a truly perfect day and we'd like to share one or two photos with you, starting with the venue, Ferrari's Country House Hotel...

Elizabeth arriving, with her son David....

Giving the ring...

The all important kiss..

Leaving the Dove Cote and out into the sunshine...

The group photo!

And after drinks on the terrace, we enjoyed a wonderful meal followed by the cake, made for us by Colin's daughter, Sarah.

It has been the most perfect day and one we will always remember.

A very big THANK YOU to friends near and far who have sent us good wishes - and more!!

ps. Happy 31st anniversary to our readers in the Isle of Man!!!