Chaveignes Marché Fermier Marché Gourmet

We'd spotted signs for the Marché Fermier; Marché Gourmet today in Chaveignes so decided to go and take a look.

Although Chaveignes is only about 7km from Braye, it is not somewhere we've ever explored so we weren't too sure where the market would be held, but the lines of cars parked along the side of the road were a sure sign that we'd arrived.

A field had been set aside for parking but due to the last week's heavy rain it resembled a quagmire, so we joined the other roadside-parked cars.

The market was a delight and well attended as is usual for these events. These photos give a flavour of the afternoon.

The youngsters were well catered for with an activity area in the courtyard of the presbytery and a selection of wooden 'games' based on those from times gone by, plus a host of other fun things.

These children were providing their own entertainment by giving rides in a wheelbarrow

 - though things didn't always go to plan..

In short, we were very glad we'd gone. And of course we bought a plant: a 'Menthe Fraise'... (Strawberry Mint!) though quite what we'll use it for I'm not sure!

From the Sargasso Sea to Lencloitre Market

As a young lad and well into my adult life I was a keen fisherman. In the early days I used to ledger (bottom fish) in the River Ribble and one of the most common catches was eels (Anguillidea)... I used to think they were horrible things but never the less they used to be despatched and my dad would skin and cook them... My views on eels have not really changed over the years other than an admiration of the long long trip they make from the Sargasso sea.

Such a shame, all that way to end up in a box on Lencloitre Market...

You want which one?

No way, you will have to make do with that one!

If you want it smoked that's no problem... (It is easy to see where the French name comes from!)

Or you can buy em ready smoked

Not for me though, I had enough free as a youngster and there is no way as a pensioner that I would pay €19.95 a kilo for them... Horrible things...

Elizabeth informed me they smoke and sell them at Glasson dock, not to far from our home in England... Just a minute I am just picking myself up off the floor... £65.90 a kilo for smoked Eel... 

There is only one thing for it... Where is my old fishing tackle!

Chicken in a Spin!

As mentioned last week, we have lived here for two years now and during that time we have used the oven frequently. We have baked, roasted, grilled and braised but we have never used the rotisserie.

Never, that is, until last evening...

It all began with a delicious meal cooked for us by Jean and Nick; succulent chicken, cooked to perfection on the rotisserie, and served with roasted vegetables... .

"Haven't we got one of those?" we pondered... So we came home, searched and duly found one in the depths of the most inaccessible cupboard in the kitchen.

Washed and primed, it made its debut yesterday evening....

And what a success! Such a success that we were in so much of a hurry to eat it,we forgot to take a photo; this will have to do!

Which left us with the question..... Why oh why haven't we been using it for the last two years???

Yet again, Jean and Nick, thank you for prompting us to explore our own oven!

Maintaining Richelieu Parc Wall

The wall surrounding Parc du Richelieu is 7km long. Built in the seventeenth century, the signs of wear and tear are to be seen all along its length.

In this photo, taken back in the snows of February, work done to repair just one small section can clearly be seen...

Just a little further along this stretch there has been a significant gap in the wall since at least last May 2011 when we last blogged about the it.

When we passed yesterday work had just begun to repair it..

The men had obviously made good progress because when we went passed today the wall was already looking in better shape...

So after twelve months, at the rate the builders are working, it's going to be rebuilt in next to no time.

Until the next bit falls, that is!

We’re Having a Breakdown!

First the car broke down – an ongoing saga which is too ridiculous to give air time to...

And now the internet is down so this is being prepared in Microsoft Word...

We also have a cooker hood light and an outside light which have both ...... you’ve guessed it; packed up!!

So apologies for the lack of ‘blog’ at our usual time, but as we have been reliably informed that the internet will be up and running at precisely 20:18 (French time) we intend to stop writing and watch the clock to test this confident prediction!

Watch this space (and the clock!)

In the meantime we leave you with a photo of one of our neighbour’s dogs. He looks like we feel!

Great... the service was reinstated five minutes later than the nice man from Orange said...

Shades of Autumn...

That Autumn has arrived was unmistakeable as we walked through the woods this afternoon...

There were signs everywhere..

From bugs crawling through bronzed leaves...

and fungi of shape and size..

to the macro-world of mosses and lichens which seem to come into their own from now until the start of the spring..

And to cap it all, a carpet of wild cyclamen in the Bois du Temple...

A wonderful display and a privilege to share..

Passing Front??

"The front's passed over now; we'll be ok to go..."

These are the words I will always associate with yesterday's Art & Lard at Le Petit Pressigny...

Colin had been studying the weather maps; thus the mention of a "front". To be fair, I agreed that the weather was certainly "looking brighter" (my phrase for anything other than full sun), so off we set.

Ever the optimist... I went in a fully water proof walking jacket with a hood; Colin wore a jacket. Our saving grace was meeting Jean and Nick. They were leaving as we arrived and Jean, very kindly, offered her umbrella. Colin refused; I accepted. You may discern a pattern emerging here...?

Now far be it from me to take the moral high ground but...

Yes, that's Colin sheltering under a tree and this is his view...

L'Aigronne was rising fast...(please don't be alarmed, Gaynor and Tim!)

We were only in Le Petit Pressigny for about an hour but comparing these photos from on our way into the village....

and then the same shot as we left....

You can clearly see the amount of rain that had fallen in the hour.

Despite this, people still braved the elements, perhaps not in their hundreds but a good showing nevertheless..

We were about to leave when we bumped into fellow bloggers, Tim and Pollygarter. They pointed out that there was an art and sculpture trail around the plan d'eau, which is where we found this lovely 'natural' piece of art work...

 Just a good job it wasn't windy as well as wet! As we left they were playing "It's Raining Men"; "cats and dogs" would have been more appropriate!