after a hectic day...
We think we are ready...
At this time tomorrow it will all be over and we will be able to breath again...
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
The time approaches...
after a hectic day...
We think we are ready...
At this time tomorrow it will all be over and we will be able to breath again...
Friday, 5 September 2014
Pont Mathilde...
As many of our reader know the Pont Mathilde in Rouen has been closed since October 2012. Well, the good news is that, according to the internet, it reopened to traffic on the 26th August. We will let you know when we have been across it.
However when we were looking for a progress report we came across this photovideo. If you have any interest in heavy engineering it is well worth watching.
However when we were looking for a progress report we came across this photovideo. If you have any interest in heavy engineering it is well worth watching.
All we can say is what an incredible job.
Thursday, 4 September 2014
An evening with the neighbours
We are fortunate to have really good neighbours here in Braye. We were welcomed into the village from the start and when two new houses were built - one next door and one across from us - our luck continued. Both young couples are lovely and we enjoy having them around.
Yesterday evening we were invited to Anthony and Maggy's house for aperos, to celebrate the birth, two and a half weeks ago, of their second son, Maxence.
We took along some hazelnut macaroons, made from a recipe Jean once used when we went over to Le Grand Pressigny. I used our own hazelnuts and they went down a treat! I only wish I'd thought to take a photo before these were all that remained...
The evening was my second chance to nurse the baby as we'd been round when he was 3 days old...
What a difference a couple of weeks makes in the life of a tiny baby...
However, I wasn't the only one wanting a cuddle last night. I had to share him with Natalie...
And Pamela...
while Thimeo took the opportunity to have his mummy to himself for a few moments...
and then entertained us with acrobatics courtesy of his daddy, Anthony...
What a lovely evening it was and as we left we all agreed that we should organise a neighbours meal next.
When we get back after our wedding we will have them all round for a few nibbles, drinks and laughter round the table, with the children included. Whilst we don't always understand what's being said we do find that as the drinks flow, language skills improve and by the end of the evening we're all fluent in any language you care to name!
It's evenings like these which makes life in rural France such a delight!
Yesterday evening we were invited to Anthony and Maggy's house for aperos, to celebrate the birth, two and a half weeks ago, of their second son, Maxence.
We took along some hazelnut macaroons, made from a recipe Jean once used when we went over to Le Grand Pressigny. I used our own hazelnuts and they went down a treat! I only wish I'd thought to take a photo before these were all that remained...
The evening was my second chance to nurse the baby as we'd been round when he was 3 days old...
What a difference a couple of weeks makes in the life of a tiny baby...
However, I wasn't the only one wanting a cuddle last night. I had to share him with Natalie...
while Thimeo took the opportunity to have his mummy to himself for a few moments...
and then entertained us with acrobatics courtesy of his daddy, Anthony...
What a lovely evening it was and as we left we all agreed that we should organise a neighbours meal next.
When we get back after our wedding we will have them all round for a few nibbles, drinks and laughter round the table, with the children included. Whilst we don't always understand what's being said we do find that as the drinks flow, language skills improve and by the end of the evening we're all fluent in any language you care to name!
It's evenings like these which makes life in rural France such a delight!
Wednesday, 3 September 2014
Demoiselle and Dragonflies
We thought we would share a few photographs of Demoiselle and Dragonflies taken during our August Butterfly Survey...
We did record and take photographs of butterflies as well but not as many as we thought there would be at this time of year.
We did record and take photographs of butterflies as well but not as many as we thought there would be at this time of year.
Monday, 1 September 2014
Plumbago Update...
Last year on one of the Journees du Patrimonie we chose to visit the Château de Chavigny, at Lerné about 12 kilometres south west of Chinon,. We wrote about it here
It was there we bought the plumbago we put on a post earlier last month
It wasn't much of a specimen when we bought it and in fact we didn't bother taking a photo of it. The best we can do is this.... Look closely at what I'm carrying in the foreground of the photo...
As you may have read last month, it had grown sufficiently for me to make a willow obelisk to support it and it had produced its first flowers.
Well take a look at this update...
It's my pride and joy! Every single branch has flowers or flower buds on and I offer no apologies for posting about it again. I think it deserves it!
It was there we bought the plumbago we put on a post earlier last month
It wasn't much of a specimen when we bought it and in fact we didn't bother taking a photo of it. The best we can do is this.... Look closely at what I'm carrying in the foreground of the photo...
As you may have read last month, it had grown sufficiently for me to make a willow obelisk to support it and it had produced its first flowers.
Well take a look at this update...
It's my pride and joy! Every single branch has flowers or flower buds on and I offer no apologies for posting about it again. I think it deserves it!
Sunday, 31 August 2014
Some Bird Pictures
Our flowering Cherry Tree was a hive of activity this morning. The birds were all over the tree imitating the Tree Creaper, which was toooo quick for me to photograph.
Pictures taken through the lounge window so not the best.
Pictures taken through the lounge window so not the best.
Saturday, 30 August 2014
Terrace visitor...
Elizabeth spotted this wonderful caterpillar moving quite quickly across our rear terrace...
We spotted the same caterpillar last year here and we have concluded that it is a Poplar Hawk Moth Laothoe populi Caterpillar. There are many similar pictures available on the internet.
Susan and Tim's comments last time both confirm this.
Interestingly we have never seen the actual Popular Hawk Moth and I am sure we would have noticed it.
Image from http://www.essexfieldclub.org.uk/portal/p/Picture/s/Poplar+Hawk-Moth+2.
We spotted the same caterpillar last year here and we have concluded that it is a Poplar Hawk Moth Laothoe populi Caterpillar. There are many similar pictures available on the internet.
Susan and Tim's comments last time both confirm this.
Interestingly we have never seen the actual Popular Hawk Moth and I am sure we would have noticed it.
Image from http://www.essexfieldclub.org.uk/portal/p/Picture/s/Poplar+Hawk-Moth+2.
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