Bated breath

My MG TF has finally been delivered to my local garage in Lavausseau. I am now waiting to hear their verdict on what is wrong with the car, and how much the repair will cost. I've no idea whether it will be 50€ or 3,000€.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Lavausseau, France

an Owl's misfortune

It's been snowing today in Lavausseau. And raining Owls. Well, an Owl fell down our chimney today, and here is a photo of it. I'm not sure how we'll set about getting it free.






Well, Amanda did manage to free it, though with great trepidation. It was then released in the garden, and it flew away with great gusto.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Lavausseau,France

Tannery exhibition in Lavausseau

Lavausseau now has a new Museum and Shop to display leather making and products in the village. The Tannery has been extended with considerable building work, resulting in a superb display. It only opened last week, it remains to be seen whether it will transform the visitor numbers to Lavausseau. After all the hard work in designing the new complex, and the effort put into constructing and laying out the exhibits, let us hope it does.











- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Lavausseau, France

A development on my car saga

Groupama, my insurance company, has agreed to transport my car back to a local garage near me, from Spain. However, their Spanish expert has seen the car, and said that it will cost 3,000€ to get it back on the road. They have not said what is the problem with the car.

I've waited over a month for Groupama to reach this decision, so I'm fairly aggrieved with their delay.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Lavausseau, France

Snow arrives in Lavausseau

It had to happen soon, anyway. So today it did. The snowflakes are large, dry and falling steadily. For 2 hours so far. Amanda was going to church this morning by car, but having driven 20 yards on the roadway, and slipping and sliding from side to side, she gave up and returned home. The car is safely parked up till the thaw begins.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Lavausseau,France

The Gate

Our friend Dennis had a problem with his front gate, as it was scraping on the ground, the frame had become wonky with a broken weld, and the lock was catching. We fully repaired it, put some washers on the risers, and clad it in wood, fowled by painting the metal and wood. Once in place, it worked perfectly. Here is Dennis proudly standing by the "new" gate.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Lavausseau

A calamity in Spain

This picture of my MG was taken in Spain on Saturday, the 30th October. I was returning to France after spending a week with my Aunt in a place called Moraira. The car's engine just died, and I glided to a stop. After waiting an hour I was taken off the motorway to the rescue truck to their depot. I contacted my insurance company, Groupama. As all garages were closed for 3 days (there was a Bank Holiday on the Monday) they told me to leave the car there. They sent a taxi to collect me, took me to Valencia airport 100 kms away, put me on a plane to Paris, collected me at the airport and took me to an hotel. Then the next morning a taxi took me to Montmartre station, with a train to Poitiers with a first class ticket. At Poitiers I was met by another taxi, and taken home to Lavausseau. I was very impressed with the service, and it was all paid for by Groupama.

The intention was that Groupama would send an engineer to examine my car, and report back with the news of the required repairs. So far, 3 weeks later, this has still not been done. However, I do have a rental car from Groupama for the time being. But I am getting very impatient to know if my car is repairable, and what the cost will be.


Shown below is the place where my car currently resides. A very long way from my home in Poitiers.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Lavausseau,France

A day out in Poitiers

We went into Poitiers with our friends, Joan and Dennis Hallas. Our first stop was in Blossac Park, and then onto a bar for a much needed coffee.






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Lavausseau, France

Location:Lavausseau

More from Blossac Park

This little fellow lives in the park too, together with a number of other friends.


And here they are, as well. The park is very well kept.


This avenue is immaculate.


And here is the same photo taken 400 metres nearer the fountain.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Lavausseau, France

Location:Lavausseau

Blossac Park, Poitiers

 

 

We visited the park today, and came across this strange construction. It is obviously unfinished, but I just can't guess what it will become. Any ideas?

Another resident of Bas Etang

This young cat arrived at our house off the street (or fields!) a couple of weeks ago. We've named him Jean-Jacques, and are feeding him regularly. As a feral cat he is unused to humans, and runs away as soon as we try to get near him. He looks unerringly similar to our previous cat of 14 years, Thomas. Quite spookily, in fact. He has discovered that he can get into our basement, where the central heating boiler is situated, by entering a half-open window (behind a grill) that is left open for the air circulation. So during the cold nights, that is where he is presumably residing.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Lavausseau, France

Location:Lavausseau

The crossing is made

The John Deere mower fits perfectly between the guide rails of the bridge, which is as solid as a rock.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Lavausseau, France

Location:Bas Etang

The Tour of Poitou-Charentes

 

Today, a time trial swept through Lavausseau. It was a stage of the Poitou-Charentes cycle race. I presume there were some famous names in the event, but I could not recognise anyone. They even went straight past our house! And here is a photo of two of the cyclists battling it out.

The Bridge is magnificent

 

 

 

We've been labouring this week to complete the construction of a new bridge that crosses a little rivulet, and joins two sides of a couple of our fields. Our very good friend, Dennis Hallas, has been the guiding light and inspiration on its design and building. We firstly purchased a 3.5 metres galvanised iron frame from the local "Alliance Pastorale", a farming equipment outlet in the neighbouring village of Benassay. This became the foundation of the bridge, and it straddles the gap completely. The wood covers and conceals the frame, giving the impression that the wood is providing all the support. The total cost of the materials was 270 Euros. The main purpose of the bridge is to carry the John Deere tractor over to the next field (which is effectively an island) for mowing. Previously I had to cross over the next door's bridge to the same land, but that was an inconvenience. I would show a picture of the tractor in the midst of crossing the bridge, but unfortunately it is in the process of being repaired in Poitiers.

If it hadn't have been for Dennis's help, together with Amanda's efforts, the bridge would have remained in my imagination. So, I doff my hat to them both!

Wedding in Lavausseau

 

 

The marriage of our friends' daughter Katherine, to James, took place in Lavausseau. This wedding has been years in the planning, but all came alright on the day.

As happy as it can get?

 

I guess that when you are this fat, it is difficult to look too happy. But I think this chap is doing his best.

Alexander and family visit here

Amanda's stepbrother came this week to visit us all. He brought his wife and two children, driving all the way from their home near Oxford. They stayed with local friends in their new Gite. In fact, they were their very first customers.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Lavausseau

A miserable Summer day

Today, the sun shone for 5 minutes. The rest of the time it was completely overcast with clouds. I've been used to sunbathing by the pool recently, as the weather has been magnificent. But today, it is a time for indoor pursuits. The highlight of the day will be collecting my MG from the local garage, where it is being serviced. Thankfully, there was no apparent problem with the car prior to the service. However, I fully expect to be advised that there was a critical failure of some expensive component.
I recently bought an Apple iPad, and it has been transfixing me every day with the incredible applications that can be driven by it. I subscribe to PresDisplay, and am able to download and read The Times and the Daily Mail on my desktop, iPod Touch and the iPad. The display on the iPad is the crispest of the lot, and shows off the publications in glorious colour and definition. I also subscribe to many magazines via Zinio, PixelMags, and directly with a number of publishers like Wired and Vanity Fair. The BBC iPlayer service allows me to download high quality video files which are easily converted to iPad formats.


This photograph is of a prototype MG TF made by the new Chinese owners. I just hope it goes into production. I think it would compete well with the best of them.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Lavausseau

The weather has been variable

Last week we had the best temperatures ever in May, reaching about 26. But this week it reverted to the usual rain, plummeting temperatures, and just momentary bursts of sun. Still, I managed to get the pool temperature up from 12 to 22, and even braved the waters myself. Bracing, but great.

What a glorious day!

I'm sitting by the pool this afternoon, and the sun is shining more intensely than at any time so far this year. The joy of retirement!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Lavausseau, France

Walking by Chasseneuil

 

Last Saturday we went on a 13km walk near Chasseneuil with a group we recently came across. We walked halfway, and stopped at a community centre for our picnic. We were walking primarily through the countryside, with the obligatory hills - weirdly absent of any downward gradients! I had to give up shortly after we set off from the picnic, as blisters were taking their toll. I was given a lift by car to the starting point, but Amanda valiantly kept going for the full distance. It took us a couple of days to recover from the aches.

A Feast

 

We went round to visit our friends, the Heendeniyas, who live in Boussais, which is 50 kilometres away from us. They gave us a sumptuous curry meal, and I'm showing you all the dishes before they were devoured.

A new Gite in the area - Lac de Maison

There is a new Gite that has opened up near to us in Benassay. Run the movie above to see photos. It is run by a young couple, Anna and Simon Davey, who acquired it last September. It consists of 3 cottages, and is particularly targetted at families with children of all ages. It has a solar heated swimming pool, and a couple of acres of grounds, as well as many other amenities. A golf course is very nearby too. If you are interested in staying there, and want more details, just leave a Comment, and I'll put you in touch with Anna and Simon.

Sad departure

 

Our son Jason leaves from the Poitiers airport after visiting us for 3 days.

The Snow has finally arrived

 

At last, the snow came overnight. It is really quite shallow, but the early morning covering on the roads had turned to ice, and were quite treacherous. However, by the mid morning the sun had emerged and began to thaw the snow. And by the afternoon the roads were clear.

Apropos nothing

 

I just happened upon this photo on someone else's blog. Their caption was "who could resist this face?", and they are right.

A heart warming scene

 

This is what greeted us when we visited friends on New Year's eve the other day.

The waters are rising

Later this time than before, the rains have become more frequent. So, the level is rising, and will probably exceed the height of the bridge. Fortunately, it does not inconvenience us as we need not make the crossing.

This is not what you think it is

 

Here the pump is ejecting the surplus water from the pool via a long hose, which is resting on a hedge. Really, it is quite innocent.