Daily visitors

These white ducks are our neighbours, living with the people who have put up a Yurt on the property next door. They come most days, and spend a couple of hours preening themselves at either end of the bridge. It was thought that they might disappear over Xmas, but they have survived. Hopefully, they are well regarded pets, and will be local residents for some time to come.

The rains have come

We've got used to this happening now. As you can see, to forestall the bridge being swept away, it is now tied to a nearby tree.

The USA election

Today's election of the President in America is a make or break day for the country. As a Mormon, Mitt Romney will have a hard time convincing the Americans (as well as the non voting foreigners) that he is fit for the job. It will be interesting to see, if he wins, whether he will constantly espouse Mormanesque principles to the people. Will he give Starbucks and Las Vegas a hard time, for instance?

A problem with the Swimming Pool

During the Summer I noticed that the water level was descending faster than usual. Normally, with evaporation I only had to top it up fortnightly. But I noticed that I was losing that much in 2 days. I have not stopped the leak yet, but I assume that the egress is occurring through the underwater light assembly. During the Winter I will monitor the level to see to where it descends. The problem with a pool is that the side walls are weakened without water, and there is always a possibility that the structure will collapse.

Keiko at rest

 

Our new cat, Keiko, has tken quite a liking to our keyboard. He doesn't work at it, but he's at rest.

Our magnificent Weeping Willow

 

Amanda reckons this tree is badly in need of pruning. Does anyone have a comment about this?

Trimming our Hedge

 

Our annual hedge trimming operation was done recently. Using a Stihl hedge trimming tool it took 6 hours. Needless to say, we engaged someone else to do it for us.

Amanda & Ann in Vouille

 

We had a break from our Market wanderings by visiting the Cheval Blanc hotel.

A market scene

 

We went to Vouille market last Saturday to see how we could be tempted. We were, by Garlic, no less!

Mielle and Keiko

 

A very similar picture to that taken yesterday, but they are lying even closer together in repose. Their tantrums with one another seem to have developed into playfulness, so all seems well at last.

A very occasional flowering

 

These flowered in our garden this week for the first time in a few years. Aren't they glorious? They are Yucca plants, but apparently need a  certain moth to pollinate them. 

Two new friends

 

After our two cats, Noireau and Biscuit, were lost, we decided to get another couple. These two have known each other for two days, and after some tantrums between them both, they appear to have settled down well. They are called Mielle and Keiko.

A fantasy drink in France

 

This makes living in France a triumph. Perhaps an overstatement, but it is certainly an experience to be savoured.

Just like our cat, Noireau

A barbecue lunch in good company

We had our relatives, Claire and Gervais, visit us in their camper van. The day was splendid, as can be seen in the video here.

The bridge is under assault

The bridge is literally hanging by a thread - well, a rope. Look at the field beyond.

Flooding yet again

After yesterday's full day of rain, the floods followed. This time, to forestall it floating away for the second time, I've slung a 10m rope round the bridge, and tied it to an adjacent tree. It might fail to hold the bridge, as I wasn't paying enough attention to my Boys Scouts lesson on knotting.

Jason's adventure in India

This shows where Jason has reached in his journey. He has taken 6 weeks off to travel around India, and has only a few days left.


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Location:Lavausseau

Spring has sprung

The bridge is in place

 And this shows the bridge is now in service, allowing our tractor mower to easily cross from one island to another.

The curious case of our bridge

In February we had a heavy bout of flooding, and our bridge was washed away. It was able to move as it had not been properly staked into the ground, and as it was clad in timber in was possible for it to float. We walked down river, and found it perched on an island about half a mile away. It was far too heavy for the three of us to carry, so we had to dismantle it completely. The metal base is a galvanised iron gate, and is very strong, as we as heavy. It has now been re-erected back in place, and properly staked, so it should be secure in future.

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Location:Lavausseau

Biscuit rembered

Our cat, Biscuit, was killed by a passing car last week. He was 6 months old, and had become such a beloved member of our family. He will be remembered for having a wonderful disposition, and enchanting character.

Exercises in Poitiers

I go to a Physiotherapist (Laurence) each Tuesday for exercises. They only last for one hour, but that is enough for us fogies. The photos show Laurence and a fellow subject for treatment, as well as myself.





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Location:Poitiers

The Accident

Amanda was driving along a country road yesterday, when suddenly there was a terrible crash. She was on a main road, approaching a set of crossroads. At the junction, on a minor road, a car was waiting. As Amanda was about to draw alongside, the car suddenly pulled out, and struck the front of her car. It looks like a write-off, but Amanda is well. She was taken to hospital for a checkup, but apart from bruising by the seat belt, she was declared to be in good health. The other driver, also unhurt, immediately confessed his error. When the Police arrived, and saw that he had disobeyed the STOP sign, they fined him 90 Euros and gave him 4 penalty points on his Driving License.

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Location:Bas Etang

Hedgecutter in progress

The French are fastidious with their road maintenance. Here is a picture of the Hedgecutter driving past our house. The roads and verges are always immaculate.


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Location:Lavausseau

Reaction Theatre

We went to see "Inspector Drake" last night at a small theatre in a village nearby called Secondigny. It was an amateur production, but the seasoned actors were muff free, and excellent characters.


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Location:Secondigny

Autumnal bonfire

It is always so satisfying to banish detritus into the ether. Here I was burning the fallen leaves that had accumulated over the last weekend.


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Location:Lavausseau

Biscuit

 

We have a new kitten which we have named Biscuit. He is a very friendly chap, and gets on terribly well with our other cat, Noireau.

Staying in a Chateau

We visited the Loire area with some friends, and stayed at Le Mesangeau chateau.


It had been beautifully renovated, and was in first class condition. All the modern conveniences were there, including, of course, WiFi for us discerning travellers. The owners prepared a superb evening meal, and I would recommend the place to everyone. Have a look at it in TripAdvisor.com .
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Location:Bas Étang, Lavausseau, France

Bees swarming in Bas Etang

We suddenly noticed that bees had been congregating above our bedroom. So we contacted our local farmer, who keeps a lot of bees, and asked him to come and help. As the bees probably come from his collection anyway, he has left us one of his hives, and told us that the bees will migrate to the hive in about a week. They did just that, and the picture here shows them swarming on a very hot day. We now await the farmer's collection of the hive.


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Location:Lavausseau

Spring is well underway

These flowers are in full stride, and herald the beginning of wonderful weather we are expecting here in Lavausseau.

Location:Lavausseau

Cleaning the Tiles

 

 

 

Every year, after the end of Winter, the tiles look dirty, and covered in moss. They require a hose-down with a strong high-pressure jet. And I've got just the equipment to do this. Here is a before-and-after set of pictures.

The sun has come to Lavausseau

 

At last we have a touch of Spring already. The greenness is beginning to show, and will be in full growth within weeks.

The French number plate

 One other thing worth mentioning about the system of French number plates. The Departement number was incorporated in the registration number itself. So my number used to have the 86 within it. Now it is excluded. But it is still there, as the number plate manufacturers in each Departement display it on the far right of the plate, together with a Map! Previously, people had a new number plate if they moved to another Departement. I needed a new plate as the car was registered previously in the UK.

New car registration

It took a few weeks, and a lot of money, but I finally managed to register my car in France. It required a number of documents:

1. A Certificate of Conformity. This is produced by the car manufacturer to vouch that the car was made in accordance with European standards. As MG Rover is now defunct, I bought it through a Company based in Slovakia. The operation seems to be perfectly legal, but it cost 262.80 Euros - a not totally dissimilar amount that I paid to MG Rover itself for my previous car. Why it is necessary, when a blanket assurance that all its cars meet the EU requirements, thereby making individual certificates unnecessary, I do not know.
2. A Controle Technique. This is similar to the UK's MOT certificate, and a thoroughly good thing. It cost me 60 Euros.
3. A VAT approval. This is given by the French Tax Authorities, after examining the VAT invoice from the Vendor. This costs nothing!

After approving these documents at the Prefecture, I paid 262.50 Euros for the Carte Grise. This is the Vehicle Document, and certifies me as the owner.

I then bought the Number Plates at a Shoe Repair shop for 25 Euros, plus a riveting kit for 2.40 Euros. And I was ready for the installation, which was kindly done by my friend Robin.



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Location:Lavausseau