The Yucca by the pool

Here is a Yucca type of plant which has just flowered. The plant is 8 feet tall, and quite magnificent.


Remarkable flowers 

Cactus type flower 

Our resident frog

This little chap does his best in keeping us awake at night.


The resident frog 

Solar heating of the Swimming Pool

This is the system of heating the pool water. The sun's rays heat the water coursing through these rubber pipes, circulating through the filter pump, pool and back through these tubes.


Solar heating 

New views of Bas Etang flora and fauna

These photos have been taken on a 6MP Minolta by a good friend from England during this summer.

Bas Etang 

House from the riverside 

Palm tree by the river 

Wild Boar lunch

The village of Lavausseau held a communal lunch yesterday. The pride of place were 2 wild boar turning on the spit. You can see the contraption used for turning the boar below - a Heath Robinson design utilising bicycles, batteries and oil drums. I can vouch that it tasted delicious, and that the 5 hours of lunch proved to be a happy experience for all.

Wild Boar 

Wild Boar 2 

Wild Boar 4 

Bluetooth Mouse

Bluetooth Mouse 
I've just acquired this new mouse. It is an Iogear Bluetooth optical version. It is very small, and, best of all, it is wireless. I was fed up with the trailing wire of my previous mouse, as it was never long enough. I already had a Belkin USB Bluetooth adapter that was used for synchronising my Ericsson T630 'phone with Lotus Organizer, so, as the Iogear mouse comes without its own adapter, this was an obvious solution. It uses Nickel Metal Hydride batteries which can be recharged via a USB2 cable overnight. I am very pleased with the product, and highly recommend it.

Home grown fig

Fig 
There is a huge fig tree at Bas Etang 2, and here is a sample. It tasted delicious.

Swimming Pool Fencing

Pool 
Legislation was passed last year in France that requires all pools to be fenced and gated. Pools open to the public had to have them in place by Summer 2004, but private pools, such as ours, have to be completed by 1st January 2006. So we bit the bullet today and ordered ours. It is a black plastic mesh version (try saying that quickly!) which will be delivered in a few weeks time. I have elected to install it myself to save 700 Euros. I will need a diamond tipped drill, as the posts will be fixed into the slabs around the pool. I understand that I can hire the equipment quite readily, but I am worried about cracking the stone slabs.

Lily pads in La Boivre 

The vista 

On our cess pit! 

Pampas grass

Selected views 
Isn't it magnificent?

The Folly at Bas Etang

Wendy House 
This was built by our predecessor as a rather large wendy house for his children. It has electricity, lighting and heating. Needless to say we have not spent any time in it yet!

Water levels

Water levels are dropping 

Almost gone 
The water level has gone down considerably in the Boivre, and the hosepipe ban is in force. The lower photo shows the tributary that has stopped flowing.

Our fruit harvest

Our fruit harvest 
Perhaps we don't take much care of the poor chaps, but this is as good as it gets at Bas Etang.

The main inhabitants of the garden

Our new friend 
We have lots of mole hills in our garden, but never actually see the critters. That is, until now!

The dry season

Field 
The lack of rain is taking its toll on the plants and grass at Bas Etang. The field shown here is turning brown, though there is still enough green vegetation to maintain an attractive appearance.

The Chateau

The Chateau 
We visited this chateau the other day. It is owned by a young couple from Belgium who we met socially. They were kind enough to invite us to have a look around. They have been spending the last 18 months refurbishing, with significant input from contractors. The progress was most impressive, and all the 8 bedrooms have now been completed. The previous owner was very unreasonable, and took all the movable fittings possible. Even the security system was sabotaged by cutting the wires. It had been in their family for over 300 years, so it was probably due to the angst from selling.

Our first Fish

Trout 
I've just received this photo from our friends, Ann and Geoffrey. Geoffrey is a very keen fisherman, and advised me on the purchase of the necessary equipment when they stayed here a few weeks ago. The river is teeming with fish, and I thought it would be a cinch to fill a bucket with them. After all, there is an area where they are virtually captive, and have nowhere to go except onto the hook. Or so I thought! After a few hours of trying, Geoffrey finally succeeded in catching this one shown above. And a jolly good meal was had by all later that day.