Sunday 7 April 2013

Where have the days gone?

The last week has been spent gardening (when the weather has been OK) and catching up on marking and lesson preparation (in the rain).
Yesterday we needed a break, so after a morning in the garden we headed off to the Maison du Parc. Since it was bitterly cold we took a very brisk walk past the Chateau du Bouchet to the Etang de la Mer Rouge.






How many herons can you spot in this photograph?
Back at the Maison du Parc we headed into the café for some crepes – raspberry with caramelised sugar for me and chocolate, pear and almond for Tim. We had intended to share half of each although I found Tim’s far too sweet and stuck to mine.  
Photographs?  No, we were hungry!
We then headed off to Chatillion to the Brico to buy a merlin. When we last bought our firewood we bought 50cm logs. As only some of them fit into the wood-burner we (read Tim) needed to cut and split others. Tim tells me we’ve got a good one, and at 56 Euros I certainly hope so! He wondered whether you’d all like to see a photograph, but my guess is that only the male of the species might – or am I resorting to stereotypes?
Finally we ended up in Le Breuil aux Gittons for a delicious supper with our friends John and Maureen. We were to be special guests at the launch of their new and beautifully decorated upstairs terrace room. John broke out the pink champagne but we refrained from smashing the bottle against the wall. The room contains a wonderful surprise, but for now, and breaking the habit of a lifetime, I'm saying nothing. But, I can guarantee that if you get to see it you'll enjoy the surprise...

14 comments:

  1. A picture would have been useful, whats a Merlin? and I am male well I was last time I looked!! C

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A merlin is just a wood splitting axe (3.7kg). The one Tim chose has a shock absorbing handle and a thick rubber sleeve near the axe head. Presumably this is so that if you miss the wood you don't damage the shaft. Or so Tim says...

      Delete
    2. Ahh We looked at them last week to split the logs we cut.

      Delete
  2. Nick wants one of those, although it seems rather optimistic at this moment as we are about to run out of logs, what with it being so cold.......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't go cold. You are welcome to call in and fill your boot to tide you over.

      Delete
  3. The days fly by when you are trying to get stuff done....and the weather isn't helping much. I hope you have another week to go...and that the weather improves. It would be good if you saw some sunshine and felt a bit of warmth before heading back. Needless to say, its still pretty cold in Yorkshire, but at least we've seen the sunshine this weekend. J.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A bit less as we have to return for a funeral. However the forecast in LeP-P is mostly rain until Saturday! :o(

      Keep warm.

      Delete
  4. Last picture... three herons I think, but the pic is very small on this laptop...
    and a relative, a Great White Egret...
    an Eastern Mediterranean species until recently...
    now breeding in the Brenne...
    and last year, for the first time, in the UK...
    in the Somerset Levels...
    where, at the moment, there are six hanging around.
    They've spread North and West far faster than either the Cattle or the Little Egrets.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think I see 4 herons...we have scads of Great Blue Herons around here and I've taken many a shot of them in and out of the water. Quel beau chateau!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The photos are beautiful and evocative - everything looks lovely, but chilly! I keep looking around our new 'village' - well, hamlet, really - and thinking how much prettier it would be if it were in France...
    You sound to have had a very lovely day - your crepe sounds just up my street!
    Axxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Men are for chopping.
    Ladies are for shopping!

    Granny G

    ReplyDelete
  8. COOL fotos!!

    Bonne semaine!!

    xxx Maria xxx

    ReplyDelete
  9. We had a similar problem with logs.
    We had hardly any left but after freezing for a day or three decided to bite the bullet and order some more. We merrily ordered "cinquante" because that's the size of the poele. Unfortunately the door appears to be "quarante".

    We went to Bricomarché to get a bow saw (whatever that is) and came back with a small electric chain saw. Result !! It cuts through the logs like butter and we now have a toasty house. Shame it's not toasty outside as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have a chain saw, but Tim was wittering on about the direction of the cut with the chain saw being the wrong way for our logs. I think he just wanted a new gadget...

      I think a bow saw would have been harder work for Nick.

      Delete