tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21343203103350850012024-03-13T10:54:28.254+00:00la petite-pressela petite-presse@le petit-pressignyGaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.comBlogger455125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-79316628867757382412017-12-23T21:46:00.000+00:002017-12-23T21:53:34.934+00:00Season's Greetings - That was the year that was...<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">I can't quite believe that it has been a whole year since my last blog. Such a lot has happened during the past twelve months. The fall out from the Brexit vote continues to make me sad and angry. Theresa May is hanging on and leading us to goodness knows where.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">Our travels have taken us to South Africa for the first time and were amazed by the stunning scenery and wildlife, </span><br />
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<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"> In June we became grandparents for the first time. Ronnie Thomas is a little star!</span><br />
<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">We've sold and moved out of The Old School after nearly 35 wonderful years. We didn't manage to find the right house to buy so are renting a lovely house in Stafford whilst we continue our search. It has been a difficult process both physically and emotionally, but we know that it was the right thing to do. We are very fortunate to have options when so many people really don't.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">Since late November we've visited Rome and Venice, stayed in a cottage in the Peak District and managed to move and set up our rented house. Two rooms are almost completely full of boxes which there seems very little point in unpacking, but we also have comfortable rooms in which to relax and browse the Rightmove app - or at least we will when BT get their act together and connect our broadband. A wait of 19 days is a bit excessive, don't you think?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">We’ve had a busy couple of weeks meeting up with family and friends for pre-Christmas celebrations. We’ve spent an inordinate amount of time at the ‘trough’, but have enjoyed some delicious meals and sparkling company. No doubt there will be more to come before the decorations are taken down!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">We are spending Christmas day with Tom, Rhiannon, Stuart and Ronnie and we’ll enjoy a wonderful meal and good company. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">Wherever you are…</span><br />
<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">Whatever you are doing…</span><br />
<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">However you are celebrating this time of the year…</span><br />
<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">Whether celebrations are more difficult because of loved ones who are no longer with you…</span><br />
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<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Tim and I send you our very best wishes for</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> a merry Christmas</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00008a; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> and a happy, healthy and peaceful 2018.</span></span></div>
GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-70402631256441476342016-12-25T08:41:00.001+00:002016-12-25T10:13:14.018+00:00Season’s Greetings…<p><font color="#000080" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">It's been a long time! However, although the I may not be finding the time, inspiration or inclination to write this blog I always try to find some time to read and keep up with my many friends in the blogging world. I think of you all often. I take delight in seeing your photographs of amazing places or just your day to day activities. Some of you have become real friends, and we are much enriched by having you as part of our lives. We count ourselves fortunate to have met you.</font> <p><font color="#000080" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">At this time we also remember absent friends. Some will return tomorrow, next week or next year. Others are but precious memories of times spent together.</font> <p><font color="#000080" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">At 3pm GMT we shall be following the lead of <a href="http://loirevalleyexperiences.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/to-absent-friends.html" target="_blank">Jim and Pauline Craig</a> and raising a toast to absent friends.</font> <p><font color="#000080" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Today we are also thinking about those who are less fortunate, where ‘christmas’ never comes - in war zones, touched by tragedy, intolerance, natural disasters, in poverty, poor health, lonely, homeless, refugees -the list goes on. Santa doesn't bring every child a huge pile of presents, and the 'world' so often shows that it doesn't care for the problems of others. Each one of us can make a difference.</font> <p><font color="#000080" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Annie Lennox – Universal Child</font> <p><a title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nInCpOvDC8" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nInCpOvDC8"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nInCpOvDC8</font></a> <p><font color="#000080" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">We wish you all healthy, peaceful and joyful Christmas...</font> <p align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m9VzQTtF7SI/WF-GMJX8BoI/AAAAAAAAHiw/b3oHqtq-_XU/s1600-h/christmas%2525202016%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="christmas 2016" style="display: inline" alt="christmas 2016" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tEYPoGbmx8c/WF-GOzyALMI/AAAAAAAAHi4/gwKQ_vB5Z48/christmas%2525202016_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="208" height="300"></a></p>GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-25079063527589045432016-08-27T18:59:00.001+01:002016-09-01T07:48:59.372+01:00Le Mont-Dore to Super Besse...We've been to the Auvergne quite a few times over the years. The first was in 1980 on a ski holiday with a group of school children. Our hotel was at La Bourboule, but the skiing area was at Le Mont-Dore. Although we haven't skied there since (we've opted for the Swiss and French Alps, which in the higher resorts is more snow-sure) the ski area and lift system has developed and the resort is linked over the Massive de Sancy to Super Besse. Super Besse is a purpose built resort and has little of the charm of more traditional villages, but it does have mountains, a lake and even an indoor swimming pool. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">It was crowded with people making the most of the last sunny days of the school holidays.</span><br />
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The intrepid cyclists were cycling up over the Col de Robert and taking a detour around Lac Chambon, Murol, St Nectaire (of the cheese fame) and Besse (for coffee) and then taking the massive climb up to Super Besse, which varies between 7 and 12% for around 7km. The total ride was about 50km. I hope you're impressed - I was!! </div>
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I drove the support vehicle which involved passing them a couple of times, pipping the horn, shouting the "allez, allez" and blasting out a few bars of Born to Run. My job done I headed to the traditional stone and cobble village of Besse et St Anastaise to do some window shopping and have a drink in the town square. It's thirsty work!</div>
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I have better photographs of Besse on my camera, which I'll download to my laptop and update.</div>
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The scenery was stunning. </div>
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It's a mammoth task getting the bikes on to the roof bars...</div>
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A cooling dip in the lake...<br />
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Finally, you know you are in a ski resort when three apples and three tomatoes cost 4€87!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">To round off the day we walked around the crater lake. Lac Pavin. We remembered doing this in 1994 with Rhiannon and our Dutch friends Robert and Erna Van der Pieterman, Maaike, Erik and Frank. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Happy days...</span></div>
GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-52875071005401277202016-08-23T18:51:00.001+01:002016-09-01T07:49:56.051+01:00On tour in the Auvergne ** I know that the photographs and font won't be right but I'm doing this post via iPad. I'll correct them when I get back to my laptop**<br />
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We've spent a couple of lovely days in the Cantal. Tim and Tom have cycled in the footsteps (or should it be wheel tracks?) of Chris Froome et al up from Salers to the top of the Pas de Peyrol and down the other side. The Pas de Peyrol is just below Puy Mary. Yesterday we followed in our own footsteps of 22 years previous and climbed up Puy Mary. I was 38 then and found the climb easier, but knocking 60 still made it without the need for extra oxygen or a defibrillator! We missed Rhiannon, but she has her own mountains to climb, and will soon be off to even warmer climes on her honeymoon to Sri Lanka!<br />
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I provided backup in the car but unfortunately couldn't run to the Ford Mustang of Dave rails ford and Team Sky. </div>
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I'm very proud of Tim and Tom, but livid that a Brit in a Toyota estate prevented me from behind at the summit to welcome them. It's a long story, but I was parked in the shade and two cars parked so close to me that I couldn't open the doors on either side enough to even hope to get in! It often happens on one side so I've perfected the technique of getting into the passenger side and climbing into the driving seat. This time neither door would open more than about 15cm! After about 25 minutes (and rehearsing the French for my displeasure!) the selfish Brit arrived back. To say he got a piece of my mind was an understatement! I would have still been annoyed, but less so has the car park been full. There was lots of space, but not in the shade.</div>
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So I missed being there to welcome them, photograph the occasion and pour some cold water over them. There are other photographs...</div>
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We then moved on to Le Mont Dore and the Puy de Sancy. Taking a break from cycling we decided to have a day walking in the mountains. No mean feat given the temperatures! However, a slight breeze and the altitude meant that the temperatures were moderated somewhat, but it was still HOT.</div>
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With so many people wanting to climb to the summit and the problems of erosion, the last 500m was steep and wooden steps had been created.</div>
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The views along. The way were spectacular. I haven't been able to download from my camera yetso these were taken with my mobile phone...</div>
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The Puy de Dome in the background...</div>
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It was slightly disappointing ar the summit to be plagued by thousands of flying ants. We couldn't believe it! It meant that we couldn't stay around too long to soak up the view.</div>
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There were loads of myrtilles sauvage. In Wales we would call these whimberries or whinberries. You could be picking all afternoon to get enough for a tart!! </div>
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And sheep...<br />
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We also found the source of the river Dordogne. It starts off as two streams in the Massive de Sancy, the Dore and the Dogne...</div>
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They join at this point...</div>
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That's it for today. Tomorrow another mountain stage of the TdF from Le Mont Dore to Super Besse.</div>
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When I've done that there will be a wedding to tell you about...</div>
GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-28256545420415695952016-08-13T09:55:00.001+01:002016-08-13T10:06:04.282+01:00Reflections…<p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">I’m not going to attempt to explain my absence from blogging over the past four months. We’ve been busy with a wedding, but perhaps more about that and other diversions in future posts.</font></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Following a wonderful evening at Les Tilleuils bar in Barrou listening to <a href="http://loirevalleyexperiences.blogspot.fr/2016/08/bonne-soireewith-angie-palmer-in-barrou.html" target="_blank">Angie Palmer</a> (a link to Jim Craig’s Loire Valley Experiences blog) perform, enjoying a lethal punch, steak frites all washed down with a nice rosé, we were up and about early for a walk around Le Petit-Pressigny. </font></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I46mON7jaLI/V67gT0ucO7I/AAAAAAAAHXw/9JVdFJJd7dI/s1600-h/IMG_2730%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2730" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_2730" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tfDoQm5Zjdk/V67gUo64VoI/AAAAAAAAHX4/ZzkZgVPbauM/IMG_2730_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PHU3u7oBEJk/V67gVc4m0_I/AAAAAAAAHYA/oN_eaUWQECw/s1600-h/IMG_2732%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2732" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_2732" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qy2Rwa6cnd4/V67gWLhQ-dI/AAAAAAAAHYI/rwbCANIa1Q8/IMG_2732_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MlQLOKk2ryQ/V67gW0JMZAI/AAAAAAAAHYQ/sLZVqkCFiwM/s1600-h/IMG_2733%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2733" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_2733" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g9Bc4G0-LR0/V67gX31JQiI/AAAAAAAAHYY/8T-AQHDPXfo/IMG_2733_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">We’d decided that if there was to be a walk today it would need to be an early one. Temperatures are set to soar over the next few days and Celine at the boucherie assures me that by Monday we can expect 34C, followed by storms on Wednesday!</font></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Walking just after 7am the temperatures were cool and refreshing, although warmer in the sunshine. Everywhere was quiet, but even at that early hour there was a lot of activity at the fishing lake, with even a queue for the toilet!!</font></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">A few reflections along the way. For how much longer, I wonder, will we see the Union flag alongside the EU flag as we see the Tricolor outside the salle des fetes? I am desperately disappointed (to put it mildly) about how things have turned out with the referendum vote for Brexit… </font></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4t07-KX9ETU/V67gYsDB_kI/AAAAAAAAHYg/5AmvbvdrbHg/s1600-h/P1070381%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1070381" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1070381" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tekz2xIBw2Y/V67gZZmlzJI/AAAAAAAAHYo/JfDRDrGrzlg/P1070381_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></a></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OX4-QDp3Xrc/V67gaC4Y2nI/AAAAAAAAHYw/9E4plOSzS7M/s1600-h/P1070384%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1070384" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1070384" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FGKNhxEx73E/V67gbH6bh5I/AAAAAAAAHY4/Ij2Aq-3yqu4/P1070384_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-irnXpQtm3NA/V67gb5tZXHI/AAAAAAAAHZA/P910klMYXNs/s1600-h/P1070364%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1070364" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1070364" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bsf-WycCcOg/V67gcstF2hI/AAAAAAAAHZI/EbsIceozW6k/P1070364_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PNm7Zg29-lQ/V67gdqyHM2I/AAAAAAAAHZQ/-o-jsf7kvFQ/s1600-h/P1070366%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1070366" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1070366" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c_WKtHzM7vg/V67gebfMC9I/AAAAAAAAHZY/C73Enk5fitg/P1070366_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AHRzmm0LXMQ/V67gfb0io6I/AAAAAAAAHZg/gnL0CQFCN18/s1600-h/P1070367%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1070367" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1070367" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D6jHSJgjLow/V67ggGxXzPI/AAAAAAAAHZo/43OQSzICWS8/P1070367_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Something new has appeared in the smaller lake. Certainly not the one that got away…</font></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-92S3pXen3dg/V67ghSFY0_I/AAAAAAAAHZw/hwwB6IPfseo/s1600-h/P1070368%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1070368" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1070368" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6Hwd1yVXhPI/V67giCyAIWI/AAAAAAAAHZ4/ZHQvqWHg1Sc/P1070368_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">A closer look…</font></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6nIk4FAv1GU/V67gjDyd5KI/AAAAAAAAHaA/JP0LyeoS3GE/s1600-h/P1070370%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1070370" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1070370" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ixZcc9oICh4/V67gj4_P6sI/AAAAAAAAHaI/b6pVueN1YiI/P1070370_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KL7yJpWgs6Q/V67gk6cdC6I/AAAAAAAAHaQ/sb3GeF5KI7Q/s1600-h/P1070373%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1070373" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1070373" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2T9FING-d4A/V67gl3XFKEI/AAAAAAAAHaY/rK_H-Sj3PU4/P1070373_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></a></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Look closely and you will see someone lurking in the roses…</font></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L7zqoZdOFvw/V67gm9pgzpI/AAAAAAAAHag/O3ig3cjwWJ0/s1600-h/P1070379%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1070379" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1070379" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0ydwwS8l8mQ/V67gnjh_aYI/AAAAAAAAHao/BIdIbFV8g1k/P1070379_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></a></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">It’s days like these that make you count your lucky stars just a bit more carefully…</font></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"></font> </p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"></font></p>GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-17676806920806074122016-04-10T15:43:00.001+01:002016-04-10T15:43:40.457+01:00Test and a blast from the past…<p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Long time no see, write, read or hear.</font></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">I like the sentiments expressed in this photograph I took at the Law Courts in Westminster.</font></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pFXTEjYInkk/Vwpml7ZKzAI/AAAAAAAAHW8/N7_5np8wy2E/s1600-h/IMG_2203%25255B14%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2203[14]" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_2203[14]" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tmi0357RAt0/VwpmmzvqC3I/AAAAAAAAHXE/9F-W8KbOics/IMG_2203%25255B14%25255D_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">As <a href="http://averygrandpressigny.blogspot.fr/" target="_blank">Jean</a> pointed out in her blog Windows Live Writer is no more, and her husband, Nick, has researched Open Live Writer is an alternative. Although I’d noticed this on the forums it seemed like a faff, but to know that it works made all the difference! I instructed my IT technician (aka Tim) to sort it. </font></p> <p><font color="#000064" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">So here goes…</font></p>GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-14363301578342053242016-01-31T10:39:00.001+00:002016-02-11T08:32:50.095+00:00R.I.P. Sir Terry...<div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sadly Sir Terry Wogan passed away today. For many years I arrived at school with a smile on my face listening to his breakfast programme. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tears of laughter listening to his Janet and John stories turn to sadness today for the man who helped raise millions for Children in Need.</span></div>
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Check this out...</div>
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E8U612YLjHQ</div>
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GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-76386863510382695382016-01-19T09:18:00.001+00:002016-01-19T16:18:46.901+00:00R.I.P. Glenn Frey...<span style="color: #000064; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">The wonderful music of the
Eagles has been with me since the early 70’s. Together with Jackson Browne, Bob
Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Neil Young, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell they got me through
my university days, and have stayed with me ever since. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="color: #000064; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">In the pace of eight days we've lost David Bowie and Alan Rickman and yesterday we lost Glenn Frey, a founding member and, together with Don Henley, a creative genius of The
Eagles. So much wonderful music and lyrics that it would be easy to sit here and
weave this post with one-liners from the songs which form the soundtrack to much
of my life.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">We saw The Eagles perform
live three times. They were fantastic celebrations of their music,
the harmonies they could produce live on stage on a par with anything from a
studio recording.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #000064;"><span style="color: #000064;">Hotel California would be on
my Desert Island Disc list, but I could choose so many other Eagles tracks. It would
certainly be a close contender for my final choice. The lyrics were written by
Glenn Frey. You can see a post on Hotel California </span><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://lapetite-presse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/monday-music-my-desert-island-disc.html" target="_blank">here.</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">I’m so sad at Glenn’s
passing at the age of 67 and my thoughts are with his wife, children, family and friends as they
come to terms with a life without him. I'm sure they are very proud of him and all he achieved through his music. I've listened to and read tributes from many people, but t</span><span style="color: #000064; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">his tribute from Don Henley
says it all…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">"He was like a brother to me; we were
family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction. But, the bond we
forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles
were dissolved. We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles
with the same dream: to make our mark in the music industry -- and with
perseverance, a deep love of music, our alliance with other great musicians and
our manager, Irving Azoff, we built something that has lasted longer than anyone
could have dreamed. But, Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark
plug, the man with the plan. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music
and a work ethic that wouldn't quit. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial,
generous, deeply talented and driven. He loved is wife and kids more than
anything. We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow. We
brought our two-year 'History of the Eagles Tour' to a triumphant close at the
end of July and now he is gone. I'm not sure I believe in fate, but I know that
crossing paths with Glenn Lewis Frey in 1970 changed my life forever, and it
eventually had an impact on the lives of millions of other people all over the
planet. It will be very strange going forward in a world without him in it. But,
I will be grateful, every day, that he was in my life. Rest in peace, my
brother. You did what you set out to do, and then some."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;">One of the concerts opened with this song. The music lives
on…</span><br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-13886714163562221032015-12-31T13:02:00.000+00:002015-12-31T13:03:41.101+00:00Out with the old...<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">2015 was a very good year for
us. We are very fortunate to have enjoyed good health, and the year has been
characterised by fellowship with family and friends. It was a year in which as I
tried to get to grips with retirement, Tim slipped from retirement into
semi-retirement, and ended the year almost working full time. We weren’t able to
spend as much time in Le Petit-Pressigny as we thought we might, but the
compensation was that we were able to travel. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">Time spent with family and
friends has been very important. We didn’t dream that we could have made good
friends in France in such a short time. If ever there is a problem someone has
the answer and is prepared to help out with tools, advice or just a listening
ear. Friends have also been very generous with their hospitality. Just a selection of the photographs we've taken this year of friends or their cakes!!. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">Our travels took us first to
Switzerland, with our very good friends Stephen and Anne. They were at
Loughborough University with Tim in the 1970’s and we have been firm friends
ever since - best men, godparents to each others children, holiday companions
both in summer and winter for most of the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s. We
almost (but not quite) persuaded them to buy a house in Charnizay!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">The weather in Switzerland
was fantastic, especially if you want to ski! We had a mix of heavy snow falls
and bright sunny days. I am a fair weather skier, and to ski at my best (which
isn’t actually very good) require gentle slopes, perfect snow conditions and the
kind of light which highlights every imperfection in the snow!! However, I feel
that I come alive in the mountains.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">Tim turned 60 in March. This
was followed by just over a month in Japan, which was amazing. It was good to
spend time with Tom and experience Japanese life. The scenery was wonderful,
with so much to see. We were there in March/April for cherry blossom which was just as wonderful as the guide books show. Our favourite hotels were the traditional
Japanese Ryokans.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">Rhiannon went back to
university to study social work, graduated in July and is now a qualified social
worker. She works very hard in a demanding job, but is making a
difference.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">In August Tom came back from
his two year stint teaching English in Japan to return to university.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">Tim visited Shanghai as part
of his work, but his visit coincided with a week of almost torrential
rain.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">Torrential rain has been very
much a part of the UK weather this year. We are fortunate not to have been
affected, but so many people have had their lives and homes devastated by floods,
many of which could have been avoided. Our hearts go out to them as they try to
restore some semblance of normality.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">Christmas was lovely, and, as
we look forward to 2016, I’ll quote from Rhiannon…</span><br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">“ For the first time in quite
a few years (so long none of us can remember when it last was!!) We've spent a
magical Christmas all together as 'The Brotherhoods' in our family home, with a
couple of added extras!! We have eaten, drunk, laughed, and been truly spoilt
with both gifts and love. I can't think of a more fitting way to celebrate my
last as Miss RhiBro. Who knows where 'The Dales' will end up in 2016; but I am
so excited to find out!!”</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVTJ1V0Xkq8/VoUjMvL1ySI/AAAAAAAAHVA/o-gJh-Uij8s/s1600/IMG_1344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVTJ1V0Xkq8/VoUjMvL1ySI/AAAAAAAAHVA/o-gJh-Uij8s/s400/IMG_1344.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">So there we have it. So much to look forward to. For us 2016 will herald a wedding, another
graduation, and my 60th birthday. However, I also hope it brings with it much
happiness, good health and peace for you all. </span><br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">The New Year is the time of
unfolding horizons and the realisation of dreams, may you be able to enjoy the
simple pleasures that life has to offer and face the challenges that may come
your way. I hope that in 2016 we can also remember, and, do what we can, to help
those people with lives that have been torn apart by conflict or natural
disaster, and are needing sanctuary or a share of some of the wonderful things
we take for granted.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #000064; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"><br /></span>GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-22092990767873194382015-12-25T21:02:00.001+00:002015-12-25T21:02:36.377+00:00Season's greetings...... from our home to yours. <div><br></div><div>We are celebrating at home in the UK with both Rhiannon and Tom, for the first time since 2009. We shall be joined by Rhiannon's partner, Stuart, my brother and three dogs!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HjhONPvl20s/Vn2u5EdbabI/AAAAAAAAHS8/6PUgL3EF-7U/s640/blogger-image--541441396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4wgSK8l4KRU/Vn2u6n4ahJI/AAAAAAAAHTE/Yeqvy7N5SD8/s640/blogger-image-344705428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4wgSK8l4KRU/Vn2u6n4ahJI/AAAAAAAAHTE/Yeqvy7N5SD8/s640/blogger-image-344705428.jpg"></a></div><br></div>After a couple of glasses of sparkles!</div><br><div><div><br></div><div>However you mark the day we send you our very best wishes.</div></div></div></div>GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-30606236866116477292015-12-21T14:17:00.001+00:002015-12-21T14:31:45.408+00:00Trentham Gardens...<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of weeks ago we used a windfall (procured on my behalf by my wonderful daughter!) of Tesco club card vouchers to buy an annual pass into Trentham Gardens. I regularly go to the garden centre and shopping village so it makes sense to combine a trip with a walk around the lake (which takes about 40 minutes of brisk walking) and a browse through the Italian Gardens.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We've been three times in the past couple of weeks and usually treat ourselves to a cup of tea and a scone afterwards. Unfortunately I'm not certain that the walk is a sufficient energy trade for the scone (on an energy in v energy out basis), although I suppose we could always walk around the lake more than once!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An otter carving on a diseased tree</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Italian Gardens aren't looking at their best at this time of the year, but I shall post some photographs later in the year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The wonderful metal sculptures were created by Robin Wright and his daughter, Amy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lancelot 'Capability' Brown was employed to create the gardens and the mile long lake between 1759 and 1780, and 2016 will celebrate the tercentenary of his birth.</span></div>
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GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-53172500475291400332015-12-10T08:22:00.001+00:002015-12-10T08:29:50.523+00:00Busy, busy...My inactivity on Blogger over recent weeks and months could indicate one of two things; either that I have nothing interesting to write about (since when has that ever stopped me!) or that I am so busy that there isn't time to write!<div>In reality it is a 'Bob' or a bit of both. Also, the immediacy of Facebook means that I can keep up to date via my telephone or tablet in a way that is difficult to achieve via the Blogger app on my iPad.</div><div>This week we've been in Cranfield and London. More about London later, but first check out some of the decor in our hotel near Cranfield...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--kK0r2uG_vA/Vmk1-lSDdlI/AAAAAAAAHQg/A4guM-248cY/s640/blogger-image-2044602669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--kK0r2uG_vA/Vmk1-lSDdlI/AAAAAAAAHQg/A4guM-248cY/s640/blogger-image-2044602669.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QcE_MuXiJbY/Vmk2Dp_DSII/AAAAAAAAHQw/H8FA6dGIqbY/s640/blogger-image-82180522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QcE_MuXiJbY/Vmk2Dp_DSII/AAAAAAAAHQw/H8FA6dGIqbY/s640/blogger-image-82180522.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D8DYDNZU6os/Vmk2IC5TBZI/AAAAAAAAHRA/UpAzlgGpjVI/s640/blogger-image-1853021864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D8DYDNZU6os/Vmk2IC5TBZI/AAAAAAAAHRA/UpAzlgGpjVI/s640/blogger-image-1853021864.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xYzdIYcqn50/Vmk15RbjVzI/AAAAAAAAHQQ/l8GgWRQlUic/s640/blogger-image--1308386043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xYzdIYcqn50/Vmk15RbjVzI/AAAAAAAAHQQ/l8GgWRQlUic/s640/blogger-image--1308386043.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GCUMulOp7R4/Vmk18AxV2XI/AAAAAAAAHQY/GfPaELvM-Mg/s640/blogger-image-1902393980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GCUMulOp7R4/Vmk18AxV2XI/AAAAAAAAHQY/GfPaELvM-Mg/s640/blogger-image-1902393980.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RWzFkZ0q3Ys/Vmk2BHSZDaI/AAAAAAAAHQo/9bNsXRuh8Cc/s640/blogger-image--1943451737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RWzFkZ0q3Ys/Vmk2BHSZDaI/AAAAAAAAHQo/9bNsXRuh8Cc/s640/blogger-image--1943451737.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8mV7avKv2V4/Vmk2Fsxhu_I/AAAAAAAAHQ4/9qiqSh_wmLg/s640/blogger-image-476464214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8mV7avKv2V4/Vmk2Fsxhu_I/AAAAAAAAHQ4/9qiqSh_wmLg/s640/blogger-image-476464214.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GShTY58nemQ/Vmk2KTla76I/AAAAAAAAHRI/yES2Rd-z0Wg/s640/blogger-image--963731099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GShTY58nemQ/Vmk2KTla76I/AAAAAAAAHRI/yES2Rd-z0Wg/s640/blogger-image--963731099.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Most of this happened in the SAME room. Busy, busy!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Must go as I'm off to Harrods... </div>GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-1607289209332821712015-11-11T17:16:00.001+00:002015-11-11T17:20:45.666+00:00À bientôt, au revoir but not adieu...<h2><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(Photographs will be re-sized)</span></h2><h2><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last few days...</span></h2><h4></h4><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The overwhelming memory of the last couple of weeks has been of fantastic weather. Sunny, bright and warm. We've been able to prepare the garden for winter and in all will have taken 27 of the very large (1 tonne) builders bags full of garden waste to the déchèterie! Hedges have been trimmed, shrubs cut back, fruit trees pruned and mountains of leaves raked and bagged.</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On Sunday we took some time out for a walk around Le Grand Pressigny...</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JpAeEfFaLC0/VkN31BA1rrI/AAAAAAAAHPY/7zT9NqHbGIk/s640/blogger-image-730786731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JpAeEfFaLC0/VkN31BA1rrI/AAAAAAAAHPY/7zT9NqHbGIk/s640/blogger-image-730786731.jpg"></a></div><br></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3P9SXBs6nzs/VkN3zeuh9AI/AAAAAAAAHPQ/xdx1a0fx3Tc/s640/blogger-image-1435238984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3P9SXBs6nzs/VkN3zeuh9AI/AAAAAAAAHPQ/xdx1a0fx3Tc/s640/blogger-image-1435238984.jpg"></a></div><br></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-COlA7JhZn8M/VkN348Ba-3I/AAAAAAAAHPo/0u6lzVhNT-E/s640/blogger-image--1802539970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-COlA7JhZn8M/VkN348Ba-3I/AAAAAAAAHPo/0u6lzVhNT-E/s640/blogger-image--1802539970.jpg"></a></div><br></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XjQg9JNmQLE/VkN37tc_1kI/AAAAAAAAHPw/QhrDNth0gL8/s640/blogger-image-1850063512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XjQg9JNmQLE/VkN37tc_1kI/AAAAAAAAHPw/QhrDNth0gL8/s640/blogger-image-1850063512.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GYY2sMUsrWk/VkN33JEcSrI/AAAAAAAAHPg/PK-cvU3pecw/s640/blogger-image--427527921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GYY2sMUsrWk/VkN33JEcSrI/AAAAAAAAHPg/PK-cvU3pecw/s640/blogger-image--427527921.jpg"></a></div><br></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JuzNBXk9qrE/VkN3-ZCfR7I/AAAAAAAAHP4/rwDkZbSFHZ0/s640/blogger-image-889941058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JuzNBXk9qrE/VkN3-ZCfR7I/AAAAAAAAHP4/rwDkZbSFHZ0/s640/blogger-image-889941058.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We've also hosted our annual curry evening for around thirty neighbours and friends. It marks the end of our year at Le Pré Vert and helps us to use up food from our fridge and freezer and beers (and wines) from our cellar. Of course we are helped by friends who bring delicious desserts, nibbles, naan and cheeses, not to mention wines and gifts. Thanks to support and help from friends the evening runs smoothly; aperitifs are handed out, plates collected, dishwashers stacked, and special thanks to Elizabeth and Jean for this, and for coming early to make sure we were ready. This year I even managed to get the quantities of rice and Bombay potato about right - last years mountain would have fed a hungry army!! Unfortunately I didn't manage to take any photographs of the evening or food which are worth posting. Next year Simon has promised to bring a 'man's curry'. Watch out....you have been warned!!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The following evening found us at the trough again at a Fondue Savoyard at Le Bon Coin. Our table of 17 was an eclectic mix of French, Dutch and Brits. Again good food, wines and conversation flowed.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So, I'm signing off at Le Pré Vert until 2016, although hopefully, between now and then, I'll sign in from wherever our travels take us...</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div></div>GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-26111831248497118682015-10-31T19:23:00.001+00:002015-10-31T19:30:21.962+00:00Halloween 2015...The day started with a trip to the market at Le Blanc. The weather was wonderful; bright, sunny and warm. In fact, as we ate lunch in the outside seating area of a cafe we had to ask for the sun parasol to be opened, to give us some relief from the heat of the sun - not something you often have to do on the last day of October!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b6reSXcxSIc/VjUVHgVV8lI/AAAAAAAAHOI/OUK_quwiXZk/s640/blogger-image-238040426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b6reSXcxSIc/VjUVHgVV8lI/AAAAAAAAHOI/OUK_quwiXZk/s640/blogger-image-238040426.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jLUeMSOIqkY/VjUVKGxFMyI/AAAAAAAAHOQ/qDvYb5YZQ-4/s640/blogger-image--408481525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jLUeMSOIqkY/VjUVKGxFMyI/AAAAAAAAHOQ/qDvYb5YZQ-4/s640/blogger-image--408481525.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m7_ufum4F4E/VjUVCMnktdI/AAAAAAAAHNw/uDQ45Y4x7Ts/s640/blogger-image-900397374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m7_ufum4F4E/VjUVCMnktdI/AAAAAAAAHNw/uDQ45Y4x7Ts/s640/blogger-image-900397374.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F4Kgir5vaWE/VjUVD626tDI/AAAAAAAAHN4/DyTp06mFWB4/s640/blogger-image--1052415225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F4Kgir5vaWE/VjUVD626tDI/AAAAAAAAHN4/DyTp06mFWB4/s640/blogger-image--1052415225.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rINVRhyekfw/VjUVF1D3WuI/AAAAAAAAHOA/S2XcxA7an1s/s640/blogger-image--816782147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rINVRhyekfw/VjUVF1D3WuI/AAAAAAAAHOA/S2XcxA7an1s/s640/blogger-image--816782147.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Tim had been busy carving the 2015 pumpkin.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6HM026Ir3Tg/VjUVMLfx9oI/AAAAAAAAHOY/vKwIW56XBhg/s640/blogger-image--307317334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6HM026Ir3Tg/VjUVMLfx9oI/AAAAAAAAHOY/vKwIW56XBhg/s640/blogger-image--307317334.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>We arrived home from Le Blanc just in time to light the candles in the pumpkin and prepare the bonbon stash ready for the village children to visit, dressed in their Halloween costumes. They were very sweet and all thanked us in English!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F4gCbVdNB_I/VjUVPw64YnI/AAAAAAAAHOo/clt40DhTG0E/s640/blogger-image--1858152834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F4gCbVdNB_I/VjUVPw64YnI/AAAAAAAAHOo/clt40DhTG0E/s640/blogger-image--1858152834.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xm2jRueESuE/VjUVOISBtxI/AAAAAAAAHOg/Kb2Hh93hLxk/s640/blogger-image-821213789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xm2jRueESuE/VjUVOISBtxI/AAAAAAAAHOg/Kb2Hh93hLxk/s640/blogger-image-821213789.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Today was also a day to remember for a special group of people. Congratulations to the New Zealand All Blacks for winning the Rugby World Cup. The experts say that this current team is the very best rugby team of all time. With their record of only three losses in the last four years it is hard to argue with their verdict. Well done to their opponents Australia for making it a final to remember. </div>GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-44081127114361113572015-10-16T10:31:00.001+01:002015-10-16T11:12:06.976+01:00New in Le Petit-Pressigny…<p><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">We were excited to find a wonderful, new, 5* hotel in LPP, and it is just what the village needs.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uwgyY19vS44/ViDDnf5eN2I/AAAAAAAAHKk/TV0bHaVADv0/s1600-h/IMG_1151%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_1151" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1151" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FtlwTRss4nI/ViDDpbRbpfI/AAAAAAAAHKw/QoEhx1fE9lQ/IMG_1151_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P2VvIDXHIbQ/ViDDrVhdfMI/AAAAAAAAHK8/StRddL5fH_Q/s1600-h/IMG_1152%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_1152" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1152" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_pxDhm4GnC8/ViDDsp-8ZTI/AAAAAAAAHLI/dh2TuGbm-wo/IMG_1152_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dn_MLKnNbp4/ViDDvQWB6lI/AAAAAAAAHLU/3CiVK47eUwU/s1600-h/IMG_1153%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_1153" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1153" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rrsUvNfrs_o/ViDDwt9pAhI/AAAAAAAAHLg/0whsNCXMp2A/IMG_1153_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zSe5Aon2HZY/ViDD0be_rwI/AAAAAAAAHLs/RHXXyt71lQA/s1600-h/IMG_1156%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_1156" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1156" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DNduNlmH8b4/ViDD1qm3mpI/AAAAAAAAHL4/jo3-AVK63k4/IMG_1156_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eDilp4mwa38/ViDD3o08sQI/AAAAAAAAHME/KhWu1EZMiuQ/s1600-h/IMG_1161%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_1161" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1161" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kRQfUNyeyTY/ViDD5tgXQoI/AAAAAAAAHMQ/fPQhHDDq-PE/IMG_1161_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">We love it, but hope that it works well for its special inhabitants…</font></p> GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-65370322525751943802015-10-09T23:01:00.000+01:002015-10-09T23:04:53.838+01:00Another trip around the sun...<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Thursday I completed yet another trip around the sun, which makes it 59 so far. This year's journey has been amazing, so I'm hoping the next trip will be the same, and with Rhiannon and Stuart's wedding coming up how can it not be! For the
first time in many years I wasn’t able to spend my birthday with any family
members, so we celebrated my birthday and Tom’s going back to Uni with a meal last
week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am in France, and
they are all in the UK, busy with work and university. Of course, with the help of
technology I was able to communicate with them, and friends via a mixture of Facetime,
Skype, email, text and Facebook. I received some lovely cards and gifts and was
invited to a delicious lunch by <a href="http://inandaroundbraye.blogspot.fr/" target="_blank">Colin and Elizabeth</a>. They had made some fabulous apple roses, which I'm sure they will blog about at some stage, and celebrated with a glass of sparkles, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having a bit more time on my hands I did some research. If I
were to believe in astrology, (and I don’t!) I discovered that these are some of
the characteristics of a person born on the 8<sup>th</sup> of October… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->placid, well mannered with a strong belief in
equality, fairness and justice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->persuasive with diplomatic temperament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->good at negotiating as well as avoiding
arguments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->naturally shrewd, farsighted and witty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->great at organising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->not neat and tidy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->loyal, affectionate and creative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->skilled with the use of words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->levelheaded with sound judgement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->usually not afraid to tactfully speak their mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->charming and curious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->sensitive and on occasion a little detached. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->tendency to sometimes overspend with an impulse
buy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->a bit too aware of what others around you may
think. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->feelings can occasionally run hot and cold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->occasional difficulty in dealing with stress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->worries affect confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->patience and
attention to detail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->to be tolerant and calm when necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->pleasant impartiality, dependability and
persuasiveness accentuate the power to negotiate and make progress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>sense of humour and fluent communication let you
get along with everyone regardless of surrounding circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->main strengths are imagination and capable
creativity, shrewdness, fairness, and a tactful even temper help keep a clear level
head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="color: #20124d;"> </span></o:p><span style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->main weaknesses focus on the coolness of your
responses and an increase in your untidiness, obstinate or bossy manner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I see myself in a few and would like to see myself in others.
Some are uncomfortable, and others, frankly laughable!! Others, like a complete inability to make up my mind, don't appear on the list! My friend Janet was born on the same day. Although, as she would no doubt point out, she is four years younger. I see Jan in quite a few of the positive traits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ll let you decide which are which…</span><o:p></o:p></div>
GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-88912087721173798772015-09-04T11:53:00.001+01:002015-09-04T11:55:51.713+01:00The return of the prodigal son...<div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4d4d9b; font-family: comic sans ms; font-size: large;">Rhiannon and her fiancé Stuart are also excited to have him home as he has a very important role to play at their wedding, with 'play' being the operative word!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4d4d9b; font-family: comic sans ms; font-size: large;">Taken before Tom went to Japan...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4d4d9b; font-family: comic sans ms; font-size: large;">He has left behind some amazing people and places, but has brought back wonderful memories. A lot of these memories involve the fantastic children he has taught, ranging in ages from 5-14. He won't miss a few aspects of Japanese life, but his experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. He came back armed with boxes of gifts, letters and good wishes. He was very nearly undone when some of his students and their parents turned up at Kagoshima airport to say a final goodbye, which proved to be very emotional, especially when they gathered round to sing the school song to him just before he went through security. I think a tear or two was shed, but I would be more worried if he hadn't immersed himself into his Japanese life to the extent that leaving was such a wrench.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4d4d9b; font-family: comic sans ms; font-size: large;">Just a few of the mementos ...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4d4d9b; font-family: comic sans ms; font-size: large;">At the minute the jury is out on whether he would rather be here or back in Japan - he is suffering from culture shock, perhaps a bigger one than when he first arrived in Japan!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4d4d9b; font-family: comic sans ms; font-size: large;">This photograph taken by Matt, an American teacher who is Tom's replacement, is symbolic. Whilst he isn't exactly riding away into the sunset, he is making a significant change of direction.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #674ea7; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4d4d9b; font-family: comic sans ms; font-size: large;">Tom won't be with us for long, as in October he begins his studies at Oxford for a MSc in Comparative International Education (your guess is as good as mine!), which will open up a whole new set of experiences ...</span></span></div>
GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-43437071147943544152015-08-06T16:30:00.001+01:002015-08-06T16:30:51.213+01:00August 6th 1945 at 8.15…<p><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">I make no apology for reposting a post from April when we visited Hiroshima. Today we remember the bomb which devastated Hiroshima seventy years ago, but for the victims, survivors and their families they re-live this day, every day. Sadly, in wars attrocities are committed by all sides and certainly millions of people suffered extreme cruelty at the hands of the Japanese army. However, this was a most terrible price for the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to pay, and I can’t help but wonder whether things could have been done differently to achieve the surrender of Japan, which was being negotiated.</font> <p><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Our day started with a trip into the city, mostly rebuilt after 1945, where the Sakura (cherry blossom) was beginning to come into full bloom.</font> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-75_GABf9kKA/VRdQnEqDC2I/AAAAAAAAGNQ/VPX-2iyig40/s1600-h/P10401645.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1040164" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1040164" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-NBH7IYPWffE/VRdQnwB8IDI/AAAAAAAAGNY/_X_CSMHjXQw/P1040164_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9JiNjy-UzR4/VRdQooyD_AI/AAAAAAAAGNg/YvgZtA-HQvU/s1600-h/P10401745.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1040174" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1040174" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-jErErhACy0U/VRdQpOWB9yI/AAAAAAAAGNo/Oo947AGwddw/P1040174_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a> <p><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">We began with the castle, which was devastated in the nuclear bombing. One tower was rebuilt in the 1950’s.</font> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-J1_19sa1XYU/VRdQp1sPy1I/AAAAAAAAGNw/9EvYW64xyAo/s1600-h/IMG_00245.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_0024" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0024" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-eqkAChtL0ik/VRdQqdwQ-II/AAAAAAAAGN4/7GKL2Q3fA8E/IMG_0024_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="200"></font></a> <p><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Words cannot adequately describe the feeling of visiting the A-Bomb Dome, Peace Park and Museum, so I’ll let a few of our photographs speak for us. The testimony of the survivors was very moving.</font> <p><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">The dome is in the process of being surveyed…</font> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HQKO3L_FpN4/VRdQuZmQnCI/AAAAAAAAGOA/5B6oRU3Drls/s1600-h/IMG_00745.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_0074" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0074" src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-cGzxzjcWdxU/VRdQuwvzcXI/AAAAAAAAGOI/5xO3h0uicDY/IMG_0074_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="200"></font></a> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ppAFRLQ2aMg/VRdQviJy63I/AAAAAAAAGOQ/tH5kcgpnFxc/s1600-h/P10400815.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1040081" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1040081" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-LcjBu75bbhg/VRdQwXEYzrI/AAAAAAAAGOY/z6C6n4QYMPg/P1040081_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rmdLaf40LxU/VRdQxGgxq9I/AAAAAAAAGOg/gYNgaAAQsOs/s1600-h/P10400795.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1040079" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1040079" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-WQrHtIy_780/VRdQxiUv8xI/AAAAAAAAGOo/0S9r-iV7Cm8/P1040079_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ntZztZrBmqs/VRdQydveIJI/AAAAAAAAGOw/lCWd-plpxAg/s1600-h/P10401225.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1040122" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1040122" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-HAZGoPk86us/VRdQzIQ_32I/AAAAAAAAGO4/wrk6t0CyxM0/P1040122_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a> <p><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Part of a beautiful cylindrical mosaic inside the memorial. Each tile of the mosaic represents a person who died in the aftermath of the bombing.</font> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vkIcoA3FW68/VRdQz9o30cI/AAAAAAAAGPA/5fT4TGCOv0E/s1600-h/P10401125.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1040112" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1040112" src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-6F7sH4xSq7U/VRdQ0YS_abI/AAAAAAAAGPI/a8UXpKEc5Gs/P1040112_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TzPSSq06fw8/VRdQ1eqr6uI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/RWu6L4_jYFE/s1600-h/P10401245.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1040124" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1040124" src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-J89IyzkmVCw/VRdQ10utn1I/AAAAAAAAGPU/DDg8xGRGzrs/P1040124_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-m61V6WkDxpI/VRdQ2uLpLjI/AAAAAAAAGPg/CPvdwIqey_E/s1600-h/P10401465.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1040146" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1040146" src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-wjnqkN5arHM/VRdQ3FHMZHI/AAAAAAAAGPo/07xVqvICzok/P1040146_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a> <p><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">A young girl who developed leukaemia following the bombing believed the story that if you were to fold a thousand paper cranes your wish would come true. As she struggled with her illness she folded over fifteen hundred. Sadly her wish didn’t come true and they were given out at her funeral. They have now become a symbol of peace and every person entering the Memorial is given a tiny paper crane.</font> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KvjgUcnpWIw/VRdQ3wHrhQI/AAAAAAAAGPw/SRwJyPR_R0g/s1600-h/P10401585.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1040158" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1040158" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-fJ5Y55EG_yM/VRdQ4gJZu5I/AAAAAAAAGP4/ewurvvd3SFA/P1040158_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a> <p><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">It didn’t seem right to take any photographs inside the museum. The reconstuctions reminded me of Oradour sur Glane.</font> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pqiPUC1MP_A/VRdQ5NsfjoI/AAAAAAAAGQA/Ye3DrK9H4KQ/s1600-h/P10401525.jpg"><font color="#4d4d9b" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1040152" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1040152" src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-HVytFzWufuk/VRdQ55thRjI/AAAAAAAAGQI/gV_DqWNeK34/P1040152_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33754931" target="_blank"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">From the BBC</font></a><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">…</font></p> <p><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/05/world/hiroshima-survivors-artifacts/" target="_blank"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">From CNN...</font></a></p> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br 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"https://lh4.ggpht.com/-J89IyzkmVCw/VRdQ10utn1I/AAAAAAAAGPU/DDg8xGRGzrs/P1040124_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F-fJ5Y55EG_yM%2FVRdQ4gJZu5I%2FAAAAAAAAGP4%2Fewurvvd3SFA%2FP1040158_thumb2.jpg%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh3.ggpht.com/-fJ5Y55EG_yM/VRdQ4gJZu5I/AAAAAAAAGP4/ewurvvd3SFA/P1040158_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" -->GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-86713291165784354922015-08-02T12:21:00.001+01:002015-08-02T12:23:43.431+01:00Done or DONE…<p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">It was the Paulmy brocante today, in beautiful surroundings around the plan d’eau. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xl86HVv1vUc/Vb39DAKj8wI/AAAAAAAAHDU/Ya2mCNEfYJY/s1600-h/IMG_1093%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_1093" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1093" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hK3SrbVAjJg/Vb39ECFTx-I/AAAAAAAAHDg/1bC0vG6xwpE/IMG_1093_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">We managed to pick up some glasses (25!) for Rhiannon’s wedding…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rNt_uhf3VWY/Vb39GHyLqOI/AAAAAAAAHDs/1cI-3v29Q-c/s1600-h/IMG_1091%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_1091" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1091" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5hSYV-PvUZw/Vb39HL-x2YI/AAAAAAAAHD4/_p8zJxMDJqo/IMG_1091_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Another set of portes couverts…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-shf0HdTXXJ0/Vb39I6Dg6aI/AAAAAAAAHEE/s0kYTwn4C1E/s1600-h/IMG_0910%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_0910" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0910" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hNseKP55d_A/Vb39KXK-OaI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/2OyuETRXJTs/IMG_0910_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"></font> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1akI3GxGfQE/Vb39L7_E3mI/AAAAAAAAHEc/X4bRQJLyj4Y/s1600-h/IMG_0911%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_0911" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0911" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GD9UGmTno9c/Vb39NSTZueI/AAAAAAAAHEo/67el_tuiNKw/IMG_0911_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">and these hideous dishes…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wb_qzwmIyyA/Vb39O2Ad7DI/AAAAAAAAHE0/J2senAjbv_U/s1600-h/IMG_0908%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_0908" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0908" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mm7PhaD2HHk/Vb39Q9_W_5I/AAAAAAAAHFA/zpuksTRycQU/IMG_0908_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Now this is where I was done! Not done in the sense of sealing the deal, but DONE. Usually I get the deal I am happy with for the object I really would like to have or I walk away. Today none of these things happened! I paid an over the odds 10 Euros for dishes I don’t even like very much, half of which are chipped and touched up with gold paint. <font size="7">DONE!!!</font></font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">If you subscribe to the ‘some you win, some you lose’ idea then last weeks enormous brocante at Le Celle Guenand was a triumph. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-62A-kFN7s34/Vb39SCkGzWI/AAAAAAAAHFM/AWIpHlkGyUs/s1600-h/IMG_1362%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_1362" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1362" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HRedOmbbcc8/Vb39ThsVI9I/AAAAAAAAHFY/nsTJIqKax9c/IMG_1362_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">I picked up this fine Kaiser china tea set for 20 Euros – which only serves to underline today’s mistake. </font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Oh well, c’est la vie…</font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">P.S. Would anyone like to buy some gorgeous, much sought after, rare dishes for the bargain price of 12 Euros??? </font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"></font></p> GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-26034570291418903822015-07-24T13:21:00.001+01:002015-07-24T13:27:14.696+01:00J-Days* reflections (2)…<p><font color="#c60000" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">* Japan Days</font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="5" face="Comic Sans MS"><u><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VXQCoaZ2alQ/VbIticfK4_I/AAAAAAAAG_A/6FW4UUO9cuE/s1600-h/IMG_1098%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1098" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1098" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q8f_nORcMFs/VbItjS_3WAI/AAAAAAAAG_M/P7m7KSFm_SA/IMG_1098_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></u></font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="5" face="Comic Sans MS"><u>State of the art conveniences…</u></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZJvA09avwE0/VbItkZQNsbI/AAAAAAAAG_Y/KznC-0B17wM/s1600-h/IMG_0793%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0793" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0793" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4leOtZzZp1M/VbItlb28_AI/AAAAAAAAG_k/xcjGq8NybyM/IMG_0793_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">We were amazed at the standard of toilets throughout Japan. There seemed to be nothing that these toilets aren’t able to do -</font></p> <ul> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some play music,</font> </font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some have heated seats,</font> </font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some double as a bidet,</font> </font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some blow warm air,</font> </font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some make a variety of sounds to mask bodily noises,</font> </font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some have fragrances to mask bodily smells,</font> </font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some have seats which provide a massage,</font> </font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some have disinfectant soaked tissues to wipe seats,</font></font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some have paper covers for seats,</font></font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some have fragranced toilet paper,</font> </font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">some cubicles have seats to hold infants</font> </font> <li><font color="#00008a"><font size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">and most have all of these functions!</font></font> <li><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">service areas are nicely decorated’',</font> <li><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">and ALL were scrupulously clean!</font></li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9bfhL8wDcbg/VbIuja-4KCI/AAAAAAAAHBc/0qEZ0HR4jkI/s1600-h/IMG_0845%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0845" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0845" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uhgKxgujVU8/VbIulVNBmUI/AAAAAAAAHBs/BV4B9IZUMDw/IMG_0845_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jOi4gFQSI6U/VbItmTxEcYI/AAAAAAAAG_w/Oab8T-rFChg/s1600-h/IMG_0795%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0795" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0795" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c3HhycQNheQ/VbItnaHfjYI/AAAAAAAAG_8/hNpwHkxBgks/IMG_0795_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zC8rJyVftSg/VbItobwXlLI/AAAAAAAAHAI/P0reDGogalU/s1600-h/IMG_0797%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0797" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0797" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dUSRNZAgGco/VbItpZ5lXpI/AAAAAAAAHAU/p2KNB2zJHPY/IMG_0797_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RQMNXX7PVMA/VbItqDl_H0I/AAAAAAAAHAg/dgRSW77gBes/s1600-h/IMG_0796%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0796" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0796" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KtKh6g-sD5o/VbItrKcpCxI/AAAAAAAAHAs/k7WpnHpinuE/IMG_0796_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G-vLlNb33uU/VbItshtrA0I/AAAAAAAAHA4/oW7FoY--QOc/s1600-h/IMG_0833%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0833" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0833" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9LFpdHcCJiw/VbIttjq5nzI/AAAAAAAAHBE/mHzH_AC4rHI/IMG_0833_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">I’m not only talking about toilets in expensive places, but most toilets, even public conveniences.</font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">I think the British and the French have a way to go…</font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">** Sorry about the quality but they were taken quickly and that there isn’t a photograph of the whole toilet. They are on my hard drive in the UK!!**</font></p> GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-90821611549944488212015-06-28T21:03:00.001+01:002015-07-02T08:31:40.158+01:00No fog on the Tyne...<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Posted via the iPad so layout will be strange, until I can log on with my laptop.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Angel of the North...</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are in Newcastle upon Tyne for a couple of days while Tim does some teacher training at the Royal Grammar School. It is the first time I've ever visited the city, although about 20 years ago we did a trip to Northallerton where Tim had an interview. We spent time looking around the area at houses we might call home, but in the end the job went to a local candidate and we didn't have to make the decision to uproot and move north. On a rainy day we visited the Metro Centre in Gateshead, but that was as close as we got to the Tyne!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Millennium bridge with the Sage Theatre, Gateshead in the background.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our hotel is in Jesmond which is a very nice part of the city and close to the school. However, the apartment blocks along the banks of the Tyne are certainly a very trendy place to live and the cafe culture apparent on a sunny afternoon.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The architecture, both Georgian and more contemporary, is impressive. There is even a statue of Earl Grey, the same Earl Grey of my favourite tea fame. I'll have to check that out later as the Blogger app for the iPad is a bit flaky and if I do a Google search in the middle of writing the post when I come back to finish the post some letters mysteriously disappear from the keyboard...NO, I haven't been drinking...well only one glass of wine!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Baltic Centre contemporary art gallery was amazing, and the ledges around the building a home for hundreds of breeding pairs of kittiwakes. The shop was amazing. Unfortunately Tim was with me, but I might return tomorrow when I hit the shops...alone!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had intended to eat dinner at an Italian restaurant at our hotel, but were tempted by Jamie Oliver's restaurant in the city centre. We had a delicious burger and pizza served by a very friendly young waitress who took the time to talk to us.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I believe that these pieces of stonework from some of the buildings demolished to build the Eldon Square shopping centre.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are now back in Staffordshire having driven over 1000 miles in three days. Tim is training some new teachers at the University, and I have walked and lunched on Cannock Chase with friends in true lady of leisure style!</span></b></div>
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GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-31496804001277231782015-06-23T14:15:00.001+01:002015-06-23T16:56:02.871+01:00Mad dogs - in the garden…<p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Every time we visit Le Pre Vert we try to do something, in and around the house and garden, which is beyond the usual cleaning, gardening and general maintenance. Last year it was to plant more soft fruit.</font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Figs…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uovTUwy-I6k/VYlatuk6PII/AAAAAAAAGyE/__0ZohWfumQ/s1600-h/P1050635%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1050635" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050635" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tdxKnGw8Jjo/VYlavoi5NTI/AAAAAAAAGyQ/47S1oLDHaN8/P1050635_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Rhubarb…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HVoUka16ysU/VYla0Fh2fwI/AAAAAAAAGyc/QSwwCUwqK2Q/s1600-h/P1050650%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1050650" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050650" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LWe72Yj8Ey4/VYla2Jz1jwI/AAAAAAAAGyo/RDWlsHqQViM/P1050650_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Redcurrants…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MdokF-C3IHk/VYla5D6KQ-I/AAAAAAAAGy0/af2S7LtrRb8/s1600-h/P1050645%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1050645" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050645" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-00rjUqNwoKU/VYla6n678jI/AAAAAAAAGzA/NHyROqVQU00/P1050645_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Gooseberries…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2nKNP8TtidY/VYmBhprkhoI/AAAAAAAAG8o/yhD_6q3gDjo/s1600-h/P10506495.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2nKNP8TtidY/VYmBhprkhoI/AAAAAAAAG8w/5vDs7n0NcMI/s1600-h/P10506497.jpg"><img title="P1050649" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050649" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GOikIgAUXhU/VYlbCL7D_1I/AAAAAAAAGzk/KUGaEgiJH-I/P1050649_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Raspberries…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-raGfHN-zl4E/VYlbE3rBxhI/AAAAAAAAGzw/H6ijtlvXgps/s1600-h/P1050644%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1050644" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050644" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8VnJ-IZVP9M/VYlbHPSYhlI/AAAAAAAAGz8/ce4NuxyM_V8/P1050644_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Blackcurrants…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4krfwmK54Do/VYlbKl_FXVI/AAAAAAAAG0I/z4OYYAYzDy4/s1600-h/P1050648%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1050648" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050648" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AO2u2e50xEU/VYlbMWiwplI/AAAAAAAAG0U/OIVbyCI4hGk/P1050648_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Strawberries…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-009aD9nbjWQ/VYlbQ_ZcpJI/AAAAAAAAG0g/OoJrqSyh4mg/s1600-h/P1050651%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1050651" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050651" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gm9vvw90AhQ/VYlbS5fsWII/AAAAAAAAG0s/0EEOFFvJ764/P1050651_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Fresh raspberries on our breakfast cereal…</font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MxVSS0dmgus/VYlbUEjwvPI/AAAAAAAAG04/TDQKGsVay_o/s1600-h/IMG_1517%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1517" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1517" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4ZD67oYq2VY/VYlbVYuKDMI/AAAAAAAAG1E/wDZm_x7nqeA/IMG_1517_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></a></font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Our priority this year will be to introduce more colour into the garden. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EwszgQMKZZg/VYlbdjRjANI/AAAAAAAAG1Q/DzcNdTsh3wQ/s1600-h/P1050630%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1050630" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050630" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KrdLC98ihzY/VYlbfcTdjII/AAAAAAAAG1c/wKS3cNQIU8U/P1050630_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-726LcY-3mwg/VYlbiI_Or0I/AAAAAAAAG1o/rj1AY8FGr5I/s1600-h/P1050638%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1050638" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050638" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EsYrGow_yAc/VYlbkCnXiII/AAAAAAAAG10/NxDp35VONPc/P1050638_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Although Tim is semi-retired he has been inundated with offers of work, which amount to much more than a full time job! He hasn’t accepted all of these offers, but in the short term we are pretty much certain that our lifestyle of choice will be to travel to France and back to the UK several times during the year, rather like we did when we were working, but staying in France for much longer periods. This has an impact on what we can plant in the garden that will not die when we are away during spells of hot, dry weather. In the UK our wonderful neighbours pop round most days to deal with our post and water the plants, although it has to be said that watering is less necessary, even in the summer!!</font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">So, you will be thinking, what on earth does this have to do with mad dogs!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-quZhsT_RIKA/VYlblkpZYwI/AAAAAAAAG2A/-AmcAk-E5uo/s1600-h/IMG_1518%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_1518" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1518" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WumMvMLlv78/VYlbmz9VixI/AAAAAAAAG2M/Z3jxy9WVYZI/IMG_1518_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O4M8_oCgYn0/VYlboiWx70I/AAAAAAAAG2Y/v0hYfMS56Bw/s1600-h/IMG_1521%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="IMG_1521" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1521" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P7oanujmxl4/VYlbp7LyYbI/AAAAAAAAG2k/G7B5gUWksQ8/IMG_1521_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color="#00008a" size="4">Well…around the house we have a huge expanse of gravel, and we planned to create a small herb garden. Having collected some large and small edging stones from our friends Chris&Sally and Jean&Nick, we set about digging into the rock hard soil under the gravel to make the bed. This was more of an effort than we imagined it to be as the soil was so compacted and full of stones and roots, but also working in full sun didn’t help! We mixed four large bags of compost with the soil in an effort to improve the quality.</font></font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">The prepared herb bed looking a bit lonely…</font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kgMTES62XPs/VYlbrJmJJLI/AAAAAAAAG2w/xOwHpCgWKO4/s1600-h/IMG_1520%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1520" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_1520" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9lxXjHMQFNo/VYlbsMS6TxI/AAAAAAAAG28/k9rGEqIKz8Q/IMG_1520_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="225" height="300"></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FqhN8h-XXPQ/VYlbwE5jd_I/AAAAAAAAG3M/x_eKqThhIno/s1600-h/P1050632%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1050632" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050632" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x2wbLXNqSDY/VYlbxcTaO-I/AAAAAAAAG3Y/fkTBswBQMhk/P1050632_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Intruders…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GSv53cFaVJI/VYlb2VogK3I/AAAAAAAAG3k/J4_wvBmKpbU/s1600-h/P1050634%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1050634" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050634" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M1oYfw1AzKk/VYlb4zp9nLI/AAAAAAAAG30/gyyH2QgolDU/P1050634_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">With plants laid out, with more to come…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w9x8wbxpo1A/VYlb8sTz8SI/AAAAAAAAG4E/sOCRNn_5kz0/s1600-h/P1050659%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><img title="P1050659" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="P1050659" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2zo9-3xSY60/VYlcA8gY55I/AAAAAAAAG4U/qXdrtPKLJHE/P1050659_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">All that remains to be seen is whether they survive out next visit to the UK, and although I wouldn’t wish three weeks of rain on our many friends in the Touraine Sud, the odd bit of rain every now and again would be very welcome…</font></p> GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-58352858666664585362015-06-18T14:05:00.001+01:002015-06-18T14:05:47.088+01:00Muffin making…<p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">I’ve made <a href="http://lapetite-presse.blogspot.fr/2012/06/red-white-and-blue-muffins.html" target="_blank">muffins</a> (these made with my class in 2012 for the Jubilee) many times before with a variety of fillings, but usually these fillings have been sweet. Here in France we often have friends visit for aperos or we serve aperos before a meal. There are around a dozen items which I regularly serve a variation of, but sometimes the need arises to add to my repertoire.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XR8tB04z5qs/VYLCGMha1tI/AAAAAAAAGw0/yzLJikSbBDk/s1600-h/IMG_0506%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0506" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_0506" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6-aCeaAXxug/VYLCHl5upwI/AAAAAAAAGxA/-vCN2a7FnHo/IMG_0506_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225"></a></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Today I tried savoury muffins. I couldn’t find a recipe that I was completely happy with (basically because I didn’t have some of the required ingredients!) so based on my research I came up with my own recipe. </font><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">My idea was to make two types of savoury mini-muffin which I would then freeze and warm up prior to serving. I hindsight I probably could have made three varieties.</font><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">The two fillings I used were bacon, mushroom with onion and blue cheese with onion.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">**********</font></p> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">The recipe…</font></p> <p align="center"><b><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"> SAVOURY MINI MUFFINS </font></b><b><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">CHEZ BROTHERHOOD</font></b> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Makes: 72 mini or 24 large muffins</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><u>Ingredients </u></font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">125g unsalted butter</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">2 eggs</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">250ml milk</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">400g plain flour</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">2 heaped teaspoons baking powder</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">2 teaspoons Herbes de Provence</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Salt and pepper, to taste</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">2 tablespoons grated Parmesan</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Fresh chives or rosemary to decorate</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><u>Fillings</u></font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· 100g lardons, small chopped onion and 4 mushrooms sauted </font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· 100g blue cheese and a small red onion fried gently</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· 100g goat’s cheese and 50g chutney</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· 100g smoked salmon and 50g cream cheese</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· 100g chirizo and 50g sun dried tomatoes</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· 100g mature cheddar and 50g olives</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><u>Method</u></font> <p><b><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">Preparation about 20 mins and cook 15+ mins, but in reality I needed to recycle my muffin tins so the overall cooking time was much longer.</font></b> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· Preheat the oven to 200 C / Gas 6. Grease a muffin tins, or line with paper muffin cases.</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· Melt the butter and set aside to cool.</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk then stir in the melted butter.</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· Sift the flour into a mixing bowl then add the baking powder, herbes de Provence, salt and pepper, mix well. Gradually fold in the egg mixture until loosely combined. It may look a bit lumpy, but don’t overwork.</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· Divide the mixture into two portions and add any two of the suggested fillings or come up with ones to your taste!</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and no more than up to 3/4 full (this allows room for the muffins to rise).</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· Bake for 15-20 minutes for the mini muffins until golden brown, or longer for larger ones. ** Depending on your filling you may need to be flexible here**. You can afford to taste the odd one to check!!</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">· Remove from the oven and serve hot or cold.</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">These will freeze once cool. To serve warm for a few minutes.</font> <p align="center"><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">**********</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">It feels a bit odd because in my former life ‘method’ was always followed by ‘fair test’, ‘results’, ‘conclusion’ and evaluation.</font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xCxq-Kh4-tw/VYLCIwDc-9I/AAAAAAAAGxM/zbs7RnXrd2s/s1600-h/mad_science_flask_girl_yq8e%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="mad_science_flask_girl_yq8e" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="mad_science_flask_girl_yq8e" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Yc7wlUUQZh0/VYLCKfHvR3I/AAAAAAAAGxY/kdpNhwhGq4I/mad_science_flask_girl_yq8e_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="208" height="300"></a></font> <p><font color="#00008a" size="4" face="Comic Sans MS">No doubt the ‘evaluation’ will come fairly soon. As the old saying goes “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” and we await our next set of guinea pigs, or perhaps that should be ‘friends with taste’…</font> <p><font color="#00008a"></font></p> GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-50272439839581313172015-06-18T12:59:00.001+01:002015-06-18T14:07:26.674+01:00test post<blockquote>
jpowefowfvKLD;LIFWMN</blockquote>
Testing out Windows Live Writer for Blogger. Looks like it is working again!GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134320310335085001.post-55674097963269281162015-06-17T05:57:00.001+01:002015-06-17T06:32:20.708+01:00Retired and happy...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Caution: iPad posting which will be edited later!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rain at the end of last week caused many of our cherries to swell and split. Still fine for pies, crumbles and conserve, but not so good for the fruit bowl. I picked 1500g of the better ones, washed them, stoned them, boiled them with sugar, added a dash of Amaretto to half the mix and Sakura (cherry blossom liqueur which we brought back from our trip to Japan) to the remainder and turned the cherries into a delicious (even if I do say so myself) conserve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Conserve cooling it was clear we needed something to eat it with so I quickly knocked up a batch of scones using a Mary Berry recipe. I didn't roll out the dough thickly enough to get a good rise, but the mix was VERY sticky (as the recipe suggested it should be) and difficult to work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The scones taste better than they look, and were served warm with a little butter and cherry conserve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is Wednesday so we are off to Loches market for a wander and a spot of lunch. It surely is a hard life...</span></div>
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GaynorBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.com5