September 2020

 Our long awaited stored furniture arrived from the UK.  Now to unpack and arrange everything. One of the most frustrating things was not having any of the garden implements here, having been here since May. We bought one or two pieces, but didnt want to duplicate tools as they are so expensive.  However, now all has arrived!  

In the meantime we had been busy getting other fitments organised, like having an electrician fit these lights.

It begins to look more like home.

So we thought it was time we had a 'day off' and went to the beach at Saint Brieuc. Good choice as there was no one else there!

Nigel had a beautiful sunny day on his birthday, and celebrated with a drink on the terrace!

Our feral kittens seem to think that the nice warm greenhouse is just the place for them!

August 2020

The office for AIKB is here in the centre of our village, Gouarec. The initials stand for Association Integration of Keizh Breizh (KB = central Brittany). It is an organisation to promote and help new comers to the area in what ever way they can. It has many clubs and organises many events throughout the year. It was at such an event held on 4th August held in the grounds of the village Manoir, belonging to Marilyn le Moign, that we were joined for the luxury picnic by a couple, David and Zulaiga Worth. We enjoyed the excellent lunch provided and served by waiters. This was one way to comply with the CV-19 restrictions. Our conversation moved towards speculation about a garden club for the village, so it is being formed.

Tiny part of the garden at the Gouarec Manoir

 Our own garden is nothing by comparison, but even so I am pleased with our geraniums on our terrace considering we didnt move up here until the end of May.

On 14th August we visited 'Tim's' garden/farm in the hamlet of Dault. This is run by the family adhering to the ideals of Hoe Farming, as an antidote to Globalisation. Using this approach to farming a family should be able to provide building materials, food, clothing and heat to sustain their way of life, without becoming inolved in the monetary system.

'Tim' showing a visitor seeds from the Buck Wheat crop.

On 15th August, in the UK it seems it was celebrated as VJ Day, but here in France more attention was paid to Assumption day, and it was a national holiday.
We visited the small village of Bulat Pestivien where there was a Festive Wool Day. There were many stalls with displays of beautiful wool in the various stages of its production. Even beginning with sheep being sheared.  Also articles for sale made from these wools, and sheeps skins.

This village has a population of only 432 but has a large 13/14th century church with the most magnificent external stone carvings of saints and gargoyles.

Our feral cats are still with us. We're obviously feeding them too well. We can't get near enough to capture them however!

We enjoy sitting in the evening just watching the skies and peacefulness of our garden.

 

 We try to explore our new areas at least one day a week, and this time it was Lac Guerledan

The village Kermisse was held on 23rd August. The rain held off for most of the day, and all who attended seemed to enjoy themselves. A lot of hard work to create stalls, man them all day, and clear away at the end. A jolly effort by all.

The Quilting Club offered a beautiful quilt as a raffle prize, which was won by Amanda our gardener.

 

 

 

 

July 2020

Most of this month seems to been spent concentrating on the garden. Some plants are now flourishing.

Dierama pulcherrimum (Angel's fishing rod)

Beautiful purple/pink with pale blue centred hydrangea.

Others still needs tender care.

first courgette to flower!

Japanese wine berry

We have to get to this one first thing in the morning before the birds do!

My little garden friend, this young robin, doesn't seem to be interested in berries, so he is always welcome to join me.

Dramatic skies over Gouarec!

One weed free bed, only 10 more to go.....

So after all that work we decided to treat ourselves to the first BBQ in our new garden.

Early morning mist.

MamaKat 2 + 4 kittens

Whoops, should have gone to SpecSavers. Nearly had these for breakfast!

 

Nice to see familiar faces from 'home'

 Chris and Roger came to visit, spending a relaxing afternoon in the shade of the garden.

June 2020

Well here we are, and on 3rd June we had tremendous thunder with no rain nor lightening.
We participated in a family zoom which was partially successful, as these things are.
10th June saw our first wet day in Gouarec, first of many to come I'm sure!
Amanda (English gardener) came again on 13th. What a boon she is to us as we have no tools with which to garden. The only things I have are small trowel and fork used to tend plants in pots on the boat, clippers and a pair of shears (bought at a Vide de Granier) to clip over grown bank side moorings!

My 75th birthday

Not quite how I'd intended to spend the day, but enjoyable nevertheless. It had been planned to have a family gathering in the UK, but Covid-19 put a stop to that.
We found a fabulous Brocante in Callac, which I think is going to be our favourite shop.
I've actually had to buy a pair of Wellies, not needed for ages. When boating, especially during the winter I avoided wet muddy paths to walk Tashi as she would have got so wet and muddy. So the need for wellies was superfluous.
We found the Friday night market in the village. Mainly bio, and home grown items. But a fabulous bakery stall.
The gooseberry and blackcurrant bushes are giving us a lot of fruit, which I have picked and frozen.

view from back left

really delicate flower going by the common name of Angel's Fishing rod.

Finally managed to get a hair cut on 23rd, and Ni on 25th. Feeling more civilized now.
The French bed, bedside tables, dressing table and chair and two chandeliers we bought at the Brocante were delivered on 27th.

 We were honoured by the visit for a few days by a feral cat and her 8 kittens!!! They lodged in one of our log piles, so of course we fed them. Then they just went - no goodbyes, no thank yous!

Thank goodness the main garden is in good order because the vegetable garden isn't. Well the parts covered by weed blockers are OK but those left open need some urgent attention!

A lot of work to be done

May 2020

Having spent a frustrating few months in the gite we rented since January, from Ena and James we finally moved up to Brittany on 20 May. During these months we enjoyed the visiting wildlife, and occasional visits to the port to chat to ex-fellow boaters. The corona virus delayed movement for some time and we got a go-ahead from the removal man on 17th May. As no-one could authoritively state sources of an Attestation to move, we typed out our own. We felt quite happy in doing this as we were intending to drive through all 'green' areas. We took our own picnic food, only stopping for fuel and toilets.  It was a long day, leaving Castelnaudary at 8am and arriving at Gouarec at 5.15pm.

The first night was weird as we had no table nor chairs. On investigation we found a small double white plastic seat, which we took into the kitchen and placed in front of a pull out table top. So then all we had to do was work out how to operate the oven, and we could cook and eat dinner. We cooked, ate, drank champagne then went to bed!

The next day we investigated the garden chalet and found table and chairs. Hooray. Getting sorted.

We spent a few nights on air beds, until Ni drove 5 hours back to Poitiers to collect beds, and other furniture from his brother. Trying to hire a removal van was an exercise in itself. Supposedly we had to produce 3 months household bills. Well in all our 8 years in France we've never had household bills. The only thing we've had is fuel bills and mooring fees. The latter don't usually show an address or any details. Anyway that overcome, mission was accomplished.

Getting the furniture into our house was an exhausting and muscle straining exercise. So we took the following weekend off from moving boxes.

 The first picture to be 'placed' if not actually hung, was the brilliant Hommage to Vermeer

Now where would ex-boatees go for a walk on a sunny Sunday but to the canal of course!

April 2020

Nigel asked me if I was going to continue with the Gesina blog. I think perhaps it will keep going for a little while longer. I feel we have a bit of a saga to come before we finally move into our landlubbers role!

Although the Notaire and Mairie in the centre of Castelnaudary were closed to the public, it was fortunate for us that the Mairie here in Fendueille was open, and prepared to witness and sign the Proxy forms to purchase our house in Brittany. This was done not inside the their building, but through an open window. I wish that I had photographed the proceedings, as it would have become an historic document, reflecting back on how we tried to live through our daily chores during the 2020 Corona virus pandemic!

I'm full of admiration for wild life photographers. For many years now I've tried to capture a good picture of the little  Red Start.  It gets to close to us wherever we go. But each time I reach for my camera it flies away. Still no luck. I have many blurred images of it, but nothing satisfactory.

However, after many unsuccessful attempts, I finally got a photo of this gorgeous little chap (I suppose it's a 'chap'?). He visits us regularly and sits just outside our French window.   My one concern is that he sits in this tree, just above the nest of a pair of Great Tits who are dashing back and forth frantically appearing to be feeding young. I hope the beautiful red squirrel doesn't think that the chicks would make a tasty meal!

Cutest pose ever!

 Perhaps I'll be lucky with a Red Start here in this garden, though to date I've never even seen one here! Wrong type of  foliage I guess.

March 2020

We had hoped to move into our new house up in Brittany by mid-March, but that was not to be. Various things delayed our departure from Castelnaudary. So, by 2nd April, we are still in the rented gite 5Km from the town centre, surrounded by our packing cases.

Our last trip out before France went into complete shutdown was a drive through the hills along the route to Mirepoix. We took a picnic lunch and enjoyed watching the birds of prey swoop and dive through the air. On our return journey we stopped by a farm where the owner had put a Pyrenean Mountain dog to do the job for which they were bred, i.e. guard the sheep. He didnt seem to be unfriendly towards us, but then we aren't wolves!

We have pleasant views from both the kitchen and bathroom windows.

Wild anemones in the lawn.

View of the Black Mountains from Bathroom window.

A RED squirrel visits the garden regularly, as do magpies, a pair of nesting blue tits, and a multitude of different coloured butterflies, all scuttling away when 3 different cats prowl through, and just before I can get my camera out to photograph them! In the field alongside the property we see an egret, and peregrine falcon.

Luckily there is a boulangerie in the village, and I take the very pleasant walk down there daily for some exercise.  There's always something interesting to see.

Ant's nest.

 I muse on this little heap of gritty sand pushed up through the path by all those hundreds, thousands even perhaps.  There they are busily living their lives free to travel where the whim takes them. Whilst here we humans are with time to stroll by and observe them. Normally we would be whizzing somewhere most probably by car, in too much of a hurry to notice all the other life around us.

Village Chateau

February 2020

As a tribute to our dear little dog, Tashi Delek, I had a  metal work dog made by our friend Willie. It was to be a Christmas present for Ni. But of course when I first asked about this, I didnt know that Tashi would no longer be with us.  So it remains a poignant reminder of her presence, as if we need that!

Spring has definitely sprung here at the moment. Cherry trees are blossoming away, as are japonicas. Today on our drive to Carcassonne we saw rows of daffodiles sparkling in the sunshine.

Everyone in port is busily scrubbing away and cleaning, repainting their boats ready for the off. Some have indeed already left for waters new. Others yet to return.

We are looking forward to the British Film Festival week, with lots of good films in VO.  We have the added delight of C&C fish & chips. Gosh, you miss them SO much when you can't get them, even if you only ate them twice a year in the UK, but they were there to be had.

Having packed and transported our belongings from Gesina to the gite, The Old Lady looks quite tidy, but bare.

Empty galley!

 And this is where it has all gone, temporarily, but not for too long we hope!