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!

January 2020

Once the Christmas festivities were over we thought it wise to begin packing up the boat, so that we do just a little each day. This proved a good decision as we both succumbed to January illnesses.

We realised there will be a lot of boxes as we arrived in Holland with a completely full 3.5 ton van. All the contents went onto the boat. So it would seem logical that 3.5tons of belongings will need to be removed!

Boxes on the quayside, and nothing fell into the water!

Luckily it was a dry day, so lets hope that it will be the same when we move into our house.

However we started removing the easy things. First the pictures came down. Sorry BOFs you were the first!

Nigel's making the fatal mistake of reading things as he packs.  Newspapers we found are particularly interesting, when wrapping fragile objects!

On New Years Day it was so beautiful and sunny that we couldn't resist a walk around the Basin.

Wonderful blue skies, 1 January 2020

December 2019

Having looked at many properties for sale near Castelnaudary, and not found anything suitable, we decided to look further afield. Again we trawled the internet many times and arranged viewings on several houses in Brittany, Normandy and near LaRochelle. After driving many miles, and stopping near Poitiers for an overnight break with Geoff and Jill, we reached an excellent B&B in Glomel, as it seemed to be a good central point. During these 10 days away we made an offer on a typical Breton house near Saint Brieuc, the other side of the estuary from Saint Malo.

One Sunday we drove to Saint Malo for several days, and then across to Saint Brieuc to get a feel for the area.    There we found a nice little restaurant to have lunch, and were lucky to find a free table as it was very busy. Afer this we strolled the quay side, and were relieved to see that we didn't have such tidal waters where we are moored!

Tidal drop at Saint Brieuc!

We later had time to wander around the village in which 'our' house is situated.

Market square of Gouarec.

It seems to be a typical small market village, still having a boulangerie, butcher, snack bar, tabac selling newspapers and magazines in ENGLISH(!), a post office, small grocery, banks and cash point. So all the basic needs.

Then it was time to head home, again stopping at Le Petit Manoir with Geoff and Jill.  The traffic on the motorway was horrendous, particularly approaching Bordeaux, with lorries nose to tale for miles and miles. It was a welcoming sight when we first saw the sign by the roadside bearing a familiar name!

Mas d'Argenais - it felt like we were nearly home!

This is an unusual sight on the canal -

Legionaires in dingies, rowing their way home!

In all the four winters mooring here we've NEVER seen them on the water before. We've seen them running along the canal paths, exercising in their gym kit, running in camouflage with guns at the ready, smartly dressed with their sparkling white hats. But never before on the water. What do they know that we don't?

On Christmas day we had another jolly good feast, with various dishes being provided from all the boaters.

Christmas lunch at Quai 10, Castelnaudary 2019

 Two days later followed by a cocktail party onboard Steve's boat, Porthos, to celebrate his and neighbour Elaine's joint 70th birthdays.

Great fun opening all their presents!

November - 2019

Early morning in Castelnaudary.

Well the month certainly began with a dramatic sky.

This was a rather sad month for us, as we had to have our dear little dog, Tashi put to sleep. It was a bit of a shock as neither us nor the town vet was aware at the seriousness of her illness. It wasnt until she was taken to Carcassonne to have a scan that she was found to have tumours on her kidneys. That was the reason she wasn't responding tothe medication she was being given.  We are still grieving her loss many weeks later. She was such an integral part of our lives. She loved everyone, and everyone it seemed loved her.

Beautiful Amerylis

When our neighbour went away she handed me this bulb, asking me to look after it for them. While we enjoyed its flower, sadly she missed it. Hence the photograph.

Meal at LeCory.

We couldn't not go out for a meal when Sally came to visit, all the way from Auxonne!

October 2019

This was the beautiful, calm sunset at Ecluse Vivier the night before we left. We're feeling sad that this will be the last time we'll be here onboard Gesina.

The gathering clouds remain the next day, but we were prepared as we took the short journey into Castelnaudary (it remained dry).

Finally at the top of the St. Roch staircase of the 4 chamber lock, we head into the Bassin and our winter port.

Every where steps at Saissac!

 So now the great house hunting begins. Although the house here had fabulous views of the Pyrenees, which we would dearly love, there are too many steps both in the house and in the garden. Definitely not for us.

Although Tashi seemed to approve.

Colourful house at Carlipa

Again this house had too many stairs, being spread over four floors. Such a shame as it is a lovely old traditional village house.

The boys paid an unexpected visit for a long weekend. It was really to be just the four of us again for a short time. The last time that happened was when 'my three men' came to visit me whilst I was working in Den Haag, and it was my 50th birthday.

The Charmans

So of course we went off sightseeing, and as Andy has never been to Carcasonne a day trip was duly organised. Having done the touristy bit, and enjoyed a jolly good lunch we decided some exercise might be a good idea. These heavy horses looked beautifully groomed as they pulled the tourists around the ramparts of the castle.

Our host for a previous book club showed us how she had managed to coax an artichoke into flower, and gave instructions also saying you have to have patience.

It's SLOWLY coming into flower after 4 weeks of nuturing!

You have to feel sorry for these new recruits of the French Foreign Legion who have been issued with the little bags which look like things teenager girls would use in which to carry their make-up, or nail kit. But at least they are made in camouflage material!  I didnt want to embarrass them by taking a photo from the front, as there was enough tittering and laughter as they passed down the road. Some lads clutched the case to their chest to make them less obvious. So just a brief shot from behind, but one of the soldiers heard the click of my camera and looked a bit sheepish, poor chap! The person who designed and issued these must have a sadistic streak!

Poor lads, they get bussed into town to go shopping and all head for the same place where they are issued with their new mobile phones etc. Always very smartly dressed. We also have the pleasure of seeing them do curcuit runs up past the boat and back down to their splendid camp at the Castelnaudary headquarters.

We thought it would be nice to have a little farewell tea party for Anca, Odile's colleague, who worked in the port during the summer.

Anca giving directions to boaters.

Autumn has arrived giving us this brilliant display of coppery leaves.

Ornamental grasses

Beautiful umbrella plants

The town gardeners have excelled themselves this year with their colourful displays.

Lonesome swan!

Poor creature no longer has a mate. Heli and Jim, moored here in their yacht two years ago, took pity on the swan and used to feed it cooked spaghetti. Now it's looking for Heli!

September 2019

 A wonderful reason for a family celebration was the 25th wedding anniversary of Charo and Andy.

It seems so long ago!

Our friend Sue, made the heroic journey down from Uzes on her own, and staying at an hotel in Castelnaudary, we collected her each day, and took a welcome break from boat maintenance, and house hunting, to go sightseeing with her. As she arrived on Ni's birthday we all enjoyed a splendid evening meal at the Maison du Cassoulet in Castelnaudary.

Celebrating with Bubbly at Villsequelande

Beautiful big, ripe grapes at Villsequelande.

Mechanical grape picker

Co-op cave at Villesequelande in full production!

Leaving Villesequelande.

 As there was only one lock between here and Bram, we decided it would be a good idea for me to drive the car to the next lock, where I would meet Ni, help with roping up through it, then drive up to Bram. Here I would leave the car until we reached Villepinte. This broke the cycling journeys Ni had to make back to retrieve the car. I had wanted to do this, but it was decided that I would find it too difficult to lift the electric bike into the boot of the car. Shame, as I enjoyed cycling along, especially on the electric bike!!!
 

Peaceful mooring at Villepinte

Leaving to collect car from Villesequelande.

 We were beginning to feel quite emotional as we left each of these little villages we had come to know, and love so well. Knowing this was the last time we would take this canal journey we savoured each glorious day.  It felt very sad, but we knew that it had to be done. Each lock, or staircase of locks proved the point again that we found it hard and tiring work.

As I strolled around with Tashi that evening I enjoyed the light of the setting sun, clean air from the mountains, and calm of the evening on the canal.

Another quiet mooring at Ecluse Guerre

Ecluse Guerre

'My mountains' (The Pyrenees)

After having spent 4 years with these incredible mountains suddenly appearing, then disappearing as we followed the contour pattern of the Canal du Midi, I don't know if I could bear to ever be far away from them. They call me home. Must have been a mountain goat in a former life!

Ecluse Moulin Vivier at St.Martin Lalande

This was our last stop before going into Castelnaudary. Another of our favoured 'green bank' moorings. This one has no electricity points, nor water taps, so can't stay too long. Although we can manage for electricity with our solar panels, as long as the sun shines. But even with a full water tank the most we can manage is 3 to 4 weeks, and that's being very careful with every drop. So it's a last gasp into home port! The upside about this mooring is the lovely walks alongside the canal, and up through the apple orchards towards the main road to Bram. Because of these orchards the farm shop smells delicious when entered with all the different types of apples for sale. They also stock vegetables, honey, eggs and a variety of other goodies. So with that and the bread and wine at the moulin (mill) shop we are well supplied.
There is also a garden centre just a few yards down the road, which is handy for stocking up with flowers at the beginning of the season. They have such a variety and at a reasonable price, with very friendly, helpful staff.

There is a staircase of three locks here so it also provides good entertain to watch the hire boats negotiate entrance and decent, or ascent of the flight. Good value all round really here.

By the side of the lock there is a small fenced off garden area which at this time of the year is covered by a carpet of wild cyclamen.

Cyclamen.