My French Fancy

Did someone steal May and most of June? Where did they go? Why is my life flashing by so quickly, is that a sign of old age I wonder? I read this recently: " That can be a sign of getting older—but not in a gloomy way. It’s more a sign that you're actively living, constantly filling your days with people, places, plans, and purpose. When every week brings a new highlight, the months don’t hang around." -so it's not because I waste many an hour sitting in the garden with a glass of Rose then? We are enjoying some very hot weather here, so hot we have been able to put the hot tub up. I mentioned to Tim that it would be nice to go in the hot tub when it's dark but the trouble is it does not get dark here until about 11 and that is way past my bed time.  On the itinerary for us this summer is the Tour De France which is coming through Laval in a a few weeks, a visit to Chateau de Lalande (which is featured in Chateau DIY), a trip to Paris (always a good idea), a trip ...

                 I can now open my study door to let the su nlight and the sound of the birds in. Spring has definitely sprung here and the sun feels like it is warming up. We had some glorious weather last month which meant we got lots done in the garden- mainly weeding to be honest. Our to-do list is looking quite busy, it includes:- weeding, taking down an old shed, more weeding, painting the garage and removing some wooden cladding on the wall next to it oh, and more weeding. We are now getting some help from our friend Joel who comes in once every two weeks and his nickname is the exterminator as he leaves nothing in his wake. Had a wonderful time in Madrid, so lovely to sit out in the sun in February. Everyone was friendly (and not just my friends), food was amazing and our tour guide Niamh was fabulous. As, we knew we had Niamh to show us around we did not do any research, not a guidebook amongst us. As we stood in the centre ...

      Just don't overtake me! I have realised that there is a universal language that everyone understands- it’s called the Beatles. We attended an event recently which had guys singing and very good they were too. However. I did think it was a bit strange as they were French but were singing English songs to a French audience (except us). The French did look a bit bored as they did not know many of the songs but when they played ‘Hey Jude’ they all came alive and started singing along. The same thing happened in Indonesia last year, everywhere we went we saw groups performing Beatles songs and everyone was singing along. So, if you are ever in an awkward situation and you are struggling to be understood just start singing “She loves you yeah, yeah yeah.” 20 top tips for living or visiting Normandy 1.        A French driver is obliged to overtake you, no matter where you are, how fast you are driving and what the weather condi...

Don’t mind if I do!     What’s bugging me this month   J'en ai mar! Great french expression which means that you've had enough/fed up! And the reason I feel like this is because we are still without internet- 2 months now!   In desperation (and the fact that I am trying to work and I can’t keep going to McDonalds) we have invested in Starlink which was very simple to install and is very quick. It is ideal if you are like us and live in a rural area, plus I cannot get Orange to put in fibre optic even though I have begged them -I literally got down on my knees in the local store.   Talking of Mc Donalds, I have be visiting our local one to access their free Wi-Fi and of course I buy a coffee (can’t really sit there all day if I don’t). They open at 10.00 and silly me thinking I could get a coffee then, they told me that they would not be ready to serve till 10.30! but at least they bring it to your table on a nice tray - in the UK it’s just chucked ...

    What’s it been like in Normandy?                                                                    Greetings from a mild Normandy, well it is mild now but a month ago it was very cold and the whole of Normandy was knee- deep in snow. We had to dig ourselves out of the drive and then clear branches along the lane that had come down due to the sheer weight of all the snow on them. Whole areas of Normandy were in darkness for many days and people were even stranded overnight on local trains. Our power went out and so did our phone line, which snapped when a branch fell on it and remains unfixed to this day. I had to fly back to the UK from Rennes (good service by the way and easy to park there). We drove through Normandy which was swathed in snow although the main roads were clear but as we hit Brittan...

  What has been going on in Normandy? Our friends were married recently at a local Mairie. The service was lovely and the Maire was delighted as not only was it the first wedding he had performed that year but the first one ever for a British couple -don't worry Monsieur le maire there will be more coming!! We then had three days at a stunning local chateau, where we were provided with copious amounts of food and drink, a falconry demonstration and a helicopter flight (just the bride and best man- it couldn't take all of us) a good time was had by all.  It seems that I go to more funerals than weddings these days, so I was delighted to be invited to be one of my friend’s bridesmaids and to wear a very posh dress.  Scallops anyone? Last weekend we visited Port en Bessin- Huppain for the scallop (Coquille St-Jacques) festival. The scallop season runs from October to May and we took a boat trip where a retired fisherman told us all about it. They  are subjected to ...