My French Fancy

                      What have I been making? Following my success at the Christmas workshop at English Garden Plants (well, they didn't throw me out) I decide to use my new honed skills to make my own garland, see picture below.                I've never considered myself to be crafty (though I am sure my family would say otherwise). I once made a blouse for a School fashion show, well I'd be lying if I said I made it, as the Teacher had to finish  it for me, otherwise I would have walked down the catwalk in my vest. Mind you, I think it's genetic- my Mother once had to sew a button on one of my Dad's shirts and sewed her dressing gown to the shirt- in her defence it was very early in the morning. I've always admired people who are good at craft, my friend Irene has a whole shop dedicated to it and the things her and Suzy make are truly inspirational- or I get them to make them for me....

                                   Covent Garden  Feeling festive as I visited Convent Garden last week to catch up with my sisters. We all pay £20 a month into an account which normally pays for a few trips a year. This time we had lunch at the Ivy Grill in Covent Garden and we then wandered around the market, it was very busy and very festive. It was lovely to visit London and even lovelier to see my sisters but I don't miss the Uk, I just miss the people (as many people say that live here). I am always glad to drive home and as I drive up our lane I breath a huge sigh of relief to be back. I just wish I could bring my children, family and friends here.   Here's one I made earlier Had a real giggle when we made the decorations for the Christmas Market/fair at English Garden Plants near Ranes- I never know if I should use fayre or fair- though fayre is just an old-fashioned way of s...

                                          And I thought teaching had a lot of paperwork!  Life admin- who needs it! Daniella really made me laugh this week when she was complaining about the amount of life admin there is and she's right. Just today I have had letters arrive  for Tim's pension and French driving license. To be fair he was putting up curtain poles at the time and I know which one of those jobs I would rather be doing and more importantly which one I am capable of.  According to a survey completed by the Independent newspaper, the average person carries out 109 life admin tasks every year, that's 9 every month!!  You do need to be very organised especially when it comes to knowing where you have put things in your filing system. I have tried filing things alphabetically, by person and by topic but I still end up having to go through the whole lo...

www.myfrenchfancy.com  Could I get this to grow in Normandy? it look beautiful, grows everywhere in abundance, copes well with the heat, needs little rain and Bougainvillea sounds like a wine!!  Where have I been lately?  picture may be a clue!  My sister describes the need for a 'Greek fix' every few years and I know what she means. My friend Helen and I went to Rhodes recently and sitting in a taverna by the sea in Lindos with the sounds of Greek music and the waves lapping on the beach was pure bliss. We just needed Tom Conti to be sitting in the corner strumming his guitar for the complete effect. I recommend watching Shirley Valentine about mid- January if you haven't seen it already - you'll be online to TUI in no time! Greece is lovely at this time of year, still warm and not busy. The resorts close at the end of October so all of the staff were de-mob happy. I was however, surprised at how run down it is and very dry, with many rivers completely dried up. ...

  What's been going on in Southern Orne?  My brother sent me this article from an edition of The Daily Telegraph (24th September)  The picture features the lake at Bagnoles-de l' Orne which is 10 minutes from us  and it is our go-to for meals, beers and trips to the cinema, The article highlights how much there is to do around here with its wealth of history and chateaux. The article not only describes what this region has to offer but also why autumn is a good time come here. It describes this part of Normandy (southern Orne) as the least populated and least visited part of the region so it is ideal for an autumn breather.  The article refers to Camembert as the most famous hamlet in the world. I think Ben and Daniella would disagree with that as after we had visited (when they were much younger) they crowned it the most boring place in the world.  More eating! We had a lovely meal in Bagnole today with our friends who are visiting from Southwest France. T...

  Slow- sloe- not very quick -quick -sloe!                             Coutdown- only 85 days to go! Lovely week- had my gorgeous daughter to stay which was fabulous although she does commandeer the study and the cat, plus I have to go to the Boulangerie every morning to get fresh pain au chocolat. I also have to confess that as she had the Monday off (bank holiday) we did not watch the funeral but went to a Spa instead- I am sure her Majesty would not have minded. Our lovely friend Irene came to stay for a long weekend- she baked apple turnovers for Tim, cooked a roast dinner and helped us to collect lots of sloes- top guest, please come back soon! Talking of Boulangeries - they really are something quite amazing. When I took my daughter into our local Marie Blachere she asked me why I had never taken her there before, it truly is wall to wall dough. I've seen people in Paris take a croissant into a ba...

                                " This week I've mostly been moving wood!" Weather update:  The weather has cooled down here and what a relief! Like everywhere we have had our hottest Summer ever, the stream dried up completely and the grass was a lovely shade of brown but we have enjoyed many gorgeous evenings sitting outside.  I mentioned the idea of having a swimming pool installed to Tim, something that we would never have considered before (we are in Normandy!). The idea did not go down well as having a Fosse installed was traumatic enough and the drive still looks like  a cross country car rally went through it.    We had a flash flood this week with big hailstones, water came in through the doors and Velux windows and the gutters could not cope with the amount of water that was coming off the roof. Fortunately, it did not last long and everywhere now smells clean and fresh. Th...