Today I shall be Mainly...

[Sue]

It looks like a calm crossing Sue. Bon voyage!

Morning

It was a calm crossing Stanley and once the fog lifted it was very pleasant. We have done a different crossing, coming over to Caen and not St Malo. Much shorter and quicker but a very early start and then over a three hour drive to the house. Rather than arriving at 6.00 pm to a cold house we have stayed in a hotel half way. We had many short sharp showers on the way here, not pleasant to drive in at all. However its a pleasant little town famous for copper and making bells. We have been to it a few times before. Today is market day and I can hear them setting up. We will browse the stalls before we leave, and hope to buy some fresh veg etc.

Not sure of the forecast but not much different from home, just a couple of degrees warmer. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue! That sounds like good planning, And a good start with fresh veggies from the market.... All you need now is some decent weather. Overcast here with us and enough south wind to cool us down to 2C. But still, think of what it could be like in early March! We are being very fortunate with our weather....

[Stanley]

I shall have a day off from the shed, early breakfast and second sleep. Then from tomorrow I shall start the run in to the next engine, I have the castings here ready to be unpacked.
I shall take a view on a walk to the Co-op later.....

[Sue]

Morning

It was a good little market but sadly the veggies did not enthuse me. We did buy some seed potatoes which I will plant before we go back home in two weeks. The walk round was spoilt a little when I trod in some dog poo in my new trainers. I managed to clean them off sufficiently to be able to get back in the car but did have to wash them when we got to the house.

All was OK here. Yves had tried to cut the grass, both lawn and orchard but it is so wet he no doubt struggled considerably. After unpacking, and having lunch, I swept up the leaves from under the wisteria so we could put the bench back. I then gave the roses a heavy prune, uncovered the pots that I had covered last visit and gave the two small rockeries under the trees a quick digging over. Luckily there were few weeds but the plants needed a trim. I washed the few bits of washing after our travels and as Bob had put the line out I hung them out. They dried considerably in only 3 hours.

Today it will be a dust and a hoover through. The estate agent is coming at 11.00 when we will discuss where we go from here. The forecast is dry, cloudy and about 12 degrees. I see that the cold weather and winds expected in the UK will sweep across us too later this week. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Yes, there could be some seasonal weather Sue, we even have mention of a snow shower.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed early doors cleaning up and getting my ducks in a row ready for resumption of engine building. No chance of a walk later on as we have a firm forecast of strong wind and heavy rain. Best to stay indoors I think!

[Stanley]

This morning I tidied the bench, oiled the surface plates, Put a new tablecloth on the big plate and put the bits left over from the last engine in their correct places. Then I went looking for my breakfast.

[Sue]

Morning

In the morning I did a quick dust and a polish, there was little to be done, all had stayed fairly insect free over the winter but the polishing helps to freshen things up. Later we had a good meeting with the estate agent. She demonstrated that we have had a number of ‘hits’ on the website for our house but still no one wanting to view. The reassuring thing is that houses like ours in the same area are experiencing exactly the same so its not just us. We agreed to a minor reduction with a view to a bigger one in July. Meanwhile our holiday for the summer here is booked, as is that of my sister in August.

Yesterday afternoon was warm and sunny. We both worked on clearing the ivy round the gate posts and whilst I weeded the rockery Bob started measuring up for the hinges of the new gate. Today is due to be cool cloudy and windy . Other than a bit more of the same we have no plans. Tomorrow rain is due all day so we need to crack on with the outside jobs. Luckily my revamp of the garden over the last couple of years has reduced what I have to do. Have a good day all

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[Stanley]

Morning Sue.... Nice to hear that your re-design of the garden is having results. I'm glad your agent was able to reassure you about the state of your offer. The trouble with selling a property is that you have no control, you are in the hands of the market. All I can do is wish you good luck!
The wind is getting up here and we have light rain on the wind.

[Stanley]

My spell of attention to the shed will be later this morning as it is a lot easier to unbox the latest castings in daylight and on the work surfaces in the kitchen. I doubt if I will be having a walk because we have another bad day, cold wet and windy. I shall be far better off indoors...... I need nothing from the shops.

[Stanley]

Back in the world after a good second sleep. All seems to be well.... It's stopped raining but that wind is very cold!

[Sue]

Morning

Yesterday was an ok day, cloudy, windy but a decent temperature. We got a lot done outside and I only have one small patch of garden to weed. Bob has done the concrete bases for the bottom hinges of the new gates and that now needs 48 hours before he can progress.

This morning we are doing a fairly big shop of basics plus a few extras as tomorrow Laetitia and family are coming over for afternoon tea . So this afternoon I want to make some miniature hot cross buns and possibly a cake. Otherwise its going to be a vey wet day so any activities will be indoors. Sometime over the next few days we must see Joanne and Paul as we have shopping for them from England. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Enjoy your company Sue! Over here we are having snow flurries and frost.....

[Wendyf]

My friend Joanna has been staying with me for a few days. We were neighbours for 20 years and shared so much, including the caravan at Ardnamurchan Point, a vacuum cleaner and car.
Although the caravan has been replaced a few times since we took the first one up in 1983 Joanna and her family still visit regularly and invited Col and I to use it for a last time back in 2023. I really wanted some of Col's ashes to go to Ardnamurchan but couldnt see myself making it up there anytime soon.
Joanna is going up in May and is going to sprinkle the ashes for me. She has also taken a bottle of Col's favourite whisky to leave in the caravan so the various visitors can drink a toast.
It has made me very happy!
I'll add a photo of us there together back in 2009. Joanna and her husband John, who died a number of years ago are also in the photo.

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[Stanley]

What a lovely post. That's proper friendship! Col would approve I think.



I shall be in the shed early doors starting on a new engine. I expect a walk and a shop at the Co-op later......

[Stanley]

That's right! We are starting another engine. Not because I need one but because I am convinced that this hour every morning in the shed is valuable Occupational Therapy and is what keeps me alive! I like being able to say "Not many 90 year olds are doing this!"

[Cathy]

Wendy, that’s a lovely memory for you.
I would call that a very English pic.

[Sue]

Morning

Yes Wendy, a lovely memory. Its nice to have such good longstanding friends that you can share past memories with and enjoy each others company. I like the plans for some of Cols ashes, to be in a place that he loved .

Yesterday here was miserable, very wet and cold but the clouds lifted about 7.00 pm leaving us with clear skies and a very chilly night. Its only 2 degrees now. However the forecast for the rest of the week is very good indeed with high temperatures and sun forecast from Tuesday till we leave in 10 days. It may change yet of course.

We did our shopping in the morning and I made hot cross buns in the afternoon. It was so cool in the house I could not get them to rise, until we put the trays on top of the boiler and turned the heating up. That did the trick. I have a few bits and pieces to make after lunch ready for our afternoon tea with Laetitia and family but otherwise I have no plans. Its a bit cool to go and do a bit of gardening in the last patch, but once done I can turn my mind to the veggie patch next week and perhaps a couple of outings

Its due to be 11 degrees and cloudy, have a good day everyone

[Stanley]

Morning Sue.... We have white roofs here this morning and like you, have the promise of warmer weather in a couple of days.
I might have a walk to the Co-op for milk later......

[Stanley]

I shall start on the castings for the new engine first thing this morning. After that depends on how the day turns out. I have no need to go to the shops.....

[Stanley]

First order of business was a good chip chase and then Mill the base of the engine bed on the VM using the vise. Then take the vise off the VM and clean the bed up before bolting the base down direct on the bed and cutting the base clean and level. That all took 45 minutes so I have knocked off for breakfast....

[Sue]

Morning

First it was morning and breakfast and before we knew it, it was 7.00 pm . Where did the time go. In the morning I washed the towels then we went to the market at La Gacilly. We didn’t want much but it was an opportunity to buy a few plants to replace dead ones such as strawberries and a few rockery plants. We then did a long loop back to the car walking alongside the very flooded river. We now know exactly why this region of the town is called The Marshes. We have never seen it so wet. It was a pleasant walk though and nice enough to sit outside with a cuppa when we got back before lunch.

The afternoon was taken up with planting the plants and sorting out the afternoon tea , and before we knew it Laetitia arrived. Tbey arrived with a simultaneous flash of lightening and a clap of thunder followed by a power cut and heavy rain. It was a good job I brought the washing in. I was busy searching for candles by torch light when our visitors arrived. The house went very dark due to the flash storm which lasted an hour or so. Eventually the electricity came back on but we hadn’t expected our afternoon tea to be by candlelight.

The sky cleared during the evening and the temperatures fell to zero overnight. We had a mist clinging to the ground first thing and possibly some frost. Above the layer of mist is blue skies, though cloud is forecast for the day. We are going out for Sunday lunch and will take the rest of the day as it comes.Have a good day all

[Stanley]

I hope your weather improves Sue.... It's bright, cold, windy and dry here.... I shall get the heavy end of my veggies this morning to lighten the load on Monday.
I spoke with forked tongue Sue. Just popped me head out and we have light rain blowing in on the wind.....

[Stanley]

I am back in the hutch after a veggie shop at the Co-op. I couldn't resist a half price large chicken and so I have put that in the oven and it's cooking now. I can cook it ready to eat for less than the price of fish chips and peas including the accompaniments and spices.