Sheep Tor

The ponies on the moor being rounded up

Stone circles

A short trip to Sheep Tor - checking out the rock climbing there. Pretty cold blustery weather and not at all inviting though the climbs looked like they'd be fun on a sunny day.

New Blogger interface absolute crap

Like most bloggers who use Google Blogger I am very unhappy. We have been forced to migrate to the new Blogger interface which is frankly a heap of shit. It's impossible to get decent equal margins around images, the interface is horribly clumsy and the amount of control is much reduced. I can usually modify the HTML to get what I want (very time consuming) but even this doesn't seem to work.

Google are also determined to try and get everyone on "Google+" which is another new, clunky and just downright irritating piece of lunacy.

Wordpress anyone? Heard Tumblr is worth a look too.

Shutters

Yesterday afternoon I went to see Ian and progress on his new house at Bincaresh which we has been renovating for the past year or so. He moves in next week! Then he and I popped over to Salau to see progress at Alun and Breezy's place, where I'd been invited for supper. Both places are looking fabulous.

I've spent the last couple of days making oak shutters for the kitchen. Haven't hung the middle ones yet 'cos a little storm rolled in - it's been hot and humid today.

Storm didn't last long so all done now!

Work and more mushrooms

Beautifully hot here (36 in the sun) which is nice after the awful summer weather in the UK. Work continues here at Quelebu with new lights in the kitchen, the front wall finished between the rafters, the curtains and window seat in the kitchen finished, the yukka in the front garden removed and the the old grease trap filled in.

Lots more viewings of the house at Pont, especially now I've reduced the price!
Visits from friends and neighbours and more mushrooms for tea - 5 different bolettes including a cep. I fried these with some garlic and bacon, the little cep (bottom) and the Boletus Erythropus (the little one in the middle with a brown velvety cap) were just amazing!

Pyrenees

Back to France and more building. Hot sunny weather and lovely haul of mushrooms for tea.

Last day

A nice sunny day on Monday (at long last) and Susie's last day before returning to work. The kids were busy doing homework so we cycled the rather hilly direct route to Blackpool sands (about 11 miles) for a spot of R and R. A longer but easier route home.

Off to France tomorrow.

Walks on the moor

A couple of recent outings:

Thursday walk up to Haytor at dusk with Susie, Dominic and Bridget. After watching the sunset we returned by moonlight.
On Friday an evening canoe down the River Dart from Totnes to Tuckenhay - the last part again by moonlight, again with Dominic and Bridget.

Yesterday an afternoon stroll with Susie starting and finishing at New Waste. We followed the River Yealm to it's source passing the tiny waterfalls at Yealm Steps before following the damp, tussocky moorland of the watershed, to descend the River Erme.

An ingot stone for casting tin at the ruined blowing house below Yealm Steps

lunch at Yealm Steps

A tiny dead shrew