Susie's photos

3 post Christmas walks

It was a warm sunny Christmas day and after the customary smoked salmon and cream cheese on toast breakfast with champagne and opening our presents, we settled outside for games before cooking Christmas lunch with the kids over skype (they were together in Bristol). John, Sandrine, Hannah and Saskia came over for drinks and ping pong.

Both Susie and I have put ona few pounds so we decided to give up alcohol for the rest of the month and January, eat a bit less and try and get more exercise. This we have started straight away with walks every other day.

Cap de Bouirex - a first stretch of the legs for boxing day, crampons useful on the névé near the summit.

Susie has two fleeces on under her top, she hasn't put on that many pounds!

Etang de Guzet and Cascade d'Ars - We decided to this in reverse (anti clockwise direction) to avoid the crowds who just visit the cascade and also to make the most of the long steep ascent in this direction. A good workout and again crampons needed crossing the couloirs on the decent to the waterfall. So busy watching out for Susie who is fairly new to crampons, that I made the school boy error of catching a crampon point in my bootlaces (which have been tucked away) face planted and nearly tumbled down the mountain. A blooded knee was my punishment for not practising what I preach.

Crete de Balme from Col de la Core - We going to do Tuc de Coucou, but at the last minute changed our minds because of a late start. Col de la core is snow free and rather than visit Etang d'Eycheil we thought we follow the ridge. It's been a while since I've done this. We didn't quite make the summit as Susie didn't have her ice axe and in the conditions it wasn't safe to continue. 

La Serre towards the Port d'Aula

Christmas present

Spent the last few days making this for Susie - a spinning wheel. Quite complicated to build but we'll have to wait until Christmas to see the results!

Storms

Big storms either side of last weekend. 

The first storm came from the West with heavy rain which brought down many trees, cutting our phone lines and power, and for a few hours prevented us from getting home! A couple of hours in hte deluge, assisting neighbours with chainsaws was necessary to clear the route.

The second storm came from the South, without rain...strong winds but fortunately no further damage. 

In the calm after the storm Susie and I got out for a much needed walk - col de saraillé, col de bidal, col de boulogne, biech and home.

Hamlet at the col de Boulogne

Beans

Cold snowy weather and a first ski of the year during the last few weeks. Busy with Architecture work and a course in building systems using straw bale insulation. Susie is leading a choreography workshop today and I've been busy shelling beans.

Mr Quincy has had more treatments for leg mites and poultry lice which he just can't seem to rid himself of. We seem to be winning at last and today he crowed for the first time in months, so cautiously hopeful of a recovery...he's certainly looking better.

First dump of snow

Autumn in B&W and colour

Kitchen make-over

By moving the wall cupboards from the side walls to the rear wall, I've managed to get them higher (between the beams rather than under) which has opened up more worktop space and surprisingly more light.

Pond make over

In between architecture work, some time to give the pond a makeover, levelling the banks and raising the banks by 25cm or so with some sandbags filled with drymix. New gates for some of the fields too.

Tour de Pic Cabanatous from Coumbière

Making the most of the autumn weather with Sheri's favourite local mountain circuit.