Back to France! Bumped into old friends John and Helen Martin at Bristol airport which was a pleasant surprise as I haven't seen them in 6 years.
Arrived home yesterday to a jungle and after a first pass with the scythe, was invited over to Sandrine's where her birthday party was under way. By 10pm a thunderstorm had rolled in and I so headed for home.

This morning I was up early and headed straight to St Girons only to find out that everything was closed. I had forgotten it is a religious holiday in France today.

On returning home I pressed on with hanging pans, mortar work, door locks and latches, plumbing in and moving the washing machine, then lots of strimming to get the garden growth under control. Danni and Serge came over in the afternoon armed with 2 more strimmers and after 4 hours of all three us strimming the garden was looking under control.

I also managed to squeeze in a quick meeting with Justin at the Mairie in Aleu to discuss plans for the hog roast.

Now I'm making lists 'cos there's still loads to do and not enough time!

Messing about in canoes and kayaks

Enjoying some lovely weather this week with evening excursions. Out with the Dare's on the River Dart on Tuesday. Back to France soon!

Wedding slideshow

Wedding (No 1)

On Saturday Susie and I got married in Totnes. It was a beautiful and amazing day. Thank-you so much to everyone who came and made it special and extra thanks to mum for the wedding cake and to Dominic my bestman. More photo's later....

For our honeymoon I whisked Susie away to Mevagissey and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.The day goes so quickly, but we get to do it again (get married) in the Pyrenees in a couple of weeks time!!

Bog Trotting

A blustery but bright day today so decided to head out to the moor. From New Waste (North of Ivybridge) I headed to the old tin works and waterfalls at Yealm Steps, then on nearing Yealm Head contoured around to Broadall Head in search of the Rosalie Stone (A granite outcrop with Rosalie carved on it).

Difficult to spot in a moor full of rocks

After 20 minutes of searching I was still unable to find it so pressed on across the barren wastes of bog and tussock grass on Langcombe Hill before dropping down Hortonsford Bottom to reach the upper reaches of the River Erme.

Milkwort hiding in the tussock grass

I followed the River until below Sharp Tor, where I headed West to regain my starting point.

Chicken run

Built Anna a chicken run in the last couple days, as well doing a few other DIY jobs at mum's. The weather here has been pretty crap - more irritating is that back home in the France they've had the hottest May day in 40 years.

Mothercombe

A lovely afternoon at Mothercombe writing out wedding vows and spot of fishing...still no fish!

After the rain

After yesterdays downpour (during which I finished plumbing the bathroom and utility room) today has been glorious. At last we have a front door - time for a big clear up!

Sirroco

The south wind has been blowing for past 3 days, dumping fine Saharan sand on everything. The warmth has finally started the beech trees to burst in to leaf.

Bathroom 90% plumbed in, freezer in house at last, wood here for constructing the front door and Al has been working on the vegetable patch. Knackered but progress being made.

Sun at last!

A beautiful day today. Made the doors for the bathroom and finished plasterboarding the utility room before a walk in the sun called! On the way back we collected the ladder from John's and mended the thatch on the barn (damaged by the snow). A strim of the grounds around the house before dinner and now it's time to grout the floor tiles.

Busy

Cuns d'Aula from the house

Lovely warm south wind today which made for some balmy weather. Lots of progress today, finishing off Ruby's dormer, carcassing and plasterboarding behind the bath and newly assembled WC (plumbing them in is still to do) and tiling the utility room.

France

Back to France and a bit of a monsoon yesterday. Today the weather has been improving though it's still very cold for the time of year. Al's here with me for a week.

Lots of DIY to do, trying to get the house ready for the wedding in about 5 weeks time.

One of La Panchard's sons put his flock of sheep in my fields whilst I was away. I don't mind them grazing the land, but he can't be bothered to move the sheep from field to field or use the gates. Instead he cuts the wires, or un-fixes the wires from the posts and ties them up, or pulls up the fence posts. It's really irritating as he never puts the fences back or repairs the damage he causes. I spent most of today fixing the fences and there's still more to do. He doesn't have a phone so I can't even ring him up to complain.

Seeing Double

The saab is in the gargae for it's MOT at Combe garage in Combe in Teignhead with John the saab man. By chance there was another saab 95 there.

On the way home on my bike I had a stormy morning fishing at Shaldon, then a horrible ride home in hale, wind and heavy traffic.

More wedding planning this weekend, off to France tomorrow.

Ilfracombe

Lots of wedding planning since arriving back in the UK and a few chances to try out some mega cheap sea fishing equipment I got in Decathlon (£10 for a rod and reel). A fishing trip to Brixham on my bike last week and yesterday a trip to Ilfracombe, as Susie was examining there. No luck with catching any fish yet, but I did find a freshly killed pheasant on the road to Brixham - which made a lovely casserole!

More flight mayhem

After a some showery weather yesterday and a hunt for morels with Susie (we only found a deer) today we headed for home. Somehow minor mishaps compounded and we ended up in a situation where Susie, Jasper and Ruby made the flight but I was too late to check in our suitcase and either had to leave it behind or change my flight for tomorrow!! Too much valuable stuff to leave behind so I've come home for another night. Got some wiring done too so no time wasted.

Mirabat

Back home the weather has been beautiful today. Susie, Ruby and I headed up to the Chateau Mirabat for some fantastic views.

A quick visit see inside the church in Aleu yesterday, not long now!

surprise trip

Our flight to Toulouse was cancelled because of industrial action in france and with no flights available until Monday it looked like the holiday was over. Some quick thinking and negotiation and we managed to get two nights in a 4 star hotel in Bristol and flights to Barcelona.

The hotel had sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, swimming pool and an excellent restaurant. We took Jasper and Ruby to see Bristol zoo and Clifton suspension bridge, then it was off to Barcelona.

A day and a half was just enough time to see some of Gaudi's buildings, Parc Guell, visit the medieval quarter, the old cathedral and the beach.

Then the cheap train to the border at La tour de Carol where we bumped into John and Sandrine who were heading in the opposite direction to go and stay in Barcelona. We then caught another train to Toulouse, a bus to the airport, where we collected our car before driving back to Quelebu via the supermarket. A long day.