Back to reality with a bump!!

 

Well Joe and I returned from our relaxing holiday last Sunday and then it was back to reality with a bang.  I was back at work Monday and then life it back into full swing!!

relaxing shortly after arriving at Presqu’ile de Rhuys

Can’t believe that 3 weeks ago we were just setting out for the Ferry – why does life move so fast these days.  We did however have 14 lovely days relaxing, cycling, walking meeting up with family and of course eating delicious French cuisine and wine and cidre More holiday photo’s in future posts

 

6oth Birthday card made recently for a friend who loves cruising!!

 

well off to craft this afternoon after completing some house hold task this morning

Have a lovely day

Lesley x

Moules et frites au bord de la mer!!

The weather is glorious and yesterday I rode into Sarzeau to have a wander around the market, something I really love to do.  I bought some amazing meat from the local butchers - 'porc grillade Bretagne' which was pork lion stuffed  with what looked like bacon I think - we BBQ'd it and ate it with salad - delicious.   Totally forgot to take any pictures though. 

Friday we visited Port Navalo with Joe's cousin and her husband after a wander around by the light house we had a lunch of Moules  and frites at Bar de la Plage Port Navalo.

After lunch we drove to the Pointe du Petit-Mont where there is a large ancient Cairns which you can pay entry to go and look inside.  Rather than that We took a walk around the head land.  Although there was some wind it was glorious sunshine and there are spectacular views of the sea and Port Navalo.  We followed this  by a walk on the beach at Kerjouanno.

Our last stop before returning to the campsite was a late afternoon drink at the 'Grain de Poivre at Fleur de Sel at St Gildas.

Lesley x

Christmas in June!!!

 

My friend Jackie a fellow blogger put me to shame as she has made many Christmas cards already and it’s only June.  Then I remembered I’d made a card for a demonstration in April using  Zoo Review stamp set,  so not to be left out I thought I’d post it.  It is the only one I’ve made though!!!

 

Whilst in France we went to a wonderful Zoo at  Doue La Fontaine during 2013-13 the zoo has had a bumper time for births of every species I’ve just named a few here, a baby giraffe, baby tiger, pygmy hippo.  It’s set in an ancient troglodyte quarry  with extremely spacious enclosures full of vegetation giving the animals space and natural surroundings. 

It was amazing to be able to wander freely through the vulture enclosure and they even have a a feeding time!!!

Lesley x

More holiday pics

 

Le Treport & Mers-les-Bains the later has some superb Art Deco Houses & the facades were really colourful and vibrant but for some reason I forgot to take pictures of them.  There is also a funicular railway in Le Treport to the top of the cliffs but I’ll need to wait for another visit to do that journey.  Le Treport & Mer-Les-Bains reminded me of a cross between Scarborough & Whitby in the UK.

Lunch French style 12:00 – 14:00

The best part of the day lunchtime – it’s quite quirky as most places in France there are no parking charges except for large towns and trendy resorts but even then most don’t charge parking between 12:00-14:00 traditionally lunch time and when we went Le Touquet out of season parking charges were only at weekends.  Charges are also far less that the UK.

Thanks your for taking the time to visit my blog and look at my holiday snaps best wishes Lesley x

Visit to Long

Well this is my second post of the day – like buses one doesn’t come for ages and the 2 come together!!!   Campsite at Ferme Des Aulnes

The day was a bit over cast  the day we visited Long but never the less we managed to enjoys ourselves with a walk beside the river.  We’d planned on visiting the Chateau (only open July & August) and one of the earliest hydro electric power stations built in the early 1900’s sadly the day we went was it’s closing day!!!  We did however check out a municipal campsite which is a bargain at 11 euros (just under £9) / night incl electricity.  For those who caravan that’s pretty cheap!!

The Central Hydro electric power station of Long one of only 2 built before 1914 in Picardie and supplied electricity to the village between 1903-1968.  It is now a heritage site/museum

Thanks for taking the time to drop by to read my blog

TTFN

Lesley x

Back from France

 

We have recently returned from a holiday in France, it seems ages ago since we went. We stayed in the Authie Valley (Bay of Somme area) mainly.  We we did venture to Berny Riviere for 4 nights .   Château de Pierrefonds is where some of the Merlin (TV series) is filmed  & as Joe is a big fan of the series and I just like Chateaus we took a visit there.

Château de Pierrefonds

Lake side cafe where the waiter didn’t listen to the order properly but my ‘grande cafe avec du lait chaud’  was fine

I couldn’t not take a picture of this as it was dedicated to Military Nurses

well thanks for taking the time to visit my blog especially as I’ve not posted since the 1/6/12

Lesley x

St Julien des Landes September 2010

I have been on my holidays in the Vendee at La Garangeoire.  It is a great site and I have been round the kitchens and saw how the Chef made his pate de Foie Gras for the restaurant and had a go a piping macaroons – which are included in the cafe gourmande dessert.  The weather has been great and during the first week I painted on canvas with acrylics under the supervision of artiste Sylvie Berthome a local artist.  I love my picture but those painted by Sylvie were superb.  Sadly I didn’t have my camera with me so I can’t show you some of her work.  In the hour that it took me I also was able to speak my limited French (but I am improving!!!) as she spoke very little English so it was a great way to practice – she also practiced her English that she knew on me.

The 2 top pictures are the picture I painted and me at the lesson with Sylvie. The 2 other pictures are me with the caravan on the way to the Vendee in an aire and Joe and I on the beach at Bretignolles Sur Mer.

Well TTFN until I post again

Lesley x

Carcassonne Southern France

Hi all, I’ve just returned from a glorious week in Southern France. We had a fantastic 2 bedroom very old ‘mid terrace’ house 10 minutes walk from the Cite. It had been fully modernised to a high level, 2 bathrooms, washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher. As state of the art hob for which you needed a degree to work it :) A roof terrace which we sat out on quite a lot in the evening having the odd drink of wine!! The weather was lovely. Sunny and warm – the others wore there coats most days, but me I was ok with a cardigan most of the time. The town of Bastide St Louis was about 15 minutes walk away over the River Aude via the ‘Pont Vieux’ We flew by Ryanair (cheap flights £20 return each). We only took 10kg of cabin baggage per person. I was a little apprehensive at first but it was a surprise to me just how much clothing etc we took and we were way under our wt limit & we took plenty, even a hair dryer, plus tea bags for Joe & books!!

Day of arrival having dropped our bags off we took a walk to the old Cite and for a visit to a bar/cafe for a drink & a ‘sandwich’

Women at work planning the day!! Helped along with a glass of wine/cidre.

Joe

The Ancient Cite gates

View of the Ancient Cite from the Old Bridge - ‘Pont Vieux’ I can highly recommend this a place for a short break – lots to do, plenty of places to eat covering all budgets. Sunday we went to the ‘Terminus’ hotel and had a great 3 course meal for 13.50 euro’s each – wine was extra.