SO THAT WAS XMAS

So that was it. Xmas day was spent at ours with John and Francoise when we had a good meal, then went up to Bruno's bar in the evening.

After that it's all been pretty quiet.

We have even decided to stay in new years eve.

EASY DARTS WIN

We had to travel to Pleurtuit last night for the 3rd round Coupe de France match and won 16-3. They play 2 leagues below us so it was not too difficult a match.

Still 3 more rounds to get through if we are to emulate making finals day like last year, but everyone is playing well and with the luck of the draw, we might just make it again.

WELL. IT"S NEARLY XMAS

And it's time for the yearly Xmas abuse of your dogs.

Arthur in a brilliantly homemade xmas tree!

Bella in her xmas poinsettia

Arthur by the tree again, tho not impressed.

Bella got used to the abuse by the end and gave up fighting it!

ANOTHER MUSIC NIGHT

Went to the Cheval Blanc in Plancoet on Saturday to watch another live band.

To our surprise it was the old sixties band Peter, Paul, & Mary.

Er...Not really.

But plenty of Irish music, so not a bad evening.

BIG DARTS WIN

After our first defeat of the season a few weeks back we really needed to be Le Baroque who had won all their first five league games.

We raced into a 5-0 lead before they pegged it back to 7-7.

Thanks to a strong finish we won 11-8

Andy and Robere celebrate, whilst John Roberts, one of our supporters, enjoys the fact that he got 7/2 for us to win!

Bye Bye Baroque.

The losers go home.

COLD MORNINGS

The mornings are bloody cold now, but the dogs still need a good walk. We have been doing the full perimeter of the Village which is about 6km

WE DRAW CHELSEA!

The Coupe de France 2010 kicks off for us next week away to Chelsea!

Not quite that Chelsea, but the town of Pleurtuit at the Chelsea Cafe.

Here is hoping to as much success as last season,

ODD DOG!

Bella has taken to hanging round her food bowl all day. They say dogs get like their owners!

OUT TO LUNCH

Monday we went to Francois house (JB's latest concubine) in Dinan for lunch.

Had a meal of smoked salmon, and fondue and as usual drank quite a bit of wine.

A SHORT DELAY

We are having a few computer problems so the blog might be a few days before updating.

Much to add as well.

Back very soon.

LEARN FRENCH WITH AL AND MARIE

FRENCH:

Tournez à gauche à Calais pour Sangatte. Sautez sur n'importe quel camion de dépassement et quand vous arrivez en Grande-Bretagne dites à Gordon Brown qu'Al et Marie vous ont envoyé.

Veuillez s'aider aux avantages.

ENGLISH:

Turn left at Calais for Sangatte. Jump on any passing lorry and when you get to Britain tell Gordon Brown that Al and Marie sent you.

Please helf yourself to benefits.

MUSIC NIGHT

Thursday night we went to the Cheval Blanc bar in Plancoet where an African band from Burkina Faso were performing.

They were absolutly....AVERAGE!

One African song sounded very much like the next.

Still we all had a good time and as usual the wine and beer flowed.

The Cheval Blance is owned by Irishman,Michael. He with the ginger hair and beard in the middle of the picture.

He moved out the same time as us and is trying to turn the bar into a regular music venue.

We went back to the same bar on Saturday night for a 50's & 60's music quiz.

3rd out of 8 wasn't bad.

GENERAL NEWS AND WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK.

No darts this for a few weeks owing to the Cup of France and we don't enter till the latter stages, plus a couple of teams dropped out the league,giving us a few gaps on Thursdays.

Pool sits at won 2 lost 1 drew 1,but Al is doing well in the individual with 8 wins out of 8.

Results are at www.afebas.fr.

We are Bretagne Region 2 division B.

Tomorrow there is an African band performing at the Cheval Blanc in Plancoet, and a music quiz in English at the same venue on Saturday.

BOAT OUT OF THE WATER

At last the wind abated and Mikhail was able to get the boast out of the water for winter. Unfortunatly the losbster pot was lost due to an error in picking up the marker float before grabbing the pot attachment rope.

No fishing again toMarch. A new hobby is needed.

TOP OF ST CAST

(The French fired this in anger once. Must have been a mistake!)

Mikhail wanted to bring the boat in to storage for winter last week, but the wind made it impossible to get out to the mooring.

Instead we took the view in from the top of the hill overlooking St Cast.

ARMISTICE/REMEMBRANCE DAY

This morning we went to the Armistice Day parade. Met at the Mayor's at 1130 for the walk to the memorial,then a brief service of dedication and thanks to all those that laid down their lives.

A good turnout.

The memorial.

ANOTHER GOOD EVENING

Monday night we went to Mikhail and Natashas for a buffet evening. Lots of good food and wine again. A great evening.

FIRST DARTS DEFEAT

Beaten 12-7 at St Brieuc. A side that were national league last year.

LEARN FRENCH WITH AL AND MARIE.

FRENCH: Il fait assez froid pour geler les testicules outre d'un singe en laiton.

ENGLISH: It's cold enough to freeze the bollocks off a brass monkey.

NOT LONG TO XMAS.

Saw these two at a smallholding near Pluduno.

Make the most of it guy's.

Only 7 weeks till the old sage and onion enema!!!!!

6 DAYS TILL REMEMBRANCE DAY

Next Wednesday at 1130 we meet at the Mayors office before walking to the church for the 2 minutes silence and a quick service of thanksgiving.

This is followed by a glass of wine in the village hall.

Al can't find his medal as last year we were asked to bring them.

A BIT OF A CYCLE RIDE

Wednesday was a pleasant afternoon so Al decided to take the electic bike out and do a tour of the far side of the village.

Seems most of the crops are in now. This picture was taken half way to St Lormel.

HALLOWEEN

You nurture a pumpkin for 6 months. Scoop out the insides for spicey pumpkin soup, and pumpkin fritters.

Then you cut out the shell to make a scary face.

Got to be said...it's the best she has looked for ages!!!!

ST CAST BY NIGHT>

Taken from the port at 7pm.

Just before lobster thermidor as fresh as you like!

ANOTHER FISHING TRIP

First time in a while on Mikhail's new boat. With the unseasonably good weather we set off early afternoon with a few hours fishing before darkness.

Mikhail had put the lobster trap out 2 days earlier, and a result at last. 2 lobsters, one had to be put back as it was too small. But the 2nd was a beauty and was taken aboard.

At 26 euros a kilo, this was a great catch. The trap has been lowered to the bottom of the sea again.

Also 6 mackarel were caught.

A good afternoon was had.

The sea was like a mill pond. Calm and still warm.

27th OCTOBER

Nearly November but yesterday was warm enough to take a picnic down by the lake.

We wanted to take the dogs swimming but the fine weather had bought the fishermen out.

CURRY NIGHT

John and Chrissy go back to the UK every 6 weeks or so. This time they came back with supplies of curry and invited us round for a meal on Monday night.

Bruno & Marylene from the bar came too along with the Mikhail,Natasha, Andy, Sophie & John Beasley.

The French discovered the joy of lime pickle, and almost fainted by the strength.

We had Poppadoms, Jalfreizi, Korma, and rice.

Delicious.

Bruno gets his 16th refil.

THIS WEEKS NEWS

Not a lot happening this week. The lawn has had it's final cut of the year, the swedes, parsnips, sprouts and carrots are doing nicely. And a big pumpkin will be picked next week.

As most the local harvest is in there are more places to let the dogs off.

Another win at darts makes it 2 out of 2 and top of the league.

We are calling this week a holiday!

SUNDAY WALK

A crisp autumn morning today so we took the dogs out. We couldn't let them off the lead as there were hunts going on everywhere.

Surely the French have shot everything by now as we haven't seen any wilflife for weeks.

The panoramic view of the village was taken from La Chappelle Guillaume about 3/4 mile away from home.

NEW STUFF

A 300 ltr waterbutt. Much needed and should reduce our water bill by 20% next year as the garden takes a fair old watering.

And a new washing machine.The thermostat went on the other one.

Digital and all guchy!

The drum is that big you can fit in a medium sized dog!

NEW DARTS SEASON

The new season started last night. Hopes are high for another good league performance and a bit of a cup run.

John was on first and posted a maximum 180 and the whole night was probably our best performance ever.

We beat a very good Henansal side 12-7.

The Coupe de France has been drawn and we are seeded to start in round 4.

Finals day this year is again in Laval on 21-24 May.

If anyone wants to come and support, let us know.

We will be there!

Cocky or what?

THIS COMING WEEK.

The new darts season starts on Thursday. I f we have anything like the season we had last year it will be incredible.

For the national cup we are seeded so don't come in till the later rounds. The league sees us travelling as far as St Brieuc and St Alban.

The pool season starts too, and Al has been told to make cut backs and not play!

NO CHANCE!

YOUR VILLAGE NEEDS YOU!

ESTATE AGENTS - THE DIFFERENCE

ENGLISH ESTATE AGENT:

A very desirable 4 bedroomed farmyard house in a much sought after location, close to all amenities.

In need of a little bit of TLC to bring it back to life.

Features include top floor open air conservatory with an organic theme.

Cold and cold running water which can eventually be trained to actually come out of a tap.

Garden of 4 acres laid to lawn with attractive bedding plants.

Cost 17,500 euros.

FRENCH ESTATE AGENT.

A total wreck miles from anywhere and close to a pig slaughter house.

In need of knocking down and starting again.

Cold water runs throughout the house, but not through the pipes.

Garden of 4 acres overgrown with weeds.

Cost 17,500 euros

AUTUMN IS HERE

Autumn is well and truly here now. It has it's bonuses tho, as we have picked up lots of freebies off the hazelnut, walnut, & chestnut trees.

All the harvesting is happening right now and the giant maize fields are being cut down so at last we can have a good view when walking the dogs.

Bella takes a break from this mornings long walk.

Arthur doesn't get tired when out walking.

PIZZA NIGHT

The mobile pizza wagon is back in the village on Wednesdays!

At last you can get "mullered" at Bruno's and grab a take away.

Tonights delight...Kebab Pizza.

MUM & BOB VISIT

Mum and Bob stayed in a gite at Pleneuf val Andre so we went out for 3 meals last week.

Firstly in the port of Binic (below) and then to the Hotel de la Poste in matignon on market day.

Then on Friday we went to the port at Dinan for lunch by the river.

SMUGGLING

Of all you people who have visited us, most have taken back nice French wine, or Calvados, cheaper ciggies.

But you are all wrong if you think you are saving a few quid on a bit of plonk.

THE FUTURE IS.......

A 3 pack of tinned peas and carrots. Onle 1 euro 45 at Super U.

Paul was that impressed he smuggled some back to blighty.

Paul and Nick came out for a few days. We had lunch at Erquy and went to Cap Frehel on a wet and murky day.

It warmed up a bit by Saturday.