OTHER NEWS.

What else is happening?

The pool league resumes on Friday after the mid-summer break, a bit of practice is needed to get the eye in again!

Wednesday, Al is linesman for the friendly against Ruca..If his knee holds out!

On Tuesday 2nd, Paul and Liz are coming out. Better stock the fridge. Beer for Paul, copious amounts of food for Liz!!

The village bar is shut for 2 weeks from Thursday so the owners can have a vacation. Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE FRENCH FA CUP

It's the magic of the cup and the first serious game of the season.

Any club affiliated to the regional leagues have the right to enter the national Coupe de France.

In England we say the FA cup is the best in the world, and it probably is with some 700 teams taking part in the tournament.

Here in France even the most amateur set up can enter, hence 6,200 clubs set out in early qualifying rounds.

St Potan are potentially 17 rounds from the final, or 12 rounds away from a money spinning tie away at Olympique Marseille.

So Sunday we turn up at St Alban (about 15 miles away) for the Brittany extra qualifying round 1.

85 supporters, mainly away fans turned up for the tie.

The main stand at St Alban..er..the only stand at St Alban.

Early 1st half action as St Potan in red trail to an early goal.

The action is fast and furious. The game is crap and the crowd are furious.

Half time and St Potan lead 2-1. All supporters are force fed alcohol to stay for the 2nd half. An idea that needs to be adopted by AFC Bournemouth.

Ishmail blasts over from 2 yards. Kevin Bond wants him on loan for the rest of the season. The St Potan manager wants him to go to Madame Guillotine.

Notice the keeper has put both hands up in a normal position of surrender!

Jerome secures a 4-2 victory with 2 minutes to go.

We will all be glued to the radio at 1-30 for the 2nd round draw.

Number 22...St Potan, will play?????

Only 11 games away from that Marseille tie. We are already making hotel arrangements.

LEARN FRENCH WITH AL & MARIE

Deux vodka pisse de bisons sil vous plait, et le rend rapide.

=

Two bison piss vodkas please and make it snappy!

BISON GRASS VODKA

You are not going to believe this. After everyone cut off their ears with the absinthe drink, Mikhail produces this vodka. It's pure grain but with grass in it. Not too bad I hear you say....NO! The flavour is infused by the grass being freshly pissed on by a Bison. This is then quickly picked and put into the Vodka.

Google BISON GRASS VODKA if you don't believe me!

Who first thought of that? And can it be done with dogs wee?

We have an everlasting supply of that!

ABSINTHE.

Wasn't it Boney M that sang about those crazy Russians?

Oleg takes charge of the Absinthe drinking competition (that's the stuff that sent Van Gogh so mad that he cut his own ear off!)

You burn brown sugar on a spoon over the absinthe till it melts and ignites the liquid below.

Only 60% proof!

Still, I don't think it did me any harm..Mind you..I can't hear a f***ing thing this morning!

JD AND THE DOGS

For all those that like "soft pictures", this is for you.

Our Russian friends Natalie & Mikhail have just got a chocolate labrador puppy called JD (short for Jack Daniels)

When we took Kip and Bella to the BBQ, they played for about an hour before being totally shagged out and then they crashed out together.

KIP & BELLA

They are now walking far enough to go to the stream where we took photo's of Gruff earlier in the summer.

Both were not too sure of the running water.

Don't forget you can see the pictures closer up by clicking on them!

APERO RUN

Lilli's is in Landabia. The landlady is the "All France Women's Shot Putt champion*

Not really, but you would not want to get thrown out by her!

The "Little Bistro" in Pleven.

A decent pub by the church, but very few customers.

A recent summer habit is for us to go to a couple of pubs in nearby villages for a swift beer before dinner.

MINGERS!!!!!

These two were considered to be so ugly that they were forced to hide their faces under a very large umbrella until the Gard family had finished eating!

BROTHER AND FAMILY VISIT

It's been a while since I saw my brother. 10 years we estimated, but this Sunday his family arrived and a party was had by all. Even the weather didn't put a dampner on things as there was a lot to catch up on.

We didn't have to do much, just a trip for lunch in St Cast and a visit to the local on Tuesday night.

We had a fabulous time and can't wait till they visit again. Going to have to re-stock the rose!!!!

Sam and Ellie giving the pups a runaround.

Nikki, Marie, & Lesley chillin'

Antony and Alan catch up. As you can see, Al has still not grown up!

Two girls together. Bella takes a nap whilst Ellie provides the warm blanket.

MOULES FRITTES.

Saturday 9th was the annual moules festival at the lake. Over 400 locals turned up to eat their way through 325kg of mussels, Absolutly delicious, and once again washed down with vin rouge.

Then all of a sudden a mobile disco turns up on the back of a tractor, a good night but couldn't stay late as we have visitors coming in the morning.

RETIREMENT PARTY

The holiday home owners from nextdoor are here for their August break and we were quite surprised to be invited to his birthday and retirement do.

They set up the courtyard with tables and chairs and about 40 people had a great evening of food and wine.

FRUIT AND VEG.

Despite starting a bit late for any serious planting we have had a bumper crop of courgettes. Nearly ready are red onions, green beans, broad beans, tomatoes, and a few spuds.

There is a large crop of apples to harvest so plastic bottles are being saved for making juice (lovely with vodka by all accounts), and a medium crop of golden plums.

Next Saturday night is the Moules Frittes festival at the lake. Can't wait for that one as it goes on most the night and Marie is staying in with the dogs and her friend Lesley who arrives on Thursday. It coincides with the start of the football season back home but Al has been roped in for helping out.

OUTSIDE DRAINAGE.

Work is now complete on the drainage and retaining wall, No more damp at the back of the house.

The plan now is to build a rock garden on the other side of the wall and cover the brickwork with a ton of flowers. It will look good next year.

Also the plumber turned up to start work. The water heater that was outside has now been disconnected and a new one put in under the stairs.

I would have taken a picture of the old boiler, but she was out shopping!!!!!

PUPPY FREEDOM

Pictures of Kip & Bella being allowed off the lead for the very first time. About 1km away is a large safe field off the lane. Ideal for giving them their first taste of freedom. They shot off chasing eachother and romping in the long grass. And best of all, they return when called.

The second picture is blurred, even with £350 worth of digital camera. They really were going that fast.

Barbara Woodhouse...You're fired!

A LITTLE BIT OF ENGLAND COMES TO FRANCE.

When asked if there is anything we miss about England, the answers is generally some of the food stuff. Branston Pickle, Marmite, Colemans Mustard and the like.

Also Fish and Chips.

Luckily the greatest pussers chef who ever sailed the seven seas was on hand earlier in the week to produce the finest battered cod known to man, and served with lemon wedge and tartare sauce.

DELICIOUS!