WATERMELON.

Here is a first for us. Watermelons in the garden. We have two growing and they are getting bigger almost in front of our eyes.

So today we are announcing "Watermelon Watch".

A new fruit based picture every other day to keep a check on how big they are getting.

SUMMER DARTS LEAGUE

Summer darts league is all very amicable, but to reduce travelling they stick you in a league with no grading, you just play your near neighbours.

It's not much fun going to play teams who really aren't very good.

Plelan Le Petit were dispatched 9-3.

A COOKERY LESSON FOR YOU ALL - PICCALILLI.

Right Boys and Girls.

Today I have made our first 2010 batch of Piccalilli.

This is much requested throughout the village and we have several people to make this famous pickle for.

Including Nico, who runs the restaurant in the village.

Here is your step by step guide to making the perfect Piccalilli.

First chop up your ingredients.

Home grown courgettes, gherkins, & green beans, along with cauliflower and button onions from the market.

Ex Navy chefs who read this blog, please note the fine knife work.

Do not forget the glass of white wine for refreshment purposes (Pictured)

After chopping 3 kg of the vegetables, salt liberally, and leave to rest for 2 hours.

Don't forget to have some more wine. (Pictured)

Whilst drinking more wine, prepare the other ingredients.

Colemans English Mustard Powder. (Thanks, Chrissy Ireland, now Chrissy Smith, & Eammon for bring all that out.)

White wine vinegar, cider vinegar, turmeric, & cane sugar, salt and pepper.

Put all the vinegar and spices into a big pot (stolen from JSU Northwood), and gently bring to the boil.

Drink more wine.

Add your fine macedoine of vegetables to the slowly boiling vinegar mixture.

Simmer for 2 minutes then thicken with cornflour.

Warm your jars in an oven at 120 degrees for 30 mins, then spoon your mixture into the hot jars and immediately cover with greaseproof paper as shown.

As we made so much, the last 5 jars we added madras curry paste for Currylilli!

The taste is fantastic.

Let stand for 30 mins then slap the lids on.

12 jars of normal and 5 jars of currylilli.

Leave to mature in a dark place for 6 weeks, and it's ready.

Keeps up to 2 years.

Delicious with ham, pork, cheeses, and small children!

EARLY MORNING AGAIN

We decided to get up really early this Sunday to go down to the lake as there was a fishing competition down at the lake starting at 8am.

About 40 fisherman were there as 100kg of trout were being released.

We went down with the dogs, despite the light drizzle, but it seems we missed the trout being released.

Thinking about it, they were probably released yesterday evening.

As we left the lake about 8-45am, the BBQ was being set up and the bar was about to open.

Don't you just love France?

JEN & GRAHAM'S BBQ

We went to our friends BBQ in the main part of the village last Monday. People are very clever in having BBQ's on a Monday as it is the day the pub is shut and that way Bruno & Marylene could make it.

Always useful to invite the local pub proprietor's to your functions.

Along with a few French that we hadn't met before, it was a very nice evening. Good food and wine, and conversation.

Al's French is coming on leaps and bounds.

Marie can still order a glass of wine!

SUMMER PRODUCE

A picture of some of our crop this year. The freezer is already full with peas, broad beans, & courgettes.

Broccoli was new this year and the red onions have grown well.

The winter crop of parsnips, & brussel sprouts have taken well, and the leeks will go in next week.

COUNTRY SHOW.

Sunday was St Potan's 6th annual Country Sports and Dog Show

Around 250 people turned up for the meal and about 400 in all for a day based around all things country.

We went up with the dogs at 1130 and the bar was open!!!!

Lunch consisted of Hors D'oeurve, Turkey cooked on the spit over a wood fire, Ice Cream, and a glass of vino, all for 12 euros.

After lunch the dog show started with a parade of pack hunting hounds. Not as many as last year but still very enjoyable.

As usual a selection of hunt puppies were on sale.

A warm afternoon made the dogs a bit sleepy.

Then came the main event !

The "Open" Dog Show Section.

Bella was brilliantly behaved and sat well whilst Al was interviewed about Border Collies. Unfortunately the host spoke so fast he barely understood a word.

He still managed to say that Collie's are loyal, hard working, & intelligent.

Total lies in Bella's case.

Then it was Arthur's turn in the ring, and he was well behaved too.

The host described him as a "Belgian Alsation" which we know to be wrong.

Arthur is in fact half Alsation and half Huskey..

Or Alkey as we like to call him.

Our friends Jen & Graham are over staying in their house in the village. Sam the labrador put on a great show for them as well.

So there we were, in the final 15. (OK, only 15 entered but it sounds good)

The judges deliberated and got it down to a final 10. Funnily enough all us English people with dogs were the 4 of the 5 eliminated.

RACISTS !

All in all another great day, good food, good wine, good company.

Arthur and Bella took their dog show debut in their stride and are not to upset at being considered ugly by the ignorant French judges.

Al was going to let Arthur loose at the end after sticking a picture of a cat on the judges arse.

Don't forget you can double click any picture to enlarge!

POLICE DOG ARTHUR

The local farmer has cut the field at the end of the hamlet.

Just for a laugh we put the football on top of one and fearless Arthur was scrambling up the top to retrieve it.

GARDEN GROWS

Things are growing very well this summer. We have already got a freezer full of peas and broad beans. Still growing are the red onions, carrots, spring onions, lettuce, beetroot, sprouts, water melons, turnips and spuds.

Plus the trees are full of apples and plums, and the hazelnut tree is flowering nicely.

MARKET DAY NOT MEERKAT DAY

The holiday season is in full swing, so that means that the Wednesday market at Matignon is full to the brim.

ST CAST PORT IS FULL

The official French summer holiday season last Friday and last's till the first Saturday in September.

Al and Mikhail went out in the boat fishing on Sunday and the port was full of boats.

The weather was damn good too!

Captain Mikhail brings the boat alongside.

Turned out to be a bad day for fishing tho as there was a dead tide.

Just a few sand eels were caught.

PIGS EARS!

Nothing like the processed rubbish from the UK, fresh pigs ears are available in the local supermarket.

Roast in a hot oven for 30 minutes and allow to cool.

Arthur thought they were the "Dogs B's"

Two happy and full dogs take a rest after scoffing this fine French delicacy down.

HOW TO PASS THE DAY WHEN RETIRED.

After mowing the plantation, there is nothing like a game of golf.18 holes of nearest the bucket.

VERY EARLY MORNING

We had been thinking about it for ages.

Getting up early to take the dogs out and admire the sunrise.

So today we actually got round to it.

Up at 0540 and out by 6am.

We took some pretty good early morning pictures, but spotted no wildlife.

I think the French have ate it all!

The dogs were a bit shocked to get out so early, so best they don't think this is happening every morning!