PET RESCUE.

When it has in the high 70's for two weeks, it gets a bit too hot for hairy dogs, so Arthur prefers his early morning walk, followed by an afternoon of nothing!

Then yesterday as I was listening to a very lucky Bournemouth beat Bristol Rovers, Bella decided to chase this poor thing around the garden as it had fallen out of it's nest from the big fir tree.

I rescued the baby thrush from being a snack.

It was placed on the lawn and then managed to find it's wings and head off.

EXTREMELY HOT

An extraordinary spell of hot weather for April. 2 weeks of no rain and temperatures touching 80F.

That means the dogs have to be walked quite early whilst it is still cool.

There seems to be a lot of hares about this year and both dogs are avid chasers of anything that moves!

EXCELLENT DARTS SEASON

A good finish to the league darts season with St Potan beating Bobital 12-7 and confirming we have finished in 5th position in National League 3.

Won 9 lost 9 was the record for the season.

A win against Dinan in the French Cup next Thursday will take us to the final 32 in all France, and another visit to Laval for the Grand Finale.

ALMOST ALL PLANTED

That is just about everything planted.

Potatoes, Garlic, Courgettes, Pumpkins, Parsnips, Broad Beans, Green Beans, Peas,

Lettuce, Tomatoes, Sweetcorn.

I've forgotten the rest.

Will just have to see what else comes up.

BUILDING WORK.

The offer came along to earn a few euros doing a bit of building work.

Especially with my forthcoming visit to England.

A retired English couple in Pluduno wanted some work doing, so Andy took on willing labourers Olivier and myself.

If you see the connection..It's half the darts team.

Earning a bit for our trip to finals day in Laval in June.

First the drainage in the driveway was sorted, then we rendered the walls.

The garden was flattened then covered with gravel.

The next job is to render the chimney and paint some other walls.

Job will be done in a week, even with Laurel and Hardy on the case.

EARLY MONDAY WALK

One of those days when we woke up with a bit of energy, so at 0715 we took the dogs for a long walk.

Saw a hare and not a lot else.

Back home for 0830 and black pudding on toast.

The pictures are a bit blurry because both our dogs could outstrip a greyhound over 400 meters.

A RARE VISITOR

We don't remember seeing one of these in the garden before.

After a bit of research it seems that it is a quite rare owl butterfly.

SCORCHIO!

It was Alison's last day, and she kindly took us out for lunch at the port in St Cast

The weather was outstanding, and we went up to Point A La Garde for a wonder round.

Cracking views as usual.

NEWSFLASH - BOMBER DRINKS WATER

Now I know Bomber was driving the lads to St Malo the very next morning, but drinking water with a dash of cinnamon is to say the least slightly effeminate.

What he didn't know, and probably still hasn't a clue is that I ditched his cinnamon and replaced it with 5 spice and hot chilli powder.

It's got to be said, those lemons in the glass looked a bit dodgy too!

NO OLD FARTS

Reference my posting of 22nd March,

I was going to put the grumpy old git sign outside our house.

So we are just about to set off for the party when this appeared at the end of the road.

Totally ingenious.

Thanks Nick.

THE BIRTHDAY BASH

So the big birthday bash was about to happen.

We were joined on Friday by my brother and dangerous Nikki, along with Shirley Crabtree and Kaz.

I had not seen Shirley in 16 years, but we certainly made up for in that evening.

5am was bedtime.

The weather was pretty good too.

A few sore heads next morning.

Then the Magnificent 7 arrived.

Bomber, Nick, Doug, Paul, Tim, Tony, & Jock.

Bombers car is just so English.

And Bomber is the best dressed man in France.

Jock Rennie.

He's quite harmless really, but he does have impressive man boobsw

Early on at the bar.

French friends and neighbours joined in.

A few happy faces.

The buffet is open.