DARTS UPDATE

Summer league is nearly finished.

A right mish mash of teams in our league, from the lowest division to the Champions of France.

A 7-5 win last night against Pleurtuit guarantees us a place in Brittany finals day on 27th September.

However, we lost 11-1 to the Champions of France .

Their team includes the France Number 1, Number 3 , and Number 12.

A pleasure to be hammered by such a great team.

And they were a friendly bunch too.

I am going to dine out for years on my treble bullseye finish last night, that won the game.

OK..No more gloating.

Above sees action from our 11-1 defeat.

We took it well.

FREEDOM

Marie has gone back to Plymouth for 6 days via Roscoff for the marriage of her niece Aileen and future husband Dean.

I dropped her off at Lamballe train station this morning.

So, what have I got planned whilst alone.

Here is the planned agenda.

Thursday: Darts away at Pleurtuit. Bar Open till 1am.

Friday: Mow the lawn if it is dry, and in the evening I have a firework display along with a performance by the massed bands of the Royal Marines. Bar open till it runs out.

Saturday: Gentleman's football afternoon, listening to Bournemouth hump Walsall whilst sampling some of France's finest wines.

Followed by a display by the Brittany over 70's pole dancing association in the back garden.

Bar Open all day.

Sunday: Ist Qualifying round of the French Football club. St Potan take on Pluduno. Bar open all afternoon.

Monday: Detox Day.

Tuesday: Better clear up before she gets home.

I have offered President Gadaffi asylum, here at my home in France.

I mean there is a spare place for a dictator whilst she has gone!

GREAT NEWS

After 2 days and nights with us, and us sending out lots of posters and leaflets, the dogs have been claimed by a resident 5 km away.

A very happy reunion this morning.

We are both glad as Marie is back in the UK tomorrow and I could not have coped with 4 dogs.

LOST DOG RESCUE

So we were sitting in the garden when suddenly we could see two unattended dogs dashing down the lane towards the main road.

We went out to check they were safe and eventually collared them and bought them in to our garden.

The next step was to wait and see if anyone was out looking for them, and after 2 hours it was obvious this was not the case.

So we took them up to the vets in Matignon to check for micro chipping.

The male labrador was chipped but his place of ownership was the rescue centre at St Brieuc.

So next step was to ring the rescue centre and see if we could get a lead (get it?) on the dog.

Turns out he was re-homed a few weeks back and the rescue centre would get back to us ASAP with details of the newly registered owner.

This didn't happen last night so these two got free evening meal, bed & breakfast.

And my word, these buggers can eat.

We took the above picture and delivered it to all local bars in the hope that someone would come forward.

As of yet..Nothing, so a second night looks liable.

They are both very friendly but Bella isn't too keen on the boxer bitch.

Hoping for a positive update very soon.

BACK IN THE CHEFING BIG LEAGUE

10 years since the greatest Chef that ever sailed the seven seas retired.

Having done just one big wedding since, about 5 years ago, I was asked to do an evening wedding function for 150 for the daughter of our friends, Will & Sue, in Plancoet.

Having to use our home kitchen was the first problem, then finding the extra people to help.

Thanks to facebook, Nat Street volunteered to drive from Mons in Belgium to help.

Nat served on HMS Liverpool with me in 93-95.

Andy also helped as he had some catering experience in a Best Western Hotel...A hotel that mysteriously burnt down in a kitchen fire whilst he was employed there.

A menu agreed 4 months ago was used, and the weather was pivotal in the evenings success as everything was cooked al fresco on the BBQ.

As well as the normal BBQ stuff, there was Cajun Chicken, Chilli tortilla wraps, vegetarian choices, many salads, and a huge cheeseboard.

The kitchen was feeling the strain. Luckily we had two fridges to store the food.

And the Chefs team just before the off.

A highly successful night and we have had many compliments back on how good it all was.

Back to being a chef for good?

Not a chance. 48 hours later my knees are still aching.

Well...I am 50!

ANOTHER CASTLE AND A CHATEAU

It's a public holiday in France for Assumtion Day so I

took the bike out via country lanes to the Pleven

area.

Firstly came across the Chateau Vaumadeuc which is a fine country hotel with tea rooms and landscaped gardens.

Then on to the historic castle of Hunaudaye

A glorious afternoon in peaceful surroundings..

...with a small bar just off camera.

Details of this picturesque place can be found here.

http://www.brittanytourism.com/things-to-do/activities/history-heritage/chateau-fort-de-la-hunaudaye

I seem to be doing my bit for Brittany tourism lately.

But, this place is well worth an afternoon.

28th SEED NEXT SEASON

Conformation today that I will be the No 28 seed in France next darts season.

Which means automatic qualification for the individual finals day in 2012.

A TOUR OF THE AREA

A bit of a drizzly start to Sunday, but after a 4 mile dog walk, Al went out on the scooter for a couple of hours to take some pics.

Chateau du Val at Notre Dame du Guildo

Le Plage Ruet.

The fortress ruins of Gilles de Bretagne at Notre Dame du Guildo.

Ruined by the English of course as we came over and gave the French another hiding when obviously they got a bit "lippy" again

The full story of the area can be found here.

http://www.travelfranceonline.com/Brittany/Le_Guildo_Fortress.html

CURRY NIGHT

Wednesday was Ben's last night, so we had a curry night in the garden.

John and Chrissy came down with son Scott and his girlfriend Emma.

The finest pussers chef who ever sailed a boat did home made Naan Breads, and Sheek Kebabs.

Marie did Onion Bhaji's, and John bought down a Chicken Jalfreizi.

Of course all washed down with plenty of wine and some home made cider.

MOULES FRITTES FESTIVAL

Saturday was the annual moules frittes night.

Starting at 8pm all the ex pat regulars made it up there, along with 420 locals for a night of food, music, & dancing.

The evening opened with a local rock group who were absolutely dire, however, still better than Take That!

The bar was choc a bloc till 3am.

And as usual, the disco was on the back of a tractor.

A good night was had by all!

A DAY OFF

We took a well deserved Thursday off after delivering the painted fences to St Cast equestrian club, and decided to go out for pizza and ice cream.

The weather was the worst since Ben arrived.

Still had a decent meal despite the weather.

LEARN FRENCH WITH AL & MARIE.LESSON24

Another handy phrase for those visiting France for a holiday this year!

ENGLISH: Excuse me Sir. You are sitting on my sausage,

FRENCH: Excusez-moi monsieur. Vous vous asseyez sur ma saucisse.

OUR WORK IN THE PAPER

A minor point of interest, but last weeks horse show at St Germain made the paper, as did the obstacle we made from scratch.

Quite proud of this, and we are getting a bonus for the good work.

http://www.ouest-france.fr/actu/actuLocale_-Saint-Germain-resultats-du-concours-de-saut-d-obstacles-_22143-avd-20110729-60985457_actuLocale.Htm