GET YOUR GHOULIES OUT.

Halloween!

Tonight on our gate post is this home grown pumpkin, carved out by Marie.

If any French kids come trick or treating, I have covered some boiled sprouts in chocolate laxative.

TRICK!

All the insides have made a lovely Sri Lankan Curried Pumpkin and Coconut Soup.

A MYSTERY SOLVED

It's not the greatest picture, but this just might be the reason why no birds have used the nest box for the last 2 years!

END OF SUMMERTIME

The clocks went back this morning.

Sadly the dogs don't understand Zulu time, so we were woken early.

For the first day of winter, it was lovely and warm, and avoiding the local hunt, we found somewhere safe to release the hounds.

HARRY RAMSDEN"S

We haven't had good old fish 'n' chips in ages, and with cod on offer at the supermarket, Saturday night seemed like a good idea to have a taste of home.

Side order of curry sauce, loads of tartare sauce, bread and butter.

Magnificent!

TRAFALGAR LUNCH

It was only 2 weeks ago that Al met Bill and Sharon Wignall from nearby Pleboule.

The conversation got round to "what did you do before you came to France"

And on discovering that we were both ex navy, Bill mentioned the Trafalgar Day Dinner at Le Relais du Mont with the Royal Navy Association.

We duly signed up and paid a membership fee, not really sure of what it was all about.

Bill kindly drove to the Brit Hotel (Don't be fooled by the name. It is not anything to do with the UK) but just a handy meeting point for members to gather.

The guest of honour was Admiral Sir Brian Brown, who gave a great speech after what was an excellent meal.

We were welcomed by all, and both agree, it was an outstanding day.

It was good to crack a few "dits" with ex serving..and non serving members.

The port flowed after the meal in true Naval style, and as with all good functions

there was a raffle and an auction to raise funds.

Marie won an auction for a decommissioning bottle of port from the Royal Yacht.

When I say won..I mean 75 euros worth.

Still, it goes with my Naval collection...which funnily enough is all alcohol, like Pussers Rum, HMS Victory port..and the like.

So, A big thank you to Brittany Nord RNA.

We are looking forward to the next lunch, and also the odd beer out with fellow members!

UFO?

There it was larger than life.

Hovering above the house with an eerie droning noise just after midnight.

It sat above the village for about 3 minutes before zooming off in a westerly direction at lightening speed.

Obviously looking for signs of intelligent life in the area.

No humans have been reported missing, but 2 goats have been reported stolen from a nearby field.

The aliens are wondering why the intelligent life in France are eating hay and rutting every half an hour!

NATURES FREEBIES

Always plenty of freebies to be had in the Brittany countryside.

Walnuts and Hazelnuts are everywhere, and hopefully next month, a few sloe berries for making sloe gin.

SHED BUILDING

Have spent a couple of days this week putting up a shed for an elderly lady in Matignon.

The instructions were as complicated as normal, and despite having 120 screws and nails left over, I am sure it will stay up!

LEARN FRENCH WITH AL AND MARIE.

In French: Si la victoire de la France la coupe du monde de rugby, je mangera mon béret, et épouse ma soeur.

In English: If France win the rugby world cup, I will eat my beret, and marry my sister.

A SUNDAY WALK.

The exceptional October weather has made it a great start to the month. Although down to about 48F degrees at night, Sunday hit an amazing 32 by mid afternoon.

Took the dogs out in the morning and on the horizon were two hot air ballons. (You will have to double click the picture to see it's true)

The Montgolfier brothers live on in this part of France.

Then the walk took an even stranger turn.

The hunt season started last week, and as we went to our normal "safe field" for the dogs, a van was parked nearby with a Jack Russell in it.

As we approached the van, the dog obviously started barking, but not only that, he had been trained to beep the horn as well.

Anyway, a fine Sunday was finished off with an afternoon BBQ, after buying a dozen ridiculously cheap oysters fresh from the sea at St Cast

This picture was taken after a few had been eaten.

SUMMER POOL FINAL

The all Brittany Pool final was held in Languenon and we had qualified by coming second in our group.

But that was as good as it got, we were knocked out in the group stage losing 6-0, 6-5, and winning one match 6-3.

I was quite awful and only one a single match out of 9.

Strange and i had only lost 2 in 14 games during the season.

Ah well !

Who cares? Pool is for girls.

Darts is the man's game!

BUILDING AGAIN

Nico, the owner of the Auberge du Manoir restaurant in St Potan wanted someone to lay a patio foundation at his home in St Meloir des Ormes.

So Andy and myself spent a week over there digging out the foundations and laying the base.

It was hard work, and we were a bit behind time owing to the fact that the concrete had to be cancelled twice because of the weather.

Still, the job was done, and done very well if I say so myself.