PLANTING OUT AND BEES.

Planting out has taken place slightly later this year, owing to a cold early April. We hope the last frost has gone, but the brittany weather has a habit of bighting you on the arse this time of year.

One minute relaxing with a glass of vino in the garden, the next, log fire blazing and dead plants.

The Wignall's have kindly lent us a bee hive, so we are hoping to catch a swarm and have the first Gard House Honey.

As we do every year, the growing patch has been extended, and this year we are hoping for good crops of Sweetcorn, Potatoes, Courgettes, Onions, Beetroot, Parsnips, Spring Onions, Spinach, Carrots, Celery, Leeks, and many herbs to name a few.

On the otherside of the garden we now have more fruit plants. Raspberries & Gooseberries are having their first year, and hopefully the pear trees will produce this year.

Along with bountiful apples and plums, we are hoping for a good year. 

WE LIKE CHICKENS

We are really enjoying looking after our friends chickens. Regular 3 eggs a day, and apart from being "eggbound", it's great fun.

Marie knocked up an extra large chicken run inside 2 days, so after these birds are returned to their owners, we are going to get our own little brood and continue the fun.

The weather has picked up too. Nice and warm but still a bit windy.

Labour day tomorrow and hence a bank holiday, so we are going down to the port in St Cast for a spot of lunch. 

CHICKEN SITTING.

Unlike last time, the chickens have come to us.

We are looking after the 2 chickens, 1 cock (no sniggering at the back!), a bantam and a bantam chick, for 3 weeks whilst the owners are back in the UK.

Have just opened the coop up as required at 0730 and the cock is giving it large in his run, so much so that Marie has got up at this hour for the first time in the 5 years we have lived here.

HELP PEOPLE

I bought these seeds a while back. They are called Turban Pumpkin. What I want to know is, is it safe to plant these in the garden without the PC brigade crying out? Not that we get much of that in France.  But the last thing I need is Jihad declared on our garden or a fatwa on the dogs!

AFC BOURNEMOUTH GOING UP

Unless AFC Bournemouth lose 7-0 next week which will not happen, we are promoted.

Here I am celebrating with Carlos Tevez!

TEMPORARY FARMERS

Friends Bill and Sue had to go back to the UK, so we were asked to look after the small farm for 3 nights.

Goats, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys, Quails, and Chickens had to be fed and watered and put to bed at night.

Always a worry when putting the birds o bed is the "Fox Factor" 

Apart from a bit of late night aggro from the geese who seemed determined to stay out all night, all animals survived.

YACHT CLUB

Back to sea again!

Claude, who is a friend of Bill's wanted his yacht moving from the main port at St Malo to La Richardais some 5 miles away. 

A decent size boat that has all the facilites to make decent journeys.

A trip over to Jersey is a possibilty if we ever have a summer!

Captain William Wignall, not ex RN but highly decorated in diving salvage.

Moving out of St Malo on a cold and windy afternoon.

Admiral of the Fleet Gard was after a short time at the wheel was relegated back to the galley on tea making duty.

A couple of locks have to be negotiated before clearing the main port area.

The boat was delivered to it's new mouring safely.

60th BIRTHDAY PARTY

Saturday was the 60th birthday of friend Claudine.

About 70 people went to the Salle de fete in Pleven for a meal and an evening of entertainment.

An excellent cold buffet and as much wine as you could

suffer was laid on. 

As you do for all single ladies of that age, and an audience that included several people in their 80's, a stripper was laid on to do the "Full Monty"

Then he came round and had his photo taken with the desperate women in the audience.

Claudine was well oiled by the end of the night to do her own party piece.

And to finish with, a very nice birthday cake of chocolate and caramel mosse.

TIME TO MOVE ON

After much thought we have decided to move on and head to Spain.

We have put a deposit on A Cave House...below.

They are spacious inside and great value.

All built into a mountain side, they are warm and cosy.

We are confident we can learn Spanish as quick as we learnt French.

The bedroom clinched it!