FRENCH BEACH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The all France beach volleyball championships were held in St cast this weekend.

5,500 players turned up to play a knockout tournament.

Sadly, the tides were the highest for 3 years, so the competition has dragged on untill Monday.

I have posted pictures of the mens last 16 round.

Sadly the ladies games were not on when I turned up!

LEARN FRENCH WITH ALAN AND MARIE - PART21

Another great conversation starter.

FRENCH: Mon Dieu, il fait chaud. Je suis la transpiration comme Gary Glitter à l'aide de son ordinateur.

ENGLISH: My god it is hot. I am sweating like Gary Glitter using his computer.

GARDEN CROP

A 3 week spell of scorching weather along with lots of watering has egged this summers crop on in a big way.

The basil, dill, parsley and chilli crop are magnificent.

On the main patch, the spuds are fantastic along with the peas, spinach and broad beans.

Coming soon, beetroot, courgettes, sweetcorn, onions, sprouts, along with Turban Pumpkins (Google it) which if we grew in England we would be arrested for being racist. 

A SWARM OF BEES

So this hive that had been borrowed from Bill and Sharon has been sitting in the garden for 4 months without a sniff of a bee for miles around.

Then.last Sunday whilst walking the dogs, Arthur was barking beneath a nearby tree, and there was a swarm of bees.

Next thing I know is Sunday afternoon when this large swarm move in and start cleaning the hive out.

Now, I know nothing about bee keeping, but advice says feed them with a strong sugar syrup solution for a week or so. 

So that is where we are at now.

Much activity, they seem very friendly and we are looking forward to the Gard manoir organic Honey.

£20 a pot from retail outlets.

ROYAL NAVY ASSOCIATION BBQ

Nearly 30 of us turned up for the July function on Saturday at

Borseul, about 6 miles from us.

Still the weather is scorching, so it made for a pleasant afternoon

MARIE'S FAMILY ARRIVE

Eric, Anne and sister Liz came out for a week and were probably the luckiest guests we have ever had with the weather.

Non stop sunshine and temperatures in the high 80's meant that it was all pretty tiring to do anything.

We did manage to get down to the port of St Cast and enjoyed a great meal overlooking the marina.

BASTILLE DAY

Sunday was Bastille Day and the annual pig roast up at the village lake.

Always a fantastic afternoon with plenty of succlent pork to eat and wine to drink.

There were more than the picture below, honest! We just got their early to get a table with shade in the soaring heat.

TOUR DE FRANCE COMES TO ST MALO

The Tour arrived Tuesday afternoon so we went out with Bill and Sharon to view the spectacle.

Parked in Dinard to get the boat over to St Malo, a pretty impressive ship was in for the event.

The boat was the Wind Surf and having looked it up on the internet since, the £3000 a week price range is just out of budget.

As usual there is a big parade that comes through a while before the cyclists.

Nice of Lance Armstrong to turn up, but it looks like he hasn't kicked the drugs as of yet!

We were right by the presentation podium and about 50 meters from the finishing line.

To be honest it was hot, people were jostling for position and we didn't have the best view.

Maybe next time we will find somewhere about 5 miles from the finish and at least we would at least get some decent photos.

Still, you do get wrapped up in the excitement and it was nice to smell the sweaty armpits of people of many nations!

Took a little while to get back to the boat for the return journey as St malo is pretty narrow in the citadel.

And that was it. Pity Cavendish didn't win, but at least Froome the brit has done the stuff so far.

AT LAST. SUMMER

25 F by 10 am here this morning.

So best to get the dogs out before it is too hot.

Later we are at the Ham Roast at the local lake which is alway a good bash.

OUCH. F**@. DAMN.

I headed outside to prepare the gear for work this morning and slipped on the wet slating that adorns our driveway.

Slipped that well that my big toe crashed into a parasol stand and went crack!

Bloody painful, but at least the Wife came up with those sympathetic words.....

" What the **** are you moaning about. Keep the noise down"

FIRST SUMMER PRODUCE

Despite the lack of sunshine, the first of the summer crops are in.

Well, after the mountain of Strawberries.

The peas this year are big and sweet, and a good crop is expected. 

RESTAURANT ROAD TEST

One of the great things about being a member of the France Nord RNA Committee is that we go out and search for places for members to eat at out monthly gatherings.

L'Eden Brug at Miniac-Morvan is a bit of a gem, so after 10 of us went yesterday we have decided to hold the 10th anniversary event there.

A cracking place with great food, spacious, and lovely grounds seems to make it the ideal setting for this special event..

If ever you are in the Dol area, here is the website.

Please go. Lunch from around 20 euros and excellent.

Website below.

http://eden-brug.com/en-index.html

BBQ AT LAST

Mikhail and Natasha held a BBQ on Sunday evening.

The weather just about held off for the evening and we and some fine food and of course lots to drink.

Bill managed to get the BBQ going in a sort of "redneck" way

And a good mixture of English/French and a token belgian enjoyed great hospitality.