LOCKDOWN - 65 DAYS AND COUNTING.

Nearly 10 weeks of covid lockdown.

To be honest, to us, apart from not

going out for a beer or meals, not

much has really changed.

Sometimes during the week, we

only see the postman in normal times.

Not going to the shop every day is

also a bit of a bonus as we have saved

quite a few euros with sensible shopping.

Going to the supermarket just twice a week 

and doing it quick has proven to be easy.

Always have a good stock of beer and wine

is also essential.

Plus we have been making lots of stuff we

normally buy in.

Bread being the main thing.

Above, we made meatballs for the freezer,

so all in all, good times.

With less people around and cars on the road,

nature has got braver.

Seeing all sorts of birds in the garden, and

the bees have been churning out

great pollution free honey.

Not quite up to cornish standard but these are corned beef pasties to see us through a couple of days

KNEE TROUBLE AGAIN

Been a while since I posted.

Had 3 weeks of crap with the old knee problems.

Serious pain this time.

At last I have had blood tests and an X-Ray, and

the upshot is I will get a specialists appointment

very soon.

However, coronavirus will put that visit back, and rightly so.

RNA LUNCH

As usual, I organise the RNA January lunch

in the village.

33 turned up this year, which is about normal.

And a damn fine lunch it was too.

THAT WENT QUICK

A wet and mild January.

A month where we do very little, and that has

been the case.

Arthur continues to do well. 14 in April, but after

his treatment, he has been in fine form.

XMAS LUNCH

The Friends of St Potan Xmas lunch was held

in the village on the 21st December.

20 locals plus our Xmas guests had a 3 course 

lunch with wine in what was a great event.

MUCH BETTER

A few weeks after we thought we were going

to lose him, Arthur has made an outstanding recovery.

With steroid medication, and a special diet

to help his kidney's, he is almost

as good as new.

CENOTAPH

Sunday 10th November, I did my first

ever Cenotaph parade in London.

I was part of the HMS Ark Royal Association

platoon of 27.

Met some old faces.

Must admit there was a lot of standing around

in the cold.

0930 at Horse Guards, we didn't march till

gone 1130.

I made it on the I Player.

That's me bottom left.

ARTHUR UNWELL

Poor old Arth has been very poorly.

Spent 4 nights in the vets after his back

legs kept giving way.

Obviously age, at 13 1/2 is a factor, but

he had anaemia as well.

The vets did plenty of tests including

for a tick based disease called Leptosorosis.

Really thought his time was up.

But slowly after being allowed home, and on a course

of anti inflamatories, he is back to 90% of

his old self.

JOCK WEEKEND

First weekend in September. A full house.

Mac, Kenny 1, Kenny 2, Netty,

Caroline, & Jaqi arrived, for what 

was a booze fuelled weekend party.

The first four named were Navy chefs, 

whose paths I have crossed over the years.

Day out in St Cast, also a Sunday lunch in the

village. A really cracking weekend.

MOULES FRITTES

First Saturday in August, always the biggest

village party around.

Moules frites is our favourite night.

When we first came here 11 years ago,

around 200 would turn up.

Now it is closer to 550.

The day before, I heard old Ark Royal

shipmate Richard Knight and his family

were staying in St Malo.

Great to meet up after 30 years.

They joined the party and stayed the night.

BUSY MONTH

August is always a busy month for visitors.

Marie's sister, Liz, daughter Aileen, husband Dean,

a young Poppy came for a week after a short

ferry delay because of the weather.

A few nice trips out.

Dinan market is always popular on a Thursday.

We also had a few meals out, and of course

a visit to the bar.

Royal Marine dean is training Poppy to carry

his kit around.

1st TIMERS

Had a visit for a couple of days from Paul and Deanie.

I served with Paul on HMS Southampton, taking

it from build, right the way through to going

down the Falklands in 1982.

A couple of meals out, beer and wine.

What was not to like.?

WARMEST EVER DAY IN FRANCE

, 42.7

11 years and 3 months in France, and this

is the hottest ever day.

34C in the shade, and 42.7C

in the direct sun.

That's 108F in old money.

The dogs are taking ice with

their drinks.

RESPONSIBLE OWNERS

As per the agreement when adopting Misty,

we had to get her sterilised.

We would have done anyway.

The vets in Plancoet took her in at 0830,

and she was home by 1615.

She is crying a bit, but is a tough cookie,

and after a few days of calm, she 

will soon be back to duffing up Arthur.

RNA CURRY EVENT

Every year for he past 7 years, we have held

a curry lunch at ours for the 

Royal Navy Association.

34 this year, which was more manageable

this time, after we had 45 last time.

Always a good fundraiser to help

pay for the branch to keep ticking over.

VISITORS No 2.

Chrissy and Eamonn came out for a week.

A pretty chilled week.

A couple of meals out, at St Jacut,

and St Cast le Guildo.

Sadly the weather wasn't at it's best most

the time.

1st VISITORS 2019

First of many visitors this summer have

been and gone.

A few meals out and just a bit of wine

with Kaz and Hills.

POTS OF GOLD

Hive 2 was laden with honey.

After a couple of hours getting it out,

a good haul of 11kg.

It sold out in an hour.

With the surprisingly warm weather in February, and

a decent March, the blossom is everywhere,

and the hives are full.

We are going to extract a considerable amount

of honey in the next few days.