Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Final Blog
We have just returned from our trip to the Midi Pyrenees and what a fantastic few days we have had, although it did not start with the most prodigious beginning. The plan was that we would hire a car and leave our little Ami 8 at the hire car park, so far so good. In order to leave the Ami 8 I had to drive our car following Terry in the hire car to the car park, I followed Terry quite nicely and thought to myself “I can’t believe we have got a Mercedes, this will be a very comfortable drive”. So I followed the silver Mercedes around a few roads, then suddenly I hear a car horn next to me and there was Terry in a silver Ford fiesta trying to catch my attention .... yes, I was following the wrong car, poor Terry had to jump a few red lights to catch me up, I am still wondering how far I was going to follow the Mercedes before realising my mistake, I thought it was hilarious, Terry didn’t!!!!
The rest of the journey was nowhere near as exciting, thank goodness. If you are interested we drove from Agen to Auch to Tarbes and through Lourdes to Cauteret, the journey was about 3 ½ hrs including short stops. Cauteret is a small skiing resort nestled in amongst the mountains, the village is stunnily beautiful at this time of year with the trees in their full regalia of autumn colours, I am not sure if it is because I haven’t actually experienced a ‘proper’ autumn for 20 years that I was so blown away by the scenery or what but I can’t ever remember seeing nature quite at its best like this. But, little did I know there was more mind blowing scenery. Cauteret being a skiing resort was pretty quiet at this time of year and the population explodes from December onwards, although its seems as though it is very busy in the Summer months with various activities, white water rafting, trekking, mountain climbing, canoeing etc. The next day we went to the Port de Espange which is a National Park in the mountains and we trekked for an hour to a beautiful lake, it was quite a difficult trek (reminded us of the Inca Trail) with all the rocks and steps to climb, we walked through some patches of snow but once we got higher the sun was shining, not that that made it any warmer, it was bloody freezing, we were glad of the layers including scarves, hats and gloves!!!! The photos will show some of the amazing waterfalls and scenery that we experienced. I must say there is no way that a mere photograph can capture the pure beauty of the area however good the photograph is.
How privileged we feel being able to go on such a short trip to experience a completely different part of France and we are eager to return in the Summer and perhaps do some white water rafting, there is certainly plenty of fast moving rivers.
The weather has been extremely mild in France, although some mornings we have some frost by about 10am it has generally gone with beautiful blue skies and bright sun, I have got to say I love this time of year in France the countryside is amazing and as I said earlier, in Australia we do not have defined change of seasons and just looking outside at the beautiful oranges, yellows and reds it gladdens the ole heart. However, I am glad I have actually experienced this time of year once because I don’t think I would do it again, the sun in Australia is calling and our blood is too thin for the cold mornings and cold evenings!!!!
Back to France, we are due for our final French lesson tomorrow, I am going on my own as the last lesson upset Terry as most of it went over his head, probably because he hasn’t had as much exposure to French lessons as I have had and he freaked when the teacher started conjugating the verbs and this week we are meant to converse with everything we have learnt so far. I must say I am a little nervous as I haven’t done my homework which is meant to done daily so tomorrow morning before I go it will be head down and try and learn a weeks homework!!!
We are almost into our last week of this trip so this will be last blog as we are busy with visitors and closing the house up for the winter. Thank you for taking your time to read the blogs Ihope you have had as much enjoyment reading them as much as I have had writing them. Until the next time. Au voir abiento Terry and Carol
The rest of the journey was nowhere near as exciting, thank goodness. If you are interested we drove from Agen to Auch to Tarbes and through Lourdes to Cauteret, the journey was about 3 ½ hrs including short stops. Cauteret is a small skiing resort nestled in amongst the mountains, the village is stunnily beautiful at this time of year with the trees in their full regalia of autumn colours, I am not sure if it is because I haven’t actually experienced a ‘proper’ autumn for 20 years that I was so blown away by the scenery or what but I can’t ever remember seeing nature quite at its best like this. But, little did I know there was more mind blowing scenery. Cauteret being a skiing resort was pretty quiet at this time of year and the population explodes from December onwards, although its seems as though it is very busy in the Summer months with various activities, white water rafting, trekking, mountain climbing, canoeing etc. The next day we went to the Port de Espange which is a National Park in the mountains and we trekked for an hour to a beautiful lake, it was quite a difficult trek (reminded us of the Inca Trail) with all the rocks and steps to climb, we walked through some patches of snow but once we got higher the sun was shining, not that that made it any warmer, it was bloody freezing, we were glad of the layers including scarves, hats and gloves!!!! The photos will show some of the amazing waterfalls and scenery that we experienced. I must say there is no way that a mere photograph can capture the pure beauty of the area however good the photograph is.
How privileged we feel being able to go on such a short trip to experience a completely different part of France and we are eager to return in the Summer and perhaps do some white water rafting, there is certainly plenty of fast moving rivers.
The weather has been extremely mild in France, although some mornings we have some frost by about 10am it has generally gone with beautiful blue skies and bright sun, I have got to say I love this time of year in France the countryside is amazing and as I said earlier, in Australia we do not have defined change of seasons and just looking outside at the beautiful oranges, yellows and reds it gladdens the ole heart. However, I am glad I have actually experienced this time of year once because I don’t think I would do it again, the sun in Australia is calling and our blood is too thin for the cold mornings and cold evenings!!!!
Back to France, we are due for our final French lesson tomorrow, I am going on my own as the last lesson upset Terry as most of it went over his head, probably because he hasn’t had as much exposure to French lessons as I have had and he freaked when the teacher started conjugating the verbs and this week we are meant to converse with everything we have learnt so far. I must say I am a little nervous as I haven’t done my homework which is meant to done daily so tomorrow morning before I go it will be head down and try and learn a weeks homework!!!
We are almost into our last week of this trip so this will be last blog as we are busy with visitors and closing the house up for the winter. Thank you for taking your time to read the blogs Ihope you have had as much enjoyment reading them as much as I have had writing them. Until the next time. Au voir abiento Terry and Carol
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Week Three
The weather is now getting much cooler, in fact for a couple of mornings we have had frost on the grass, something I haven’t seen for many years and don’t want to see too often. Although it is extremely cold in the morning, by mid morning the sun breaks through and much warmer. Not warm enough to peel off the cardi but still quite pleasant.
The shooting season is in full force at the moment and for those of you who don’t know we are surrounded by woods with plumeriers (hunting tunnels/lodges) all around. The French are shooting at the migrating pigeons, since we have been here there has been one man the whole time in the woods and at the week ends he has been joined by a few others. It is quite amazing as we may only hear up to three shots a day and on the week end about six shots, not really sure what they are doing down there, anyway they must be getting some birds as we were given a present last week of two pigeons (just what I wanted!) Terry being the receiver of these fine gifts, prepared and cooked them, luckily my brother had just arrived so the boys sat down to consume this French gormet feast, apparently it was quite nice meat but a bit overcooked. Life is getting very Francoise, with the pigeons, mushrooms and chestnuts, we are reaping the benefits of living in the countryside. The mushrooms (see photos) are most beautiful to look at and because they are all so different we have to take them to the local pharmacy for identification purposes, the two different species in the photos are both edible, not that we are going partake in this gastronomic delight, in the Nerac market they are selling cepes (a more exotic mushroom) for 26 euros a kilo (Aussie about $48 probably in UK about 18 pounds) apparently they are tough as old boots and have to be cooked slowly for up to an hour.
We are planning to go to the Pyrenees mountains tomorrow, we are going for about two or three days, I am a bit worried about how cold it is going to be, so on the way to collect the hire car we are going to go warm clothes shopping (we bought gloves yesterday), we have discovered a hiking shop that sells fantastic quality ‘polar’ clothing for a very reasonable price, much cheaper than we would pay in Australia. (maybe there is more demand here!). We plan to go to a ski ing resort called Cauterets which is South of Lourdes, I think it will take about 2 – 3 hours depending how often we stop to take photos, we are really looking forward to seeing a new part of France for us. Talking of which, when my brother was here over the week end, we went exploring in the car and found a beautiful lake about 20 minutes away, it has a man made beach and also swimming pools for children, completely around the lake is a bike path, yes, you guessed I am going to drag Terry away from his pottering around the house and hopefully get some exercise with the bikes (puncture kit and pump in tow.) We live in a very interesting part of South West France or Sud-Ouest as it is called, there is fantastic countryside, villages and interesting places to visit. We have been told of some Roman ruins about 10/15 mins away which are well worth a visit, so next week when we have some visitors we will add another place to our must see itinary.
Hope you enjoy the photos and will be touch next week.
Photos includes: Our bats (another story for another time) behind the shutters, a drunk on the steps of the local wine Cave, joined by Terry & John (my brother), mushrooms, pigeons, a couple of pictures of food at Nerac market, Poudinas, we had to help a local French women to move her wood off the road before we could drive along the road.
The shooting season is in full force at the moment and for those of you who don’t know we are surrounded by woods with plumeriers (hunting tunnels/lodges) all around. The French are shooting at the migrating pigeons, since we have been here there has been one man the whole time in the woods and at the week ends he has been joined by a few others. It is quite amazing as we may only hear up to three shots a day and on the week end about six shots, not really sure what they are doing down there, anyway they must be getting some birds as we were given a present last week of two pigeons (just what I wanted!) Terry being the receiver of these fine gifts, prepared and cooked them, luckily my brother had just arrived so the boys sat down to consume this French gormet feast, apparently it was quite nice meat but a bit overcooked. Life is getting very Francoise, with the pigeons, mushrooms and chestnuts, we are reaping the benefits of living in the countryside. The mushrooms (see photos) are most beautiful to look at and because they are all so different we have to take them to the local pharmacy for identification purposes, the two different species in the photos are both edible, not that we are going partake in this gastronomic delight, in the Nerac market they are selling cepes (a more exotic mushroom) for 26 euros a kilo (Aussie about $48 probably in UK about 18 pounds) apparently they are tough as old boots and have to be cooked slowly for up to an hour.
We are planning to go to the Pyrenees mountains tomorrow, we are going for about two or three days, I am a bit worried about how cold it is going to be, so on the way to collect the hire car we are going to go warm clothes shopping (we bought gloves yesterday), we have discovered a hiking shop that sells fantastic quality ‘polar’ clothing for a very reasonable price, much cheaper than we would pay in Australia. (maybe there is more demand here!). We plan to go to a ski ing resort called Cauterets which is South of Lourdes, I think it will take about 2 – 3 hours depending how often we stop to take photos, we are really looking forward to seeing a new part of France for us. Talking of which, when my brother was here over the week end, we went exploring in the car and found a beautiful lake about 20 minutes away, it has a man made beach and also swimming pools for children, completely around the lake is a bike path, yes, you guessed I am going to drag Terry away from his pottering around the house and hopefully get some exercise with the bikes (puncture kit and pump in tow.) We live in a very interesting part of South West France or Sud-Ouest as it is called, there is fantastic countryside, villages and interesting places to visit. We have been told of some Roman ruins about 10/15 mins away which are well worth a visit, so next week when we have some visitors we will add another place to our must see itinary.
Hope you enjoy the photos and will be touch next week.
Photos includes: Our bats (another story for another time) behind the shutters, a drunk on the steps of the local wine Cave, joined by Terry & John (my brother), mushrooms, pigeons, a couple of pictures of food at Nerac market, Poudinas, we had to help a local French women to move her wood off the road before we could drive along the road.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Week Two
I have got no excuse now for inspiration, Terry has moved my desk into one of the bedrooms in front of a window, now I am not looking at a wall but looking over the garden and beyond into the French countryside tres bonne I am inspired!!!!!! I have also just had a little nap outside on the lounger probably that helped.
Well another busy few days since my last blog, not the busy we had with our last visit in the garden, that is thankfully under control and just for pottering. No, we have been exercising and socialising. We got another bike and decided to go out for our first ride, the idea was to go to a beautiful village called Forces, a manageable bike ride of 7 kms there and 7 kms back, well we got half way up our lane (about 700 metres) and decided we might just cycle to Ste Maure our local village which is about 6 kms total, I had forgotten how saddle sore one can get, even with the flannel tucked strategically in my trousers it didn’t make much difference. We got to Ste Maure, had a coffee and then dropped into some new English friends had a chat and started the pleasant journey home, on our first down hill road, guess what I had a puncture in my brand new bike!!!! To make matters worse, we were in the middle of the most stunning French countryside, surrounded by cows, woods and not a car in sight and what was in my tyre ..a bloody drawing pin, I could have understood if it was a prickle or even a nail but a drawing pin! The puncture is now mended by my trusty Jim’ll fix* it hubby but we haven’t organised another bike ride yet. Had a fantastic swim at Agen last week, a great 50m Olympic pool with a glass roof that retracts in the summer, it was very confusing though as the French do not only drive on the wrong side of the road but they swim on the wrong side of the lane, it was very confusing as I kept swimming into the ropes trying to get away from the people in the next lane coming towards me,as I thought they were in my lane. Anyway once I had got used to it, the next challenge was the mixed showers, actually didn’t mind that too much come to think of it.
Our social life has been busy as we have delivered a couple of dinner of parties and a lunch, also we have been to people’s house for dinner a couple of times, one of couples are Brian and Noleen from Perth we were introduced to them by an American couple when we were over last time. Noleen and Brian don’t live here permanently but come over for a few months at a time to renovate an old tower, they are in about their fourth year and it has a look that they should be able to move in, in a year or two, very brave renovation job must say.
It’s mushroom season in France at the moment apparently there are lot of people with secret places where they get their mushrooms in the woods, on Sunday we met some French people who are only too willing to share this secret information with us, particularly as the man grew up around our house and knows the woods really well, watch this space. In our garden we have probably about five different species of mushrooms but I would say most are toxic, however, it is only a matter of going to the local pharmacy and they will ‘diagnose” your mushroom. Talking about the garden, I bet everyone is waiting with baited breath to hear the next episode of our moles. Wait no longer, The Trims are winning the war or should I say one Trim in particular who has blown up two moles, one of which he showed me this morning, big grin all over his face (not the moles face needless to say), so now we have got to do battle on the paddock at the back of the house. Our friend Richard has got 10 moles so far, has the gauntlet been laid I ask!!! Has the mark been made in the sand, has the benchmark been set ... watch this space.
We have now had two, two and half hour French lessons with our fantastic and patient teacher Michelle, she will only speak French to us, which does limit the conversation somewhat but we are now alot more in touch with our French numbers and asking and answering questions, or will be if we manage to do our homework on a daily basis, should be a good excuse for an argument, “that’s not how you pronounce it” “Yes, it is that’s how I have written it down” (me) I must say my pronunciation is crap, but I remember alot of the words, surprise surprise, Terry can pronounce but can’t remember the words.
Save boring you too much I will close now, only to say we went to a huge car boot sale in Vianne on Sunday, it was a marvellous day except when I put my foot down that we would not buy an “antique” commode for the hall, I have worked putting people on and off of the things for years and there was no way I wanted one in my hall, even had the old pot, according to Jim’ll fix it the pot had never been used, I suppose with his plumbing background he has some idea about these things!!!!!!! (yeah like heck) We did not buy it but bought other useful things like, a lamp for the desk, 1 kilo of walnuts in their shells, a bike for the grandchildren and some toys and lego for one of our children (Dominic is a collector of lego). Sorry have just been reminded of two more essential items bought by Terry a pair of wooden clogs and a rat trap (need I say more!!!!!!) The best part of the day was our lunch we sat in the village square on a long table, socialising with a number of tolerant French people (loved the fact that we tried to speak the lingo) and had wine and paella, it was delicious.
*For our Australian Friends Jimmy Saville
Well another busy few days since my last blog, not the busy we had with our last visit in the garden, that is thankfully under control and just for pottering. No, we have been exercising and socialising. We got another bike and decided to go out for our first ride, the idea was to go to a beautiful village called Forces, a manageable bike ride of 7 kms there and 7 kms back, well we got half way up our lane (about 700 metres) and decided we might just cycle to Ste Maure our local village which is about 6 kms total, I had forgotten how saddle sore one can get, even with the flannel tucked strategically in my trousers it didn’t make much difference. We got to Ste Maure, had a coffee and then dropped into some new English friends had a chat and started the pleasant journey home, on our first down hill road, guess what I had a puncture in my brand new bike!!!! To make matters worse, we were in the middle of the most stunning French countryside, surrounded by cows, woods and not a car in sight and what was in my tyre ..a bloody drawing pin, I could have understood if it was a prickle or even a nail but a drawing pin! The puncture is now mended by my trusty Jim’ll fix* it hubby but we haven’t organised another bike ride yet. Had a fantastic swim at Agen last week, a great 50m Olympic pool with a glass roof that retracts in the summer, it was very confusing though as the French do not only drive on the wrong side of the road but they swim on the wrong side of the lane, it was very confusing as I kept swimming into the ropes trying to get away from the people in the next lane coming towards me,as I thought they were in my lane. Anyway once I had got used to it, the next challenge was the mixed showers, actually didn’t mind that too much come to think of it.
Our social life has been busy as we have delivered a couple of dinner of parties and a lunch, also we have been to people’s house for dinner a couple of times, one of couples are Brian and Noleen from Perth we were introduced to them by an American couple when we were over last time. Noleen and Brian don’t live here permanently but come over for a few months at a time to renovate an old tower, they are in about their fourth year and it has a look that they should be able to move in, in a year or two, very brave renovation job must say.
It’s mushroom season in France at the moment apparently there are lot of people with secret places where they get their mushrooms in the woods, on Sunday we met some French people who are only too willing to share this secret information with us, particularly as the man grew up around our house and knows the woods really well, watch this space. In our garden we have probably about five different species of mushrooms but I would say most are toxic, however, it is only a matter of going to the local pharmacy and they will ‘diagnose” your mushroom. Talking about the garden, I bet everyone is waiting with baited breath to hear the next episode of our moles. Wait no longer, The Trims are winning the war or should I say one Trim in particular who has blown up two moles, one of which he showed me this morning, big grin all over his face (not the moles face needless to say), so now we have got to do battle on the paddock at the back of the house. Our friend Richard has got 10 moles so far, has the gauntlet been laid I ask!!! Has the mark been made in the sand, has the benchmark been set ... watch this space.
We have now had two, two and half hour French lessons with our fantastic and patient teacher Michelle, she will only speak French to us, which does limit the conversation somewhat but we are now alot more in touch with our French numbers and asking and answering questions, or will be if we manage to do our homework on a daily basis, should be a good excuse for an argument, “that’s not how you pronounce it” “Yes, it is that’s how I have written it down” (me) I must say my pronunciation is crap, but I remember alot of the words, surprise surprise, Terry can pronounce but can’t remember the words.
Save boring you too much I will close now, only to say we went to a huge car boot sale in Vianne on Sunday, it was a marvellous day except when I put my foot down that we would not buy an “antique” commode for the hall, I have worked putting people on and off of the things for years and there was no way I wanted one in my hall, even had the old pot, according to Jim’ll fix it the pot had never been used, I suppose with his plumbing background he has some idea about these things!!!!!!! (yeah like heck) We did not buy it but bought other useful things like, a lamp for the desk, 1 kilo of walnuts in their shells, a bike for the grandchildren and some toys and lego for one of our children (Dominic is a collector of lego). Sorry have just been reminded of two more essential items bought by Terry a pair of wooden clogs and a rat trap (need I say more!!!!!!) The best part of the day was our lunch we sat in the village square on a long table, socialising with a number of tolerant French people (loved the fact that we tried to speak the lingo) and had wine and paella, it was delicious.
*For our Australian Friends Jimmy Saville
Thursday, October 11, 2007
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