Back from a super trip

We perhaps cut it as bit fine in terms of leaving for the airport, waiting until 5.00pm for the 6.00pm flight. Well we have done that before but this time we were down by the old port in La Rochelle and not on Rue de Nantilly. Still we made it.
One small note - true to form one of the few shops we have in Marsilly was closed for its holidays during our stay - as the photo attests. This time it was the tabac

A new commercial centre for Marsilly

We have been tracking the housing development (La Motte Brulee) that is taking place in the big field behind La Poste and now we find that a new commercial centre is also planned. The picture shows the sign board that has been erected by La Poste about the development. The news dominates the March edition of M@rsilly Actu - which itself has been transformed into a new glossy format. If i understand it (the french) the buildings will be complete by the end of 2010 and will include a Boulangerie, Boucherie - charcuterie - traiteur, superette, salon de coiffure, Estheticiene, Flueriste, Agence Immobiliere and Pizzeria.....

I think I have read that businesses will be relocating so some of the list may be certain and some speculative. It seems that the local maire has been wanting to "recentre" the econonic actvities of the village and to increase the population. (The mind boggles.) It seems that the first part of the development began in 2003.

Well isn't that interesting?

Wonderful weather and a road trip to Rochefort

After a late start we decided against golf in favour of a visit to Rochefort. It is a lovely and interesting town. Before setting off I made sure the wee lads in the yard were repositioned.

The Arsenal and shipyard were pretty busy with school groups. The Ropery was closed because it was flooded in the storm and it will be May 1st before it is fully open.

Just when are the ides of March?

There were 181 people on Sunday on the plane over - so quite busy then, and many of them were plainly french returning from a short trip to London. We had a on time departure, early arrival and whistled through the arrivals so quick that the man from Hertz had not arrived at his desk. There was a line of four people waiting by the time he did pop up but fortunately we were at the front.

No 8 was fine and we dropped off our things and then scuttled about in search of cash and food. First stop was le distributeur in Esnande but it was boarded up and not available. We set off down the road that goes down to the shore where Les Viviers is but the road was closed and we followed a very minor road back to Marsilly. Nueil provided us with a cash machine and the Pizza place in Lagord with dinner and some wine. Along the way we checked out Zocolo - the Tex Mex place - and although the bar was open they were not doing food.

Back in Nantilly we lit the fire - a certain amount of rubble came down the chimney when we opened the vent so we might need to look at this. As the picture shows the wee lads in the yard got blown about a bit but no damage was done. Come Monday morning we discovered that one of the hand basins in the bathroom is leaking from the pipework that carries the water away from the basin so we will need to take a look at that.

Monday was at leisure with a trip to La Rochelle and a drive down the coast to Fouras. Lots of activity in terms of repairing storm damage but little sign of any significant problems in Fouras, the main beaches looked fine. The weather was glorous throughout. Back in Nantilly and we walked down to the port and along the cliff top. Every carrelet has been damaged, most of them very badly - none look useable. We did a Carrefour sweep on the way back from Fouras and set ourselves up for dining in.

All in all a very pleasant day.

Looking forward to Sunday

Peter and friend Peter are bound for Nantilly on Sunday afternoon. It will be good to see the place after the big storm. Our housekeeper has been to no8 and reported that there are no obvious problems and it looks like the only casualty was a ceramic sun ornament that used to be on the wall into the courtyard. Note to self - remmebr to take such things down at the end of summer.
We are going to be there through to Thursday evening and hope to get in a round of golf, although the last report was that the golf course only had nine holes open after the storm.