Where has the week gone?

 Well, we moved some furniture around - swapping the desk and the cupboard around. We think this will make it possible to make better use of the cupboard now it it more accessible.

We went out on the bicycles a couple of times. Sheila is in two minds about getting a new cycle so we need to lots more on the bikes to make it make sense. The trouble was that when it wasn't a bit too hot for cycling, it was a bit to windy.

Talking of it being too windy - we endeavoured to play golf twice on our local course. It was rather windy and therefore a bit disheartening. At the end of the first round we decided that our poor play was all down to the wind. We were both a bit tired at the end of the golf and decided the wind had made the whole thing difficult.
So on the second time out - with a stiff breeze still evident we thought having a buggy would make a difference - it didn't.

In between the two rounds of golf at La Pree we headed of to Ile d'Oleron with the idea of enjoying the island and perhaps playing the Nine hole course on the island, As ever our first stop was Le Chateau where we hoped to buy some of the pink "bordeaux" salt that has proved such a good element to cooking steaks - but the shop was closed for lunch! So on we went to the golf course to discover that there was a competition was happening and we wouldn't be able to get on to the course until well after 3pm. At least this opened up the chance to visit Boyardville where we enjoyed a salad lunch by the harbour.

We had heard somewhere that the replica of L'Hermione, the sailing ship that took Lafayette to America in 1780, that has been in progress for over ten year was nearing completion. So we thought we'd pop in to Rochefort on our way back to LaR. And caught a glimpse of it we did - but only just. Now out of the structure inside which the construction happened the site is now surrounded by 2m high panel fences to make sure you pay the €9 per person entry fee to get a good look. We felt we did not have time to made do with our glimpse. It is due to set sail for the USA in the not too distant future so we will keep an eye out for when that happens.

On Thursday - it rained - at lot - all morning. With clearing skies we headed  in La Rochelle in search of Tamarind for a recipe. We headed for a "Flavours of the World" shop we noticed on the last trip - quite close to the market. As wonderful as it was he did not have Tamarind but he directed us to an "Asian" shop about 100m away and there we had a choice of the fruit or the sauce. Asian is defined very widely to include China, Japan, Thailand and seemingly, Ireland (bottles of Guinness) . Suffice to say that between these two shops we reckon we can get pretty much any exotic ingredient we are ever likely to need. Although buying fresh coriander still presents bit of a problem. The day did clear up to a very pleasant afternoon but not quite good enough to warrant a bbq and outdoor dining so the Tamarind Chicken Kebabs got done on the griddle.

Friday (today) has started well with almost clear skies and welcome morning sun - if the wind has gone, perhaps a round of golf, or a bike ride and then the men's semi finals from Roland Garros.

Fetes des Meres

Sunday June 3rd turned out to be a real mother of a day - yes it was Mother's Day here in France. What better way to honour the mothers of France than by having a car boot sale, right here in Marsilly. But not just any car boot sale but a Foire aux Grenier!
Now it may be a bit difficult to understand the difference between a Vide Grenier and an "aux Grenier". Perhaps it was the stall selling hot dogs & frites, or the stall selling vin rose for 80 cents, or perhaps the punch and judy show or even the folk dancers? My vote goes for the folk dancers - a clearly motley collection of young and old, men and women all sharing a major lack of musical sense or ability to dance - and marked by the fact that they seemed to be dancing classic Mexican folk dances. And when I say "classic" Mexican folk dances I mean the men wore sonbreos and the women waved their dresses around.
Perhaps the thing that really distinguished this "grenier" was that Michael and Ann missed it but Peter and Sheila went to it, not once, but twice and BOUGHT something!

So 8 Rue de is now proud owner of an electric toaster, a perfect size when two of you fancy a bit of toast or one of you fancies two bits of toasts.

While on the food front a new cafe / take-out has now opened in the new shopping centre in Marsilly. It describes itself as a "coucousserie" and seems more take-out than cafe but there are a few basic tables and chairs inside as well as outside as this snap shows.
It seems that the "new shopping centre" has a name it is "Les Carrelets" and will be celebrating its first anniversaire on 15 Juin a 20h with musique, chant, tombola. "un aperitif vous sera offerert par l'association des commercants"

Back to the Friday ferry crossing

As we breakfasted on Saturday morning prior to arrival at St Malo the ferry was treated to the sight of fice or six dolphins tracking the stern of the boat. It was a lovely way to start the day.

Bonjour Mesdames and Monsieurs

Nous sommes ici! Bonne Fete

Saturday Arrival

27c - in need of some shade

A very chirpy, but busy, crew member told us that the Friday night crossing to St Malo was completely sold out - every cabin, every seat sold -1600 passengers, And I'd say with an adult to child ratio of about 1:3. Our own cabin was on deck 2, that is to say two decks below where we parked the car!
However the dinner in the restaurant was as reliable as ever and the entertainment in the bar served to pass enough time before hitting our berths beneath the decks.

Arrival was on-time and processing through Border Control took no time at all so we were soon bowling along on a bright and sunny morning. It is hard to imagine a better transit from the port to Nantilly and we unlocked the front door at a couple of minutes before midday and immediately set about putting out the garden furniture in the back yard and creating a bit of shade.

The afternoon soon passed, with "opening  up" the house, a trip to the local Ecofrais for some catering essentials and a look-in at the French Open tennis (via the TV). Late afternoon we headed out for a quick recce of the vicinity. Esnandes was the first stop, mostly to get some cash at the ATM by the Coop. Down to check out Viviers were we came across a great melee of people. We had seen a notice about some event in Esnandes and it turned our to be a rowing competiton, conducted along side catering, bouncy castles and a mini vide grenier. All of this happening at the shore, right by Viviers - whose new shop is now open and doing a roaring trade in "regional products".
Day one, brilliant weather, concluded with a barbecue and an early night.