All the thunderstorm do is add variety to the days and nights

There has been some cycling, a visit to the golf range (but not a round of golf as yet), some cooking at home and the obligatory moules at Viviers. All in all a good start to the holiday.

Thursday was very warm and occasioned us to enjoy the peace and quiet of 8 Rue de Nantilly. Peace and quiet only broken by the yapping of next door's dog(s). If ti persists one of us may have to learn the french for "Please keep your fecking dog quiet!" For dinner we did chicken on the bbq that had been marinated in lime  and coconut milk. Verdict was positive.

Friday gave us a chance to pop into La Rochelle for the first time and it was a bit of an eye opener as the traffic was immense. It was so bad that we set off on a back-road detour that included two cul-de-sacs and three wrong turns, but we reckon we still reached the car park in Place Verdun quicker that plodding through the traffic. The four of us came together for the trip to Viviers and

Saturday's big adventure was to cycle to the Intermarche in Nieul ( and back), complete with shopping basket on the front of Peter's bike. This was the longest ride attempted so far and we manged it quite nicely so this has given us a bit of confidence to stretch our bike-ride-horizon.
We also hit about 80 balls each at the range - sobering to think that this is not enough "hits" to get us around 18 holes of golf.

This morning we headed off to Les Minimes to see what yatching/marina action there was. Just before reaching the port du pleasance we spotted and pulled in to a small car park that was adjacent to the cliff top walk. S0 instead of drving to Minimes and walking back along the clifftop to did it in reverse. That is not to say we walked backwards but rather we walked towards Minimes and not away from it.

We had thought to play golf today but during a cycle to Point Clement, Esnandes we expereienced the "sea-breeze" and realised that it would have a material effect on playing golf as the course is on the clifftop. So right after posting this message we are off to practise a bit more on the range and practise our putting

Holiday update postcard

Les Gnomes de Nantilly welcome the new arrival

Good morning from Nantilly

So this week has been a time of arrivals and settling in. First of all, Ann and Michael arrived on Tuesday afternoon, follwing their marathon journey from Bradford on Monday morning, for the evening ferry to St Malo. Barely 24 hours later and Peter and Sheila also landed having taken the Tuesday evening St Malo ferry. And it seems that P&S had a stoway on board - a rather beefy, cheeky and lazy gnome who sits on a toadstool and refuses to budge. It is hard to tell what impact he's had on the incumbents but mutterings have been heard about having a wash and brush up and even "new wardrobes".

Yesterday's weather was glorious, a bit of a breeze and not too warm. Today promises to be the same with some rain showers this morning and a real prospect of thunder and lightening this evening.

Small domestic crisis - we seem to have lost the plug for the bath so a trip to LeRoy Merlin is on the cards.