next year we will be millionaires, in garden terms of course.

blog 13 may

Mike hired a neat little bob cat for the day to get the gravel from the top car park to the barn and whist he loaded I raked  and in a few hours the barn terrace had a good 1^st coating of gravel. To safe the lawn Mike was filling up and trundling down the road to our main gate in a very noisy and rattily dumper on a French bank holiday when all the French were in with their families enjoying a day off but as soon as the pile was gone we shut down and shut up to give them all a bit of peace then our neighbour lit a bon fire and smoked everyone out  so we did not feel so guilty after all .

 

We had another 14 tons of gravel delivered to finish the top car park but took one look at it and decided to take a few days off and we packed hoss and his toys and broke free in the camper to Falaise. We did the tourist visit to the castle and actually found it very interesting and a jolly good morning out. We then hit the road into Swiss Normandy but it rained to the point of distraction until we decided to stop at a camper stop in Villiers Bocage where we ate roasted chicken finished off with ice cream which for us is a real treat, we have a camper with a freezer …bizzaar but fun

Whilst it rained on our little break we were content in our minds that the garden was being watered and that is always a worry put to rest until of cause when we got home we noticed that it had not rained a drop and had simply followed us up and we then had 3 days more than anyone else of high winds and nonstop rain. We lit the fire that is now behaving well and just take a look at what happened to my candles. Our friends Shirley and Mark came for supper and asked me where I got my funky candle sticks from, well we had to laugh and there they will stay as Brevand art forever

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wind were so fierce that it tore my beautiful rose off the barn wall, it had nearly reached the eaves and was just about to flower and tiimmbbeerr it came crashing down as mike was walking by and was very nearly rosed on in a big way

 

 

Mike hit his big  six ooohhhh  on the 13^th May and I was not going to let it go by without a party. Geoff came over to spend time with his brother on his birthday so I bundled up our gang of mates for a chilli and rice supper with crumble for afters then a darts tournament which, oddly enough, Mike won…..so someone was watching down on him on his big day. Canada and Australia came to wish him a Happy Birthday using technology we could not have dreamt of  60 years ago, then the day was over and Mike is now peering  into his 61^st year wondering what all the fuss was about. I kinda hoped he may turn grey to match me but alas no, he remains looking dapper and for those who know him well, not so good for 27, but a very passable 59.

 

 

 

 

 

We have set the barn up with all our left over sofas and arm chairs and it makes for a very jolly evening where we can all sit down chat and catch up  only having to get up to play in the tournament,  get a drink and find a new seat and a new chat

 

 

 

And here we are having just sang Happy Birthday we managed to stay in the barn until  11:30 before our old bones started to complain as the temperature started to drop. It is only May after all, and happily Mike had the foresight to light the fire in the kitchen and a few of us finished up around the fire until it was tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone for your best wishes for a very Happy Birthday…..and it was.

 

 

 

 

And finally, I did a slow walk around the garden with HOSS this evening, the first good evening in weeks and I wanted you to see the raised gardens in full swing, the broccoli cabbage and beetroot are all ready to go into the third bed and we are prepped up for the  the 4^th. The whole place feels more controllable and this time next year we will be millionaires,  in garden terms of course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for me that is fantastic and probably well deserved.

Spring is most definitely in full bloom and whist working in the allotment I was just nailed to the ground and forced to wonder at nature’s way and the promise of fruit through flowers. It is rare that we look from this angle of the garden so now I am planning a sitting place in the allotment so we can just sit and look, but not with  a glass of wine.... and I will tell you about that later

 

 

 

 

The raised beds are going well and we are now ready to set about number 4. We need to have a huge bonfire soon and the moment the wind is in the right direction we can play November  5^th and rid ourselves of all this tree rubbish. We are having the area in front of the barn scraped to lay a hard standing and that will give us the soil to fill these beds but we are going to have to loam the pile first and have lovely relaxed soil for next season.

We finally got the man around to investigate our problem with a fire not drawing well and Mike struggling with a migraine headache as soon as the fire is lit and it appears that the tube had collapsed in the chimney and it needed to come out. Whilst our man was dealing with the tube and had the kitchen covered in plastic sheeting he did a 300 Euro chimney sweep and at the first thought you might wonder why so much, but I witnessed the apprentice with his head stuck up my chimney behind plastic sheeting pushing his little machine, up the chimney to scrape years of burnt on soot and then vac it all out.  There was outcry to stop little boys being sent up chimneys in the 1700’s, well I can honestly say that this young apprentice worked just as hard. He was very polite and happy to be working, with his black face, grubby clothing and not singing chimchimeny …….thank goodness

 

 

 

You would not think that his could cause so much anguish and cost so much to replace and put right , the invoice rolled in at 1 300 Euro but now it is done and we have the factures to prove it was done properly this time, if we ever get around to moving on and moving out we will need that bit of paper......

 

 

 
 
 

We did it again ……we visited  the gravel pit to look at prices and gravel  size, we  only went there to suss out a project and  mull over the logistics of it all  but before we knew it we had a 14 ton lorry load of 0/20 ballast being delivered.  Every year we have had a lorry deliver either gravel or ballast for some project or other but this pile felt like the smallest ever delivered and we can only guess that we have got blasé but I find this so very exciting.  Gravel or ballast is the start of something big and today we started digging out from the front of the barn, extending the top car park and moving non interesting mounds of soil to give us fillers for the raised gardens in the allotment

 Dean came with his digger and also brought his dumper so Mike took the role of labourer and between them they moved an astonishing volume of soil to the top carpark. They also flattened out an area in from of the patio to put the swimming pool on this year and then they attacked the top car park and moved a mound and pulled down three huge trees so that wecould double the size of the parking area.  All very good but you can never imagine just how much soil a day’s work can produce

 

 

 

 

We have more than enough soil to fill the raised beds, but cast your eye on the massive pile in the next garden there is tons of it and we will have to come up with yet another cunning plan to deal with it……laters

 

 

 

 

 

Dean has offered to leave the dumper here for a couple of days to help with moving of the gravel and the rest of the soil, we have a bobcat coming on Monday, Mike driving, so we do not have to use wheel barrows to shift the ballast but with the dumper as well we are well equipped in hard ware but where we find the energy and motivation is any ones guess

 

 

Mike is now much better and is having physio which if nothing else makes us both stop and relax for  45 mins twice a week. Mike’s physio lives in Brevands and I have been very happy to sit and  chat in French whilst he pummels away on Mikes back.

I had another session with my ears nose and throat specialist and he is stumped as to why I still have a sore throat after 9 months and why my hearing has not put itself right either……I could do his job I'm sure…….! but we are now at the point of very drastic measures and I have been forbidden to drink alcohol, caffeine and eat anything that I know throws my digestion into a temper. It is day three and I feel like I am coming off drugs, it is not funny and I am not having a good time but Mike is having a hoot dumper truck driving and is in full control of all the current projects so I can have a few days off and for me that is fantastic and probably well deserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

said you must do this… and I said ….oh bugger.

blog 11 April

 

 

It is that time again and the grass needs a proper cut and pick up, but like snow in winter and drought in summer we are not prepared and shocked and surprised that we are at that time and nobody else is there to sort it out for us…

 

 

For those for you who have not been paying attention, in July last year the mower with all the bells and whistle to lift grass and dump it stopped working. We ordered the bits from our local mower man but as they showed complete inability to order the parts and give us a price after waiting till October we told them to stuff it and Mike would mend the parts over winter which needless to say he did not and here we are needing to cut and have no Mike set to and straightened and welded and bashed and banged and swore and blasted his way to mending both struts, fitted them, and off he went on the first proper cut of the season. Half way through I watched him march off the field saying she’s blown up and my heart dropped into my gut at the thought of a major breakdown at this so special time it was just too much of an upset…...

 

Mike found the break and we went to our not so local farmer and tractor shop where muck under your nails and holes in your jeans is acceptable if not obligatory. We ordered the bit in the utter belief that we were going to get what we needed to mend our fabby mower and get back to work. I called the oh so very friendly parts man the next day as in  the excitement of him not being phased about ordering our parts we had  forgotten  to ask,  how much. There is no way of knowing he said until it arrives and it will be here in three days’ time. In the meantime Mike and I went around the Cherbourg peninsular twice looking for a backup mower that will get the job done to a fashion when the main mower is out of action.

 

 

And look what magically appeared in the tractor shed. We saw this on offer and the salesman said that he would bring it round to us let us try it out to  make sure it is the right machine for us, he meant correct colour to go with green I think and then we just fell in love and had to have it.  In the meantime with all the excitement of a new baby in the manger the call came from the tractor shop and  when I asked how much he reverted to local slang  and I though he said 600 Euro and when I asked him again he really actually said 650 Euro. I felt like I had been robbed at gun point. We gathered our hard earned euros into a little envelope and set off to pick it up. Mike, with his unbelievable ability and skill fitted the gold plated part and did swear he would throttle the engineer who designed the mower, but we were in business and today we both set off, me with the new baby and the mike on the old bloater and you will never guess what…. The old bloater broke down again and needed two belts replaced and in doing that Mike also found an oil leak….needless to say I had a great day, baby cuts like a dream, empties like a pro and frankly if Mike thinks he is getting his hands on her he has another thing coming…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I now have a pet cockerel who marches around the drive and garden cockadoodaldoodling and generally being gorgeous.  He is not allowed in with the other hens because the other cockerel has taken charge in there and will not tolerate another boy on the block so I have separated them and I like having him around looking cute.

 

And on the subject of the hens, I have one very brave and conscientious lady out there who today and yesterday produced the biggest hen egg we have seen in years. We had a very slow egg laying winter  so I guess they are making up for lost time so it is out with the omelette pan, but not with the chips

Mike and I had our 5 year health MOT given for free to everyone in France and although we are both good for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes the doctor who gave us both a real checking over stopped in his tracks and specifically with much finger wagging warned me to lose weight. He asked me how big my babies were and then sucked in air and said you must do this… and I said ….oh bugger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

keep those drives weed free ……we will be back.xxx

Although life in France is all about, life in France, I really wanted to share our UK Road Trip in the camper. We set off for a ferry crossing in Calais and to get the best price, a night crossing, only 2 hours to  cross the channel  and for that we are delighted as the thought of the 7 hour winter slow boat from Caen just leaves us cold and disinterested.  We took the opportunity to go and visit the place we started our life in France, where all our hopes and ambitions were moulded and dashed. During those  few months in Watten we battled with French bureaucracy and our naive belief that because we have been in business and we are bright and enthusiastic that we could manage a French business of gites, boat pontoons and a bar,  cook, clean and be nice to customers. It was not long before we identified our limitations and pulled out.  Needless to say, at the time, we felt we had failed and were destined, to, just be retired, but  8 years later no one has taken on this site or even tried. The wine glasses  I left in a row on the bar are still there and the curtains at the windows have not moved,  the ‘Private’ sign in my own hand writing is still stuck to the bar door. Sadly this place was never going to be a roaring success and we are glad we saw that early enough not to have thrown too much at it. I still love the place and would love to live there without the commitment of being in business and having sat in our camper and discussed the possibilities we drove out and I whispered to myself …..moving on…..

 

8 years ago my sister sent me bulbs saying that we will see the same flowers at the same time, we were missing each other so much and when we moved out I dug up the bulbs….I thought….because here they are after all those years still showing their miniature daffodil heads and I was touched and amazed to see them still flowering.

 

 

The Camper let us down on the way to catch the ferry and the back lights refused to function again, so we got on the ferry and drove all the way from Dover to Reading on intensity rear lights and as it is daylight at midnight in the UK with the amount of road lighting we made it with no one needing to flash us until he hit reading and the road lighting stopped. We pulled over and wild camped in the services until dawn then hit the road to Worcester to spend two nights on Gig and Neil’s drive, joined by Mim and Dick in their camper. We then set off to Bill and Linda Puffet’s drive for one night, down to our son Chris and Sam’s drive for a night and then to John and linda Hoadley on their drive, next was Ron and Pauline and lastly a night on Mim and Dick’s drive and every time we pulled up to use a drive we were welcomed, fed and watered and thoroughly entertained and cared for,  We spent one night in the car park of an Indian restaurant who were happy to have us stay as long as we  ate  in the Restaurant, and that was novel

 

 

 

 

 

We visited Canterbury, Salisbury Tewkesbury, Dover and just had a great 10 days on our home territory reminding us of its beauty and variety.

 

We parked our camper waiting for our ferry home looking over the ferry port and up to the castle. We made a visit to the castle for free using our John Lewis cards and for the first time since we have been retired have we taken advantage of the pro’s of being a jlp partner…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gig and Neil  in Hanley Swan

 

 

Bill in Bishopstone

 

Chris in Rownhams
 

John and Linda in Bracklesham bay

Mim and Dick in Bracknell

 

 

Sorry to Ron and Pauline in Porchester we forgot to take your picture so we will have to came back to you

Thank you for Lunch with Ian and Sandra in port Solent and a fab evening with Billy and Maxine in Bracknell  and coffee with Tina and Brian

 

 

In all the excitement….what of HOSS, who dutifully follows us around, and gets in and out of the camper when we ask him to, waits in the camper garage for us to return from our visits,  who waits  crossed legged because we have not been able to give him the runs he needs. Who eats lying down because he is on holiday as well …. he is just happy to be  with us and to join in or out as much as we need him to, but at the end of the trip  he is the most delighted to get home to his 3 acres of grass, he is happy to get away from the  tarmac and concrete and deep down, so are we glad to be home, with our acres of grass with only the noise of the birds and the cows and the sheep but it was good to get away and this trip has given us the energy to get up and get out more often so keep those drives weed free ……we will be back.xxx

 

 

 

puts a great big smile on your face, every time…..

bog 9 March

 

 

 

I am very excited to be starting the car boot season with a focus because I am collecting handmade tapestry pieces that mean nothing to their owners anymore.  These lovely hand stitched pictures take forever to make and I know that because I am coming to the end of my own that Mim bought me and I realise the time and effort taken..  I saw this one on Sunday and walked past it twice but knew I just had to ask combien ??….the little French lady who I hoped had stitched it said with a shrug, cinq Euro, so  I shrugged back, will you take three and she said mais oui, so I walked away feeling very content

 

 

And this is what I do with all this wonderful handmade magic….I make cushions and I love every one of them, Mike is just as interested and keeps an eye out, we are browsing the depot vends one day and he saw a very wide framed tapestry and suggested I could cut it in half and I have made a matching pair.  I am now waiting for a rainy day as I have five cushions to make and I am looking forward to setting up my little cottage industry just for me…..

 

 

 

 

 

Mike went for his bit of treatment for his stiff neck and headaches and we were quite surprised when a prescription came through the post from the clinic. We went to the pharmacy and came out with a complete kit including the rubber gloves injections and swabs.  Mike suggested we could bypass the clinic and do a bit of DIY but I just said NO…seriously NO. We turned up dutifully at the clinic in Coutance kit in hand and were in and out in less than an hour. Mike had the treatment lying   in a scanner and we have a lovely set of pictures of the procedure.  Mike  can’t wait for our next dinner party where he can get his pictures out and discuss the procedure with our  guests….I don’t think so….

 

 

The allotment is getting an overhaul after 2 years of neglect.   I have managed to grow veg on this difficult area we call the  veg patch but the weeds takeover and chaos developes and I have become  over whelmed  and  swore never to grow another veg if mike did not help me . A few years ago we halved the grow area to help me out and now mike has come up with a cunning plan to build raised beds so that the weeds can be given the short sharp shock about leaving my veg alone but more importantly we can clearly see what is grow land, what is cut land, and what is  the sit down and have a glass of wine land

 

So there you have it, one mould good for 8 beds set in place filled with concrete and a day later a raised bed…..simples

 

The row of stones on the gate represent the amount of barrow loads of concrete we needed to fill one bed and as they started to mount up we started to wonder if we had not bitten off more than we could chew but as the job came together and the plan started to progress we decided it was within our capabilities and 14 barrows, 2.5 bags of cement and 70 shovels of sand and gravel later we had our first bed complete and ready to strike in two days’ time.  The next problem is where to find the soil to fill 7 raised beds but we have mounds of waist soil  that I have been trying to plant manage and now I can just un mound them and get down to normal and average gardening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally we got Beryl sorted. We found a man selling a set of old alloy wheels and tyres at the right price on the bon coin and we can now finally drop the top and get out in the good weather, so we put our sunnies, jumpers, scarves and gloves on and set off to the sea side for a little blatt in the fresh bright Spring sunshine …..Does you good and just puts a great big smile on your face, every time…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

both stall holders did well today.

blog 8 March

 

 

 

It is totally shocking when you walk past a calendar one day and the very next day it is a month later, Georgina treated us to this fantastic calendar with our Canadian twins looking in on our kitchen and putting a smile on our faces every time we pass…..except on the day you realise that a whole 30 days has past and you're onto the next picture.  You can see that despite this being the quiet time we have things going on and as age catches up it is sooooo important that the event is logged…..or forgotten.

 

 

 

It is Sunday and we are really pleased that the vide grenier season is slowly getting under way. Today we took a trip out to Torigny sur vire. Torigny is a bit of a trek for a boot sale but Mike and I have our best discussions and decision making moments in the car, probably from the days when we each of us drove for miles in our working lives making decisions and running our businesses on the go, and to this day, we feel comfortable putting the world to rights dashing off, somewhere.  I have been practicing my vide grenier NO NO NO with Mike, but today I failed with all guns blazing. Here he is laden with remote controlled helicopters and stuff, and then he was looking at an ancient sit on scooter and I just shock my head and said NO, but I needed to capture the moment as I feel sure he might have shown keen interest had I not put my foot down. Mike has a lifelong need to own a violin but has no idea how to play, and even today, he saw his heart’s desire and had to ask how much? …..and I said…..how much….enough said

 

I wish my blog   could give you the sound that was coming out of this old gramophone. To make people stop and look, this stall holder was playing old French traditional Eiffel Tower music, the sort that just says France and I could not resist a picture just to remind me of how lovely it was.  I overheard the stall holder on the other side of the ally say how great the atmosphere was today and he was selling shabby chic French brick a brac and I  for one wanted to get stuck in and take an old French trinket home with me and then Mike bend over me and whispered in my ear….NO …. But  I do hope both stall holders did well today.