All there in black & white - my week

Last week I was challenged by a friend on Facebook to take a black and white photo for 7 days. The 'rules' were no people plus no explanation. Here is the result...Sunday to Saturday,

Sunday lunch for 500

Yesterday, with friends, we had a looong lunch in a barn at 'Maison Perrin' the foie gras farm at Civray, just outside La Celle Guenand. They catered for 500 of us...it was an experience!

Exceeded expectations...praise indeed!

We said goodbye to our final guests of the season at 'Les Balcons' yesterday, a lovely family from Cheltenham in the UK. They had, fortunately, a fine spell of October weather with some days in the mid 20's.

Here is their comment from our guestbook:

21/10/17 to 28/10/17

So much to do in such little time! Only one week here at 'Les Balcons' (which exceeded our expectations) We managed to visit Chenonceau, Chambord, Loches, Tours and of course Chateau du Grand-Pressigny. Big thank you to Jim & Pauline for being the perfect hosts.

Emma, Steve, Malcolm, Jean & Tash

Cheltenham  UK

Walking - Descartes - Buxeuil - Saint-Rémy-sur-Creuse

Thursday's walk with the Le Grand-Pressigny Randonnee club was taken in conditions that meant that it felt like a summer's day. Joel, our leader, started us off in the delightful gardens at Descartes

Then out of town over the bridge...

Before picking up the marked trail along the river Creuse on the opposite bank.

'Le Pont de la Resistance'

This chap was enjoying the fine day with a more leisurely pursuit.

We find these walks interesting as although we have walked much of the local area there are still many routes that are new to us and you can rely on Joel to make them as varied as possible. So from delightful park to urban factory are all included.

We left the riverside walk at the next bridge and headed over towards Buxeuil where we walked around the pretty church of St Peter which was, sadly, closed.

We then headed over to the site of the old Roman road before climbing uphill into the countryside beyond.

We passed a couple of water spots along the way...

a natural one that looked as if it might be at home in Florida...

and a man-made version where the dogs decided it was time to cool off. 

After a bit of a hike through open countryside we picked up the walk that takes you along the front of 'Ethni-Citi' a collection of troglodyte dwellings overlooking Saint-Remy-sur-Creuse;

From here we could have dropped down to the village but that would have been the easier but less interesting route as we were then led back uphill...

to the church and tower at the top of the cliffs 

Then it was back down to the village and  back towards Descartes along the river.

We passed this beautiful display of Cosmos on the way

On a surprisingly hot day and after 10km it was good to catch sight of Descartes again.

Beautiful summer days in October!

Chateau de La Guerche on Wednesday

The last two days have been glorious here in our part of France...and its the end of October! We are enjoying double benefits as we currently have guests in Les Balcons and this fine spell of weather can only add to their Loire Valley Experience. Nothing compares to a beautiful chateau set against the back drop of a blue sky.

Maire on Wednesday

Angles-sur-l'Anglin yesterday

Descartes yesterday

Tonight's sunset...

Sunset captured tonight as we entered Barrou from Le Grand-Pressigny 

Something for the weekend,brocantes Sunday 29th October

Martizay

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 29^th October

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

AZAY LE RIDEAU  Vide-greniers Foire au Pomme ***

CERE LA RONDE  Foire aux Chèvres Vide-greniers ***

BEAUMONT  Brocante Vide Greniers

LOCHE SUR INDROIS  Bourse aux Vêtements, Jouets et Materiel Puériculture

MARTIZAY  Brocante D’automne ****

REUGNY EN VOUVRILLON  Foire a la Bernache / Brocante ****

SAINTE MAURE DE TOURAINE  Vide-grenier **

*You can see pics from Martizay last year here

The demolition man...

The courtyard behind 'the project' consists of three different covered sections and an open area. We plan on removing two of these, the corrugated iron covered roof and the slate roof.  

To this end the last the last week has seen me take on the 'Demolition Man' mantle and with brute strength and ignorance I have succeeded in giving light to the rear of the house for the first time in a lot of years.

Only problem is, it reveals what a not so great job the man who started the project over eight years ago made of installing 'new' windows!