Another successful evening at 'Chez L'

Yet another good night, last night, hosted by Lisa at 'Chez L' in Le Grand-Pressigny. Big shout-out to Cally and 'the Davids' (Celtiqua) for the musical accompaniment...

and to the chef and staff for some tasty fish & chips!



Bottom two pics courtesy of our guests st 'Le Bourg'

French immersion...not

Our current American guests at 'Le Bourg' are joining we Scots tonight for a very French (not) evening of eating fish & chips and listening to some of our English friends playing Irish music at 'Chez L' in Le Grand-Pressigny - very international!

Colourful spring displays in Ligueil

The bus was late when I went to pick Pauline up from Ligueil on Tuesday on her return from Paris, so I took a wander around the town...some pretty floral displays.

Have to say however have been better in the past.

These are from way back in 2011 (how time flies)

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 29th April

Le Grand-Pressigny

Brocantes / vide grenier Sunday 29th April

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

BLERE  Vide Grenier **

CHATELLERAULT Vide Grenier *** (Rue des Trois Pigeons)

  

CHINON  Bric-à-brac Saint-louans Chinon **

JOUE LES TOURS  Bric a Brac ?

LE GRAND PRESSIGNY  Vide-greniers **

NOUANS LES FONTAINES  Brocante Vide-greniers **

RILLY SUR VIENNE  Vide-greniers Brocante Marché Foire aux Boudins **

SAINT OUEN LES VIGNES  Vide Grenier **

  

SONZAY  Brocante ?

TOURS  Vide-greniers rue Lamartine ?

VILLAINES LES ROCHERS  Vide-greniers *

  

Barrou in the sunshine...

Grande Rue basking in the current spell of sunshine here in Southern Touraine

Fish & chips in France...and not for the first time!

Earliest wisteria in Barrou ?

Taken yesterday on Grande Rue Barrou

Something for the weekend...

Today you can visit the brocante 'de la Foire de la St-Georges' over at Preuilly-sur-Claise, which on a beautiful day is worth it simply for the walk around this pretty place.

it Sunday you can head over to Yzeures-sur-Creuse or check out another Sunday brocante.

Early Summer weather...

Yesterday on Grande Rue, Barrou

Barrou to Paris by bus.

Because of the current train strikes here in France Pauline had to take the bus to Paris yesterday as her train was affected. So rather than wave her off from Chatellerault train station we simply walked up to the bus stop opposite 'Le Bourg' in the village which was an easier journey for me...but as it turned out, not for Pauline. There is only two buses through the village,one on Saturday and one on Wednesday (don't know how you are supposed to get back) so it was ideal for getting her to Tours to pick up the other bus to Paris.

Unfortunately the bus at Tours was late and it meant that by the time it hit Paris traffic was at a peak. She left Barrou at 12.15 and did not get to my brother's apartment in Paris until around 8.00pm. She is setting off from their with my sister-in-law today to get to Milan...hope that journey goes smoother!

Brocantes this weekend...Saturday 21st / Sunday 22nd April

Brocantes / vide grenier Saturday 21st April

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

PREUILLY SUR CLAISE  Brocante de la Foire de la St-georges ***

Brocantes / vide grenier Sunday 22^nd April

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

AUTRECHE  Vide Grenier *

CHINON  Vide-greniers ***

DRACHE  Vide grenier en Exterieur et Bourse aux Jouets en Salle **

LA VILLE AUX DAMES  Vide-grenier, Fête au Village *****

LOCHES  Vide Grenier

  

MOSNES  Broc'in Charge Brocante Musicale *

•••

NOYANT DE TOURAINE  Marché de Printemps - Vide Grenier ***

SAINT SENOCH  Brocante Vide Grenier

  

TOURS  Antiquités Brocante Boulevard Béranger ?

TOURS  Vide-greniers Esplanade François Mitterrand ?

TOURS  Vide-greniers Place Beaujardin ?

VALLERES  Vide-greniers ***

Bloomin' 'eck

In the garden at 'Les Balcons'

Waiting to bloom

This tree in the courtyard of the Mairie at Angles-sur-l'Anglin was looking as if it was desperately waiting for Spring to arrive on our visit on the 1st April...compare it to this pic taken on 21st April in previous year!

 

Halls of residence...

Have finished walls and ceilings in the downstairs  halls of the project at La Guerche - have gotten rid of sauna look.

   

   

Strength in numbers...

A group of us went over to Preuilly-sur-Claise to support friends performing with the Preuilly-sur-Claise choir in the beautiful abbey church. 

On the night they were joined by a somewhat depleted choir from Azay-sur-Cher (below)

The Preuilly-sur-Claise choir gave us a good variety of songs including compositions from Jacques Brel,Serge Gainsbourgh as well as a negro spiritual standard.

I thought the best performance of the night (apart form David's solo contribution) was when the choirs got together and filled the church a little more with the strength of numbers. Talking of numbers was somewhat surprised by the small number of local people who had turned out for this delightful, free performance.

The church takes on a beautiful glow under its evening spotlight.

Something else for the weekend...concert at the abbey church in Preuilly

Should be some fine acoustics in here!

Something for the weekend...naturally

Website

Scotsman spotted in IKEA...the iceman cometh!

Brocantes this weekend...Sunday April 15th

Brocantes / vide grenies Sunday 15^th April

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

BLERE  Vide-greniers ***

CHANCEAUX SUR CHOISILLE  Brocante Vide-greniers *****

CHEILLE  Puce des Couturières *

CHINON  Vide-greniers, Vide Penderie **

CHINON  Brocante Mensuelle  **

HUISMES  Vide-greniers **

LARCAY  Vide-poussette - Vide Grenier *

  

LUYNES  Vide-greniers ?

MARRAY  Fête du Village *

  

RIVIERE  Vide-greniers **

  

SAINT BRANCHS  Foire à l'Oignon ***

SAINT LAURENT EN GATINES  Brocante Vide-greniers *

TOURS  Vide-greniers Place Stendhal **

Loire Valley people...

Took this pic of a fellow guest (with her permission) on our visit to Chateau de Montpoupon last Friday. I noticed her hair was a great match for the local flora. Monique runs a chambres d'hotes in Vouvray.

Pottering around on Sunday

After the brocante at Azay-le-Ferron on Sunday we headed over to the open day 'portes ouvertes' at the pottery just outside Le Grand-Pressigny where Magali (the potter) was joined by other artisans displaying their works.

There is a permanent display next to the workshop but she, along with Christophe Aubier (leather worker) also have a shop on Grande Rue in the village. They offer a potting experience at 12.50 euros/hour on site which could be interesting.

The bread oven beside the workshop produces bread during these open days and we bought a loaf to have with our lunch...and very nice it was too!