Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - Bernie at Cheverny

 

Feeling needy...if a little guilty!

I know that for many people the situation we are currently living with must be unbearable compared to our own but don't mind admitting need a bit of this.

Or this...

or this..

or this!

Vendredi à vélo - memories of summer...

 

In a garden at Preuilly-sur-Claise

Thank goodness for technology...

Ada has been keeping her old Gran and Papa amused lately (with the help of mum) in various guises - this is her favourite 'host'!

What a difference a day makes...

A lovely winters morning yesterday for our walk - so much nicer than Sunday's which was cut short by the rain

 

Missing a guid get together...

There will be no celebrating the Bard's birthday tonight but we can reflect on past nights here in Touraine at  David & Jane's and Eileen's in London - great fun - 'Slàinte mhath' (slan-ge-var) to everyone!

 

Remembering times when we could travel - Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench

One of Pauline's and my favourite Sunday walks used to be around Belleisle Park in Ayr back in Scotland. The pics below are from a visit way back in February 2015 when we were joined by Rose & Michael,Rose's mum and dad,Jim & Frances (+Ben the dog) and Richard & Francoise,happier times!

   

 

Isn't it criminal...

...how passport photos are so unflattering! Replacement permanent 'Titres de Sejour ' arrived yesterday - hurrah!

 

Vendredi à vélo - and masking some pleasures

 

Pauline and I were talking this morning about last year and realised how, for us, compared to some folks it was not quite as bad as we thought. On looking through photographs for my Friday feature I was reminded of the visit of Pauline's sister Eileen in August and of how much we crammed into her stay. It was a taste of 'normality' (whatever that is) for a short period.  

Yes there were masks but we still had fun and some great visits and revisits. The velo above is at L’ARTelier de la Gartempe on Rue Bernard Harent in Montmorillon a very picturesque town we  revisited and one well worthy of a visit. 

Eileen and Pauline at Amboise.

New route!

We suggested a new route for our problem soil  pipe to Charlie,our plumber and he almost immediately had it in his head and then it was there - experience is a wonderful thing! 

 Now all that is needed is a strategically placed plant pot!

Getting to the root of the problem!

 

Our current tenants over at 'Les Balcons' had a blockage in the soil pipe recently which Charlie, the local plumbers freed up only to be called out again on Monday. Probing down the rodding point seemed to reveal that there was plant material inside the pipe. Charlie said that it could be the roots of a nearby tree having broken into it! A friend and I dug down to where we thought the problem lay... 

and find out Charlie was right - and how! Would not have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes!

The thing is, we had paid SAUR 120 euros back in October to have the drains checked when we were considering selling the house and they passed! Quite frankly not sure how anything 'passed' this lot!

This morning's sunrise, Barrou

 

Advertising your skills upfront...

We are very lucky here in Barrou to have the talented Albert Laurent operating his business on Grande Rue. Not difficult to guess that his main business is the repair of motorcycles but his services stretch from this to almost anything with an engine plus he can sharpen anything you pass to him. He can also service bicycles and indeed is a handy man to consult on almost any engineering subject.

Remembering times when we could travel - Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench

Remembering times when we could travel-Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench in the small village of Kleinburg, Ontario famous for the nearby 'McMichael Canadian Art Collection' and the small cemetery for six members of the Canadian 'Group of seven' artists

Is the weekend still a thing?

 

Vendredi à vélo - balade à vélo à La Promenade

 

La Promenade in  La Roche-Posay looking forward to the day we can return to lunching out.

Bravo aux vignerons

 

One of our walks around Barrou takes us past this small group of vines which, when you look at them,or any vines, at this time of year you have to wonder how they survive a winter and give us the harvest that they do.

Having helped my brother Richard with a bit of vine maintenance and the vendage on his vines down in Provence I can empathise with the hard work involved. We have a lot to thank the vignerons for! 

Secure for another 10years...

 

We went up to a very quiet Tours yesterday for our rendezvous at the Prefecture to get 'carte de séjour' replaced due to the idiocy of  Brexit. Tuesday mornings have been allocated for 'les etrangers' and a very helpful and efficient gentleman had us in and out in 15 minutes. New 10 year should be posted out during next four weeks.

A chilly start...

First really heavy frost yesterday morning here in Southern Touraine.

 

A Sunday walk in the woods...

Pauline and I managed 7km yesterday up through the woods behind Barrou on what was a chilly but very bright afternoon.

Pauline waiting for me as I take some photos...

Fair bit of tree-felling going on at the moment.

Remembering times when we could travel - Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench

Toronto Island

Thursday's walk up behind Barrou.

A couple of images from our walk up behind Barrou on Thursday morning,cold but fine weather.

Vendredi à vélo - still Christmas time in Barrou.