Ada in Ayr...

 

Thanks everyone for your concern re Ada, she did have a lot of fun when at our holiday accommodation in Ayr in spite of the scary end.

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - or benches!

 

Impressive benches within the grounds of 'Watts Mortuary Chapel' in the village cemetery of Compton in Surrey - from our visit last Monday.

 

 

 

 

Aid from Ada...

 

Overnight babysitting duties as Rose and Michael over in Glasgow helping Rose's mum celebrate her birthday, then staying at Paul's.  Ada was, as ever, great at going down after a couple of stories and we were greeted by calls for 'Gran and Papa' as she awoke from her sleep - great way to start a day. Then it was getting ready for ballet. We walked her to the hall, though tried to take her the wrong way but fortunately she knew better and showed us the correct way - she is only 4 !

Had fun with the leaves on the way.

And I would drive 500 miles and I would drive 500 more...

 

Well 500 then 490 more actually but made easier with fun stops with friends en route. 

They know what I like...

 

Mike and Liz treated us to a visit to 'Watts Mortuary Chapel' in the village cemetery of Compton in Surrey, on Monday, It was a deligh, a church and some Art Nouveau design a great combination!.

The outside is interesting enough but once you step inside...just wow!

Monday's walk - around Brookwood cemetery.

 

Mike and Liz live opposite the beautiful tree-lined avenue that leads to the  entrance to Brookwood Cemetery,the largest in the UK, which gives them access to walks that are both serene end interesting.

We joined them yesterday for another walk on what was a fine,if cloudy, autumnal day.

The cemetery is now in hands of the local council and they are working on improving what is a massive site and providing some new walking routes like this boardwalk above.

The recent remembrance ceremonies meant that the part of the cemetery dedicated to the military was in pristine condition though Mike & Liz say that this is normally the case anyway. 

 

The council have also worked hard at providing details and maps to find the location of  'notable plots' but where the cemetery does compare size-wise to many of Europe's great cemeteries it does not have much in the way of 'celebrity' (or should that be 'ex') graves - though they let you know that Freddie Mercury's grandparents are here, somewhere!

  

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - Temporary in Tours

 

Back at the Crêperie - La Bigorne.

Back with friends at the Crêperie, La Bigorne in Chauvigny last night to listen to David, Geoff and friends play some traditional Irish tunes, good fun!. 

 

In need of a Super Sleauth!

We were up at Montlouis-sur-Loire yesterday and as we needed fuel I decided we should try and find Super U in the town - something that had eluded us in the past (was sure they were lying to us). Now it should be straight forward, as you approach the town from the direction of Tours you arrive at traffic lights at the junction by Lidl, turn right and just a few yards up the road you come across the above sign - ah,only 2 mins, that should be easy!

As I said I had tried before and failed, I know, switch on Sat-Nav but hey, my masculine intuition kicks in and I need help from no one.

The route had occasional help with little 'super' signs but if any of you have driven in the town even they seemed a little distracting. We enrolled the help of a local who waved us off with a knowing smile  and a 'tout droit' in what was the correct direction but the twists and turns of the town meant that was impossible. Eventually,seemed like an eternity, I had to give in to Sat-Nav as Pauline thought I would explode with rage or worse! BTW it is a lie,it's 5 mins ! Is this the worst place to drive through in Touraine? 

What's in a name?

 

A friend served me this the other night, bought it because it amused him,assured me he wasn't making a judgement. 

Wednesday for windows - window dressing at Barrou

 

On the annual brocante day (first Sunday in August) here in Barrou one of our favourite houses in the village gets a little window dressing.

Monday's short walk - missed & mist!

I missed out on yesterday's walk at Yzeures-sur-Creuse as I was away replenishing our wood pile. As I was driving did think that it would not have been a great morning for taking pictures as this was my view as I headed up behind Le Grand-Pressigny.

As I was heading back to Barrou it was clearing until I went back into the valley where I went back through a curtain of mist.

Autumnal morning Barrou

 

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - Barrou

 

Remember,remember...

 

Last night our hosts David and Jane brought bonfire night to Touraine yet again and as ever, provide all the ingredients for a great night, good food,friends and music.