End of an era...

Yesterday  I attended the signing for the sale of 'Le Bourg' in my capacity as proxy. The house had been maintained and managed by us for our Canadian friend Miki for the last ten years. It has entertained guests from all around the world and has made us many new friends, with our frequent visitors, 'the sisters' from the USA topping our popularity poll!

We have witnessed many changes over the years both inside and out as we strived to make it as comfortable and attractive as possible.

I formed a terraced garden for her where there once was a wild slope and looking at the pic. below reminded me of the task it was.

When it was not rented out Miki allowed us to use it for get togethers and over the years it has hosted dinner parties, 'cake club' and our 10th anniversary of being in France, many happy memories!

End of an era...

We said goodbye to Miki, the Canadian owner of 'Le Bourg' yesterday for what may have been her last stay at the house as it is currently up for sale. We were reminiscing about how we met all those years ago (10) and how it has worked out well for us all, with us managing to establish the house as a popular holiday rental with people coming from all around the world and Miki having the house and garden maintained/modified, plus getting a healthy contribution towards its upkeep. It has been fun, even when the work was hard and we have had the pleasure of meeting so many lovely people and made many new friends.

And so it begins...

From this...

We started working at Le Bourg yesterday to prepare it for the coming season.In reworking  the garden  I have created a bit of a monster that needs taming at this time of year to get it back in a fit state for receiving guests. As Pauline says however, what else would a pair of pensioners be doing with their time!

need to get it looking a bit like this

Feeling hot hot hot in the Loire Valley

Working at 'Le Bourg' yesterday in 30 degrees was ok in the cool of the interior... 

but the garden work provided a little bit more of a challenge...phew!!

Returning again and again to the Loire Valley...

Our American sisters are heading home after their usual bumper packed holiday in France.They took in Paris and Chartres and a stay in Burgundy after their visit to Le Bourg here in Barrou.

This was their fourth visit to Barrou and as their comment in the houses guestbook suggests, they hope to return again next year:

"We love being here - our second home. Jim & Pauline are wonderful - so kind and attentive....we have been here four times and plan to be here again next April. We love 'Le Bourg', Barrou and especially Jim & Pauline. There is always something new to do here!"

Friends old and new...

Said an emotional goodbye to our first guests of the season at 'Le Bourg' yesterday. Our four lovely American sisters,who have become friends, on their 3rd visit to Barrou.

Left them as we travel to Scotland to be with old friends on a very,very sad occasion.

First foots...Le Bourg

Our first guests of the season arrived to blue skies yesterday...four lovely American sisters returning for the third time. The house and garden were ready to receive them again...

A ton of work...

Never really thought much about the expression 'a ton of work' but it has hit home over the last couple of days as we have been filling this large sack with weeds from the garden at 'Le Bourg'.The problem now is how to get it onto the trailer!

A walk around Newmarket park...and meeting old friends

On Monday Pauline and I went for a walk around the park that borders Newmarket and took in more Autumn colours. In the evening Miki had organised dinner where we had a 'Le Bourg' reunion with three couples who had stayed at the house over the years, plus friends. It was a great evening and interesting as the couples were all meeting each other for the first time, They did all have one thing in common they had all enjoyed staying in Barrou and sampling the Loire Valley and France.

Forgot to take photo of us all...too busy enjoying ourselves!

Sometimes you don't see the done for the doing...

We are working at the rear garden at 'Le Bourg' just now and its beginning to actually look like a garden! As I was cutting the grass on the lower level my thoughts went back to where our starting point was and to the realisation that we have done quite a bit...but have been too busy doing it to notice! Looking back at old pics tells the story best...more to follow.