A weekend of brocanting...

Started off on Saturday at Preuilly-sur-Claise near the plan d'eau.

These seemed awfy deer tae us.

Then Sunday to Palmy around the lake.

On a very hot day an ice cream would have been nice but we were not sure where we could get one.

Then we headed over to Barrou where it is always good to catch up with previous neighbours.

The village had a good display of art in the Salle de Fete as part of the artisanal exhibition.  

Monday's walk around Paulmy in pictures...

 

Monday walk around Paulmy...a walk of light and shade.

For yesterday's Monday walk David took us around the village of Paulmy with much of it on the former railway track.

On a lovely morning the walk, through bright sunshine and shade was just the right tonic to take us away from the current situation which is affecting all of us in different ways. It is always a good opportunity to catch up with people although,as is often the case, the walk is over and you realise that there are many friends you hardly spoke to - but then there will be other walks! 

BTW big shout out to our walk leader David who passed the French hunting license test recently - no mean feat!

Our most bizarre gig?

Dominique and I were asked at short notice to provide some music at the Bar de L'Union at Paulmy last night. It has to reopen its doors at least once a year in order to maintain its license. As we drove up on a very wet November evening it looked enchanting.

The mayor had erected a chapiteau in front of the bar as with the alterations it was now a fraction of the size it used to be. We had to set up inside the tent with heavy rain battering it from the outside with a couple of paraffin heaters to save us from hypothermia! 

I did our first set with my jacket on before braving it for the second - our small audience were well wrapped up for the occasion! Before we started the locals were kind enough to provide a meal for us which included some very welcoming hot soup! We have to thank the brave souls who ventured out on what was a horrible night to support us and the mayor. During the gig I was just thinking how friends of ours were performing not too far away over in a warm hall in Bossée - and feeling very jealous.

*Pics 2 & 3 courtesy of  our friend Fabrice.

Self servicing in Paulmy.

We popped into the new 'shopping' facilities now in place in the nearby village of Paulmy. With a small population (240) the mayor,conscious of the need to maintain its numbers, has invested in a self-service shop in part of what was the former hotel/restaurant.

There are over 90 lockers with some refrigerated for fresh produce such as  meat cheese and yogurts. All the produce comes from local suppliers. You type the number corresponding to the desired produce and pay by credit crd to open the selected locker door.

There is also a baguette making machine in the building which is filled by a local boulanger. The fcilities are open from six in the morning until eleven in the evening so as well as servicing the locals has also created an opportunity to capture some 'passing trade'. 

Yesterday's brocante at Paulmy

Sunday's brocante at Paulmy was a quiet affair and as we were later reminded by dinner guests, the main event is in August around the lake, which wasn't the case yesterday.

What a difference a week makes....

 Top pics from yesterday, snow pics from last Monday