Happy Pharrell Williams -'ka-ching'

The Pharrell Williams’ ‘phenomenon’ that is "Happy" is being adopted internationally to promote various cities and the joy of living there. Here in the Loire Valley, France is no exception with a celebration of its ‘joie de vivre’ being showcased in cities such as Angers, Tours and Orleans.

A visit to life's launderette...

Or as we call it here, the 'déchetterie'

Difficult day today - quite traumatised! Pauline had me throwing STUFF out. Some of it I'm sure would have come in handy one day!

The spice of life...

Above is our first brocante purchase of the year - Pauline needed an additional rack to house some of her many spices and as luck would have it ,there it was on our first foraging trip of the year.

Sits quite well in our up-cycled kitchen.

This Saturday (22nd March) there is a small (35 stalls) brocante at Le Louroux and on  Sunday  there are small ( 30 stalls) at Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine and Montlouis-sur-Loire.

A hard day's night...

Tough day today-bus up to Tours (€2.00 each way) with friends Jane & Peter. Lunch in the 'bathroom' at 'Mamie Bigoude'. 

Notice the interesting light-fitting.

Then a bit of touristy stuff like having a refreshment in Place Plumereau...

 followed by wine-tasting at the 'Maison des Vins des Loire'. 

Then it was back to Barrou where we dropped into neighbours John-Pierre and Caroline's for some Champagne to celebrate Caroline's birthday. 

Church on Sunday...Braye-sous-Faye

This Sunday wecan bring you St John the Baptist church in Bray-sous-Faye just outside Richelieu courtesy of Colin & Elizabeth who were kind enough to get us the keys to this normally locked church when we were over for a visit last week. You can see more detail on my Loire Valley site where I will be featuring (in time) my previous 'Church on Sundays'

Taken in Touraine...

This is a photograph of a lintel over a window in a house "La Maison du Poilu" in the village of Bossée in Touraine.

The front of the house also has a soldier with the dates 1914 - 1918 carved below it - it is apparently the work of a then, local stonemason and was done around 1920. We have no further information as to why it was done.  

Upcycling...

Here is our 'upcyclied' kitchen. Old units from here in Barrou and from 'Les Balcons' in Le Grand Pressigny re-fitted and painted.

Spring lamb...

Pauline and I went along to the 'Auberge du Vieux Port' in Maire today with friends to celebrate the fact that it had reopened for the season. 

As ever the food and service were good...

and at around €14.00 per head for five courses wine and coffee the usual excellent value for money.

You can see more here:

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Lovely way to spend a beautiful spring day here in France.

Another 'Taken in Touraine'

This lovely rose covered window was photographed somewhere in Touraine but where? Find out here

Another 'Taken in Touraine'...

...but where?   Find out here

Taken in Touraine...

...but where? find out here

Somewhere different for lunch...

Last Wednesday we had to go up to Tours on business so decided to check out the restaurant who's front we showed in our 'Taken in Touraine' feature - so glad we did. Really quirky interior and great value lunch.

You can see more pics here...

Another 'Taken in Touraine'...

Where was this taken? Find out here...

Another 'Taken in Touraine'...

Where was this chicken's bid for freedom taken? Find out here...

Burns Supper...

Attended our first 'Burn's supper' here in France last night excellent night held just outside Le Grand Pressigny by Dave and Jane...Rabbie would have approved - good company music and haggis!

Another 'Taken in Touraine'

but where?...find out here

Another 'Taken in Touraine'...

but where?,,,find out here.

Expect the unexpected...Acid,Ska,Rock anyone?

 
We had a taste of it in the unlikely place of the salle de fete in Chaumussay on Saturday night...you can check out some more here on my video on youtube.

Taken in Touraine...2

Second of our website's new feature 'Taken in Touraine'...interesting créperie  in Tours - next time maybe go inside! these pics will feature on our http://www.experienceloire.com/ site and blog.

Taken in Touraine

We have decided to have a new feature on our website called 'Taken in Touraine'...here is the first pic. that we have taken many times...this one taken January 4th