Bloomin' 'eck

In the garden at 'Les Balcons'

Waiting to bloom

This tree in the courtyard of the Mairie at Angles-sur-l'Anglin was looking as if it was desperately waiting for Spring to arrive on our visit on the 1st April...compare it to this pic taken on 21st April in previous year!

 

Strength in numbers...

A group of us went over to Preuilly-sur-Claise to support friends performing with the Preuilly-sur-Claise choir in the beautiful abbey church. 

On the night they were joined by a somewhat depleted choir from Azay-sur-Cher (below)

The Preuilly-sur-Claise choir gave us a good variety of songs including compositions from Jacques Brel,Serge Gainsbourgh as well as a negro spiritual standard.

I thought the best performance of the night (apart form David's solo contribution) was when the choirs got together and filled the church a little more with the strength of numbers. Talking of numbers was somewhat surprised by the small number of local people who had turned out for this delightful, free performance.

The church takes on a beautiful glow under its evening spotlight.

Something else for the weekend...concert at the abbey church in Preuilly

Should be some fine acoustics in here!

Something for the weekend...naturally

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Scotsman spotted in IKEA...the iceman cometh!

Brocantes this weekend...Sunday April 15th

Brocantes / vide grenies Sunday 15^th April

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

BLERE  Vide-greniers ***

CHANCEAUX SUR CHOISILLE  Brocante Vide-greniers *****

CHEILLE  Puce des Couturières *

CHINON  Vide-greniers, Vide Penderie **

CHINON  Brocante Mensuelle  **

HUISMES  Vide-greniers **

LARCAY  Vide-poussette - Vide Grenier *

  

LUYNES  Vide-greniers ?

MARRAY  Fête du Village *

  

RIVIERE  Vide-greniers **

  

SAINT BRANCHS  Foire à l'Oignon ***

SAINT LAURENT EN GATINES  Brocante Vide-greniers *

TOURS  Vide-greniers Place Stendhal **

Loire Valley people...

Took this pic of a fellow guest (with her permission) on our visit to Chateau de Montpoupon last Friday. I noticed her hair was a great match for the local flora. Monique runs a chambres d'hotes in Vouvray.

Pottering around on Sunday

After the brocante at Azay-le-Ferron on Sunday we headed over to the open day 'portes ouvertes' at the pottery just outside Le Grand-Pressigny where Magali (the potter) was joined by other artisans displaying their works.

There is a permanent display next to the workshop but she, along with Christophe Aubier (leather worker) also have a shop on Grande Rue in the village. They offer a potting experience at 12.50 euros/hour on site which could be interesting.

The bread oven beside the workshop produces bread during these open days and we bought a loaf to have with our lunch...and very nice it was too!

Sex for sale at Azay-le-Ferron!

Went over to the brocante at Azay-le-Ferron yesterday where an English couple were selling these items on their stall...apparently they no longer had a use for them! Maybe they had it sussed!

It was a bit quieter than previous years but still plenty of 'stuff'' on display or as the pic below shows, some not so accessible.

Now if you are looking for the odd glass!!

Can only imagine the drive home with this lot in the back!

Tricks of the light at Montpoupon

Our visit to Chateau de Montpoupon on Friday on a lovely sunny day meant that the effect of the light through the windows 

A visit to Chateau Montpoupon in the sunshine

Yesterday Pauline and I took up our free invitation to have an early look around Chateau de Montpoupon. The owners,who have the formidable task of maintaining this beautiful place, were very generous with their time and hospitality during the visit.

They have a continuous programme of improvements to make the visit as comfortable and as interesting as possible to compete for  tourists in a area awash with beautiful chateaux.

We have visited the chateau on a number of occasions and would recommend it, as unlike some of the major chateaux, you will have a very relaxed visit around a delightful interior without the crowds ...though I'm sure the owners would welcome them!

It also has a well set out hunting museum covering the many aspects of this,what was once a very popular pastime, in the stables of the castle 

We took a walk down into the grounds to get the imposing view from behind the chateau but the bright sunshine made it difficult to take a good photograph but we weren't complaining on what was a glorious spring day.

American whiner

DIY shopping up in Chambray-les-Tours yesterday so decided to check out 'Holly's Diner' as friends had mentioned it.

Loved the styling of the place, hated waiting to be seated too long, when, as you can see from the pic there were plenty of seats. So long the couple behind us left!

Service wasn't great either and fries were,I'm sure, not fresh, even though waitress went to great lengths to tell us they were not from frozen - probably would have been better if they had been!

Pauline had a small Italian salad which was supplied 'large', did only pay for small however though, because of the size, passed on the side of fries...lucky her. Tried to cheer myself up with a sundae but was more like a slush puppie. Add to this, the pleasant enough staff seemed all over the place - will not be back!

Something for the weekend 7th/8th April

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 8^th April

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

AZAY LE FERRON  Brocante Vide-grenier Foire  ***

BALLAN MIRE  Brocante ***

BOURGUEIL  Vide-greniers ***

DAME MARIE LES BOIS  Vide-greniers **

MAZIERES DE TOURAINE  Vide Grenier ?

NEUILLY LE BRIGNON  Brocante Vide-greniers *

SAINT LAURENT EN GATINES  Bric à Brac ?

SAINT PIERRE DES CORPS  Vide-greniers ***

SAINT QUENTIN SUR INDROIS  Vide-greniers Brocante ***

SAINTE MAURE DE TOURAINE  Vide-dressing ?

TOURS  Foire au Troc Boulevard Béranger ?

TRUYES  Bourse Puériculture, Jouets, Vêtements?

Shopping local...

We were all happy to see the florist reopen in Le Grand-Pressigny at the end of March as it is important for the village and community life. Made a visit yesterday to buy flowers to welcome our first guests of the season at 'Le Bourg'

Peace & love man!

Spotted this camper van at Angles-sur-l'Anglin on Sunday...you can see where they're going with this...

http://motoringartist.com/

Breaking our brocante duck...

It was nice to have a little sunshine yesterday for our first brocante of the year - at Angles-sur-Anglin.

There were fewer stall holders than previous years but still enough to keep us amused before heading over to friends just outside Preuilly-sur-Claise for a lovely Easter lunch.

Can't be here without taking the obligatory photographs from the high viewpoint over the village.

Bluesy in Bossay-sur-Claise

A group of us went over to  Bossay-sur-Claise for another good night of live music last night from the ever popular Angie Palmer. We choose to have the meal on offer which proved a little challenging for our hosts from a service point of view, not helped by "problems in the kitchen" but didn't take anything away from an enjoyable evening.