A good walk and a load of crêpes!

Yesterdays 'Randonnée des crêpes' in Le Grand-Pressigny in pictures.

Togetherness is...

Pauline and I standing over a hot stove together this morning making 45 crepes as our contribution for this year's 'Randonnée des crêpes' in Le Grand-Pressigny.

Spring is just around the corner...well not too far away!

Spotted this little lone daffodil on our Thursday walk in the woods behind Barrou just letting us know!

Yesterday's outing with the randonnée club - around Barrou in pictures.

What is normal?

You may have seen the 'Bupa' campaign running on TV which focuses on mental health and challenges.  What’s considered to be ‘normal’? Last night as Pauline and I sat in the midst of our current renovation project,small though it is, here in Barrou, she stated that 'this' is normal for us but that another kind of normal might be nice. One where you were not constantly eating dust would be good, or one that offered a settled lifestyle where you knew instinctively where things were, as they would be in their 'normal' place. One that meant we were at a point in our lives where time demands were less important and our choices were,well, our own!

It could be said that choosing me as her life partner was perhaps not her best decision if she had been seeking a 'normal' future. Life has a funny way of directing us down particular paths, some of us choose to go there and others choose not to, preferring the stability of what might be considered as 'normal'. We have chosen to take the paths, was there a plan, not really, a series of events have led us to where we are but through it all we are fortunate to have had,through the ups and downs, choices, where many less fortunate have not.

I am very much aware that Pauline may,like many others, have unfulfilled hopes and dreams that as she toils away (and she does) in the garden or finds her hands stiffening while sanding, she must reflect on but we are doing what our life demands of us and yes at our age she deserves a bit of 'normality' whatever that is. 

We also have children who,to some, might not be considered 'normal' but as lovely people they should not have to worry about fitting into a world that puts unfair demands on them as if it is their responsibility to save it or demands they conform.

All of us have our 'normal' lives to lead and we can only hope we can contribute to the lives of others in some small way to make their lives a little more like the 'normal' they perhaps are striving for...whatever that might be.

As to what brought me to thinking about 'normality', well a 'memory' came up on social media form 2016 (pic above) from when we were creating a corridor and new shower room upstairs here and here we are (below) at it again - for us,for better or worse, this is  'normal' for now!

The bridges of the region...well some of them.

This week on my blog for the region I am featuring some of the bridges of the Loire Valley so thought I would show some of the views from them here. On Monday we featured Chateau de Chenonceau as it qualified as a former bridge - this (above ) is a view from one of its windows.

Yesterday it was the turn of Pont General Leclerc in Amboise which affords great views of the chateau.

Today, as it was Wednesday, we featured the many bridges of Loches - above is a view from the bridge just after you leave the town through  the 'Porte des Cordeliers'  

It's always good to add a bit of culture...

Oor walk yesterday around Le Grand-Pressigny ended with a stroll through the chateau grounds which was a nice way to end it...David who organized the walk even provided a rainbow for our photos.

There were a few stops along the route to point out some of the local history and to afford some photo opportunities...this was taken by Alison at the 'Nymphee'

First of the short walks...

Did our first short walk today, 5km, organised by Comité des Fêtes Pressignois, this is aimed at people who wanted to do less than the usual randonnée club distance of around 12km. There was a good turnout for the inaugural walk around Le Grand-Pressigny.

Lots to look forward too...

Spring guests who have stayed with us in the past in Barrou have enjoyed the season bursting out around them in our beautiful part of France. Like at Chateau de Cheverny above...

in Blois

at Chateau de Montresor

at Chateau d'Usse

and at Chateau de Montpoupon.

Doing it ourselves...

So how did you spend Valentine's Day? We did DIY together...not as romantic as a visit to Saint-Valentin itself but needs must.

Happy Valentine's day...

Gathering clouds over Barrou.

No nothing sinister - simply gathering clouds as we went for our evening walk around Barrou yesterday. 

Best buy...

I have said it before - my trailer has to be the best thing I bought prior to leaving the UK - not just for hauling 'stuff' but also doubles as a workbench as per at the moment for my current little project.

The first hint that spring is coming at the Old Walnut Mill...

The first daffodil opens up at the Old Walnut Mill. So looking forward to spring...my favourite season.

Helping to celebrate a special birthday

Joined friends old and new to help someone celebrate a special birthday in this cute little cottage yesterday very convivial! Pic. is from another visit (obviously).

The theme has been set for this year's Garden Festival'

From the 23 of April  to 1st of November 2020

The 29th International Garden Festival on the theme of

"Les jardins de la terre, retour à la terre mère" 

"The gardens of the earth, return to mother earth"

You can take a walk through last years gardens here

Photos from February...2017

Took this from the car park of Auchan in the north of Tours on way back home after a visit to Scotland in 2017.

Some more images from our Brexit - 'not in my name ' night

Some more pics from our great evening in Barrou - showing more of the peeps who contributed to what was a fun night.