More 'Brocantes Bizarres' in the Loire.

It's amazing what you find at brocantes.

More comfortable chair for a marathon runner perhaps?

"Is it safe?"

On a clear day...

Yesterday morning saw us awaken to our first sign of  frost on our car windscreen - small as it was,here in the Loire Valley. There was also what reminded us of a good old Scottish haar drifting along the river Creuse .We knew we were in for a bright sunny day.

In-tent(s) excitement!

Well, myself, Pauline and our friend Karen joined the audience for Boltini's circus extravaganza  and we are glad we did. The troupe of 10 performers worked very hard to entertain us with a series of animal training (no zebra or lion by the way) juggling , balancing and some humour much appreciated by the kids. Our lack of French saw us buying ring-side seats, the only people who did, as we thought the options were standing or seated (chaises adultes). We hope our French neighbours did not think we were being 'standoffish' just ignorant!

 The Barrou audience.

 Apprentice clowns.

 On balance, fine performances.

I worked out that they probably took in about 300 euros which did not seem like a great deal of money for their efforts, work or their expenses - how do they survive? It would have been good to see more of the village families there - perhaps the commune should offer this as an annual treat benefitting both the village and circus families.

Here is a little sample of of what we were treated to.

Now contain your excitement!

Circus a perdu!

Last night for our walk,we decided to go down to the stadium just outside the village (Barrou) and check out the circus' location and size. There were posters like the one on my previous post on almost every post as we made our way (too many posts?). I had previously pointed to an odd sign as we drove back to the village earlier in the day that seemed to be pointing in a different direction but decided it was all part of the déviation  due to our current roadworks (that are again at a standstill). On reaching the stade we found nothing , though the last poster did have an explanation. Apparently there was a problem re size,access perhaps,certainly not area but could they not have modified at least one of the posters actually in the village?  It was now behind the village workshops - ah France!

Still it was a pleasant walk and I got a couple more 'autumn' shots in.

We did eventually get to the big top and had a preview of some of the 'wild' animals, which seem to consist of a llama, a heavily bearded goat ,two miniature ponies and the most fierce - well it was the only one we could see still behind bars in its own large cage - a goose!

Their posters show a lion and zebra which we can only assume were too precious to be on show - can't wait for tonight's performance...

God only knows...

Today is our 36th wedding anniversary - if someone had told us back then that we would be living in Southern Touraine in France and celebrating these occasions we would have said they were crazy - but in France we are and so glad we have ended up here - we feel very fortunate.Like most brave people who have made the move here, we have a tale to tell of good times and bad but through everything we are here. It can be challenging and being with your partner 24/7  is a good test of any relationship - we don't always come through unscathed but we are here together - in it together. We like to think we work quite hard (and play hard) but the rewards, humble as they may be, are enough, as after 36 years there really isn't much you need materailistcaly.

The only cloud on our horizon  is the fact that my younger brother 'Robert' is struggling health-wise and at a time when he should be out swinging a club around his favourite golf courses in Fife,(he only recently retired from a career in the RAF) he is finding every day a challenge. I struggle sometimes,like so many others, with with the 'whys' and find it a little difficult to feel the contentment of our own situation,

One of my favourite songs of Paul Simon nails it for me:

God only knows 
God makes his plan 
The information's unavailable 
To the mortal man 
We work at our jobs 
Collect our pay 
Believe we're gliding down the highway 
When in fact we're slip slidin' away 

Circus is coming

Actually it arrived this morning  - just caught them as they passed the house.

We have decided that we will have to go just to experience it. Last time we were at a circus?-must be 20 years ago, with our three boys -seem to remember it wasn't that good, with everything looking very tired. Why would a circus stop in a village the size of Barrou (<500)? Will let you know how the circus a la Loire i goes.

...and in Barrou

The last few days has seen blue to grey skies and then back again the blue days have been lovely and warm -in the 20's and in October - great!

Attention!

 By the river Creuse 

Rue de Lesigny

A touch of Autumn in Le Grand Pressigny in the Loire.

Down our ('Le Balcons') street,

click to enlarge

A short story.

A tale of tôle and a tree.


Once upon a time there was a tree and some tôle (iron sheets) that lived harmoniously alongside each other in the lovely Loire Valley in France.

Then they didn't!

The renovation of our barn should be starting soon and although the demolition of the lean-to at the back, was in the original devis (quote), I decided I could knock it down myself and save a few  euros - and I did! 

Extended shelf life?

Shopping at our local 'Intermache' I found this 2006 Château Léoville-Las Cases wine from the Saint Julian  appellation in Bordeaux and wondered would it ever leave the shelf - do people really come here for a 164 euro bottle of wine?

Maybe Jim from 'Jim's Loire' could answer this one.

 It would, I'm sure, be wasted on my uneducated palate but it would be great to taste to see if the difference is in the price!

Elopement scare!

During the summer I noticed Madame scarecrow who was in a garden just along from the post office in Le Grand Pressigny had gone - had she run off with  Monsieur who lives just outside Etableau I wonder?.

Can you imagine what their kids might look like!

Or maybe there was just nothing worth scaring any more here in the Loire Valley!

Winning post?

After our visit to Le Petit Pressigny on Sunday morning Pauline and I set off to meet friends for an afternoon at the races at nearby La Roche Posay. We have been there a few times now but it was our friends' first time - they were impressed! They were also lucky, with a misplaced bet (wrong number chosen) ending up netting them 98 euros for their 2 euro bet. I was hopeless - probably as I was trying to make sense of the race-card. It is really odd - the first race, which we missed, seemed ok with a variety of named horses competing in a flat race.The next was horse and chariot (is that what they're called?) where all the names of the horses began with 'U'  then a flat race again where the horse's names either began with 'T' or 'S'.Then two races again where they were all 'T again',one for 'P' 'Q' and 'R's and the final race all 'S's If anyone out there can enlighten me, I'd be grateful. Are they named for the day? Avoiding the taxman? Plus the 'form' of the horses was all over the place - few had ever won a race. Maybe they trawl the country looking for horses with  names that begin with a particular letter and who haven't won a race, to give one of them their first win - no, that would be too complicated!

click to enlarge

As an example of how bad my selections were can be seen in the pic. above, I only just got my horse into the frame with another runner - you wont be surprised to know it did not make up the distance and remained last!

I remembered too late that my most successful bet here on previous outings had been when I picked  the horse who had the jockey with the ugliest costume! Anyway we all agreed it is a pleasant and fun way to put in an afternoon, especially if you win!

You can sample the atmosphere here 

and here

Just as I suspected!

At 8.15 am this morning we had this fellow bang outside our front gates, yes as I suspected, work has started on tarmacing  the pavements today and our week of peace had ended.

Tarmac

Did you know the process for road laying as we know it today was actually the idea of a Scotsman - John McAdam born in Ayr in 1756 ( where Pauline lived from the age of 11). His method of laying large stones then smaller ones on top finished with gravel to bind everything together became known as the 'McAdam road' and the standard for road laying throughout Britain at the time. These roads were the forerunners of the bitumen based roads of today, known as tarmacadam after the man himself. Over time this has been shortened to tarmac.  Apparently the first actual tarmac road (in 1854) was laid in Paris - another French first.   

Footnote:

As we were leaving Le Petit Pressigny on Sunday morning we met Tim and Pauline who were going to savour some 'art and lard'. Pauline is a 'McAdam' and she had told us at an earlier meeting that at school she was sometimes called 'tarpaulin' - not too subtle for you I hope!

Her art was pants!

A bit like the Betz le Chateau's 'banana party' the village of Le Petit-Pressigny's 'Fete d'automme' which goes under the heading of  'l'art et lard' had intrigued me. So off Pauline and I went yesterday to see what it was all about. It consists of a food market ( marche gourmond) and arts & crafts market (marche artisanal), with the art being displayed in the homes and gardens of the locals - which is a great idea for someone like me who can appreciate the houses as well !

The drizzly start to the morning meant a damp start to the festivities with the bouncy castle remaining deflated along with the atmosphere.

These types of Loire Valley events rely on fair weather conditions and the efforts of the village deserved better - hopefully it would improve as the day went on.

The most interesting (?) display Pauline and I found was by Coco Texedre - with her show of 'pants' (hence the title) in various forms of art media. 

We bought a lovely book of  paintings of the Canton de Loches by Nathalie Desperches-Boukhatem which is further enhanced by the inclusion of  portraits of a senior citizens of each of the towns and villages she features.

We are blessed here in the Loire Valley and France with the way these type of events are supported - long may they continue.


As ever you can click on the pics. to enlarge.

Got to admit its getting better.

Despite  having suffered various trucks and machinery outside our gates over the last month or so we have at last returned to a period of relative calm, even though we know it will be short-lived. Since the work on pipe laying and pavement forming was completed we have only had the noise of cars ignoring the 'route barree' signs to contend with. The respite we think may be because the crew who will do the resurfacing of the road and pavements are currently finishing of a job in nearby Yzeures-sur-Creuse.

Gathering walnuts in the Loire Valley

On a recent walk we came across the not uncommon site of a local man gathering walnuts he was in a cheerful mood and seemed to be enjoying his task in the sunshine. He was a bit of a sage and shared with us the fact that as you get older your body shrinks yet the ground gets further away! I'm sure that those of us of a certain age can relate to this.

We are blessed with sources for walnuts with the village (Barrou) having communal trees plus friends who allow us to share in their 'harvest'. One of our most popular starters for a meal is now a dish of beetroot, this year from our own garden, goat's cheese, from someone else's goat and locally picked walnuts.This is all mixed in a dressing that includes locally sourced walnut oil.

Tastes so much better than it looks!

Pauline's bit:

To make the walnut oil dressing

Crush 1 garlic clove in the bowl and season

Add 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

Add 1 tablespoon of Xeres vinegar 

Mix in 4 tablespoons of walnut oil 

Barrou roots - in the Loire

Caught my neighbour bringing home a new addition to his garden last night. Treemendous cycling skills -sorry!

Barrou route Barree -or is it?

One of the things we have learned in our time staying here in France is that the 'route barree' sign at roadworks does nothing other than present a challenge to the French drivers as to how to negotiate a way past them!