Fete de la Saint-Jean

Good little get together last night for the 'Fete de la Saint-Jean' here in Barrou. Traditionally a fire is lit as the sun sets on 'Saint John's Eve' (23rd June), in celebration before the Feast Day of Saint John the Baptist, We were a little early but these things are not important here in rural France

The spell of Southern Touraine

Our departing guests at 'Les Balcons' had 'done' the major chateau and sites on previous visits to the region and wanted to sample the delights of Southern Touraine...they left happy!

Here is their comment from the guestbook

"Jim & Pauline thanks for a lovely stay, 'Les Balcons is a very fine 'gite'. everything we needed,all perfect. Our time was very tranquil and relaxing, just the job!"

Back on track...

It had been a wee while since we had walked with the randonnee  club so it was good to get back out with them yesterday for a 10km trek in the countryside between Le Grand-Pressigny and Abilly. 

Something for the weekend...brocantes 16th/17th June

Abilly 'Jam Festival' brocante

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 16th June

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

LUYNES  Vide-greniers ?

ORBIGNY  Vide Grenier des Sapeurs Pompiers ?

  

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 17th June

ABILLY  Brocante et Fête de la Confiture ***

AMBILLOU  Fête du Plan d'eau - Brocante Vide-grenier ?

ARTANNES SUR INDRE  Vide-greniers ?

BEAUMONT EN VERON  Bric à Brac **

BETZ LE CHATEAU  Vide-greniers **

  

CHAMBRAY LES TOURS  Vide-greniers ***

CHATELLERAULT - Au lac de la Forêt Vide-greniers, Brocante ***

CHINON  Brocante Mensuelle **

CHINON  Bourse Multi Collections *

CHINON  Le Petit Tertre - Peintres, Artisans d'art *

  

LA VILLE AUX DAMES  Vide-greniers ****

LARCAY  Vide Poussettes Vide Jardin ***

LIMERAY  Vide Grenier ***

MOUZAY  Vide-greniers **

PORTS  Vide Grenier **

PORTS SUR VIENNE  Brocante ?

  

SAINT PIERRE DES CORPS  Vide-greniers *****

On cue beehaviour...

As I was taking a photograph in the garden at 'Le Bourg' this bee arrived just on cue!

For your (free) entertainment... Fete de la Musique in Le Grand-Pressigny June 22nd

To help celebrate France's 'Fete de la Musique' the 'Comité des Fêtes Pressignois' in Le Grand-Pressigny offers an evening of diverse musical entertainment headlined by the very talented Angie Palmer on the main stage.

Clip from her appearance at the Barroudeurs music festival in 2015

She will be ably supported by Celtiqua... 

'I Don't Know'...

 plus others.

In the church there will be choirs plus the beautiful harp playing of Anna Tanvir.

There will be smaller 'stages' set up within the village where other acts including a few songs by me accompanied by the talented guitar playing of Dominique. There will be food and drink on sale... something for everyone.

Helping to celebrate...

We were delighted to join friends for lunch yesterday to help celebrate Dave's birthday ...no prizes for guessing where we were!

Working up a sweat...

There are many ways for working up a sweat but preparing a house and garden for guests in 26 degrees isn't to be recommended. On a positive note our new lovely guests at Le Bourg arrived bang on time! 

How do you like your eggs...

For lunch on our visit to Blois we choose  the 'Au Bouchon Lyoness' on Rue des Violettes just behind the chateau. It proved to be a good choice with a well priced hearty menu with win by the carafe (which we saw being poured from a bottle). For our starters Mike and I choose poached eggs in Beauglais something neither of us had tried before ...yummy!

Welcome to the house of fun?... 'La Maison de la Magie'

As part of our avoiding the rain on our outing on Tuesday to Blois, after our visit to the chateau we decided to check out the 'La Maison de la Magie' - something we had only done from the outside on previous visits.

On being led around the back of the building to a rather unimpressive entrance I was not expecting a 'magical' experience.

Inside did prove disappointing although the magic show in the theatre was well done, if a little tame. The school party certainly enjoyed the experience as well as some of the 'illusions' they could try out. A visit for younger children I think...adults only should just take in the free dragon display externally. 

Something for the weekend...Sunday's brocantes

CHANCEAUX SUR CHOISILLE

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 10th June

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

CHANCEAUX SUR CHOISILLE  Vide Tiroir - Vide Greniers ?

CHOUZE SUR LOIRE  Vide Grenier *

CLERE LES PINS  Brocante de Clere les Pins ***

COURCELLES DE TOURAINE  Vide Grenier au Château des Sept Tours **

JOUE LES TOURS  Vide-greniers Jfct Jouéfootball Club Touraine ***

  

LA RICHE  Vide-greniers *

LUYNES  Vide-greniers ***

MONTS  Vide Grenier ****

NOUZILLY  Vide-greniers des Maronniers ***

  

SAINT GERMAIN SUR VIENNE  Vide-grenier ***

SAINT MARTIN LE BEAU  Vide Grenier ?

TAUXIGNY  Vide Grenier *

VERETZ  Vide-greniers **

Queen for the day...

We had,along with friends Mike & Liz, intended visiting this year's garden festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire yesterday as part of Pauline's birthday day out but the inclement weather made for a change of plans...a revisit to Chateau de Bloise where she could at least be queen for the day!

The strawberry patch that keeps on giving...

The strawberry patch at the 'Old Walnut Mill' is producing fruit in abundance again this year and they are delicious!

A welcome ready in Centre-Val de Loire

The Old Walnut Mill holiday cottage in Barrou welcoming at any time day or night! 

Recent guest comment " We dream to return one day"

Hedging my bets

Spent yesterday cutting the Laurel hedge in front of 'Les Balcons' as we prepare the house for guests arriving on Friday. With the uncertain weather we are currently experiencing we took advantage of a fine day to concentrate on outside work.

A fond farewell... last night at the Pourquoi Pas

We were with friends last night at the 'Pourquoi Pas' at Ciran to listen to 'I Don't Know' (plus Dave Brown) perform for the last time for Réjane as the bar is closing down. They made sure she had a great send off!

Something else for the weekend

Website

Full weekend of music with everything from jazz to brass bands this weekend here in Touraine plus you can get out and about in the garden events taking place.

Fete De La Rose At Chateau Du Rivau

Something for the wekend - brocantes 2nd/3rd June

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 2^nd June

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

CHATELLERAULT  Vente de Solidarité Emmaüs ?

CHINON  Vide Grenier les Closeaux **

CINQ MARS LA PILE  Vide Greniers ?

      

TOURS  Vide-grenier Ehpad la Source ?

TOURS  Vide-greniers Place Velpeau ?

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 3rd June

ABILLY  Brocante Vide Greniers Randonnée ?

AMBOISE  Bourse Jouets, à la Puériculture et aux Vêtements d'Enfants *

BALLAN MIRE  Brocante Vide-greniers **

BENAIS  Vide-greniers ?

BENAIS  Brocante Vide Grenier **

CANDES SAINT MARTIN  Vide-greniers *

CHAMBRAY LES TOURS  Vide Greniers ***

CHATELLERAULT  Vente de Solidarité Emmaüs ?

CHATELLERAULT  Les Puces de Blossac **

FRANCUEIL  Vide-greniers ***

LA CROIX EN TOURAINE  Fête du Poney ?

LANGEAIS  Vide Grenier *

  

MANTHELAN  Vide Grenier ?

MONNAIE  Vide Grenier du Basket de Monnaie *****

MONTBAZON  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

MONTLOUIS SUR LOIRE  Bourse Multi Sports Cyclisme Foot Rugby etc*

MONTS  Brocante Vide-greniers ?

  

TOURS  Vide-greniers  Espace Jacques Villeret rue de Saussure **

TOURS  Vide-greniers Rochepinard ?

TOURS  Vide-greniers rue des Douets ?

TOURS  Vide-greniers Quai Paul Bert ?

VEIGNE  Vide-greniers du moulin ***

You know I like coincidences...

On our way to see the adorable Ada in Scotland because of the two flights we have to take there and back I took the unusual step for me, of taking a book to read. I chose an old Ian Rankin novel, 'Open Doors' partly as I had never delved into his murky portrayal of Edinburgh in text and also for the obvious reason as that was our final destination. The book was,I think, his first first departure from his Rebus character so that also intrigued me, it centres around a heist in the art world of the city. 

The day before we took our water of Leith walk the story had the pursuing detective taking a rare day off to visit 'St. Bernard's Well' with his family during 'Doors open day' and there we then were passing the Greek Doric styled well on our walk!

BTW still haven't finished it...

Pauline pixilated or is that pixelated?

After the Chambon brocante on Sunday we headed over to the rose festival at Chedigny  where Pauline was distracted from the roses by this pixelated t-shirt.