March and April - or how time flies

Time flies, there are lots of orchids, its 28 degrees outside and the pool is starting to warm up, currently 19 degrees - not bad for April.

Tokyo Tower

Niseko Village

March flew by with a trip to Japan to ski and a few days in bonkers Tokyo, a visit to the UK, where all the roads seem to have potholes.

Crab at the airport

It is a busy time for us with all the outside garden work, getting the Gites ready for our season that starts in May.

There are lots of small jobs and projects!  This year we plan to install a bath in the cottage, its here! and we have planned the installation.  The pool has been cleaned and commissioned, and the gazebo has a new roof.  The last succumbed to strong winds.  Pool furniture has been cleaned and setup for the season.

We have a few visitors towards the end April and the season is already very busy with four repeat bookings.  The meadows are covered with spring flowers.

Meadow in our lane

Orchid laxiflora

I had a second trip back to UK to visit business colleagues, and see my Mum who has Alzheimer's, a degenerative disease that eventually takes away all your abilities to look after yourself.  Mum will need to move a a 24 hour care-home.

I was diagnosed with late onset Ataxia, before we moved to France, so it has been challenging.  With the support of my family, especially my wife, I am working to alleviate or cure the symptoms.  I have changed my diet, drinking habits! Do regular exercise and take some supplements. I am working with Dr Downing in the UK and so far everything is very positive.

Orchid meadow

It's spring here and the migrant birds have passed through.  Last night I watched a male Hen harrier quarter the meadow looking for prey.  The nightingales, blackcap and turtle doves are all back.  They are looking for mates and will nest soon.

I am very pleased that the vines I planted around the solar panels have started to sprout.

A small egg a day!

The big news is we finally have chickens, two Sussex Bantam hens live in the orchard and produce an egg a day, Evie loves to feed them and collect the eggs.  We were bought three by friends at Réalmont Tractor fair, an agricultural show where you can buy farm animals, tractors, second hand spares and of course chickens.  On our return  we installed all three in there new home, wings had to be clipped, unfortunately the beautiful cockerel escaped and ran to the maquis.  We hear him occasionally and laugh at the escape and subsequent chase!  He's nicknamed 'Bolt'.  Our large hen house is nearly ready and we plan on having eight chickens to provide enough eggs for us.

Tagada

We are also looking after a couple of very pretty horses for a few months. They belong to a neighbour Cedric.  Evie is enthralled as Cedric's girls ride bare back.  The horses are called Tagada and Odetta and are busy eating the meadow.

We will also start to plant the potager and have created a list of vegetables to grow, these range from spuds to more exotic chilli peppers.

We spent a great weekend on the coast - Gruissan la plage des chalets made famous by the film Betty Blue called 37°2 le matin in France, it's about two hours away.  The beaches are very sandy, the ocean drops gently, so that the sea is shallow great for kids.  We ate at a few of the local restaurants, Tom tested the pizza, we tested the Sangria.  Best Sangria at Candy Ice.  Tastiest Pizza at the Romantica.  We had great food at Le Croq, Le Bouquet Garni and the Romantica.  Really friendly host at Restaurant Les Chalets, who assured us his sangria was the best... rematch planned, I think.

Towards the end of April we visited the market in Gaillac, where we met a clown, bought some plants for the potager and the kids enjoyed playing on a bouncy castle.

Saucisson stall

Flower stall

Gaillac is worth a visit, it has gained recognition due to the wines that bear the town's name.  It is a market town and is the commercial centre of the north-west of Tarn.

The local wine of Gaillac, first made almost two thousand years ago, has two official appellations (AOC).  They are made of the grape varieties Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Duras, Fer Servadou or Syrah.  On the Gaillac terroir, the variety Fer Servadou is known as Braucol. 

The market is great for Saucisson, flowers and plants available during the last April. market.  Local shops such as the "Nulle Part Ailleurs" are fun.

Local artists shop in Gaillac