May and June

Log Burner

Our season started in May with visitors from Scotland and a couple who sold everything in order to travel through Europe who for six months living in a caravan, the cottage's four walls and wood burning stove proved a welcome stop before heading off again.

New Cottage Bath and shower

Just time for a bathroom update with a new bath and shower for the cottage before more guests arrived.  The result made the room seem bigger and is now more suitable for families with small children.  Each gite now has a bath which I am told is rare in France.

Cottage bedroom

Yum

We had friends visit and Janine's Mum came for a few weeks for a 60th birthday party, the French did not know the Brits could cook sausages - French style. It was a fun event with everyone enjoying trying to understand each other!

Super food at Ambrosie

Bio Wine

We visited Ambrosie, a restaurant in Albi that has become a firm favourite since we sampled the house aperitif and great food.

The weather has been changeable with one of the wettest springs on record, however we are now reaching the mid 30's and guests are enjoying the pool, with the water about 25 degrees.

Réalmont market

It has been the wettest winter since we arrived and the farmers had to wait to mow the meadows and start the garlic harvest.  Fresh garlic is now available at Réalmont market and we are enjoying cooking with this great local product.

Later in the month, Janine's father and step mother arrived to plan a 70th birthday party.  We of course took the opportunity to check out a fabulous Toulouse restaurant, Les Sales Gosses and visit the famous Xavier cheese shop.  The kids had a chance to play in the pool and spend time with Grandad.

I spent a week in the UK visiting the doctor and friends.  One of the highlights being a weekend watching England win 6-1 against Panama followed by a football competition complete with beer and vodka (the World Cup is in Russia after all) as well as bacon sarnies and lunch of paella.

Janine spent a long weekend in Gruisson on a very windy beach, but had a relaxing time.

The spring bird migrants are back with Hoopoe in the garden, Bee-eaters and Honey buzzards overhead.  The highlight was a Booted eagle in the garden!  Gave the dog a bit of a fright!!

Golden orioles call over the valley which is very magical  The Nightingales have stopped singing all night as they have found a mate!  The Hen harrier male and female are quartering the fields looking for prey to feed their chicks, lets hope they don't like chicken...

Our Bantams stopped laying for a few weeks, but have now started. again.  Perhaps they want to move into the big chicken house, which they can see in the orchard.  We plan to house eight more chickens which the kids will get during the summer holidays.

The horses temporarily on our meadow disappear to work, during this time we all miss them, especially Evie.  We secretly hope that Cedric who owns the horses will continue to need a pasture for them!

We have bookings for next year for weddings as we are working with Alison and her team of the  Brametorte Chateau featured in Escape to the Chateau.

Today is sunny and hot, around 35 degree's, cool pool here I come.

Carmaux market