April and self isolation in the Tarn.

Smooth Golden Fleece by the pool

We are in a strange world where self isolation is the rule, airlines are grounded and holidays are put on hold.   People either get a mild form and come through the disease with the antibodies to fight the next time they contract Covid-19 (although it's not yet proven) or unfortunately people die.  I have just heard that close friends have contracted the virus and are seeing what the next 72 hours bring:  After feeling a bit better after two days they relapsed, however within a week my friend's wife and mother (86) both fully recovered.  My friend John had more severe flu like symptoms and it took two weeks fighting the virus to beat it.  Thank goodness they are all now on the road to full health.  I think we have to learn to live with Covid-19, like flu which comes around every year.

After a good number of bookings for this season, we are obviously looking at a quiet year with most of our customers postponing until next year.  Something to look forward to!  When the world beats this pandemic. The bad news for the kids are that our friends cannot come to stay until the borders are open and governments work out how people can safely travel.

We feel lucky to be in the countryside, just listening to the news rather than being one of the statistics.  We keep in touch with friends and family like everyone else with Zoom, WhatsApp, Messenger, telephone and email.  Even the odd snail mail in the postbox...much to Evie's delight.

Pool in April

Toms first swim

It's April and the pool is open, the winter work paid off and after three days using the pool robot and filtration, the water is crystal clear.  It is cold 18-20 degrees, but that does not seem to stop Charlie and Evie from playing in it all afternoon.  Even Tom who does not like the cold ventured in for a few minutes.  No solar heating as it was drained and we cannot get the plumber out.  The temperature is 26 degrees in the shade, a lot hotter in the direct sunlight.  The trees across the valley are tuning green and will soon join the conifers to become one expanse of green leaf.

Our first Turtle dove arrived on 9th April with a Nightingale 11th  (they have already started to sing...…..all night to attract a mate) there are currently five territories with singing males.  They have joined the Black redstarts and Blackcap warblers looking for nest sites.  Our first male Golden oriole arrived and I hear its jungle call most days.

 Swallows should arrive soon!

Serpents Tongue orchid

We are situated in the Zone Calcaires, which means from March to July we have up to 25 orchid species growing in the woods and meadows.  I feel lucky to see a meadow with over 1000 Loose flowered Orchid (Anacamtis Laxiflora) called Orchis à fleurs lâches in France.  We have found around 14 species at La Bastide since we have been here, including the largest, the spectacular Serpents tongue orchid (Himantoglossum Hircinum)  which appears May to July and grows near the swimming pool.

We have been baking bread, rolls and both Charlie and Evie, have made cup cakes.  Evie raspberry cupcakes with coconut icing and Charlie chocolate with more chocolate in the icing!.  They are now swapping cup cakes!

Raspberry Cup cakes

Cherry Tree

Cherry Blossom

Our cherry trees are blossoming and there is fruit on the damsons, cherry-plums, plums and apricots.  It also looks like a good amount of figs are starting to appear as small versions that will eventually become handfuls of edible treasure.  Our orchard has the first pear and apple blossom and this year again, promises to be a good year for fruit.  We even have some almonds starting to grow.

Sussex hen

The chickens in the orchard seem happy and are producing two eggs a day and this week we had a huge egg that turned out to be our first double yolk.  Our dog Lilou is fascinated by the chickens, and were she a fox!, luckily there is a two metre fence around the orchard.

I just heard the news that France will be in lock-down until May 11th.  I am not surprised.  I telephoned my Mum in the UK who is 86 and in a care-home, thank goodness they cannot receive visitors for a while.

Island kitchen being installed

Deck being constructed

A year ago we started the build of the apartment (almost finished, halted due to the pandemic) there are photographs in previous blogs.  This time last year Jean-Philippe and myself upgraded the cottage with a new wooden floor, Martin Moore kitchen and deck overlooking the valley.

As you can see from the photographs, it was finished early last May for the 2019 season and is probably my favourite gite.  What a kitchen, and with a secluded deck, providing a great view over the meadow and the valley beyond, it's a little slice of heaven.

View to deck

Island kitchen

Cottage kitchen view to French doors

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Well that's it, we will see what the new normal is when we come out of the present crisis.  One of the benefits of self isolation is I am working my way through my Gin collection.  Cheers!

Keep safe, from all at La Bastide.