April

Le petit cabin dans la Forêt

The children are having a Bank holiday before the return of home schooling.  One week before the school holidays, two weeks holiday and one week after, then back to school, unless they extend the lockdown.  Evie, Charlie and I have been building a cabin in the woods, we used the trailer and tractor to take all the materials to the small wood at the entrance to La Bastide.  The kids will be able to stand inside, the roof made of some spare corrugated roofing material  which will be covered in lichen in a few years.  Evie has installed a garden with strawberries and I have put up a hammock complete with mosquito net to keep out creepy crawlies.  It will be great to sleep in the wood during the summer.

This week we played badminton for a few hours and Evie and Charlie did some bike riding and gardening.  Evie is now back in school (26th) and the boys are being home schooled.  They return to school on the 3rd May.

I have had my second vaccination, and I'm pleased to say the vaccination centre was busy.  I even had to wait 30 minutes before seeing a doctor.  There seems to be more talk of vaccination passports in the press, which for air travel I would be happy.  Gibraltar looks like it has returned to normal, except for some mask wearing.  The UK government is easing restrictions while Europe seems to be tightening them.  India and Brazil are seeing an acceleration of Covid cases and really need all the vaccine they can get.

Ian at work

This month, Ian and I continued working on the tractor.  Ian I think, used magic to extract the sheared bolts in the hydraulic hosing.  We have stripped down the engine head, for cleaning and a new head gasket.  Ordered all the parts from Agriline in the UK (far cheaper than suppliers in France). The front tyres have been replaced and we are slowly cleaning the years of oil, dirt and grime off the engine.  We decided to remove the hydraulic fork as it leaked and the new hydraulic connection hoses are very expensive  We will try to sell the whole unit on Leboncoin, a site similar to eBay.  Well, the tractor now has a new wiring loom and turns over.  We had a small issue removing the steering wheel, and after being on 60 years had to resort to a grinder.

Cleaning

It has been sunny and bright, but this week we are expecting a frost, so I will bring in my tomatoes, that are in pots on the terrace.  I have yet to put out the citrus plants, which are now flowering and setting fruit.

Ox-eye daisies

The Nightingales returned on 10th and are now singing with the Blackcap warblers outside the kitchen.  Great to sit on the terrace drinking coffee or a beer and listen to them.  First Golden oriole whistling in the valley on 21st.  All the nest boxes are up, however no occupants so far and I have found two blue tit nest sites nearby.  This week I saw my first Kingfisher flash past at Cambournet sur-le-Sor nature reserve.  A beautiful Snipe fed for 30 plus minutes in front of the hide.  There were the usual Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard and Mallard ducks, Coot nesting and Little grebe.  Swallows have also arrived, with a few diving and drinking in the lake.  I saw my first Hoopoe feeding on a lawn 23rd with Evie on a shopping trip.  My friend Olivier came for an apéro 24th and had heard Bee-eaters.

The tent which was used a few weeks ago is now back down, too cold for the kids in April!   The month seems to have gone by very fast.  We have had in the last week low cloud and some rainy patches, it seems to be here for at least another week.  The agriculteurs will be happy as after a warm spell the ground was hard like concrete and they desperately needed  rain for the crops to grow.

Gites update 

Roses on Grange

The Grange now has new electrical sockets, switches and a few USB sockets installed.  The old ones were 20 plus years old and some had become difficult to plug in appliances.  The Cottage exterior is being painted and a new garden established, complete with grape vine.  We await the pool liner which has been delayed due to Covid, however I hope it will be installed in May as the kids are desperate to swim and we need it ready for the coming season.

July and August are getting booked up, mainly by Europeans. but as borders are relaxed I am sure more bookings will follow.  The business we had from Brametourte chateau has disappeared, as the UK wedding business has been closed and the chateau is up for sale.  I am more positive now that next year we should see a lot more business as people want to have a holiday and get away from all the Covid news.