May 2021

Laundry room, Grange and Farmhouse

Info room

Woke up at 7am (usual time) to a brilliant blue sky, coffee and I am listening to a forgotten group "The Gotan Project" still great, over 20 years since release (didn't know they were French).  May has passed by fast, I must be getting old!  We have nine bookings in July and August so things are improving, but there are changes everyday, borders, restrictions, new variants and people ignoring all the advice given by their respected governments.  A restricted life will go on for a lot longer because people think they know best.  I understand the frustration, but a year will turn into many, until Covid is more manageable.

iconic with farmers

Fordson rebuild

Life has been busy with the odd apéro, overnight "pyjama party," you're never too old!  Ian and I have worked on the tractor, wiring, new number plate, lift cover, bonnet, etc.   It even started after all our cleaning and replacement of parts that were end of life,  Ian was amazed it started first time, we were both very proud of the work so far.  Brakes have been re-shod, which meant taking off the huge back wheels , we used a loaned socket and a pipe (scaffold) un-bolted from the washing line for leverage.

Brake before re-shod

Acacia entrance

The garden is starting to be tidied up, plants, grass and trees grow too fast sometimes.  The roses are all blooming (must tie some to the wall near the barn) throughout La Bastide and every French garden. The new Cottage garden has been planted and will establish itself in a year or so.  Painting the cottage will be completed this month.  Due to the lack of clients, I am using the time to enjoy working outdoors as a gardener, I will clear the paths to the pool, currently gravel, dig out and put a layer of concrete, then gravel on top.  This I hope will keep the paths free of weeds which can take a few days to clear....two to three times a year!  The Grange now has all new sockets and switches including a few USB sockets and new LED outside lights, these replace the seven 500W lights that were left on all night occasionally!

Wild roses

The Melodious warbler is back singing for a mate, competing with the Nightingale, which I can hear singing over the music I am listening to.  I have seen the first Honey buzzard, (8th May) heard Turtle dove and seen the odd Hoopoe.  I hear the Golden oriole daily whistling in the trees.  The Nightjar started to churr (call) on 23rd May.  The kids are still asleep so I have a quiet hour, drinking coffee, reading, listening to music, or loading the dishwasher:-(  It's been an odd year for orchids, some like the pyramid orchid have been profuse, others like the bee orchid rare.  Maybe the rain earlier in the year affected them.

Cabin with slide

It's Saturday, so rugby this morning after breakfast, then a quick lunch and off to "horse"  Evie's pony riding lesson, I usually visit a hide at Cambournet-sur-Sor to watch the bird life.  We have missed two weeks due to holidays.  The cabin (cabane) is finished and Evie wants to test by sleeping inside (outside) and in the hammock.

Apartment entrance

The empty pool is proving a good source of wildlife for Evie to keep for a few days (liner was delayed due to Covid).  So far a toad, mouse and green lizard have walked in.  In the spring they would normally be rescued from the skimmers.  However, the liner has been installed, and will be finished on 31st!, so we can get back to animal water rescue.  I have completed the apartment steps, with 15 tons of granite and a few trees.  Evie has kept herself busy making salads, map of La Bastide, drawing, cycling and always out roaming looking for insects and animals.  The boys seem to have become computer nerds, but to be fair it's been colder then usual.

Evie's salad

The Bank holiday weekend the kids and I went to see friends sing at a Bio event called Biocybèle in Graulhet.  The singing was fun, and there were plenty of food stalls and artisans selling plants, wooden toys, jewellery etc (Evie bought earrings made of clay and wood).  We have attended the event a few times and it's a great way to spend an afternoon.  I always come home laden with plants for the potager (vegetable garden) and terrace! 

Click here to see a short video Choir in Graulhet  they are called "la Rugissante" which translates to "the Roaring".

The farmers are busy cutting silage for their cows.  The fields are being sown with corn and sunflowers.  Garlic rows are now nearly two feet high.  After a dry spell we have had some rain, mainly at night which is great for the garden and the farmers!  The weather is now back to normal, shorts, t-shirt and 30 degrees.  Can't wait to get in the pool with the kids.

Turning silage