June and pool back in action

Field on way to supermarket

Pool fleece

Pool hoover

It's June and summer has arrived.  The new pool liner has been installed, the pool is now filled (it took 3 days and nights) but: I have very happy kids.  After a colder than usual May, June started hot, we had a little rain, good for the farmers, very good for the grass, which needed another cut after a week.  On the way to school we have seen many roe deer in the fields, Little owl and on warm days Honey buzzards, Common buzzards, Kites, Kestrel and Sparrowhawks using the thermals to wheel around the sky.

Liner being installed

The meadows are full of orchids, meadowsweet and creeping birds trefoil.   We have four at La Bastide tall enough to lose small children when they explore.  The grass is nearly three feet high and ready to be cut.  It's a shame the horses are not back as it was great to see them graze and watch Evie ride bareback.

Lautrec on way to restaurant

Cod crumb..yum

Restaurants and bars are open out-side and will open in-side soon  We drank our first coffee outside in the sun since last November, it was great to experience some normality.  We were in Albi at the Prefecture had just finished applying for our residency permit "Carte de Sejour."  After fingerprints, passport check and photo, the whole process only took 20 minutes for the two of us!  Amazingly they arrived in the post within two weeks.  The photos here are from a fantastic meal at Le Jardin du Clocher.

Goat cheese salad

Steak and red wine

Pineapple carpaccio

We were planning a holiday to Spain or Portugal or visit friends and family in the UK, but along with many families we will have to wait and see how countries open up due to yet more variants, this time the Delta variant. It must be hard to decide about vaccinations for children, but these variants seem to be easily transmitted at school and therefore the community.  France has just approved vaccinations for 12 year olds and above, we have two children in that category.  I am sure there will be a few discussions, we are keen not to vaccinate the children, but to travel I believe it will be mandatory.

Our meadows have now been cut and are drying in the hot weather.   The pool is 26 degrees, perfect for me.  I cannot keep the kids out, boy do they sleep well.  This month I arranged a back massage to hopefully make my back feel normal, after a month of it being sore.  A cracking lunch at Le Jardin du Clocher with friends in Lautrec.  It was great sitting in the sun, getting a super meal washed down with a good wine.!  The following weekend will entail strimming the solar farm followed by a BBQ with friends.  Rosé WILL flow.

We have guests from 22nd June and July, August and September are well booked.  As countries are allowed to enter France, I think we will get even more bookings.  We have English, German, Dutch, Belgian and French families booked.  The first group are from a French company, bonding together with Sumo wrestling on the lawn, BBQs, apéro and swimming in the 26 degree pool.  The good news for the children is Grandad will be here in September for his birthday.......the kids cannot wait.  We will have lunch on the lawn cooked by friends who run a catering business.  It promises to be hot so I will hire a gazebo, along with a beer cooler as we will have Sam and Al here with respective wife and girlfriend!  Eleven in all.  It will be fun, Covid allowing.

Well, our first guests who stayed in the Farmhouse left this weekend and gave us a great review, now the washing and cleaning:-(

It's almost the end of June, the tractor is finished and for sale, Ian and I are looking for the next project.  The year seems to be passing quickly, but feeding chickens, ducks, cats and Lilou our dog has become a daily routine, which I look forward too.  Evie along with her hamster, she called Happy, now has two budgerigars, Blueberry and Whitewing.   They talk (chirrup) continuedly and have flown around the room a few times.  We have had a quiet word with Evie ....................No more pets!