April back home

What a disaster Brexit is, we have a withdrawal agreement, that on the HMRC website seems to  suggest someone with a valid passport and Carte de Séjour can travel to France.  Not the case, I was turned away at the gate.  I came back to the UK for my Mum's funeral  (seven days) and after four additional boring days waiting for call backs, I eventually got an emergency passport.  Apparently looking after three children under 14 is not an emergency!  This cost me an extra flight, nearly £200, extra parking £122, lucky I had a place to stay.  Special thanks to my sister who put up with a house pest for eleven days.  It seems the British government deflect the Brexit cockup with Covid, the war in Ukraine and now Rwanda.

Cherry tree

It's now 9th April, we had severe frost while I was away -3, so I am not sure how the plum trees will fare, the cherry is in full bloom and there is a hum in the air from the bees.  Hopefully a good harvest as the geraniums and citrus trees I placed outside prior to the frost seem OK.

We are being filmed for "We Bought A Village" for Channel 4 after a false start, luckily some sun for the drone shots and exterior.  The Grange has been filmed inside and a shot from the balcony,  John who is shooting the series here lives in Gers just down the road.  I think we have a hamlet with five houses and 4.5 hectares of land.

I arranged to buy some furniture from the Château de Brametourte as Alison and Paul are selling up due to Covid ruining their business.  It will be sad when they go as I have had some great times up at the Château.  We partnered with them for a few years and the wedding business was good for La Bastide.  I will buy a super king bed for the Farmhouse gite.

Réalmont Evie testing tractor

Big Lambo

The weekend I was stuck in the UK, I missed the Vide Château and the tractor fair in Réalmont.  As it has not happened for a few years I would like to have attended. I have included a few photos from three years ago prior to Covid.

Joyeuses Pâques - Happy Easter!

It is Easter next weekend and I think the Pâques activities will happen.  In Puycalvel this normally means a long walk (12K, over three hours), Easter egg hunt followed by a meal of omelet with garlic, with the whole village attending.  An apéro is obligatory of course.  My kids found so many one year, the village now collects all the eggs and make sure all the children go home happy!  Easter was a great success with lots of chocolate eggs, bunnies and chickens.

I have rotovated the potager and hope to grow a variety of vegetables.  This week I plan to plant seed potatoes, kale, carrots, beetroot, parsley, onions, radish, and a number of other seeds.  I will also plant some tomatoes and chilis in pots together with basil, to plant out once they are large enough.  I'm sure I will get some help from Evie!  With all the fruit it should be a good year.  The seeds indoors have all sprouted and will end up on the potager when big enough. 

On road to La Bastide

It's been a wet spring, but with some sunny and warm days.  Orchids are flowering and birds are arriving, the first cuckoo arrived on the 9th, swallow and golden oriole 10th and since then nightingale, blackcap, turtle dove and black redstart have all taken up territories.  Others will arrive soon.  The birds may have arrived earlier, but I was stuck in the UK!

I'm busy planting up beds and pots with flowers and cutting grass.  With the rain, the grass has grown a lot.  I have taken down the tent that was blown over by the "Vent du Tarn" wind that I call a hoolie.  Two poles have broken and I will buy two more from a supplier in Portugal.

In May we have the Vide-Greniers in Cuq, Montdragon (maybe a few tractors) and Damiatte.  So that will keep me busy at weekends.  Friends are coming to stay at the end of May and August, it will be great to see friends I have not seen for two-three years.

Fantastic pool

Well the season starts tomorrow and we have a number of bookings and are getting enquiries daily, so I think the clear weeks will quickly be booked up.  The pool has been prepared and looks crystal clear. The solar heating will be commissioned Tuesday. I am busy with the Kärcher  cleaning and doing lots of gardening!  

Looking forward to warmer weather and the new season.