August very hot

Moody sunset

Six or seven am I take coffee on the terrace and watch the sunlight appear on the tree line across the valley, deer feed in the field below the terrace and the birds start to call or sing.  I then have a daily routine; feed the animals, put the duckling in its pen with food and water, check the pool and walk the dog all before breakfast which is normally after ten AM.  In the evenings I watch the sun go down, always incredible when some clouds appear and perform the tasks in reverse.

Early bike ride

It's been a hot August,  around 35 degrees plus for weeks, with a few thunderstorms and a small amount of rain.  The season has been good with guests arriving on 30th for two weeks, a late booking end of September and a birthday party beginning of October.  As I have had three groups of friends visit, we had two birthday parties, lots of BBQs and drank beer, wine, gin and tonic and tried non alcoholic Cinzano with lots of ice.  

Evie, after a tortuous journey, late flight delayed, M25 closed, arrived at 4:30am in Frencham.  She will stay ten days and from the discussions we had, will visit zoos, go fishing in a boat in Worthing, attend a music festival. visit London to shop and generally have a great time.  Tom is also away in the UK.  We flew to Gatwick where he was met by a friend and will stay a week in Weybridge, then at his Grandad's before a car journey and ferry to meet his Mum in Rennes.

The highlights this month have been the Bread festival "fête du pain" in Lautrec, the Marché des Producteurs in Castres and canoeing in Saint Antonin Noble Val.

The fête du pain was incredibly busy, but fun, we ate on trestle tables in the main square, the vegetarian food and wine very good.  Lots of stalls with a lot selling bread and cakes.  We had a beer (IPA on tap) at Les Chevaliers and took in the atmosphere.

St Antonin Noble Val

Les Gorges de L'Aveyron 

Lunch

Saint Antonin Noble Val is about one and a quarter hours from La Bastide in the Tarn et Garonne department in Occitanie.  The Cap Canoe Company is recommended as they speak French and English, visit cap-canoe.com.  The 1/2 day cost is 17 euros per person and they provide all the equipment, a good briefing and collection in a bus for a trip back to town after 3.5 hours of paddling.  You can of course canoe the whole day.  The rapids are easy to ride, fun and not too challenging, there is a weir to navigate and water slide.  Les Gorges de l'Aveyron are spectacular.  Kingfishers, yellow wagtails, large fish and lots of dragonflies follow your journey down river.  We finished with a cold beer and great pizza in the main square.

View from the bridge

A beer and pizza in the square

The Marchés des Producteurs is a must, sitting outside in the 30° plus heat at the end of the day, drinking Rosé with friends and everyone enjoying their choice of food.  The atmosphere is great and I get to see people I know like Guy and Françoise who own Les Vignes des Garbasses.Françoise & Guy Fontaine

For those who have visited you will know all about La Bastide, for those interested or thinking of visiting, below is a summary of what's on offer:-

View from Cottage

La Bastide stands in 4.5 hectares of meadows in a peaceful wooded valley and is an excellent base to explore this unspoilt area of South West France.  It is very accessible via low cost airlines flying into Toulouse, Carcassonne and Rodez.

The Tarn offers something for all the family including many outdoor activities, Gaillac vineyards and some of the most beautiful villages in France.  The area is steeped in medieval history and the town of Albi, which is a world heritage site, is only 35 km away.  Our local medieval town is Lautrec (8 minutes away) which boasts two boulangeries, a bank,  post office, shops and some fabulous restaurants and bars.

La Bastide with maquis

 

 

La Bastide has three choices of fully equipped self-catering gites: The Farmhouse, The Grange and The Cottage.  All guests have use of a large swimming pool (12 x 6 metres) which is protected by a legally approved childproof enclosure and an in-ground 14 foot trampoline.   Free WiFI is available in each of the properties.  The gites can be rented individually, and the Farmhouse and Grange can be opened up to make one large holiday house, or you can book the whole property – ideal for large family reunions!  Each gite has been upgraded with modern kitchens and bath rooms.  LED lighting has been installed in both the interior and exterior areas.

Cottage

 

Built in 1610 the Farmhouse and Grange provide modern facilities in an original setting.  A private terrace makes for long lazy lunches and relaxing evenings with unspoilt views of rolling countryside and beautiful sunsets.  The cottage offers couples their own private space in which to unwind, and enjoy the peaceful countryside.  A large hand-made super kingsize bed and private terrace completes the up-dated cottage.

 

August views

Nature at La Bastide

On three occasions I have seen a badger on the road to La Bastide.  They have a sett on Bald hill which has expanded two fold this year.  One evening I will attempt badger watching with Evie, when the wind is in the right direction, so they do not smell us.  This year I have not had Cirl bunting nest down the lane. also have not seen a Red backed shrike. However, this year a Whitethroat and Stonechat nested successfully down the lane to La Bastide.   The Summer visitors have had a good year with lots of young and will soon start to return to Africa.  I will miss the chatter of the bee-eaters as they fly overhead and the plaintive call of the Honey buzzard over the valley  The Black woodpecker is still around as I heard its distinctive call.  During the week while feeding the ducks a hoopoe flew past.  The autumn passage will start soon and who knows what will turn up.  As it's been so hot  with very little rain (much like the rest  of Europe and the UK) a lot of the trees are stressed, leaves tumble like an early autumn.  I have lost an old apple tree and will have to wait until next spring to see what survives.

Well, more friends visit in September, the kids all return to France and go back to school.  I am planning a UK visit to attend a 50th birthday party in London, train down to Cornwall to visit friends and will visit more friends in Weybridge, Brighton and Selsey.  Late October is the Toussaint school holiday so I will look to plan a visit to Spain for the kids.

Overall it was a great season, not as busy as pre-pandemic, but lots of Belgians, French, Irish and our first British visitors for three years.  The pool was well used and I am pleased to say all the feedback forms incredibly positive. The welcome packs went down well, as did the first night meals.  All we need is more rain!