September end of the season

It's still hot quite often over 30 degrees, however we had a thunderstorm recently, that at 1am passed over La Bastide in a spectacular way.  Sheet lightning every few seconds, wind and torrential rain  The trees were so dry that a number came down or lost large branches.  The entrance to La Bastide was blocked by a tree until someone with a handy chain saw cleared the road.  It rained for a few hours after that, but the next day was dry and dusty.  We need several weeks of rain for the grass to return and trees to stop dropping leaves.

We have guests in the Farmhouse and Grange until the middle of the month.  It has been a good season, with lots of dogs being brought along, five at the last count.  All behaved well and Lilou walked and played with some of the larger dogs.  Our walk to Bald hill an exciting race!  Last guests arrive at the end of September to stay in the cottage.

Hot dog, 24 degrees westerly wind 7:30 am

Apéro night involves drinking beer and wine, chatting and now Petanque (Boule).  It started on slightly uneven car parking and after eight or so games we are now playing on a boule court.  Most use the under arm throw with the hand back towards the cochonnet (jack), some bowl under arm, which on a rough surface is a disadvantage.  I have been on the winning team twice and there is a lot of banter.

I have planned a UK road trip to see friends across the country.  I will attend a 50th birthday party in London, then travel to Cornwall to stay with friends whom I have not seen for four years.  Back to stay with friends in Brighton, Selsey and Weybridge.  In all, over three weeks travel.  Even with all the travel, I will miss good friends and family that are not easy to reach by train.  When I get back I have booked a ferry from Toulon to Corsica for Toussaint. The kids will enjoy the pool and beaches.

Leo and Juliette who live in the apartment, will look after the chickens, ducks, dog, cats, budgerigars and the last guests.  The good news is one chicken is laying and I had my first duck egg in two months.  Bob, as Evie has christened the duckling  (even though I think it's a duck) is at last outside.  Bob started life in a guinea pig cage with a heat lamp, then outside and after dark in the bath!  Boy did it smell.  It's doing well despite being chased around by his/her mother.  It's a handsome duck, white with a speckled brown band across chest.

Video of Bob

Maize

Summer visitors have gone or are getting ready to migrate.  Swallows dive bomb the pool for water most evenings.  Having looked at the photo of the dead "honey buzzard" mentioned in last months blog,  I have now concluded after some research that it was a Short-toed eagle - never seen a live one around here, but we get Honey buzzards every year.  This week I saw three crane fly over.  Farmers are ploughing, spreading manure and will start to crop sunflowers and maize soon.  They also hope it will rain!

It's cooler in the night down to 14 degrees, but staying hot during the day, early September 30+ degrees, mid September 25-33 degrees with late September still comfortable to eat and drink outside.  The pool is 25 but will start to get cooler, but is an ideal temperature on a hot day.

This month the Queen passed away.  Having been there throughout my life, it is a sad time.  She was respected around the world, even if you were not a royalist like myself, I had a lot of respect for the way she lived her life.  King Charles III will be a great King and from an environmental point of view, what is required for the world moving forward.  He has immense knowledge of the natural world and the world's people. The King's speech was very poignant.

Le Jardin du Clocher

Friends arrived from the UK. Grandad and Sandra for two weeks. Sam and Catherine for a week and Riley, Jasmin and Andrew a long weekend.  We had lots of fun, BBQs, Mojitos and very late nights.  Riley and company went to Perpignan then Toulouse before flying home.  Grandad celebrated his birthday at the fabulous Le Jardin du Clocher restaurant in Lautrec.  We followed this with a light supper, salad with prawns and a few games of the card game Monopoly!  Much more cut-throat than the board game.

Sunset from the terrace

Tonight a BBQ with a Quiche Lorraine and salad starter (cooked this morning) followed by chicken marinated in Lautrec garlic and Toulouse sausage, more salad, this time Greek and a cold potato salad with cornichon and mayonnaise.   We finished the two week holiday with a cassoulet and parmesan and thyme encrusted roast potatoes, cooking in duck fat  and washed down with great wine.  Prawns in garlic and chili with salad and a nice Sancerre concluded the holiday.

 

Hunting season has started.  It's very traditional in France but highly monitored with regard to what they can shoot and when.  The season starts here in the Tarn, 13th September to the end of February on Wednesday mornings and Sundays.  Other than the sound of dogs barking the the odd discharge from a gun it's still quiet.  In nine years I have seen a hare shot and a few deer bounding away, over the fields and into the woods. 

Everyone has now left so September and La Bastide will be even quieter.  I will see friends for brunch and an old friend from Brookland's College, where I worked in Weybridge, forty plus years ago.  We will have lunch at a golf course restaurant in Mazamet.

Thanks to everyone, friends family and guests who visited La Bastide in 2022.  You all made 2022 an enjoyable season and I hope everyone will visit again.

Dusk by the cottage