October travels

Porthleven where the sea covers the church tower in a gale

Food Barn - Tregew

Brewery near Brighton

Back in France after a three week tour of the UK.  I saw friends in Cornwall for a week,  ate great food, swam, kayaked and walked by the sea. Attended a 50th birthday party in London staying at the Princess Victoria pub,.  A week in Brighton walking by the sea, going to Octoberfest (starts in September) then a week in Weybridge and Selsey.  Great fun, food and seeing friends I haven't seen since Covid.  The highlights swimming at night to see Bioluminescence, sea kayaking, great sea food, a totally relaxed time and being with close friends and family.

Sea Kayak in Cornwall video

Brilliant Brill cooked by Paul

Swanpool beach

 

Wellington Arms-Selsey great choice of beer esp IPA!

The UK seems to be in a real mess, Brexit, the conservatives - Liz Truss,  the cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine, just when we need some time of normality!

This blog is all about travel, as after the UK tour, I am taking the kids to a part of France I have not been too, Corsica.  We will drive to Toulon and get an overnight ferry to Ajaccio.  We will spend nine days in Porto Vecchio.  I'm sure there will be plenty of photos in the next blog.

After all the travel, it was great to walk with Lilou to Bald hill.  The broom and scrub had been cut (to make way for grass) and the hill had a different look.  The badger sett is being well used with a lot of new earth.  The views were crisp in the October light, Puycalvel village, the church bell ringing out 11am, Sounal's farm, the water tower and the wind turbines spinning fast due to the westerly wind.  Back for tea and some lunch.

I have been closing the gites for winter, moving outdoor furniture, games, BBQs cushions and pillows from the swimming pool.  The gites have been cleaned and the bedding stored. Services have been turned off.  The pool is ready for winter, however with the blue skies and warm days I am tempted to go in.  I have pruned the vine, cut the grass and started to cut hedges around the farm and grange, the hedging is an ongoing project as there are a number at La Bastide.

Apéro starts Wednesday so I will catch up with my friends.  I plan to visit Jean-Philip's farm for coffee or a beer. I have a few meetings arranged, one with Jean-Noel who is painting upstairs, the salon, Tom's bedroom and the bathroom.  This starts during Toussaint (half term).

Well, its a short and sweet October and very late blog, due to the fact my son has had the laptop while away and I'm just catching up!.  Also just learned you can plug Alexia Echo dot into a decent speaker to get a good sound! So I am listening to my favorite tunes.

Hips everywhere

Final picture great walk in Selsey - Pagham harbor with two close friends, time to talk and contemplate life.  Sitting on a beach overlooking the estuary watching a Marsh harrier was a slice of heaven.

Pagham harbor, photo by Neil