L’année de vie dangereuse

  Saturday evening 25 April 2026 Not to be outdone, another little bastard of a bee stung Flashy Saturday night, while he was relaxing on the couch. Luckily, it was through the shirt, so apart from the incredible pain that men feel in these circumstances, he also survived.   Now, research tells us that these bees, focussed on buzzing about and not sleepily collecting pollen, are guard or stressed bees. Not to worry though, Flashy has strategically placed four reinforced fly swats around the house, all within easy reach should they come back. Sunday 26 April 2026 A croissant and jam for breakfast and a coffee on a little coffee machine that we got at E.Leclerc, on special for 66 € . You may scoff, and it is a bit fragile, but with careful, slow moves, it pumps out 9 bar of steam and makes a good espresso, albeit only one at a time. A milk frother was 35 € , so we figured we’d get both in one unit. The brand you ask? Elsay. Probably made in China or Turkey or Poland or al...

Wednesday 22 – Saturday 25 April 2026 We’re back at LPR preparing for our five day trip to la Loire area with Gavin and Elaine. The last of the gardening has been completed and we’re out of all the herbicides. Not that you can really use them here as it is an Eco area or something. Not supposed to wash your car either, in case the soap suds get into the drains. Although, I think this more applies to the cities. Lady P got stung by a bee today. She is quite allergic to them and probably should a) carry an epipen and b) not stir them up by cutting down their favourite flowering shrub. In any case, while relaxing on la terrace with a gin and tonic, she was attacked. Stung on the face under the left eye. Luckily Flashy was a) only one gin down; b) fully trained in bee stings; and c) able to find tweezers, bee sting patch and antihistamine pills. He does have an impressive pill collection. Under careful observation, we waited to see if we needed to call an ambulance. After an hour, th...

Sunday – Tuesday 19-21 April 2026 Sunday was another beautiful day. Everyone hopes this weather will last. Lots of planning today for our upcoming trip to Vouvray and Vallee de La Loire in two weeks time. An afternoon walk around our village, Beauvais sur Matha, actually saw Flashy walk up a (small) hill. Monday we took a little trip to Tusson, a nearby village that has a cake shop open on a Monday. Remember, she needs coffee before 11.00. Since it’s Monday, everything is shut except for Gateau Salon de The. Inside seating or out on the terrace surrounded by flowers and shrubs (all for sale)? Outside in the sun for us. The Scottish speaking owner (go figure) sells us fantastic cheesecake and carrot cake and average coffee. Flashy notes she is very officious and doesn't smile much. Not at all flirty like the French women. Afterwards, a walk around the village confirms that everyone has been murdered or abducted by aliens. Often the case in small rural villages. Not a soul to...

Friday – Sunday 17-19 April 2026 Friday was another trip to Nanna’s, this time for lunch. In the hour and a half that we dined there were only six patrons but it was a remarkable meal. Starting with local Rose and Colliers red wine, we had the offered three course prix fixe meal. These were all served in an eclectic mix of crockery and just perfect portions. Entrée was whipped cheese and crème fraiche topped with carraway blanched beetroot and plenty of fresh baguette. The English translation was inaccurately described as ‘beetroot cheesecake.’ The plat was a Moroccan bowl of cous cous with broth cooked carrot and potato pieces and the broth served on the side, along with a small bowl of harissa. ‘Be careful, it’s harissa!” Mild really. Even channelling their old empire, the French don’t do spicy. It was topped off with two spiced meatballs. Magnificent combination of subtle but recognisable African flavours. So good, that Flashy indulged in three glasses of wine. Alas, the driver ...

  Wednesday 13 - Friday 17 April 2026 A quick lock up of LPR and we are off to Beauvais-sur-Matha, a little village about 35 minutes due east from us, for an eight day sit of Wilson the black cat. The host Candice greets us for the hand over and we settle in to a very large house, massive shed, on site gite and front and back gardens full of flowers and sunshine. It’s a small village but certainly bigger than LPR. Coincidentally, it’s on the way to Limoges and we passed through here before. Thursday was hot again. Almost shorts weather. A short drive to Aigre for Lady P’s mandatory coffee at Nanna’s café followed by a visit to Super U. Strange how we get excited by Intermache, E.Leclerc and other supermarket visits. Joanne will understand. This part of the world is “-gnac” country. The famous one down the road being Cognac. That’s tomorrow! Roses are out in the back garden. Our villa looking through the rose arbor. Spot the single red one that's just bloomed. Our country kitche...

  11 April 2026 Saturday. Off to Limoges today for some culture. The market was the planned stop and boy, was it good. The ‘Halles” was designed by Gustave Eiffel, so there was some steel in the design. Bricks and glass too. This was a very posh market. Some poncy interior designers must have been employed to display the fruit and veg and the extensive seafood and meats. But, best of all, was the central area of bars, providing liquid sustenance to patrons who may have purchased some oysters, smoked salmon or tapas (French style tartines mainly). However, there was also evidence of a multi cultural element, with Cambodian food and a scented Moroccan food stall. Not knowing that the market would offer so much and mindful of the absolute need for Lady P to have a coffee before 11 am, we had indulged in coffee and chocolate biscuit at a student café, so alas, Flashy was too full for 12 oysters and a glass of Chardy. Between the devil time of 12 to14 hundred when rural France goes ...

Easter to 10 April 2026 Which it was. A good day Monday that is.  A good burger and salmon citronee at Alison’s restaurant by the lake; dogs fetching sticks from the lake; and catching up on emails. Tuesday was a quick trip into Limoges to visit Grande Fraish and Kiabi for some fruit, sardines, salmon and bread and  some cheap summer gear as it is now a bright, warm 26C at Les Vergnes. All   our neighbours (3 of them) are away and we are surrounded by paddocks full of green grass and yellow dandelions. With all the deciduous trees now starting to bring on leaves and blossom the place looks a little like NZ or even parts of the Kiewa valley. Wednesday was another walk up the hill to the dam for a session of stick catching and leaping about in the water.   That’s the dogs, not Flashy. Stripped off into shorts, catching the rays on the terrace, sipping on beers (0 alc) at 11’sh, we noticed a fox in the adjacent paddock. The binos picked him out perfectly at about ...

  Easter Thurs 2 to Sun 5 April 2026 A big clean up of LPR before a Good Friday departure for the 17 th C farmhouse east of Limoges for our 8 day sit. We arrived at 3.00 pm after a picnic stop half way and were greeted by Christine, an English women of our vintage, who has lived here with her husband for 20 odd years. A number of surprises then greeted us. The script said two black labs and a grey cat called Esme were our menagerie. Indeed, we were greeted by two beautiful black Labradors called Poppy and Tinks and we also met the cat. Apparently, and unbeknown, there are also two “barn cats” that need to be fed and allowed inside for water. So, we met Thelma and Louise. Oh, then “you wouldn’t believe it, says Christine, the modem just blew up.” No internet then. “You don’t need to work do you?” Well, no but it would be handy to have some comms, given we are in the middle of nowhere. Ah well, just an adventure. “Oh and by the way, let me introduce you to the bees!” A large swarm...

  Sat 28 March – Wed 1 April 2026 Life goes on here at LPR. More chain sawing of cordage logs and gardening. Johnny hasn’t left a list of jobs, so there’s no construction or concreting to do and Monday the light rain came in the early morning. Another visit to E. Leclerc, the famous supermarket is on the cards. We have also just scored two pet sits in the area. One for 10 days over Easter and another for 5 days in the following week. Two black Labs and a cat for the Easter sit, so it will be good to have a couple of dogs for a change.  And a curious observation. There has been almost no vision or live reporting of the Iran war. Compare what media was shown (and manipulated by military Public Affairs Officers like a certain Captain we know), in most conflicts from Vietnam onwards with the paucity of images and reporting coming out of the Iran theatre. No sign of petrol panic here. France gets most of its oil from the US. Inside Noz, the cheap shop where we got slippers and da...