Easter Thurs 2 to Sun 5 April 2026
A big clean up of LPR before a Good Friday departure for the
17th 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 of honey bees come at this time
each year and nest in the roof cavity. Yes, they were quite obvious. Lady P is
very allergic to bee stings. Anaphylaxis almost. Indeed, the year of living
dangerously.
After dumping the bags and getting the rundown on things,
Christine took us for a drive into the nearest two villages. A cute and quiet St Germain les Belles, where
we met another English woman who ran the local camping by the lake and
restaurant/bar. Very nice. Free wifi and a good menu. We are saved. Then into
slightly larger Magnac-Bourg village for a look around.
Home for gin and tonics, lots of stories on our past lives
and an excellent fish pie and peas, followed by tart tatin. Some wine was
consumed as well.
Easter Saturday saw Christine depart for London for the week
and we drove into St Germain les Belles and Magnac-Bourg where we purchased
some veal, spicy salami and some sausages from the boucherie and a baguette and
croissants from the boulangerie. For a late lunch we made a pizza, testing the
oven out, and sat in the glorious Easter sunshine on the terrace drinking gin
and tonic and a glass od Cote du Rhone blanc. No nanna nap for these sitters,
though. We took the dogs out for a walk. No leads. Off through the farmer’s
paddock to one of the many creeks and lots of stick chasing, swimming and
generally doing what Labs do. It was halfway through this long walk that we
observed, creeping tiger like through the grass, Esme the cat following us.
Apparently, she regularly goes on walks with the dogs. Cuddles up and shares
their sleeping mat occasionally too. Later, we noticed that Tinks had a tick
imbedded right between her eyes. So out comes the tick removal tool. Slide
under. Twist to the left. Bingo! Out comes said tick. Killer bees. Poisonous
ticks. Luckily there’s no snakes, sharks , redbacks, or crocs here.
Saturday dinner was BBQ sausages on the charcoal pit with
caramelised onion and home made chutney. A French hot dog so to speak. Thank goodness
it’s an English household.
Easter Sunday brought warm weather with sunny skies, so
breakfast on the terrace before a long uphill walk to the “lake”. This is
really a small dam where the dogs chased sticks until they nearly drowned.
Luckily the 2km home was down hill. As it is Sunday, a shower and shave were in
order. Well, at least for Flashy. Sitting in 27C sunshine, Lady P prepared
croissants, hot cross buns, cheeses, and such like, while Flashy opened the
Champagne. We enjoyed our lunch in the quiet of the countryside, watching the
eagles circle overhead. The day drifted on to evening. Still on the terrace at
7.30 pm enjoying escalope of veal with a lemony beurre blanc sauce, smashed
garlic potato, kumera and roasted fennel, with a Provence Rose. A small portion
of Easter eggs and chocolate for some in the party for dessert.
Monday is the only public holiday for Easter here and the
crisp, sunny morning indicates that we are in for a delightful Spring day
(again).
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