L’année de vie dangereuse

22-29 June 2026 This is really the year of living dangerously! Our part of Europe is in the grip of a severe heat wave. 4,000 people drowned last week in France. Swimming in strange places to keep cool, I imagine. We went to Ill d’Oleron again and went for a swim in the sea. The air temp was between 38 and 44 depending on which thermometer you look at. It was a tad hot. Sea was lovely though and the oysters and wine helped. A big thunderstorm Thursday night with lots of lightning but little rain. Still hot Friday. Pool water temp now 31c. Still cooling when the dry air temp is 40. Confit duck and Paris mash tonight. Emma Louise and Johnny arrived and we had dinner on the new slab. Then at midnight on 29 th , mum passed away after a fall at home and six nights in the hospital. She was comfortable and we all managed to have a call with her before she died. Hot here. Happy owners. Dining on the new slab.

Monday 15-22 June 2026 Hot weather is here. Dry, 30’s good pool weather and Flashy has been in twice. The news is of heatwaves all over Europe. The Nice to Paris train had to stop and let passengers off to cool in the shade. Probably not true, but because houses, buses, trains and the like are not built for hot weather, people are dropping like flies. Officially not summer for another month, either. Hours spent under the cherry tree, cold beverage at hand and a dip in the pool is occupying a good part of this week. More panic as the temps hit 42c feels like 48c. This is the week of music festivals all over Paris and parts of France. Well, they have banned alcohol at them and in public places. Must keep the peasants safe. We on the other hand, have watched the grass turn brown but have the big pool just right to cool off. The 600 mm thick walls at LPR and the heavy timber shutters keep the inside of the house relatively cool. Thankfully, there is zero humidity. We have enjoyed ano...

10-14 June 2026 The Grand Chapitre – Aix-en-Provence We are heading to Aix-en-Provence today for the three-day, International Grand Chapitre for laChaine des Rotisseurs. Now, this is usually a 300+ person, 22+ country attendee event, with much high-end feasting, entertainment and excellent wines. Our last one in 2024 in Bordeaux, was amazing. So, we booked in February and awaited the program of events with much anticipation. Cunningly, we had put Flashy’s dinner suit and lounge suit, along with Lady P’s formal frock, in a zip bag under Alyssa’s bed in London last year – just in case. Well, the Grand Chapitre was in Aix (not Bordeaux or Paris). That’s almost on the Med. And some 30 something in the Chaine HQ decided that the dress code would be business and casual chic. What the hell is chic you ask! Flashy asked his ChatGPT alter ego ‘Charles’. He said, “Yves Saint Laurent redefines it by creating the Le Smoking tuxedo suit, pioneering strong minimalist styles for wo...

Thursday to Monday 4-8 June 2026 There were about 20 planks left from the old woodshed, so we made a kindling box. There was one screw left and a few split and broken half planks. A complete recycling of all the old corrugated iron, zinc-aluminum roofing and timber planking. Sunday and we are still putting final touches to the project but it is nice and hot again. After our wonderful feed of Ill d’Oleron oysters last week, we decided to get some moules from the marche. They were small compared with NZ or Tasy mussels, but they were clean and fresh. Will a kg do? Give it a try. Well, sweated leek, lots of garlic, some vermouth, a little Chardonnay, some parsley and chives from our kitchen garden, oh and butter of course. A squeeze of fresh lemon and steam the little beauties. Consumed with the remaining Chardonnay and a fresh, buttered baguette to mop up the sauce. Happy campers! Some in the party suggested that mayonnaise and frites would be good. They sure would have but we’re d...

  Saturday 30 May – Wed 3 June 2026 Saturday was a full on work on the project day and Sunday a day of rest. A grocery shop in the morning and a bit of measuring up in the afternoon, before the mandatory G nT under the cherry tree. Monday, and Willie turns up at 0600 as promised. The sun was just coming up. He and the boy worked without hats, water, food or breaks until 2 pm, laying the concrete block foundations, on top of the 500 mm deep reinforced concrete foundations. Bloody hell, they build like the Romans! Well… they were conquered by good old Julius and there are a lot of very long, straight roads. Anyway, very interesting to watch. We, on the other hand, continued with the timber planking of the woodshed. A long day. Roast chicken on the BBQ for dinner. And so it continues, creeping slowly to a complete woodshed. At 10.00 AM Wednesday the last bolt went into the beam and the woodshed is complete! New shed Old shed Still doing it tough.