After 14 days of lousy connectivity, finally in Bonifacio, we have Royal Hotel wifi. Somephotosnext post. Fri 14 – Tue 18 August 2026 Alyssa and Jenny arrive for a few days and it’s a series of breakfast on the terrace, lunch under the trees, swims in the pool as the days remain hot, and long evening dinners with bottles of Sancerre wine, specially kept for the occasion. A very relaxing few days needed by all. Heading to Corsica Wed 19 – Fri 21 August 2026 Lady P has planned ten days in Corsica at a beach side apartment as a treat for her birthday. And of course, the builders are all on summer break. It is an 800+km road trip followed by an overnight 12 hr car ferry ride. Since we’re not 30 somethings with three grizzling kids anymore, we decide to break up the drive and stay overnight in Narbonne, a beautiful, old Roman town beside the Canal du Midi. The only downside was the small but nicely done bed sit. A great location with an easy walk to the canal and bars and a ‘truly loc...
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Monday to Thursday 10 – 13 August 2026 Looks like the heat wave is back. A very Albury like summer here. Hot to very hot 38C and dry as a chip. Thank God for cold beer, spicy gin and a clean pool. A little trip to Taillebourg, 28 k’s due south on the banks of la Charente, was our Wednesday outing. Unlike a lot of other rivers running very low in France – and other parts of Europe, the Charente at Taillebourg is flowing. People are even swimming. They didn’t appear to have a rash or open sores either. Here there are two guinguettes (a pop-up or open air restaurant) on the riverbank, serving local seafood, burgers, salad and platters from a blackboard menu, open mainly in the summer. They also have cold beer on tap and a small selection of wine. A delightful beef burger and chips to share, with a pint of draft beer and a glass of red, was just the thing to do, sitting in the shade of the riverbank trees, watching the world go by. On the subject of burgers, there is not a ...
Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August 2026 The builders, well the carpenter at least, is here this week putting the roof on. He’s supposed to be on summer holidays like Willy but apparently, he didn’t order the timber in time, so Willy had stern words and both had to delay their break while they cracked in to it this week. And they did. Full team here Thursday. Over the 500 x 120 laminated timber (Douglas Fir or French Pine) beams they put 75 x 75 rafters. Over these they put 150 x 20 planks, like a timber roof. Over this went the waterproof membrane. Over this went the vertical and horizontal, 30 x 30 purlins. The horizontal I guess to take all the tiles. Bloody roof will weigh as much as five elephants. We are in good weather again with high 20’s through the day but the mornings are noticeably cooler. Flashy is still swimming in the pool. Water temp is 26C. She will do anything for a photo. Spot the French safety gear! Willy's smiling. Roof's on. Roger the robot grabbed by t...
Saturday to Tuesday 1-4 August Back to LPR on Friday and a reasonably easy drive. All the Cubitts are here and we settle into 2 pm lunches under the Cherry Tree, swims in the pool that Johnny has maintained and what could be called “gin clear” water. Some have a nap before gin and tonic time, then it is an 8 pm dinner. Everyone takes a turn at cooking and we enjoy some hand made pizza, beautiful salads, crusty bread and cheeses, quiche and EL’s famous green lentils, goat cheese and sundried tomatoes. As a cheeky challenge, she asked Flashy to make a paella. No drama there, except she didn’t want chorizo, rabbit or chicken. Not too spicy either. Goodness me. Lady P managed to get some succulent prawns, firm white fish, local mussels and a squid tube from the market. Juicy tomatoes the size of cricket balls and some saffron were also acquired. Prawn heads and shells made an excellent stock. And as you know, that's the secret. We re-jig the Weber and using a large paella pan a...