15-18 October 2026

A 4.30 am Uber to Victoria Station; the Gatwick Express and An Easy Jet departure with only about 20 pax on board, was a seamless departure from London. However, La Rochelle was under low cloud and we did a ‘go-round’ at about 1000’ then circled over the airport at 4,000’ for 90 minutes and just before the fuel would dictate a diversion to Bordeaux, the cloud lifted 80’ and the pilot could see the runway and she put it down nicely. Very preliminary immigration clearance and we picked up the car from the inexpensive, secure parking and headed back to LPR.

The weather is changing again with cold mornings and sunny high teens in the afternoon. Some frantic running around for two days, meetings with carpenter and painter and much finishing jobs are due to happen next week. Unfortunately, that’s when Emma Lou won’t be here, as we drive her down to Bordeaux Friday night for her return to the UK.

The weekend brought more sunny afternoon weather and we moved out of the Dependence into the main house for the remainder of our stay. Should be much warmer in the big house.

France awoke to scenes of widespread damage on Sunday after days of riots and demonstrations. Citizens were demonstrating against rising fuel prices, the cost of living and deteriorating public services, including schools. Some in the crowd shattered shopfronts, burnt out cars, set fire to bikes resulting in piles of glass and debris on the pavements of Paris and other cities.

Police arrested about 1,800 people on Saturday as some 550,000 demonstrators took to the streets for protests.

Groups of rioters, some dressed in black and wearing masks and balaclavas, also came out in Paris, Marseille and other towns and cities, with some setting fire public buildings.

Widespread looting also took place across  many major cities  including nearby Bordeaux and Limoges.

Protests in Paris

Crisp but sunny at LPR

Jenny found this at Buderim. Probably 25 years old!