Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside

We spent Easter weekend in Charente Maritime with our friends A & B for the second successive year. (Be careful, A & B, this is in danger of becoming a tradition!) This suits us greatly because not only are we able to spend a wonderfully relaxing, and usually side-splitting, weekend with our friends, we also gain the benefit of attending the main Easter services (Good Friday and Easter) at our Anglican church. These are celebrated in English and there are good old traditional Easter hymns so we get much more out of them than if we went to our local RC church. There is also a more worldly advantage as there is a wine producer in A & B's village who sells a rather good, and remarkably reasonably priced, white wine of which we've become rather fond.

The weather was gorgeous over the weekend and we weren't at all sorry when A & B suggested an outing to La Rochelle. As well as being remarkable beautiful, La Rochelle has one of the best climates in France with more days of sunshine than even the Côte D'Azur.

We weren't let down; the weather there was fantastic. We found, miraculously, a parking space right by the port and, after strolling through the craft market, we ate moules frîtes in the Café Leffe on the waters edge and then had a good stroll around town.

The place was packed and we were able to spend a pleasant half-hour over a drink watching people enjoying the sun, not to mention an ice-cream or two.

As usual we we were royally looked after by A & B and, although we always enjoy getting back to our chateau, we were sorry to leave. We did, however, remember on this occasion to take a photograph of some fun sculpture in one of the towns we pass through on our journey.

The High Chaparral

Despite repeated attempts throughout history, Britain was never able to conquer France fully or permanently. However, quite recently we British have come up with a cunning plan; we're buying it.

On Friday we completed the purchase of 2900 sq.m. of land from our neighbour, taking our total land holding to about 8000 sq.m.

Our neighbour decided to move home a while ago and since this parcel of her land was both contiguous with and overlooked our existing land, we decided to ask to buy it rather than risk someone moving in next door who wanted to do something on it which destroyed our privacy or tranquility. So, for a small purchase price and a small fortune in the solicitor's fees, we now have the best part of two acres.

Of course, new land means new neighbours, and here they are. It has to be said that their personal hygiene leaves a little to be desired and their conversation, if sparkling by comparison with the cat, is limited. Still, since the Limousin breed is famous for the quality of its meat, we're intending to have them for dinner on occasions.

Of course, new land means a new view and here it is. Our chateau, with the slate roof, is on the right and the view extends over the valley of the Creuse. We're thinking of putting a summer house with a bar up there!

Of course, new land means new work. At the moment our only real plans for it are an orchard and a small arboretum. However, we have to face the fact that 2900 sq.m. of grassland, previously well-manured by the neighbour's horse, is going to give us a maintenance challenge. We're therefore thinking, with degrees of seriousness which vary according to mood and alcohol consumption, of buying or giving free grazing to a few sheep and/or goats and/or a donkey or two. Watch this space.