The little beggars...

My early morning surprise. I might have known...

They've been waiting for me to get my hopes up. The new grass is up and running and so are they. They've really got it in for me. Someone please tell me how to evict them.

We've prepared and seeded another section of the garden and I feel they are already planning a raid.

The morning glory is exploding into life. I'ts gorgeous.

A night out

After such a busy week it was a relief to go out with Martin, Colette, Joel, Annie and Nicola for a sell-out Big Band Jazz, Swing and Rhythm & Blues evening at Sene located the other side of Vannes.

Arriving at the Grain De Sel.

Getting settled.

Not long now. 

The band were excellent and the singer brilliant. She had one little exposure moment but discreetly and professionally recovered her dignity. 

Bev discussing the performance with the band singer... 

...and her little 'Boob'.

The morning glory looking good in the evening sun.

Enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon reading in the garden, followed by a walk and bike ride.

I don't know what it's called but the leaves of our tree look stunning.

I can't believe the grass is up already. I only seeded it last week.

Face Time with Serene and the boys, followed by Ash and Amber and ending with Jon and Serene.

I know it's only Tuesday, but...

 A lot has happened already.

A quick mock-up of our quickly revised plans for the bread oven ready for the Mairie. Sorry John Flinn for hacking into your polished rendition.

Pascal dropped by to help me fill in the forms for the Mairie. Apparently, we will not be able to have a full glass frontage, but once the plans are approved, we'll be able to have a window at the front without the need to re-appy.

And here is my receipt after taking everything in...no mistakes! If there are no objections within a month, the plans will be approved.

Our car in the UK has sold. 288 views and the phone was still ringing before I cancelled the ad. Thanks, Jon and Serene for taking care of the sale.

This morning there was a heavy mist as we made our way to Vannes for our French lesson. We found several free parking areas for future use. After our lesson we had lunch by the old marina in brilliant sunshine. It's so warm and summery...completely opposite to Sunday's weather.

Came across this bread oven on our way back from Pontivy after filling

in the forms for registering my intent to work in France.

This is what the back of our bread oven would have looked like.

That sky in this photo is exactly how it was today. 

And finally...

I've finished Madonna's latest novel and will be reviewing it when it all sinks in.

It's a fascinating novel based on an actual event on 7th March, 1920 in Madonna's home town in Iowa. I feel compelled to read her 'The Orator And The Sage' which is about two of the main characters in Patricide.

Today I brought home the autobiography of Jimmy Nail...a man born two years after me in neighbouring Newcastle. His accounts will feature events happening near me from age two.

New territory.

It's blustery and autumnal and the message is..."How dare you have parasols up at this time of year"

There is a distinctly different feel about the place today.  I'm so glad I managed to cut the grass yesterday in the sun.

We've succumbed and stored the parasol but I'm sure it'll still be nice enough to be sitting out again soon.

And it was.

We've never been here this time of year. It's new territory and we're doing new things.

Seeded at last. 

The colours are stunning.

The flowers are still with us. 

I haven't done anything with this photo. the green was lush in the early evening sun. 

Some of the gooseberries are in. See how much stone came out of those little squares. 

The walnuts are amazing. These few are just the beginning.

Work progress.

Boy, that was a busy summer.

Bev is back from visiting her mum in the UK and we're beginning to settle down.

After Pete and Sue left to go back to the UK we enjoyed one last outing to Concarneau before the weather turned.  As it happens, this week is when the weather turned.  It isn't particularly cold but we've had a few rainy days this last week and when it rains, it really does rain here.

We are officially resident here in France and after registering the car, we registered ourselves with the local doctor in Plumelec. What an experience that was. It certainly is different to what I'm accustomed to.

Here are a few photos of work progress, some of which I've previously put onto Facebook.

The concrete base finished.

Starting to level the surrounding ground.

Our newest tree against the uncut maize.

Pointing the back wall with lighter colour parex and starting to level the ground. The clean concrete didn't last long.

It's a much better colour for the inside which will need to be bright when the roof is on.

Harvest time.

Sunrise over Sophie's barn.

Sunrise over Yvon's woods.

Sunrise over the harvested maize field ouside our door.

stubborn very thick oak root in the way of the levelling process.

No longer a problem.

Oak leaves falling in protest.

There was a bit of a wind last night so most of them have blown away revealing all the walnuts previously camouflaged.

The right hand side wall seems to be leaning but it's only an optical illusion (thankfully). It rained last night so the stone is looking a little dark around the fire.

The next few days should see the ground levelled and seeded if the weather holds.

Managed to cut the grass today as a bonus.