Fun and friends

We have had a lot of fun recently.

Whilst our friends were here we visited Nanteuil-en-Vallee, a beautiful village nearby and also had a little play by the Charente at Ruffec. We wanted to eat at Le Rejullant which is where we took Kim on his last night with us but the French army had turned up and we didn't stand a chance of getting in. Strange to see a load of soldiers in uniform drinking beer outside quite a classy restaurant. So we came back here and started work on the cheeses and pates. That evening we were treated to a meal at L'Etoile D'Or where we were well looked after.

Work out time

Nanteuil

Friends in our courtyard

We also got a look at the loft In the second house. We hadn't been up before but James and Phil decided to explore. The opening is in the end part of the house but there is plenty of standing room across what will be 2 gites. There are a few interesting items up there but I'll save that for when we go up properly to do the work.

House 2 entrance to 'upstairs'

Some interesting stuff

We have been exploring the area a bit more and have found a lovely restaurant at Longre called Le Canton. The food is great and it's inexpensive. The wine is local and service is friendly. Would definitely recommend.
http://www.optimumparis.com/canton.html

We had thunderstorms several nights on the trot. On Sunday we visited some new friends in the Dordogne and had a fabulous time. Hopefully the first of many with Simon and Meg and not forgetting Murphy their adorable dog. 

They made us so welcome and we had a lovely lunch with them and Simon's parents. Great fun! Whilst we were there a chap from the Prefecture came round warning them not to go out that night as a dangerous storm was on its way. We left about half past six as I wanted to get back before heavy rains. Just as well. That night we were woken by thunder and continuous lightning and hail the size of marbles bouncing in the roof. The rain was so hard it came pouring through. We really have to give the roof some attention. The channels are blocked with plants and desperately need clearing out as the rain can't run down and comes over the edge of the tiles and through the ceiling. We heard a few days later that there were hailstones the size of golf balls being shown in TV. In fact we drove to visit some other friends on the day after the big storm and saw ice at the sides of the roads, even at 4pm in temperatures in excess of 34 degrees.

That was another great day. This couple have taken on a huge project and it is looking wonderful. Their property was once the 'big house' in their small village and Pineau de Charentes was made three. The vats are still in situ and it is a beautiful place brimming over with history.

The weather has been great and it was hard to get going again. It was my birthday on the Tuesday but we were going to head to La Rochelle on Thursday to meet up with the same friends and stay overnight. On my birthday this all changed as Phil's ICD decided to give him a shock. He wasn't even working at the time. Just standing looking at some clothes thinking he should really fold them up and put them away. We telephoned the Bristol Heart Institute and they said we should get it checked. So started an afternoon of phone calls which led to the discovery that the phone number we have given everyone is incorrect. Will be emailing everyone soon to correct it.

Whilst I can order a meal and ask the time of day and have a small discussion about the weather and other general stuff my French language skills in the field of medicine left a lot to be desired. The net result of many phone calls was that we had to get to La Rochelle hospital by 9am in Wednesday. I hasten to add that Phil felt absolutely fine both before and after his shock. We got up and left at 6.30am. It was quite a stressful journey as we came across a 'route barre' and had to find another route. Time was ticking and wer were concerned the hospital wouldn't see us. We seemed to join all the rush hour traffic as we went into the town but luckily the parking was easy and we were told not to worry when we got there.

The doctor was incredibly efficient and spoke good English. He set our minds at rest. Us seems that Phil's heart went to fast and the defibrillator recognised this and kicked in.

Since the shock he says Phil's heartbeat is normal, which is more than it was before so a good thing! Slight adjustment to medication is required when we come back to the UK.

So by lunchtime we were parked up and strolling around La Rochelle. I had a lovely lunch of Moules Mariniere by the harbour. Such a pretty place. No concrete monstrosities builds in the sixties just lots of beautiful architecture and great shops too. We had booked into a little family run hotel a whole minute from the beach and a whole minute from the old town. Perfect location. Very friendly man ran it and told us it was his family's home and that in 1930 it was converted to a hotel. Very French and quirky, the rooms weren't large but there was everything we needed and the showers were great. Really blasted you with water! 
http://www.hoteltrianon.com/

La Rochelle

The following day we met up with our friends who had been in the Dordogne camping. Fortunately they didn't have the hail along with the storms the previous Sunday.

We had drinks by the harbour and heard their news. That night we had a great meal in the old town preceded by cocktails. Wendy has gone home with a couple of souvenirs from said cocktails. We al stayed at our hotel which was lovely. The following morning following breakfast and a walk around the old town and shops we said our goodbyes. Only for a few weeks though as we are back in the UK at the end of the month. 

Is that a burm (old Peter Sellars joke - sorry)

Friends say Au Revoir at Hotel Trianon et de la Plage

On our way home on Saturday we stopped at Coulon the heart of Marais Poitevin and Venise Vert. We shall certainly be returning to discover this area strewn with canals and walks, canoeing and cycling.

Very pretty and we had a wonderful lunch by the canal.

Coulon

And so - a lovely break and back to work....