Friday 30 1° - 9°

Mild  frost free morning, Jenna got up to come on morning walk, she chose a good day with no frost today.  Clifford took a quick dip in the Dordogne.
Alex made breakfast,  croissants, fruit salad with fresh brew of coffee.

Outing today to Le Buisson market, met Roger and Gwyneth,  went on to Cadouin Abbey,  Le Coux, then long shop for  Alex and Jenna at Carrefour where he bought goodies to cook dinner tonight.

                                                         Cadouin Abbey

 

Cadouin Abbey market square

 

Bigaroque

Out for afternoon walk, dogs were running and tearing about as usual having fun playing but got too close to Jenna and  ploughed into her knee and bowled her over. Managed to stand but difficulty walking, so Tony went back to Cedric with Lewa sticking close to him and Clifford stayed with us on guard. It was very cute. Put the obligatory bag of frozen peas on with knee raised and rested. Hope she will be OK for flight tomorrow, early start to get to Bergerac for flight back to London.

Thursday 29 -1° - 10°

Frosty morning again, I have new appreciation for dogs, out in all whether,  no socks, gloves or woolly hats, still they frolic about and lay down on the frosty ground to hide and play. Amazing.
Day turned into another blue sky, sunny day for our drive to Monpazier, walked around the small market and ancient square before deciding on our restaurant for lunch. Plat de Jour  €15 each 1 bottle wine €20.

 

On our walk met Martine and Milo black whippet who had a good play in the fields . 

Tapas and rose wine for supper and and game of Rummikub.

Wednesday 28 1° -11°

Red sky greeted us with frost on the windscreen and white crispy frost underfoot.

 

After scraping the frost off the windscreen we had a very frosty walk on the white crunchy fields brrrrr 

Breakfast was perfect soft boiled eggs in Stu and Tish 's egg boiling machine, very impressed. Had a good skype with Elliot and Emma in their tent on South Island holiday.

Outing today to LA roque -Gage actually, Beynac and Sarlat, where we had fresh oysters and walk around the xmas markets where we had mulled wine, and 1 dozen church's with Nutella for €4. Lots of photos stop before going back for long walk with Alex and Jenna throwing ball to Clifford who was in his retreiver element.  Lewa  more subdued and clingy today.

 

 Tish had made some foie Gras for us which was a delicious entre to our duck main which a joint effort cooked to perfection.

 

A lovely day with Jenna and Alex 

Tuesday 27 December 2°-11°

Jennaand Alex arrived today,very foggy drive down for walks, looks like it will clear later.

It did and it was a lovely  drive to Bergerac ,  very small airport, stunning day sunny welcome for Jenna and Alex .

Drove into Bergerac, first patisserie, Alex spoke fluent French from his studies years ago, very impressive ,  so we all had afternoon tea, croissants au chocolate  and I had decided pomme. Yuummmmmm. Nice walk around then back to walk dogs..

Monday 26 Boxing Day 8°

It must have been cold last night, the dogs went to bed in the same basket, been very frisky together recently,  hope Lewa not coming into heat.
Low cloud up in the hill can't see down into the valley,  but on our morning walk it was clear but couldn't see the houses on the hill.
Did a few domestics today, our parcel arrived from lincoln the Gel coat filler for Bessie's roof scrape, plus her log book, camping and caravaning club card and stickers.  Plus a great gizmo that goes into tablet with a USB fitting on other end, so if we download some movies on a USB stick we can play them on the tablet. Thanks Pat and Les, very useful and thoughtful........again........you are so good at this .

Tony again prepared a lovely meal.......I could get used to this retirement lark, feeling very spoilt.

Xmas Day 2016 9° mild and foggy

A foggy day greeted us and couldn't  see down to the valley. Cedric started first time whewwww.
As we walked past the black stalks where sunflowers grew in summer, that now looked a burnt field, along the river, Clifford decided  to have his xmas day dip in the Dordogne.  As we walked on we heard the whaawhaawhaawhaa of 4 swans as they flew off above the river.

We went to Saint Cyprien market to try to get a hot cooked ham hock, but the market was reduced to one meat stall. Bought  piece of pie for Tony's lunch bit like a square pork pie with pate running thru the middle, yum. Also some duck breasts and we said we were from NZ he said wait, special Christmas and brought a  bottle of red wine out and put it in a bag for our xmas. Well worth coming for, very nice gesture.

Home and put on our warm cosy knitted slippers from Leslie which have been a roaring success. Thanks Leslie.

The afternoon weather cleared to very mild  and clear for our walk.

Our Christmas for 2 en France dinner
was

Apetiser: Smoked salmon and cream cheese belini with mini gherkin
Entrée:   Melt in the mouth Scallops on a bed of rocket and tiny cherry tomatoes
Main:      Poulete avec  Legumes
Desert:  Ice cream, fruit and chocolate

Washed down with a bottle of delicious sparkling rose, bought from Gabriel Breen in the wine cave la coux.
Merry Christmas everyone, thank you for your comments and emails on our trip so far, hard to believe it's still only just over a month into our retirement adventure.

Saturday 24 December 9° misty and damp

Belves market today, seafood a French tradition part of xmas meal. Saw some lovely huge scallops.....Mon Die u  €14.50 for 6.....but very big and plump. We will savour those tomorrow, in contrast 4 apples .41c .

We went out to Cedric to take dogs for afternoon walk, clunk...clunk...flat battery.....oh no Tony left the lights on after the market. No worries,  Stu has a battery charger and jumper leads, we'll fix it after our walk, on leads, down the road and back up the hill, not ideal but raining and getting dark. So to the cellar ....found the charger.....humm it's an English plug, couldn't find an extention lead...........what to do now........ummmmmm.........phone Roger.  Roger came to the rescue and jump started Cedric, thanks Roger. Roger over and Out!

After another lovely meal cooked by the skipper and a bottle of xmas beer from Saint cyprien market, produced by an Irishman, which was delicious.  knock on the door............ but dogs didnt bark........it was Roger bearing gifts of chilli bin 'bar' a selection of drinks and mixers, we were last on the xmas round of the village. What a lovely xmas gesture, we shared a drink  a chat and our seasons greetings. It was a heartwarming xmas welcome which we really appreciated , a lovely gesture. Thanks Roger.

Merry Christmas tout le monde xox🎅

Friday 23 December - Damp foggy day 6 degrees

Warmer today but no good for sightseeing in the fog. Good for the farmers spreading their load as agricultural smells are in the air, ohhhh the farming life.

Dogs a little subdued and slow out of the blocks this afternoon for their walk, but soon hit their straps in the maize fields.

Quiet  day today planning trip options for Jenna and Alex when they come, spoilt for choice.

Thursday 22 December - First wet day

We have been very lucky to date with weather, started off light drizzle in the morning then turned to rain.  Perfect day for reading the newspaper in front of the fire. Daily Telegraph  €4.50 Mon Die u!
Pat's well trained eye at the opp shop spying our gumboots for £4 and £6 respectively,  before we left England really proved their worth today. Well done Pat excellent spotting.

Wednesday Afternoon adventures

Well the day did in fact turn out be sunny with blue skies so after suggestion from Roger to move  Bessie on parking area near gate and plug her in for a while we moved her and put Cedric down  where Bessie was.

It was such a lovely day took the camera to see if we could get some shots of the dogs in action.  Successfully achieved.

Wednesday 21 December - morning mewsings

The 7am bells were heard this morning along with the pattern patter of not so tiny paws on the stairs. Too dark for walks just yet so waited till 8am so we could see where we were going.

Drove down to the fields, when I say fields they are not the green grassy Meadows you might imagine.  Fields of harvested maize crops, covered in husks and stalks a out 8" high like rows of mini bamboos, the dogs love racing up and across the rows. Then there are fields where the cows have been and left their mark with volumous mounds of dung,  not a good choice to walk the dogs through.  We have fields of new crops recently planted that have to be avoided, so Laywa is on lead past these so not to upset the local farmers.

There are also the fields of tussock and grass with dirt tracks along the river and walks through the walnut groves, so lots of variety to keep them amused.  When they drop back for a sniff and a loiter you then hear the thundering gallop behind you as they chase and bound along like small horse.  Great walks with very good dogs.

As the haze on the horizon lifts you can see the beginnings of a lovely day.

Tuesday 20 December Maisons-la-boissiere.com

Slept through the 7am bells, let the dogs out and had breakfast then took them for a long 1hour walk through fields and along the river. Managed to get along without Clifford taking a nippy dip.
Watching the dogs bound and frolic together is like watching something out of Africa like springbok rearing up and racing together in chase. Clifford likes to lie in wait like a lion and lay down and hides in the cut maize field and wait for Laywa to come find him and its all on big chase. Very entertaining.  They are very well behaved and a pleasure to go walking with.

Checked Bessie and found the fridge had gone off and the frozen veg had thawed, so took them in to add to the pot of home made vegetables soup.

Drove Cedric to Carrefour for provisions and marrow bones as lunch treat for the dogs, came back for hot vegetables soup, French cheese and baguette.  Got the fire going and relaxed with the dogs. Then loud barking, which is very unusual and a visitor arrive to see Tish and Stuart,   friend from Switzerland who is refurbishing a house nearby. Had a good chat with him, everyone here is very friendly and lots of different nationalities come to live in this stunning part of France.

Cold and misty for our afternoon walk but they enjoyed it and had  a great run around the fields, they tear around so fast for big dogs.

Monday 19 December Maisons-la-boissiere.com

Prepared our gite for moving into main house, Tish and Stuart depart this morning for their  well deserved holiday.
They certainly have found a perfect place in paradise here, in an 800 year old enclave of 4 buildings, consisting of their lovely home and 3 Gites which have been tastefully refurbished to make them very homely and comfortable.   There is even an old ruin in which they found an 800year old canon ball from the 100 year war with England and the Plantagentes,  which we saw the tomb of Henry I I Plantagente in Fontevraud Abbey.

The walls are about 18" thick so a real sense of the history surrounds you.

We farewelled Tish and Stu on their holiday and settled in with Clifford and Laywa for the afternoon, before our first solo walk with them, which went very well, they behaved really well and came when called.

Cooked our first meal here of Toulouse sausages,  which were very tasty, recommend them if you get the opportunity to try them anytime.

Dogs very happy in front of the fire, all good in the stunning Dordogne .

Sunday 18 December

Mist filled the valley before we head to Saint Cyprian market with Tish and Stu. Quite a different market  from Sarlat with the focus on local produce and delicacies. The abundance and variety are to enable them to go on to other markets.

Much ringing of church bells synonymous with France and particularly on Sundays.

Had coffee and croissants to warm up from the cold day. Went on to Carrefour supermarket for provisions before home for lovely French cheese, ham baguette with tomato salad for tea before walking the dogs.

Supper was delicious ham hock, perfect poached eggs by Stu and chips yummm.

Evening watching British Sports Personality of the year won by Andy Murray.

Saturday 17 December

A great bonus start to the day, Stu and Tish have offered us the use of their Citroën to get around in, while they are away. Whewww that gives us a few weeks respite from driving Bessie through the narrow French streets.

Misty morning gave way to another stunning get sunny day as we drove Cedric the Citroën to the Sarlat xmas markets.  Tony drove very well in the left hand drive car. Drove right beside Château Fredoe, thru pretty countryside along the Dordogne river.
On arrival found d a park in a very busy centre but alas Tony's seatbelts had ceased and he had to do a houdini act to get out, so we could go to market.

Enjoyed hot roast chestnuts in xmas part of market, which took me back 50 odd years to London markets.

 

Safely back at house, Stu took us on a recky to old city of Belves and met the vet Corin, local golf course, Stu has offered Tony use of his clubs, Le Coux where Gabriel an Irish wine maker has his cellar, we sampled his wines last night at dinner and thoroughly enjoyed them, so bought a couple to xmas plus 5 litre box of very good quality red €25, very good value.  A wild boar ran across the road in front of us being chased by hunters, 3 shots rang out and that was his lot. Hunting season now for 5 months on boar and deer.

On way home called up the road to Roger and Gwyneth house, amazing views across the valley. They are originally for Cheltenham and bought this land and had house built about r years ago, modern but French style.

Big walk pre dinner with dogs around the other side of field and along the river, at least another mile, good exercise. Brief rest before going ou to Dinner at a very popular local restaurant in Siorac en Pergard , set menue either €26.50 or €33.50 plus wine from gabriell 's cellars, all delicious.

 

Mouzens Friday 16 Dec

Arrived lunch time,so went into Marche (supermarket) for supplies and saw first supermarket laundry €2 wash €4 drier. Had lunch in sunny spot in car park and used their loos as Bessie all clean and ready for the rest for a few weeks.

Drove up the hill to house sit Maisons-la-boissiere 3.30 and rang to say we are here, where to park. Got lovely warm welcome from Tish, parked Bessie and we're told we were staying  in Gite until they leave on Monday.  Lovely surprise, La Boulangerie is the old bakery and they have refurbished it to a very high standard and it is very warm and homely.

Met Stu and the dogs, Clifford and Lewa ,  big friendly young dogs bit big to be called puppies. Very strong, Clifford a real smooch and Lewa a pedigree ridgeback and proud of it, madam.

Had our first walk about 1 mile,  through paddock and Walnut Grove,  which are abundant in this area. Headlands and river where Clifford decided to take a late wintery plunge into the Dordogne .

They gave us our first 5 course french dinner and invited English friends and neighbours Roger and Gwyneth, who are also motorhomes, to join us. Great evening, fun conversation enjoyed by all. With bubbles and French wine aplenty.

Huge bed and room to move after our cosy month in Bessie.

Friday 16 December Lembras and pics of Bergerac

Finally decided to play the game today and upload the pics from yesterday.

 Aire de Caudeau in Lembras just outside Bergerac, clean, level, handstanding site with services. Token for electric from shop. But still be watchful for the ever present doggy doos!

 

Frosty start today and Bessie started first time.

Beautiful sunny drive along the Dordogne river, good roads with dappled sunlight coming thru the winter bare branches for the trees lining the road. Quite stunning.

Diesel fill €1.19  litre 42 litres €50

Thursday 15th December Bergerac

Early morning walk for fresh baguette and croissants, breakfast accomplish.

Tip :  Air the washing by putting a hot water bottle in between the almost dry clothes, works a treat. Thanks Elizabeth  for this and all other useful tips.

En  route to Bergerac stopped before Perigueux for GPL .68 Litre €11.70 17 litres.

Our sat nav decided  to take us on a tour of the town centre, round and through and round again, not made easier when she kept loosing the gps satellite signal and our map would have bipassed the town altogether. So much for wanting to avoid towns and cities.

Safely through the other side and on to the lovely town of Bergerac.

Unfortunately the photos don't seem to want to load at the moment, so will see if I can add them later .



Some observations  on France so far, lots and lots of roundabouts,   some bad rickerty roads through little villages, but also lots of really good roads, which makes for pleasant driving, lots of big trucks often in convoy. This part of france now forested and vast vineyards for the making of cognac.

Most houses have faded white, wooden shutters over their windows, which seem to be always closed.

So far have traveled with, 2,000 mile's in 1month.

Staying in free overnight park with services just outside Bergerac in Lembras.

Tomorrow head over to Mouzens  in Dordogne to meet the owners of our House sit.

Wednesday 14 December Cognac

We drove to Cognac and visited Martell where we had an in house guide tell us about the history of Cognac and Martell.
The Tourist Information Center were very helpful and friendly gave us a site to stay free by the river La Charente and arranged a distillation tour at 2pm at Pineau des Charentes. Natalie tried hard with her English but had good notes typed in English so between us we got thru.

 

After the tour we drove back into Cognac to find this excellent site for the night then walked into the old town and had a sampling at the Château de Cognac .  Very mild afternoon to enjoy the late winter sun along Rue de Jaques. Visiting the city walls and outskirts  of old Hennessy distillary.