New toys

We have been very restrained in our spending over recent months, trying to build a bit of a buffer in anticipation of what we thought would be a hefty tax/social charges bill over here. Fortunately, thanks to two excellent accountants, that bill did not materialise so we haven't felt too guilty about spending a little bit of dosh recently! My new compact digital camera arrived today (a Canon Ixus 870 IS in case anybody is interested) to replace my old Fuji which is 4 years old and rapidly on its way out. We have also bought some 'proper' mountain bike helmets and a new brake system for my mountain bike to replace the troublesome unit that came with the bike 4 years ago. So now its time to play! I will be heading over to Justin and Emily's on the bike tomorrow to give J a hand sorting out the house in preparation for Emily's homecoming with their new twins at the w/e and then the TDF on Saturday will give me the opportunity to test the camera. Woo-hoo!

Perking up

Looked out of the window this morning to see some blue sky! We headed down to Foix this afternoon for Andy's French lesson, so I took the roadie on an excellent ride which I did with him in early June around the quiet lanes to the east of Foix. I blasted round the 55km circuit (800m of ascent) in 2 hrs and 10 mins - it had taken us just shy of 3 hrs last time! It was a cracking outing with everything working well and legs feeling strong and the weather was perfect - overcast and in the low 20s. Excellent!

Le Tour

Well, the weather has been dire here for the past 4 days .... cold (14 degrees today) and very very wet. The potager has had a damn good watering but it is in danger of getting drowned if the weather doesn't clear imminently! We have been avidly watching the Tour de France via the internet (what an exciting few stages we have had so far!) and desperately hoping for a weather break before Saturday when they will be coming from Andorra to Tarascon, up over the Col de Port and down into Massat before climbing back up to the Col d'Agnes and eventually finishing in Saint Girons. Fortunately, the weather does look like it is improving from here onwards, so we intend to cycle on the roadies up to somewhere between the Etang de Lers and the Col d'Agnes from where we can watch the climb. Should be exciting! I'm looking forward to it already!

Storm avoidance

The thunder storms continue to rattle around us here and it looks set to continue for the next couple of days. So I headed down to Pat's this morning in the hope that it would be clearer down there. Fortunately, it was, so we hopped onto the mountain bikes, rode from the house along quiet lanes for 10kms with a steady ascent to start with and then picked up the signs for the red route no. 7 which took us along some interesting paths and tracks which were muddy and slippy in parts, requiring a certain degree of bike control if a muddy bum was to be avoided! It was interesting undulating terrain which finished back on quiet lanes and farm tracks. The thunder was rattling above Foix as we made our return and I was sure we would not be able to avoid a drenching, but miraculously we did! Sum total for the outing, 43kms and I don't know how much ascent but it wasn't loads

What a cracker!

We have had a proper alpine storm this evening, with thunder bouncing off the surrounding hillsides. It was also amazingly, mesmerisingly beautiful as the clouds made their way up the valley.The pooch was slightly less than happy though!

Has beans

We have enjoyed the first pick of the French beans today and totally delicious they are too!The beetroot is also jolly fine. This is nearly the end of the crop from the 2nd sowing Today I have thinned out the turnips which are developing well. I have also had to tie back the tomato plants as they have gone rampant over the past week, with masses of flowers and settng fruit. I can't wait until they are ready!

That's shallot!

At the end of October, I planted some shallot sets. Today, they were ready for harvesting. And quite a harvest it has been!
The potager has been plagued by voles over recent weeks. Fortunately the shallots escaped their attentions, although they have destroyed my garlic crop and have now started on the carrots. We have set traps but they don't take the bait .... why should they when they have a fully-stocked underground larder!!

Today, I have sown more spinach and will hopefully clear the ground where the shallots and garlic were later in the week ready for more planting. Quite what I shall plant, I don't yet know!