Wednesday, March 21, 2018

21/03/2018 Out for a drive and lunch with friends.

Maximum temperature today 9C, minimum -1C.   Dry; 16 km/h North Easterly winds with up to 45 km/h gusts.  Still bitterly cold winds, despite blue skies. 
Passing by La Rochefoucald and the chateau...

On the road towards Montbron...

The Mairie in Montbron....

and the building next door which I do not know what it is.  

A 1965 Panhard in the car park where we all met.

Back on the road passing ploughed fields...

A very large wood pile - maybe expecting an even colder winter next year!....

Driving through Varaignes - Each November they hold a turkey fair in the town, where after a great meal, plus wine, the locals get up on a stage to compete in the traditional 'who can make the best turkey noise'.  It must be an hilarious event!

also driving through Varaignes...

and driving out the other side.

A very brave man in front, driving an MG with the roof down!!! Brrrrr.

A mid morning stop in Saint-Estèphe for a morning coffee.

Back on the road; passing stables...

Hoping that we do not meet a car coming the other way...

A natural tunnel...

Crossing a river - I do not know which one it was...

The church at Bussiere-Badil; Church Notre-Dame de la Nativité.

Twenty two of us enjoying lunch at Roussines.

Back home, the first cowslips of the year are appearing by the roadside.


I have a new blog entirely committed to our feathered friends.

20 comments:

  1. Such beautiful scenery! Love the old car. You’ll have leaves on the trees soon!

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    1. I will be really happy when the buds open on the trees, on the other had we get to see things out driving that we miss when the trees are full of leaf! We both like old cars. Have a good day Diane

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  2. Looks like a lovely drive - and it wasn't raining!

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    1. We have had two dry days and it looks like another one tomorrow :-) Wonders will never cease! Cheers Diane

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  3. There's such character in these old buildings and cars. You captured some fantastic motion shots - the one overlooking the field that is a little blurred in the foreground is quite intriguing.

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    1. I also liked that photo. rolling landscape, and it is interesting that the French always leave a few trees around their fields. Most farmers elsewhere seem to have wide open lands with few trees in sight. Cheers Diane

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  4. You attend the most interesting dinners. All that beautiful scenery puts you in the mood for a scrumptious meal.

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    1. There are some beautiful drives around us and I never tire of seeing the same places, they seem different each time we go with the changes in seasons. Take care Diane

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  5. Such beautiful buildings and it must be terribly cold driving with the roof down. I can imagine the hilarious event trying to imitate the turkey noise. That is an amazing natural tunnel!

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    1. That tunnel was fantastic and lucky I managed to get the photo while driving. Hope you are well Diane

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  6. A real castle! That is so neat. I love it. And WOW on that natural tunnel. That is amazing. Thanks for the tour.

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    1. The history of the chateau is intertwined with the history of the La Rochefoucauld family, one of the five oldest noble families of France, who still own, and inhabit, the castle today. The first stone was placed in the year 980. I wrote about it here long ago
      http://lifeincharente.blogspot.fr/2010/06/chateau-de-la-rochefoucauld-part-74.html
      Take care Diane

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  7. Replies
    1. It was a lovely day out and the weather was reasonable despite the cold wind. Take care Diane

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  8. What a super drive Diane, looks like the weather was kind for you too. When you have these lunches is everyone expats like yourself, or are there French friends aussi?

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    1. Grace this particular group are English friends who we meet with once a month. We are all car enthusiasts, despite the fact we do not own a very old car. We go for a drive ending up with a luncheon. All the other luncheons that we go to are almost entirely French, generally we are the only English at those meals.
      Hope you are feeling better and that the cough is going. Wish mine was! Diane

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  9. A lovely gathering of friends. I am impressed by the natural arch of intertwined vines and branches, nature always astounds. The old buildings, especially the chateaux, remind me of the historical romances I used to read as a child. Have a great weekend Diane. I hope your cough is improving and that Nigel is well. xx

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    1. Kim the cough is much the same...... It was a lovely day for a drive, for once the rain was staying away. We also love all the old buildings especially the chateaux which we see regularly. I agree nature is amazing. Take care Diane

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  10. Such a lovely drive, with the top up and the heat on. Blows me away you see a castle in town.

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    1. Love that chateau and we see it on a regular basis. :-) It was a perfect day for a drive for once, no rain!! Cheers Diane

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