20/08/2018 This was supposed to be yesterday, but now a belated birthday post.

Maximum temperature today 29C, minimum 16C.  Dry; 13 km/h North-easterly winds with up to 33 km/h gusts. 

We have been cutting up more of the (very hard!) old oak platform stripped out of the barn and another batch of plums has been picked, de-stoned and put in the dehydrator.  Yesterday we took the day off 'work' as it was my birthday and we went out for lunch at yet another new restaurant!

Getting there but still masses to do!

We left home yesterday late morning and we had to pass through Saint Sornin on our way to Le Petit Restaurant at Rozet.  The violent hail storm that hit the town on 4 July has well and truly left its mark.  July and August are holiday months in France, so most builders and roofers are "en vacances'.  Every roof in the town has been smashed and they are for the most part still protected by plastic; so sad for the village, which has so many pensioners living in it.

Plastic sheeting in a number of different colours but mostly black...

as above...

as above...

I feel so sorry for the people here...

Next to the war memorial...

even the church did not escape the from the massive 'tennis ball' hail storm.

Further down the road, even surrounding villages were no better off...

This one looks as if work has begun,  though maybe they are also still waiting for the return of their roofers from holiday.

Travelling on. the sunflowers are now bending their heads.

Passing through the pretty village of Grassac, which was beyond the storm-damaged area.

 

I love these leafy and almost deserted roads! 

Crossing over old narrow bridges, after the disaster in Italy one wonders how safe these little bridges now are, though they have stood the test of many centuries ...

The TomTom then decided to take us on a shortcut and we had a couple of kms through this state forest on not the best of roads; it was pretty though!  Thankfully we did not meet anyone coming the other way!

Arrival at the restaurant - a converted house...

As above...

Walking down the entrance path, I loved this multi painted psychedelic pig and the old plough.

We chose to sit outside as the weather was so good.

The menu.

My starter - tarte d'oignon et fromage de chevre. (Onion tart with goats cheese).

Nigel had pate Grand-mere.

He followed this up with Boeuf du Limousin (cooked blue as usual and how we like it!) which he said was very tender.

and I had Selle d'agneau (lamb) which was also delicious.

 So as not to upset my Canadian follower, David, I will refrain from showing you the cheese platter and the yummy dessert 😉

The Dutch family on the next table kindly offered to take this photo of the two of us...

While Nigel took the photo of the birthday lady.  Cheers, this was a delightful pineau rouge before the rose wine which we had with our meal.

For those that might be interested in the alterations to the barn we have just bought, I have posted the photos on my other blog My Life in the Charente.

My bird blog

has been updated HERE