Light still not good and lots more rain.

Maximum temperature today 13C, minimum 7C.   Rain most of the day again, 28 mm since the last post; 10km/h South Westerly winds with up to 34 km/h gusts.

Total rain since 1 January now 470 mm.

We knew we had to buy more paint.  The rough plaster walls are using more than planned!  So as the light was too bad to paint again, we took a drive to get some more while we could.  Public holiday here tomorrow so everything will be closed.

The new palette factory outside Chasseneuil is very busy.  Lots of wood piles you can see in the back, and palettes in the foreground.  Not the prettiest of buildings, but at least it is dark so not so obvious.

The main street in Chasseneuil....

and one of the back streets.  The pink building at the end is one of the 4 boulangeries in town

There is white blossom everywhere, possibly hawthorn or blackthorn.

I wonder if one of the farmers had a vegetable store here at one time?  It has been empty ever since we moved here 12 years ago.

The photo I took today was blurred, so the blue sky belongs to a day with better weather!

The 'Lanterne des Morts' at Cellefrouin cemetery was built in the 12th century. An oil lamp at the base of the spire was lit at night to encourage travellers to come and pray for the dead. It's in good shape after so many years.

Crossing 3 bridges where a series of streams run, sometimes they almost become one wide river!

Brico 16 where we buy our paint.  The owners have a small shop under their house,  it is the only place nearby where we can buy good English paint and mixed to the required colour.  A very popular place as French paint just does not last!!

Just another tractor...

and another one.

We are both cyclists and this makes me angry.  Narrow roads and riding side by side, it is not necessary, we can ride one behind the other and so can others!!

Finally, I could not resist another photo of the chateau at La Rochefoucauld as we head home from the last stop at the supermarket.  Nigel said, "another photo, you take this every time" 😉.  

N.B. My new bird blog is HERE 

Part 6 of the birds I saw last year in Africa.

20/02/2018 Join us on a drive to Angouleme on another grey and dreary day.

Maximum temperature today 10C, minimum 6C.  3 mm of rain measured last night but drizzling all day again. North Easterly chilly winds; 22 km/h with up to 43 km/h gusts. 

All photos have been made a little brighter as it was really very grey with light drizzle on and off.

I have put this wall painting on the blog many times before, but it is the first thing we see entering into the tunnel before Angouleme.  I just love it.

In the tunnel and then...

sharp right just after; up this very narrow road...

tight squeeze past the parked van, the side mirror was very close!

Underground parking.  We collected some new duvets that we had ordered.  The old ones we gave to the homeless charity.

Then on to the Thai market which I love.  We were short of time though so no chance to browse and fill the trolley, only bought what was on the list! 

This old house which I thought had lots of character was opposite the Thai market.

On the road again. Good to see full size trees on a roundabout in the middle of a built up area...

We passed this little outside market...

Note the well pruned trees, they are a bit harsh here in France, but the trees seem to thrive...

Past the old Massey Ferguson depot...

Angouleme centre up on the hill.  The dark coloured building behind the tree is the very large enclosed market...

Crossing over the Charente river. Apologies for the windscreen mark....

and stopping at our favourite restaurant for lunch and a glass of wine 👍

Looking up at the building next door...

Heading back home past Eglise Saint Cybard Saint Yrieix, a roman catholic church...

Trucks hogging both lanes of traffic!!!!

Nearly back home, this is the new pallet factory that has been recently finished just out of town...

The last photos I put on while building was in progress was in October last year

Note all the wood piled up on the left.

If you should be interested after an 18 month break from my blog 'My Life Before the Charente'  I have at last added a new post 😊

11/10/2017 Around the garden and a follow up on the local pallet factory

Maximum temperature 24C, minimum 11C.  14 km/h NW chilly winds, 30 km/h gusts. Dry.

 Speckled Wood

 As above pretending to be a leaf :-) 

Small Coppers (Lycaena phlaeas) - love is in the air despite it being autumn.

A one off shot of a bedraggled Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

Crane fly.

Mr Sparrow

As above

Mrs sparrow...

Hey is there room for me in there?

Peeking over the edge :-)

The new factory for the wooden pallets see the last post on this here ...

as above...

I am glad that the cladding is dark so hopefully when all is finished it will not look as bad as I expected!

Rose no 2 but it looks like it will be gone by tomorrow!!

P.S.  For those interested, Part 5 of our holiday in South Africa and Botswana is now on my other blog.

08/11/2016 A quick trip into town for compost and our feathered friends at home

Maximum temperature 11C, minimum 0C.  34 km/h SW wind. Dry but lots of rain forecast for the coming week.

Three large buildings are apparently going up here for the manufacture of wooden pallets.  Great spot, right by the side of the highway and the on and off ramps. Chasseneuil sur Bonnieure.

Winter flowers for sale.

We always find some sort of road obstruction!

Robin on the window sill, it does not often come this close...

as above...

as above...

Great Tit watching the sky from the window sill...

as above

and the Blue Tit also is around keeping an eye out...

as above...

as above.