09/09/2017 Nigel goes to market.

Maximum temperature 18C, minimum 12C. 11 km/h NW wind with 32 km/h gusts. 15mm of rain overnight and more today - not measured yet.

Saturday morning market in Chasseneuil...

as above.

Our chemist's shop has just been totally refurbished and has had a face-lift outside.  So much smarter inside and out!

This is the main road through Chasseneuil; we enter the town from the road on the left

Coming into the main road from our direction - there used to be traffic lights here, but they stopped working 5 years ago!  Then the whole town was bypassed, taking away the endless queues of heavy  lorries. 

Now it looks as if there is a  (small) new roundabout being added - can you see the painted circle on the road in red?

Market day means oysters for lunch with cider - yum yum.

The only shot  I got of this rainbow out of the back door before it faded.  

A little later the setting sun...

As above.

If you are interested Part 3 of our holiday in South Africa is up and running on my other blog.

01/09/2017 A few photos from yesterday, and some from the garden today.

Maximum temperature 19C, minimum 11C.  5 km/h NW chilly wind with 17km/h gusts.  It has been raining on and off since lunch time, will measure it tomorrow.

We stopped here at Angoulins for lunch yesterday.  Excellent meal and we enjoyed sitting in the sun.

Next door was this fancy looking supermarket so we decided to take a look...

Very upmarket and spotless...

but we had to laugh at the name of this wine. LOL

We then drove on to Châtelaillon-Plage as I wanted a few photos of the beach...

as above...

as above.

Driving home; I have taken photos of this dragon on the roundabout before, but it looks like it has had a new coat of paint.

Autumn Crocuses / Daffodils...

As above.

Bumble Bees covered in pollen

House Sparrow, Male.

Red Admiral...

As above

I was delighted to see this little moth again, Pyrausta purpuralis

Today's root veggies from the garden.

31/08/2017 A drive to La Rochelle and back

Maximum temperature 23C, minimum 13C.  5 km/h NE chilly wind with 26km/h gusts.  Yesterday's rain was not enough to measure!!!

Not often we see sunrise!!!

Under the TGV (the new high speed train line)

Road works as always!

I love the French road signs....

as above

Not sure how I managed to photograph such a quiet bit of road!  It was quite busy at times.

Vineyards of Cognac...

The vines are as far as the eye can see in every direction.

Passing the town of Cognac.

Courvoirsier -One of the big four Cognac houses

Tolls, but only one on this route.

Passing the town of Saintes in the distance.

Natural roundabouts.

A few more photos to follow tomorrow.

30/08/2017 A trip to Angouleme.

Maximum temperature 25C, minimum 16C.  14 km/h NE wind with 47km/h gusts.  Some rain not measured yet.

The fountain on the outskirts of Angouleme just before the station.

The rail station.

One of Angouleme's many painted walls.

I must have driven past this building 100's of times and I have never noticed the carvings before!

More carvings in the centre of town.

The castle - and town hall now.

In the gardens of the Hotel Mercure...

as above showing the view.

Looking down onto the railway....

and the Charente river...

and another wall painting.

Roses in the garden, they had just had a shower.

Lunch at Chez Doud...

We were early so I could take a shot of the inside...

and the dessert menu...

Cheers.

Nigel was fascinated by this electric car...

as above.

Then the rain came down driving home, though we have not had much on our garden:-((