17/06/2019 Part two of the trip to Saint Auvent

Maximum temperature today 28C, minimum 11C.  Dry. So nice to be warm and see the sun!  11km/h South-easterly winds with gusts up to 21 km/h.  

After our delicious meal (see part 1), I made a quick visit to the church,  a short walk around the streets and a drive past the local chateau.  Apologies for the poor lighting in the church; I could not find the backlighting function on the small camera.  Stupid, as I have used it several times before!

Arrival at Saint Auvent.

I loved this dear little door in the side of a building.  The French must have been very short in bygone years, as the top of the arch only reached my shoulder!

Eglise de Saint Auvent. St. Auvent was a bishop, and died in this place on his way back from a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. In 1230, his body was exhumed and placed in the church, which became the centre of the parish!

The entrance into the church.

Looking down the nave towards the main altar... 

A close up of the altar...

Another altar in the aisles...

Looking back to the gallery...

and the impressive solid stone font.

Outside is the war memorial, part of every French village and town.

Walking back to the car, we saw this tiny well hidden in amongst the wildflowers.

Walking around to the front of the well behind these green gates.  Nigel's observant eyes remarked how the reinforced uprights for the gate frame had been fabricated to match the shape the wall.  The local farrier at work maybe?

The 12th-century Château de Saint-Auvent which was originally owned by the Rochechouart family. (See the other chateau in Part 1). I only walked up a small driveway to take this photo, so I am not sure how big this building actually is.

Driving back home, a view of Massignac with its church spire forming an easily visible point of reference.

See also my Bird blog 

and My life In the Charente

28/03/2018 Rain, rain and more rain, really getting fed up with it now!

Maximum temperature today 11C, minimum 6C.   17 mm of rain measured in the last two days; 11 km/h North Westerly winds with up to 33 km/h gusts. 

Rain all day today and forecast for the rest of the week - again!!

Total so far this year now 382 mm.

It was in fact dry over the weekend, so despite the grass being wet, we decided to get out and cut it as it was getting far too long.  What happens but a flat tyre 15 minutes into cutting.  Managed to get the wheel off and take it to the tyre shop.  They said to come back later!  Tyre eventually replaced and sorted  by just after 5pm.  Luckily the evenings are a bit lighter and I got the grass cut just as it started raining again.  The bags were there for protection as we were not sure when the rain would start!

Looking much more sensible although I cut higher than normal.

Tuesday I had an appointment with the physio for my back,  this is what the weather looked like approaching Massiganc...

entering the town...

driving through...

the lavoir (old wash place) with the church in the background.

Driving back home!

Today I had an appointment to get my hair cut, photo taken from the car...

and inside.  Thank goodness I only have a cut and do not have it styled.  It would have been soggy in minutes 😞

Across the road they were replacing the tiles on this roof and they were working there, I saw them on the roof  in the rain when I left the hairdresser!!

By the railway track; I opened my car window to take this shot of the forsythia.  There are many of them along the fence line and look fabulous with intermittent red robin shrubs.

06/11/2017 A trip to the physio and shopping.

Maximum temperature 11C, minimum 3C.  10km/h NE winds, 20km/h gusts. Dry.

First stop was the dechetterie (dump), garden rubbish here...

and the electrical good are being collected opposite.

One of the very old Canadian carvings.  I seldom get to see this chap as the shrubs are usually as high as he is!

The post office in Chasseneuil looks like it is getting a face lift, or maybe a roof lift!

En route to the physio driving through Massignac...

as above.

Cattle by the side of the road.

A serious road obstruction, luckily one of the wider roads for us...

Cleaning out the ditches, they are pretty good about this each year.

Some signs of autumn but not a lot yet...

As above.

We stopped off to shop at Leclerc supermarket on the way home, Star Wars seems to be in evidence ....

As above.

Traffic jam in Tapponat :-)

The sun was a bit high when I took this, and only with the little hand held Samsung, but I thought the sunset was an interesting effect  if nothing else.

It has been a long day and I did not get a good night sleep last night.  Will catch up with all your comments tomorrow.  I am heading to bed!!

Bonne nuit.

27/07/2017 No post yesterday as the WiFi connection was so slow!!! Sorry.

Maximum temperature 21, minimum 14C.   18 km/h SW winds with 23 km/h gusts. 3 mm rain measured. It feels like winter!!

Yesterday we met friends at Massignac and drove part way to Cognac for lunch at Les Metaires

This is the Office de Tourisme at Massignac...

behind the hedge is this cow :-)  It is cattle country.

Eglise Saint-Jean.  The original church was burnt down during the Wars of Religion, this church was built in the 18th century....

The church from the back...

and behind the church is the beautifully restored Lavoir

Think this is Black-eyed Susan planted at the front of the church....

and beside it is this little Insect Hotel.

Not sure about the date carved on this, but I understand,  near the church is a fountain devoted to Saint Paul, whose holy waters were said to have the power to rid children of their nightmares. This was the only possible place I could track down.

The narrow streets of Massignac...

The shops which were closed, I am guessing they are all on holiday.  France just closes down for their summer holidays!

More tomorrow about the delightful luncheon, the weather day today is miserable cold and damp. Not a good day for photos!!