05/01/2019 Happy New Year everyone.

I have been regularly walking the canal to keep myself relatively fit.  It has been cold, but with almost no rain so far and little wind, even I who loves the sun have enjoyed my walks.  If you have not seen my previous two posts then there is more information about the canal there.

Mist on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

As above.

One of the locks.

George Bar Bistro.

Caen Hill Locks are the longest continuous straight flight of locks in the UK.

This dog obviously decided that she had walked far enough and refused to move 😉

Catkins.

Quakers walk away from the canal

Squirrels in the trees...

and a very excited dog saw them and could not stop yapping.

Sunset over Devizes.

Loved this pair in the sidecar seen in Devizes.

Reflections on the canal.

The wharf.

No, it is not real but very lifelike.

Still waters run deep.

Devizes is a truly historic town and so full of history.  I try not to put too much information on the photodiary, so I have posted about the town on My Life In the Charente 2 with lots more information which might interest many of you.

03/02/2018 Yesterday today once again. Freezing fog!

Maximum temperature today 5C, minimum -2C. Raining as I type this but not measured yet. North Westerly winds; 9 km/h with up to 27 km/h gusts.

The first time we have seen the moon for a month due to cloud cover! Hand held I was too lazy to get the tripod out!!!

The garden, frost and freezing fog...

Just down the road; we had to go shopping...

Many cars were driving without lights on!!...

Spooky...

It gets worse...

and worse.

In the evening we had a little blue sky and a few tinted clouds.

21/12/2017 More photos around Devizes.

Maximum temperature 11C,  Minimum 9C.  Thankfully much warmer but not warm enough for me!

Yesterday at FIL's pensioners luncheon.  He looks pretty good for 96.

It was a misty walk to the lunch...

As above...

Even the swans and ducks were in the mist!

Today the mist had lifted. Church of St James - another grade II listed building.

A chapel  may have been built in the late C14 or early C15 (it was certainly in existence by 1461).  It developed parochial status by the 16th century, and the dedication to St James was recorded in 1505.

 

As above.

Father Christmas water skiing!

Sorry about the reflections in the window but just liked this cat watching the world go by😉

Loving having your comments but I will only get back to replying when we get home in January 😊

10/11/2017 A special birthday lunch.

Maximum temperature 12C, minimum 6C.  9km/h NE winds, 19km/h gusts. 1 mm rain measured.  Foggy all day.

Leaving home at 12pm the mist was swirling in all directions...

making driving not a lot of fun!

Arrival at Domaine Des Etangs...

Nigel and I ready to go and enjoy a fabulous lunch.

The dragonfly emblem is on the door step and all the crockery in the restaurant as well....

Luckily we were sat right by the fire 😊

Nigel with friends Erica and Brian .

Amuse Bouche

Top left radishes, top right foie gras cherries and below mushroom soup.

Starter which we all chose - Braised artichokes, river trout and hazelnuts the other choice was celeriac and black truffle.

Main course - braised leeks with Barbezieux chicken or....

John Dory roasted over charcoal, Parmesan foam and mushrooms.  Nigel and I both had this dish and it was delicious and full of amazing flavours.

The dessert - this was called Earl grey tea and chocolate  but I asked for no Earl Grey (I don't like it!) or

Nigel's choice of Grapefruit iced parfait, but note, he had - "Joyeux anniversaire 70 Ans" written on his plate with a candle to blow out 🍷

Finally a coffee with petit-fours.

For those following the South African holiday Part 8 is now on the web HERE

28/10/2017 Official opening to the Salle Communale in Vitrac and a very misty start to the day.

Maximum temperature 16C, minimum 8C.  10 km/h NE winds, 27km/h gusts. 1mm rain measured, very misty.

About 9 am the garden at home...

As above.

10h15 driving down the road...

as above...

Driving through Le Grange...

Driving into Vitrac...

across the bridge into the centre.

The church.

The Salle Communale - Grand opening...

This part of the hall is the original, but we now have the glass doors instead of very high original windows...

Walking through the door is this open construction where we had the speeches followed by champagne and snacks which I forgot to photograph!!  The Committee is behind the mayor (who is talking).  The commune bought the house and garden at the back of the hall which has allowed for all this extra work to be done.  The house itself still needs work done to it

When we left I popped into the church to take some photos, I only had the small camera and no time to fiddle with settings so the windows are not very good...

But you can get the idea.

Back home the garden was still very wet.  The cotoneaster.