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!!

17/06/2017 A visit to Chasseneuil and local market.

Maximum temperature 26C, minimum 12C. 30 kmh NE wind 36 km/h gusts  Dry.

Nigel went to see the Dr about his shoulder (again), so I went with him and walked on into town as parking by the Dr was easier on Saturday

I crossed over the railway line, they are seriously talking about closing this line which is sad.  Only 3 small trains a day between Limoges and Angouleme, and I guess they think it is too expensive to keep the track up to standard.  It will make life difficult for the school and college students that use it.

I passed the tourist info office, and the superb, but small museum that is mostly about the town's history during WWII.

Hydrangeas and petunias.

Just behind the museum are three wood carvings, this one of an eagle..

a man...

and an angel playing a harp,  A team of wood carvers come from Canada to town regularly.  They are amazing to watch and this is some of the results.

Petunias again, and I do not know what the other flowers are.

The fountain outside the museum.

Walking further on I passed the Cafe des Sports...

and the Hotel de Ville which is in fact the Mairie (mayor's office).  This building has just been cleaned from top to bottom and is looking particularly good at present.

Walking on  further is the church of St Saturnin, dated from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, where the Saturday morning market is always held

I was heading into the middle of the market, see the man in the blue shirt, just off right of the centre, he is at the fresh oyster stand where I was heading...

this stand says Pineau de Charente but it looks like they have other drinks there as well...

Superb fresh fruit and vegetables.

Walking back I passed this tree which I think is a Catalpa bignonioides or Indian bean tree but please correct me if I am wrong.

Last stop was to buy a baguette at the bakery.  Our favourite place is closed for two weeks holiday so I tried this one for a change.  Not bad but......  The Pizza place beyond it is very good, though we do not visit it that often.

P.S. Nigel is returning to the physio for a few more treatments and if no joy then he will see the specialist next month.  It has become chronic and has been going on and off for a couple of years so........

26/03/2015 A trip to Angouleme for Nigel to have another knee Injection and some shopping at La Rochefoucauld.

Maximum temperature 10C, minimum -1C. Light drizzle.

All photos taken from the car (mostly moving), except inside the supermarket!

The diary will be hit and miss, (probably more miss), over the next 5 days as we have visitors and we will be out a lot.

11/12/2014 A trip to Angouleme for N to see the knee specialist. Another 4 months before they can fit him in for treatment!!

Maximum temperature 9C. 4 mm of rain measured.