Join us on a drive to Villebois Lavelette.......

Maximum temperature today 21C, minimum 9C.   Dry; 5 km/h North winds with up to 10 km/h gusts.

No surprise, as soon as we are on the highway - roadworks...

As above.

Leaving the highway, I could not believe how green everything was...

As above.

Green and yellow of winter wheat and rape.

Golden fields of rapeseed.

Apologies for the reflection on the windscreen, but I just loved the carved stonework over the barn door.

Logging.  I gather the forests are very well managed in France and in fact, they are getting bigger rather than smaller.

Saint Catherine, we have never been through this town before and it looked a lovely place.

Dignac, (sigh) more roadworks.

Still cannot believe all this greenery.

Almost at Villbois Lavelette...

The chateau and the church up on the hill.

To be continued as we walk around the town and I take photos of this historic place.

N.B. My new bird blog is HERE 

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

11/04/2018 Still trying to catch up!!

Maximum temperature today 16C, minimum 9C.   8 mm of rain measured over the last two days; 17 km/h North Easterly winds with up to 37 km/h gusts.

Total rainfall so far this year now 430 mm.

Tulips taken two days ago...

Cherry blossom but no bees...

Wild violets...

White (blue) bells,

Vinca blue..

and purple...

Lawn daisy with a mini-hopper...

Flowers on the laurel.

Yesterday we had an appointment in Angouleme, this was just leaving home...

Poor guys were working on the road in the rain!

Later in the day, we saw this 2CV in the local car park...

As above, a typical French icon.

N.B. My new bird blog is HERE 

Part 4 of the birds I saw last year in Africa.

06/04/20/2018 Still running a day late!!!!

Maximum temperature today 22C, minimum 6C.   8 mm of rain measured over the last two mornings; 15 km/h South Easterly winds with up to 37 km/h gusts. 

Sun is shining happily today 😊

Total rainfall so far this year now 420 mm.

Yesterday we had plans to go to Confolons, but every road that led in that direction had a deviation sign on it so we finally gave up!  The signs just sent one around in a circle back to the same place!!

Traffic was milling around and had no idea where to go!  Very unusual in our area.

Next we went to La Rochefoucauld, but coming home we were down to one lane on the N141...

The powers that be were cutting back the scrub that was growing on the sides of the road....

While this truck was picking up all the rubbish to cart it away.

Closer to home an old tractor out on the road...

and fuel prices going up!!!

A drive-by shot of the rape starting to come into flower.

One of the Canadian carvings at the side of the road in Chasseneuil. 

Back in the garden, a dandelion with a bee of some kind and many very small beetles.

I just liked the way the light was shining through the tulips...

as above.

an unknown insect.

N.B. My new bird blog is HERE 

Part 3 of the birds I saw last year in Africa.

04/03/2018 A trip to Limoges.

Maximum temperature today 11C, minimum 5C.   12mm of rain measured for yesterday and it is raining here again now; 15 km/h South Westerly winds with up to 41 km/h gusts.

Sorry, I am getting far behind with the diary as not many photos have been taken!!

Sunrise; a rare occasion for us, but we had a very early appointment at the hospital for Nigel.

As above.

Another very rare sighting for us living in the country, graffiti on a bridge wall.

A drive by shot of a fire engine.

Limoges Hospital.

Road works on the return trip.

Thermes de Chassenon; the site of Gallo Roman remains, well worth a visit if you are in the area, I have written about it here

Rochechouart Chateau.

Friends for dinner Friday night...

I made sushi snacks.