Further France

Mist rising in the mountains near Greolieres

This mountain road gives you a different impression of the area of Provence we visited recently. The sun has been replaced by the mist rising up from the valley floor.

Just the other side of Greolieres we turned off this particular road into the Valley du Loup. Here the valley got narrower, with steep cliffs either side. As we continued down the east side of the gorges we discovered it was peppered with waterfalls. Perhaps the most spectacular, were the Cascades des Demoiselles.

Cascades des Demoiselles

We returned up the east side to explore the west side. Here we discovered the village of Gourdon sat on a rocky outcrop. It looked of interest & we noted there was access for disabled parking up the steep slope of the outcrop. We returned later in our holidays specifically to look around Gourdon, its castle & castle gardens, the views along the valley towards the Med, it's innumerable gift & craft shops.

A bit more France

Corniche de l'Esterel

I thought it was time to remember a little more of France & our recent holidays. (And my, they seem a long time ago now.)

Our first week we had bad weather a lot of the time. However, we did find one good day to drive along the Corniche de l'Esterel between Frejus & Cannes. As you can see it was fabulous. Here you see why the area is known as the Cote d'Azur. Doesn't that water look a glorious shade of azure?

The real surprise for us, is that the drive from the villa we were staying in to Frejus was through limestone country & thick woods. As you turned along the coast road the rock changed to this amazing ox-blood red. So unexpected. Cap Roux (red cape) is well named after its colour.

Looking at the photo, it is difficult to believe that same evening we decided to dine out. It was throwing it down. It eased sufficiently for us to get inside reasonably dry. We dined to the sound of thunder. By the time we were coming back we were given a show of sheet lightning, with the odd bit of forked lightning thrown in, & a cacophony of rolling drums of thunder. Such a contrast with earlier in the day.

A quiet day

The last couple of days it has been great to have our dinner outside. We get serenaded by the birds, especially Mr Blackbird who takes his spot on next door's chimney pot or on the top of the evergreen in our garden.We can never understand why people like to pollute the air outside with loud music, when there are so many natural songsters only too willing to entertain you.

Al, the gardener, is intending to come round today. I think he will be impressed by the progress of the Fox's potatoes. They've really come on this week. Every day they've visibly grown. I hope Al approves of our efforts with the tomatoes & onions, and will give us a few tips on what needs doing, especially with the tomatoes which we've never grown before.

Otherwise it should be a quiet day. We need to get out at some point to buy some bread but that's about it. Who knows I might even get the bog garden tidied up while it still not a lake.

Trip out

I'm just back from a trip in the Mean Machine, my electric scooter. Going along the prom, my eyes were inevitably drawn across the Bay to the Lakeland fells. They looked magnificent. Quite sharp against the blue sky. I couldn't help thinking it was difficult to imagine that such beauty was the setting for so much carnage earlier in the week.

A lot of the journey I went along with a fellow parishioner, chatting as we went. We've never really talked much before, just greeted each other & passed on the sign of the peace. It seems a new priest is moving into the vicarage this week. We're having a lady priest. I gather it's caused quite a stir in the parish. The congregation doesn't like change much. I'm curious to see what happens. So is Meg, my companion.

Meg is 83, but nonetheless does her best to keep up with technology. She's a silver surfer, loves her digital camera. She's clearly anxious about her young brother, who was rushed into hospital this week. It was good to have chance to chat a bit, get to know each other a bit.

We parted our ways. I went on to the pet shop. The garden birds had just about eaten all their food. Then it was on to the fish shop for a nice bit of cod for dinner tonight.

All together a pleasant trip out.

Busy morning

It's been a busy morning.

It started by getting some plants in the ground. When we were shopping yesterday, I saw some sweet pea plants. As ours were more like brown paper due to the lack of rain during our holiday, I bought some more. They are now in tubs near the back door.

Having been inspired that much, we popped into Homebase, which is more or less next door to Morrisons. This time we bought some antirrhinums. They are now in the pots weighing down the bird table. I chose snapdragons partly because they were another favourite of my mother's and partly because they grew wild around Provence. I've never seen them wild before. Each time I look out to see the birds, I'll be reminded of a wonderful holiday.

Then I turned my attention to dinner. Potatoes are peeled and I also made a salsa ready to go with some grilled chicken this evening. I just need to add some avocado & that should be delicious.

Finally I settled down to this. I've already had two interruptions. The first was a much needed delivery of wine, the other an awaited phone call. Next we're expecting a visit from someone from the Office of National Statistics. Heavens knows what they want.

Drought!

The day is finally beginning to brighten up. When I've done this, I'm intending to get out into the garden. I'm hoping to tidy up the front garden & plant a second Basil Bush out. The old one is reviving a bit. I think it was suffering drought rather frost, but I bought some more last week just to make sure we should have plenty for the summer months. We do enjoy Italian food & it doesn't taste the same without a bit of basil, not to mention oregano. The latter is threatening to overwhelm the rest of the herb garden.

Mentioning drought I was amazed to hear that we in the north west are being asked to try to conserve water. It doesn't seem that long ago we had flooding in Cockermouth & Workington. Most of the winter we've not been able to reach the greenhouse & compost bin for our extra lake. I can only assume folk in Manchester must drink an awful lot of water! Or is it the number of baths & car washes?It certainly doesn't say much for the water authority's ability to conserve water. Plenty has come down over the winter months.

I accept by all accounts April & May have been dry. I gather while we were away no rain fell here. I can believe our friends when I saw just how dry the garden was when we got home. Basil Bush & our sweet peas have both virtually dried out & withered. We're very glad we didn't plant the veg out before we went. Al, our gardener, had agreed to give them a good water while we were away, but, as he never arrived, they would have got very thirsty by the time we were back.

An escape

Some things got done yesterday. Not as much in the garden as I'd hoped, but nonetheless important things. After a further couple of hours on it, I finally finished the first draft of my Disability Living Allowance form. Now all that needs to be done is to read through it, make sure I've not made too many gaffs, fine tune it a bit & copy it all in to the actual form. I'm hoping the Fox will help & make sure I've not made too many boobs.

I always dread this form, partially because it involves trying to be realistic about how much my health has deteriorated in the last three years, partially because the actual money involved is an important part of our income. But above all because I know apparently simple questions are usually traps. Your answers seem to be read seeking excuses to not give you the money, rather than to gain a clear picture of how your disability affects your daily life.

Still, the worse is done now. I hope.

In the afternoon we were out in the garden. The tomatoes, onions & some more potatoes all planted. They are now being divinely watered in by all the rain we've had this morning.

As for the meal, it was a great success. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. It succeeded in bucking up a few waning spirits. In our absence both Fran (a badly sprained & infected ankle) and Mrs B (an ear infection that caused vertigo) have not be so well. Den was the only quiet one, but I think that was just because he's anxious about Fran, his wife of just 7 months. Helen, MK's widow, enjoyed her holiday on her own in Cyprus. She's come back looking more relaxed & less tired than she has been for a while. Linda, Dave C's widow, bubbled cheerily away. She's planning a holiday soon - two weeks away, the first week by herself for the first time, the second joined by family.

Life goes on. By the time we left the restaurant everyone seemed in good cheer, their worries left behind. And we all need that escape from time to time.