Wednesday 31 July 2013

Toasting the terrace...


Our good friend and neighbour David, here in Barrou, has just completed the decking on his new terrace (long awaited) and this called for a toast...5 o'clock is beer time...and very refreshing it was too! Perhaps we should not admit to this but we returned at aperitif time just to retest its suitability...passed with flying colours!

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Bring on the dancing girls...


Colin's disappointment with the costumes of the dancing girls at his local fête was expressed in the form of the photograph promising so much more from the local tourist board



Below is my video of when they (or a troupe very like them) appeared at our 'Barroudeurs' festival in 2011...


I wonder if it was because it was a Sunday in Braye-sous-Faye 

Monday 29 July 2013

Long and the short of it...


We had a very pleasant day yesterday over at Braye-sous-Faye's annual event, the Fête Champêtre du Bois du Temple, with Colin and Elizabeth. Among the classic cars on display were this stretch limo and this cute little Fiat. 



Below are my two other favourites on display.





Sunday 28 July 2013

Church on Sunday...Esvres-sur-Indre


Today we visit L'église Saint-Médard Esvres-sur-Indre where there has been a place of worship since as early as the 5th century.


Its external appearance looks like three different churches cobbled together. The square tower with its octagonal steeple dates from the 12th century with some rebuilding work in the 13th and 14th. The apse is a 17th century addition which was followed by major restoration work in the 19th century.




The rectangular nave leads to the choir and a rather ornate altar.


With Saint-Médard taking a rather lofty centre stage.


Unusually,the choir is flanked either side by galleries.




The panel vaulted ceiling of the church currently has a little problem that necessitates the need for some h&s  


It was good to see that they obviously encourage young families...with this little créche in place


It also contains some fine pieces of art...


....but sadly no reference to Joan.


Above the apse externally you can see some examples of early carving work
































Saturday 27 July 2013

Boxing clever...


Liked the professionalism displayed by this stall at recent brocante at Buxeuil...by the way, his prices were also professional!

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Cool and foxy...

We had a much need 'orage' (storm) yesterday which after temperatures of 95 degrees brought some cool air in to make it slightly less uncomfortably hot...even the wildlife had to adapt to the conditions...




Tuesday 23 July 2013

Another one for re-cycling...


Bicycle in new friends Dennis and Angela's garden in the countryside near Maire. 

Have added it to my collection here

Monday 22 July 2013

Berry good for you.....


Our strawberry bed here in Barrou continues to be prolific...and the good news is that we are munching our way through one of the healthiest foods on the planet according to the World health Authority. 

Sunday 21 July 2013

Church on Sunday...La Celle-Guenand



We pass through the village of La Celle-Guenand often as we traverse Southern Touraine and have stopped on a number of occasions to view its church, Notre Dame, only to find it locked up. So it was a slight surprise to find it open on 'Bastille Day', or maybe it should not have been...anyway open it was.


You enter through the side door as the main portal on its somewhat Romanesque façade, is currently being supported / reinforced by a timber framework. the central portal is flanked by two'blind' arches.


The side entrance has been renovated back to what it may have looked like in the past.


Once inside the church has a somewhat neglected/unloved feel to it with the walls literally crying;;;or was that just rising damp? 


The nave of the church 12th century is flanked by four large arches and leads to a pretty little altar squeezed in an inappropriately sized choir which was added in the 15th century.


There two side altars, one decidedly more tired than the other.


Either side of the 15th century bell tower...


...here viewed from underneath.


It has the familiar...and the unfamiliar.


This unusual baptismal font, carved into a block of hexagonal stone is decorated with human heads to outer corners and is so different to what we normally expect - but they have one of these as well which I understand came from the church at Ferrière-Larçon, don't know why they thought they needed two!






Looking back down the central nave you can see the intricate framework supporting the main portal.


Where's Joan?, you may have noticed her earlier... book-ended by a pair of delightful windows.



Here they are from the outside...


which has a number of interesting features...




...and a confusing rear end that makes you want to go back in and check just what is going on!








Saturday 20 July 2013

A right royal night...


Last night we went over to La Roche Posay to see 'Kris to Queen' a 'Queen' tribute act...and they gave quite a performance-much appreciated by the mixed audience...and it was free! Here is a sample of the nights entertainment...


Wednesday 17 July 2013

spoilt for choice...


Like most of France we took a day off on Sunday...and went in search of fetes. We ended up in Verneuil-sur-Indre where they were set up for a long day. There was a brocante as well as stage where even over lunchtime we were treated to a musical journey by two English chaps showing the French how to do it (if in a somewhat 'club'style).







One couple were impressed enough to take to the floor.


...would loved to have gone back at midnight to check it out but we couldn't as we had been invited to Descartes' festivities.Food and music ('Matchbox') down by the river followed by 'pyrotechnics'. The local kayak club do a 'river dance' with lights...very impressive! Would loved to have shared it with you but my pics are rubbish...maybe someone out there has some.


A good evening with good company yet again.



Monday 15 July 2013

In tune with your surroundings...


Loved this French family's resourcefulness at Friday's Tour de France wait...find some shade...and extra seating would be useful...no buses today...ideal!

Sunday 14 July 2013

Church on Sunday...Notre Dame de Lorette


Today we head down the Val de Courtineau to the small troglodyte chapel that is Notre Dame de Lorette. It is an intriguing little place carved into the rocks along this charming relatively unknown little valley. I say unknown only as it doesn't seem to warrant much of a mention in any tourist guides of the local area yet it is a annual place of pilgrimage on the 'route to Santiago de Compostela'


Inside there is a small simple altar and a curious mix of religious artefacts and wall carvings including one of the 'Holy Trinity' at the foot of  well executed version of the 'Jerusalem Cross' or 'Cross of the Crusaders' which runs the whole length of the ceiling of the chapel. Read more here...

Saturday 13 July 2013

Tour de France...in a flash


Friends Jane and Peter invited us to join them yesterday for a picnic to watch the caravan and riders of the 'Le Tour de France'. They picked a good location just outside of Loches at La Clémencerie

We had sparkling Vouvray and a fine lunch before settling down to watch the spectacle.







The Vittel float was a welcome relief...cool.

When the riders eventually arrived it was over in a flash!