Sunday 31 December 2017

It's only words...

Somewhat sadly, the words from my poem from last year at this time still resonate...so with a little modification here they are again.

The tides of time cannot be held
As another year slips through our hands
Invincibility we once thought we had
Now seems lost by years, just grains of sand

They say with age comes wisdom
But it also steals our past
But hold on to your fond memories
Steadfastly built to last

After big decisions made
No matter right or wrong
Our future now seams less assured
Where did it all go wrong?

Time taking people that we love
Is so hard to comprehend
But as life has its beginning
It sadly has its end

Its now time to look ahead, not back
Although many thanks are due
To family and dear friends of ours
Who helped see the last year through.

Thank you!

Jim Craig

Saturday 30 December 2017

Les Halles in Paris



The last time we visited the site of Les Halles in Paris it was a giant hole in the ground!


Today it is home to 121 shops and 23 restaurants and a lot of glass!


Friday 29 December 2017

A winter's walk...


With our local randonnée club on its winter break friends David and Jane took up the mantle and organised an impromptu walk yesterday in the countryside around their home. It was an excellent way to take advantage of a beautiful December day here in Southern Touraine with friends. It ended with mulled wine and cake back at theirs...perfect end to a lovely afternoon!



Thursday 28 December 2017

Christmas Eve in Paris



On Christmas Eve morning we headed over to the 5th arrondissement to Rue Mouffetard. It is a pedestrianised street, which Parisians call “la Mouffe”, one of the oldest in Paris and is home to a popular street market...






and a very popular boulanger judging by the length of the queue. 




There were too many restaurants for the number of potential customers and it was difficult to choose one but we found this one (on the right) where we had a very good three course lunch for 15 euros ...in Paris...on Christmas Eve - who'd have thought!




Tuesday 26 December 2017

Christmas in Paris


Last look from the apartment balcony 10.15 this morning just before heading out for our return journey to Barrou. Great weekend with the highlight probably being the fabulous display at Galaries Lafayette...



...the Eiffel Tower at night



...Christmas day in Montmartre





...in the company of our son Paul and Pauline's sister Eileen, always good company!


Monday 25 December 2017

Sunday 24 December 2017

Thursday 21 December 2017

La Guerche project...little by little



Apologies for the speed of the slideshow - like the progress, its slow!

Wednesday 20 December 2017

Christmas swan-song...


Last night I did my last'gig' with fellow carollers at Notre Dame church at Yzeures-sur-Creuse. It was nice to be inside both from a heating point of view and for the sound (I hope). 



Our 'leader' got into the festive spirit for the evening!



There is a final outing on Saturday at Le Grand-Pressigny but I will be in Paris, so will miss it - please go along and support them.

Choir pics courtesy of Tim

Tuesday 19 December 2017

Restaurant review 'L'Entracte' in Loches


We had a good lunch at 'L'Entracte' on Rue de Chateau in Loches on Saturday. We had eaten here before a few years ago on their outside terrace to the rear of the restaurant and had also enjoyed it on that occasion.


We chose the 'menue de marche' which consisted of 'lamb crumble' which was very tasty... 


'chicken supreme' with sweet potato and a cooked endive ( which we could have done without), followed by profiteroles all for 16.00 euros per head. Good quality in pleasant surroundings at a reasonable price. 

Monday 18 December 2017

Between heaven and earth at Loches

art instillation of wolf titled Entre ciel et terre in Loches public park

As we strolled through the public park in Loches on Saturday we came upon this new creation resting on what remains of the great tree that once stood there it by the artist Amandine Bocquelet and titled 'Entre ciel et terre' and we rather liked it.

Sunday 17 December 2017

A December day out in Loches...


Went over to Loches yesterday for a walk around the market and gardens...followed by a good lunch at 'L'Entracte' on Rue de Chateau.















Friday 15 December 2017

As a child of 25...



If you are looking for something a little different this weekend then you could do worse that visiting Chateau de Bouges where you can wander through the chateau decked out for Christmas accompanied by the sounds of the piano as there are concerts between 5 & 8 pm.
It is € 8 and says it's free for children under 26 (Love that your still a child at 25)

Reminded me of this...

"Chocolate"(Snow Patrol)

This could be the very minute
I'm aware I'm alive
All these places feel like home

With a name I'd never chosen
I can make my first steps
As a child of 25

Thursday 14 December 2017

Post on a post at the project.


At our project at La Guerche we inherited work that already been started by the previous proprietor - we have undone most of  it including his attempt to clad the ceiling in pine, One of the other jobs he started was to put a supporting post under the large central beam (above) as it has an impressive bow on it. In my view it was its original shape and hasn't moved in hundreds of years but as he had gone to a lot of trouble and the post was there I decided to install it.


His idea was to build a concrete post in the cave,which he did and then fit a  wooden post on the ground floor,again which he did (below) before adding a second post on top of that to the underside of the beam.




When I opened up a hole in the floor under the beam where it was to rest on the post below I discovered that he had actually miscalculated and missed the beam by about 12 inches! This was perhaps due to different thicknesses of walls in the cave and the first floor. In any event I had to come up with a solution, This came in the form of a metal fabricated cantilevered bracket which a friend of mine (thanks again Dennis) had made up from a wooden template I had made.



I fitted this on the existing post which then created a platform for the new post...



and voila now it looks like it has always been there!



This will be in the (eventual) kitchen of the house .