Morning all. Dry and sunny here at the moment, but heavy rain forecast for later in the day. Many rivers have burst their banks, and I noticed that the mighty Vienne was getting very close to some houses built well above the normal river level. The green lane that gives me access to my fields is underwater in places where the water has drained down from the higher level field. At one time the water would drain through the soil quite quickly, but the heavy machinery the farmers use these days is compacting it down. I think that I overdid the log moving yesterday as despite a hot soak I am very stiff today. Will take it easy with some light tasks. Have a successful day whatever you are doing.
Really surprised nobody has posted the Ben Foster story from the BBC website. I haven't time to fire up laptop to post it, off for more radiotherapy
Mark did post the tweet three days ago and it had something close to a record number of likes. I wouldn't expect you to read the thread about all Watford news items as that could stretch loyalty a bit far. How is the radiotherapy going now after the false start? Hope it is not having bad effects.
Radiotherapy is very tiring and a bit uncomfortable in the nether regions but all in all it's going okay. Final session is on Friday 27th so nearing the end
Given the site of your treatment Dave, I would just stick to your fingers - we will cross everything else for you and Mme Fez
Just done my Christmas cards whilst watching the Sports Personality of the Year junkit and Watford were on video twice - sadly goals from the FA Cup final but hey we are never on that. Great one Ben Stokes!
Morning all. A really lovely sunny and warm morning in rural France. Heading south today to get what I hope will be the last of presents, this time for our family out here. We know what is wanted in just about every case except one, which helps, but to search for something unknown and different to last year can be a bit of a challenge. Last night went to our annual mince pie a carols evening, and it is always fun to watch a French person try a mince pie for the first time. A tentative nibble to start with, before they discover that they are nothing like the originals that were filled with chopped up meat. Have a successful day whatever you plan to do.
Morning all. Dry again, and mild, but breezy at the moment with the forecast of it strengthening throughout the day. Finally finished present buying, so can think about other things, such as what decent wine to get in for the festive season. In my travels I have noticed that many of the street decorations have been changed this year for ones with LED light bulbs. Some of the displays are great, but quite what the designs are supposed to represent I have no idea. Have a successful day whatever you must do.
I was handed a flyer for a bar not that far away from here. It has a website, so out of interest I had a look. It is being run by an English couple who are trying to create an English country pub in the middle of nowhere. Fish and chips once a month, quiz evenings, a guest musician for an evening, and for special occasions such as the rugby world cup they will turn the TV on. There is quite a difference between an English and a French bar. Firstly many French bars in these rural areas are closed by 8.00 pm. People do not tend to go out to the local for the evening, much preferring the TV or being with the neighbours. Secondly French bars tend to be places where you go to have a couple of small beers or a tiny glass or two of wine and a good gossip for a couple of hours. There are some bars that open about 8.00 am where people will go for a glass of wine or a strong cup of coffee to set them up for the day. Some French bars are the place you go to place a bet on the days horse racing as there are no betting shops. The atmosphere is very different, they are not the same thing as the pubs I visited recently, where drinking several pints, or eating decent food at a price, or rubbish food for an advertised great deal is being pushed at the customers. One of my French neighbours complains of the bad behaviour of some of the young who get into trouble after too much to drink. When you talk about it you find that they have been to the clubs or discos in the big towns, they don't exist in the sticks. I wonder what it is like for any others who live in rural areas in the UK, or other far flung places like Germany, Mexico, or even Scotland.
Morning all. Quite a change in the weather today with sunshine one minute, then heavy showers the next. The wind is also strong making it feel colder than it actually is. My grandson in Gloucester reported on the latest craze for young boys. As cars were leaving the local Tesco supermarket, the youngsters were running in front of the cars and spraying cream onto the windscreens. He posted a picture of them on Facebook and suggested that parents go and collect them before someone was hurt. Quite a daft way to spend a wet evening. Enjoy your day whatever you are doing.
