The Canary Dave

Morning all. Up with the lark today hoping to do a few bits before heading out for the day. A gathering of twelve friends, some that we haven't seen for three years at our favourite restaurant. Three courses, apéritifs, wine and coffee all for €19. A day off for me from the kitchen, although as she has become more mobile Mme is starting to reclaim her domain. Météo is suggesting that storms are on their way, even with some light rain, but until that happens the forecast 37°C is something we will have to live with. Have a good day everyone.

 

Morning all. Lots of cloud about this morning, so it is cooler, but still no rain. A splendid day out yesterday catching up with news from people we haven't seen for so long. Our police chief from Northern Ireland has got round the 90 day rule by obtaining an Irish passport. Our friends with the donkeys had been back in England for ten days when their house was broken into, and loads of their belongings were taken away in their own horse box, which has not been recovered. Our friend who had a heart attack here now has a jacket with a pace maker in it as a temporary measure, but after tests has been told he will need a permanent one fitting. Another friend and Mme were in deep conversation comparing hip and knee operations, and how they sometimes hear their new joints clicking. The food and drink were the usual high standard, and another meet up will be arranged before too long. Have a good day everyone.

 

Afternoon folks. Well, our water account has been suspended. Got a near as damn it ££££ bill from Thames Water on Wednesday following several "estimates" over the past couple of years: oddly we saw the guy reading the metres on Saturday. Mrs Fez turned the water off at the stop cock for a few hours and the meter was still spinning! No clues as to a leak anywhere: no patch of especially lush vegetation or wet ground or, heaven forbid, subsidence. Looking forward to getting that sorted, it was a bit of a shock, I can tell ye!

 

That's a bummer - if they eventually find/fix the problem do you get a refund?

Thankfully we have gallons of the stuff regularly falling from the sky - no need for meters up here. My last experience of them was in Queensland, when I returned early from a trip away and found my neighbour filling his swimming pool from my garden tap. The bugger never even apologised - unfortunately for him, I videoed the episode before knocking on his door and telling him to stop - and sent copies to both the council and the police. Funnily enough, he never spoke to me again.

 

Should do. Just been chatting to a colleague who had a similar problem which was properly sorted out. Another case was a two bedroom flat had their meter connected to a 6 bedroom house. A third incident was a leaking cistern which an older couple hadn't spotted: TW apparently split the difference with them which is more than fair. The portents are good.

 

No surprise, but the car washes in town have been closed due to the lack of rain.

 

Morning all. A breeze has arrived making life better until you realise that it is a very warm breeze. There are masses of blackberries in the hedgerows that are starting to turn black although they haven't swollen up, so not much fruit, just pips. Although there were a lot of insects around to pollinate my bean flowers just a couple of weeks ago, today I watched and couldn't see any. No wonder my runner beans are not setting, yet my French ones have done really well. A hosepipe ban is now in place, and topping up your swimming pool is not allowed. Glad I haven't got one, although it would have been a good refuge on some of the hottest days. Have a great day everyone.

 

Am totally bereft at the sad news this morning that Aussie singer Judith Durham has died. Possessor of a wonderful singing voice, she has been my favourite singer for decades - and I've been lucky enough to attend many of her concerts.
RIP

I think I'll be spending the day playing this, my favourite song of hers, over and over...

 

Yes sad news. When someone like her, who had so much talent, and you almost grew up with leaves you, it takes away another small piece of your history. At least we can now both see and hear performers thanks to the internet, something that was not available when she was starting out.

 

Morning all. Not a cloud to be seen, just a few high level aircraft passing over. With the temperature expected to be 30°C today it doesn't warrant a warning from the météo about the canicule. July had only 16% of normal rainfall which is having an effect on the waterways. River transport is impacted: on the Rhine, boats must be lightened by a third due to "sinking problems", according to Voies navigables de France. Nearly 600 km of canals are closed, particularly in the Grand Est and Burgundy, affecting boating activities. It is even being suggested that the greens on golf courses should not be watered if it is a choice between that and providing drinking water for the many. Have a good day everyone.

 

Morning all. A little light breeze, but no sign of a cloud. It is a good job that I collected so much rainwater now that it is needed. I have so far used about 700 litres from my water butts, so am hopeful that the remaining 1,400 litres will see me through. According to my local newsletter from the council, fibre cables are going to be laid here in the near future. They put them at the bottom of ditches when going across the country, which might explain why they are being dug out and deepened along the lane. While this work is going on, down by the town hall alongside the river, the people who live there still have no mobile phone signal. New towers have been erected in several places locally, but none have helped those residents. It seems that living in a hollow is not good if you don't have a landline. Have a good day everyone.

 

Bumble bees don't fly out at temperatures of over 35 degrees Frenchie, and they are the main (only) pollinators of runner beans. Also tomato blossoms tend to drop off unpollinated at those temperatures. Fortunately nearly all of our runners have set. Our water butts are dangerously low - fortunately nobody here has swimming pools in their gardens - using a hosepipe in the garden is only allowed here if used from a fountain ie. groundwater.

 

I don't know if these Facebook video links work on here or not - but my neighbour appeared in the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony. He's the old guy with the trombone who looks like he's about to fall off the stage...

https://fb.watch/eNdvHX66A7/

 

Morning all. An early start as the weekly blood drawing session for Mme came round again. I was with my 18 year old granddaughter yesterday afternoon who is off to Germany today to see her long time English friend who is the same age. There is a direct train service from Poitiers and her ticket is costing her €13. Both girls are now able to be independent to a large extent and arrange travels around Europe at a price they can afford, and without any of the border controls that seem to be so important to some in England. I feel sad that young people in England are restricted, often by price, of broadening their experience of how others live in societies that are organised differently. Have a good day everyone.

 

Morning all,

Back from a successful jaunt to the plasticy tropical paradise of purpose built Cancún. Twas full of Yanks, but we had a great time there!

On another note, I can't do (m)any match threads this season. Does anyone want to take a few to help OFH out?

Thanks!

 

A very interesting weekend experience.
The village fete resurrected included lots of simple games. .. One of which was the tug of war..As there were 12 of us we decided to have a women and girls versus boys and girls competition. Round one I did nothing and the girls won... round two I thought we should even the scores and put my back into it.... snap... the rope broke and we all tumbled....
During the evening Mme's wrist swelled and on Sunday after dropping family off at the airport, my wife decided she wanted to be checked out....so we made for Limoges A and E expecting a hot several hours sweaty stay with lots of forms etc This was also our first visit in the 20 years we have been coming so we were a little worried...

So we parked in what turned out to be the consultants car park and entered....
Twenty minutes doing the forms...then 15 in a sort of waiting room... my wife saw a digital clock with 5.14 on it and thought it might be the waiting time.
Then.........................

Triage with a nurse 3 minutes
Interview with junior doctor 4 minutes
X ray 5 minutes
Feedback from Senior Doctor 3 minutes
Prescription explained 2 minutes
Splint fitted by a nurse 3 minutes

...and out....

All in less than an hour.....
We couldn't believe it.

I have had similar visits to UK A and E which have involved many hours.... most of it waiting

 

Hope it is not too painful for Mme. Not everything is perfect with the French health system, but generally it works pretty well.

 

I think we were there at a good time...... but all the same... impressive

She is managing...even though she should be resting it.....

 

Morning all. It is going to be another hot one with a temperature of 35°C this afternoon. I have a large bowl on the patio with water and a small solar powered fountain. When it is sending up the jets of water it attracts wild bees and other insects that fly in and out of the spray. Yesterday a red squirrel was there for quite a long time drinking some of the water. There are many reminders about during this hot spell to leave some water bowls outside in your garden to help the wildlife that needs water as much as we do. Have a good day everyone.

 

Yes ...30 at breakfast..... tooo hot