Readying for the summer holidays

(It's been so busy that I haven't update in ages and now, I am going to slip this one into late June)

Seb's new swim look

Celebrating Pride in a low key manner

Antidote to piercings, tatts and moodiness

One day when Sophie strolls into the house with her eyebrow and tongue pierced and chained together and a "Murder Mum" tattoo across her collarbone, I will smile at her placidly and head to the blog to stare intently at these images.

Sibling love - part 2

raspberry sibs

all smiles

Some more memories of Carrie's visit

in Paris

of course there was lots of eating and drinking

the youngest paddler

the worse paddler

on the Dune du Pyla

a new potter at the market!!

Just in case you were worried, we have been eating well here

Smoked tofu & cauliflower cheese casserole

Sophie's new fave: melon and parma ham

Seb offered breakfast in bed - complete with fresh orange juice

and coffee

Weather hasn't been in our favour but we are trying to dine al fresco / en plein air

Gazpacho, mozzarella salad, parma ham & melon - and a shandy!!

Me and my fella

Great neighbours

We have been lucky to have had lovely neighbours in so many places that we have lived. And to celebrate that fact, we going to have a massive party for our village neighbours in a few weeks. Looking forward to having some many fine folks gather in one place!

Marite on her birthday

With their lovely cards

Our little baker

Sophie's class visited a windmill earlier this week and they all made bread, not just any old loaf but animal-shaped. And yummy it was too.

Working from home

getting that work/life balance thing happening -
laptop in the garden, drinking a shandy in the shade

A smattering of Carrie

Finally, finally, finally we were able to host Carrie in the Dordogne and what a visit it was. She arrived Thursday night after a few days in Paris (which overlapped with Mr M) and left on Tuesday. 

So we had 4 days to fill and fill it we did: dinner with friends, drinks at a friend's house, Lascaux, canoeing on the Dordogne, a river-side cafe in a "plus beau village", loads of picnics, breakfast in bed, Castelnaud & Montbazillac castles, Arcachon beach/Dune de Pylat, the Sunday market, a tour of the village, and loads and loads of photo shoots.

So of course, she is smitten and wants to return.

(OK, so we made her work for it a bit)

They couldn't help but ham it up for her

Boogie-ing on the coast

We had the pleasure to head to the Atlantic coast on this holiday Monday. To Europe's highest dune in fact - la dune du Pyla. Carrie has the snaps of the dune; I have those of the beach.

surfing on a rock

anything my brother can do, I can do too

some very lucky ladies

M's turtle

happy day with sand between our toes

Le grand livre des "Pourquoi?"

The lovely class project of CE1 (Sophie's class). Everyone raved about her teacher at the beginning of the year and they were right. She has been absolutely lovely and encouraged Sophie to stretch herself.

Busy as potters

The children have been busy at Marite's atelier. 

Seb has developed some skill at the wheel. 

 They are working with Marite on 6 plates that I have commissioned. I can't wait to see them in a few more weeks. I think Carrie should anticipate some items to be gifted to her too.

Sophie's first vase