Welcome to my Family & Friends website.

This site details my simple life in Brittany and the things that are really important to me - such as cooking, eating, reading and enjoying the beautiful countryside and the people who live here.

Whilst this site is certainly not intended to be a definitive guide to living in France (it's more of an explanation of how and why I choose to live here), you may find information here that aids you in your life (whether you are living here now, or planning to move over), or for your holidays in this beautiful part of France where I have chosen to make my home.

“Real life stories from my often strange little life in rural Brittany.....”

Thursday - 13th November - 2008 - Site Updates!

I have been busy adding a couple of updates to BretonDiary.

1). There is now a site search facility - this is to be found on the sidebar on the righthand side of the screen.

2). There is also a ChitChat page where I can add little updates during the day - things that would not normally be worthwhile creating a full diary entry for.

ChitChat is available via the main menu or via its own box (which indicates last update time), on the sidebar on the righthand side of the screen.

Monday - 10th November - 2008 - Welcome to Gasgoine!

A recent arrival at 59 Rue St. Nicholas is Gasgoine!

He turned up one morning and has been with us for nearly a week!

I kind of like Gasgoine as he has a nice big smile on his face, as though he's always happy (or perhaps he's just suffering from wind!) A bit like me, really

Not sure about the yellow trousers, though!

Monday - 10th November - 2008 - A Vide-Greniers!

Yesterday, I was dragged (kicking and screaming), out of a nice warm bed at the un-earthly hour of 6am to go to another Vide-Greniers!

Since moving in with the Girlie, we have found that we have doubled up on a lot of stuff (how many toasters do we really need?) and thus, have to try and make some space and get rid of what we don't need!

It was also a great opportunity for both of us to unladen ourselves of some of the useless bits of tat that we had bought at other Vide-Greniers!

Thursday - 6th November - 2008 - Gone Fishing!

In every young boy's life, there are a few moments that transcend reality and will remain in his mind forever.

Moments like scoring the first six/try/goal for the school; the first slow dance (with a girl); the first kiss (once again, with a girl... I would hope?) and, maybe most important of all - The First Fishing Trip!

Thus, well aware of my responsibilities, I took Joshy fishing for the first time in his life, the other day!

Thursday - 6th November - 2008 - A Moving Story!

The Girlie moved into her new house in Josselin 2 weeks ago.

Feeling in a particularly sociable mood, I moved in a couple of days later!

So far we seem to be coping well - she hasn't discovered all my bad habits and, the ones she has discovered don't seem to worry her too much!

Wednesday - 15th October - 2008 - Oysters in the Garden!

Now, I know that it's the middle of October and that we should be cuddled up in front of the fire but recently the weather has been nice enough for the Girlie and I to be able to spend some time outside and anyway, I don't have a log fire to cuddle up in front of.

So, that's how the Girlie and I found ourselves sat in the garden, the other lunchtime, eating a summer holiday meal of bread and cheese and oysters!

I suppose that normal people would be thinking about winter stews around about now but then, I'm not sure that either the Girlie or I would classify ourselves as normal!

Monday - 13th October - 2008 - A Visit to Half Acre Farm!

On Saturday, for the first time in many months, the Girlie, Joshy and I went round to visit out friends Paul and Roz at their Half Acre Farm, the other side of the valley from the Girlie's house.

We brought a bottle of wine and a bag of Walnuts (about half this years crop, so far - all of 1kg!)

For Josh, the main attraction seemed to be feeding the animals!

Whilst Joshy was busy feeding the animals, us adults were busy feeding our faces and sampling some lovely chilled Rose wine.

We chatted in a typically French manner, with a beautiful view, great weather, great company, grape juice tongue lubrication and... all the time in the world!

I don't think that it would have been quite quite the same in Bognor or Basingstoke!

Monday - 10th November - 2008 - Some Book Reviews

Because I've been ill recently, I've had time on my hands to read. The following are my views on some of the books that I've recently enjoyed (or suffered)...

People who know my feelings about a certain author might just wish to give this article a miss and check out this site.... Meet the Author

Thursday - 6th November - 2008 - More Jokes from Susie

Susie has been attempting to keep everyones spirits up with a barrage of new jokes - if you're feeling grumpy, why don't you take a look?

Wednesday - 15th October - 2008 - A Man of Simple Tastes

I believe that I'm a man of very simple tastes (although the Girlie tries to convince me that I'm a man who's slightly simple in the head!)

I know what I like and I like what I know!

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the garden.

I like Chrysanthemums. I like Fuscias and I like Lavender - I also like Marigolds.

But what I like best of all are Nasturtiums!

Friday - 22nd August - 2008 - The Handbag Debate

One of the things I love about living in France is that men are allowed to carry handbags over here.

I don't know what I would do without mine.

It goes everywhere with me and contains just about everything that I'll ever need!

Thursday - 15th August - 2008 - The Garden

I don't try to pretend that I'm the world's greatest gardener. I do, though, like to be able to sit out in the garden, surrounded by flowers and read and ponder.

My garden is quite small and I aim to keep it as minimal maintenance as possible - whilst I love buying plants, looking after them is a chore that I don't enjoy so much.

Thursday - 14th August - 2008 - Garlic and Oil

I have a thing about garlic. I love to use it in cooking and I also love to store it in oil.

Having been slighty greedy whilst out shopping, I realised that I had way too much Garlic in the house!

Only one thing for it - the Girlie and I sat down to store it in olive oil!

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