You thirsty, John?
John (and his brother, Mark), have been staying for a few days…
I think that Gertie has been watching John and trying to copy him…
I’ve been watching too but I haven’t seen John drinking from the watering can…
Yet!
Archive for the Friends Category
Barbecue with friends
We had some friends staying in the gite as so we invited them round for a barbecue.
We asked them if… “they’d like something to nibble – apricots, soaked in honey – quite why, no one knows – because it stops them tasting of apricots, and makes them taste like honey, and if you wanted honey, you’d just buy honey, instead of apricots, but nevertheless – there we go – yours if you want them.”
Strangely enough, even though both Mac and Lyn thought the apricot and honey business was the real lowpoint of the conversation (and it must really be hard trying to have a conversation with someone who believes that Richard Curtis is the Johnny Hallyday of Scriptwriting), they agreed!
Mad or brave? To find out, read on….
Birthday Drinkies
Last Saturday we had a few friends round to help me celebrate my birthday.
The weather turned nice and most of us got suitably stupid and stayed up far too late for people of our age!
All the best
I predict… a hangover!
On Saturday we had some friends round for a few drinks.
Although I think a good time was had by all…..
… I do have to admit to slightly consuming a tad too much Pastis and, as a result, feeling a little bit queasy the next day!
Personally, I blame it on being dehydrated.
Or perhaps it was all the excitement of getting the chickies?
There’s something very nice about spending an evening with friends; all consuming slightly too much alcohol, talking a load of b*llocks and then being unable to remember the embarrassing bits, the next day!
The picture at the top shows the mess that the Girlie had to clear up , the next day.
I would have done it myself but I was a little bit….
…. dehydrated?
Read more about… I predict… a hangover!
A Friendly Visit
Paul and Rosalyn came round to visit.
Personally, I think that Paul just wanted to have a good look at The Great Fence of Brittany and also sneak a peak at what is in the process of becoming … The Poshest Nesting Box in Brittany (more of which later.)
Wine was poured, cake was eaten and Paul managed to just, slightly beat me at Boules (OK – it was 13-1!)
The Girlie even got out some of her special Yogurt Pot Cake (based on a recipe that Rosalyn adapted from a recipe found on The French Country Challenge).
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| Either the Girlie has just told a joke (probably the one about the lesbians) or she has farted…. | It’s OK, I thinks she’s just farted! |
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| If you ever want to shut up two gabbling girlies, just give them some Yogurt Pot Cake! | What is soon to become… The Poshest Nesting Box in Brittany! |
All the best
The bestest cake in Brittany?
It’s taken me a few hours to recover from the gastronomic delights but…
… I just thought I’d let you all know about the bestest cake in Brittany!
I popped over to Half Acre Farm yesterday to take a quick look at my mate Paul’s computer.
His wife, the wonderful Rosalyn (from An English Rose in France) had baked a cake….
“Would I Like Some?” I was asked.
“Is the Pope a Catholic?” I felt like replying!
It was gorgeous and the Girlie is going to bake one today – for my tea!
The original recipe came from The French Country Challenge and Rosalyn has kindly taken some photos of the cooking process so that even a dumbo like me could probably manage to bake one (I think I’m slightly better at eating cakes than making them!) – her instructions are here….. Yogurt Pot Cake with Apple and Hazelnuts.
Now, the only question is… what to do about my belly – it’s now entering rooms a good half an hour before the rest of me!
All the best
A Walk to Half Acre Farm
On Saturday, The Girlie and I went for a little walk. The Girlie didn’t know it but, I had received an invite for aperitifs from our friends, Rosalyn and Paul, across the valley at their Half Acre Farm.
It was a bit of a surprise to her when I casually walked into their back garden rather than just walking past.
There were bottles of wine on the table – and lots of nibbles too!
Rosalyn is a great cook and we did the decent thing and ensured that all the plates were cleared!
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.
A Visit from the Woolly Shepherd!
Via my favourite internet forum… www.brittany-friends.com the Girlie and I met a virtual friend, Val Grainger, bettter known as The Woolly Shepherd.
Val decided to come to Josselin on her last trip over, to meet the Girlie and me.
Although she couldn’t come on the day she planned (as the A39 was blocked by an accident, and Val couldn’t make the ferry), she did finally arrive.
Neither the Girlie or I had ever met Val but, she turned out to be exactly as we expected.
www.Bellbuild.com
I’ve recently knocked up a quick and dirty website for a good friend of mine (and of the Girlie’s too).
Ray is based in Carentoir and is a great builder. He and his family have lived here for the last four years.
A nicer guy, you’ll never meet!
He’s also incredibly hard working and reliable – and that’s a rare thing, these days!
Although he is multi-talented, he specialises in making and laying tiles.
If you need a patio layed (or a kitchen tiled), you should really check out his website at… BellBuild.com
All the best
Glenn
I decided to do the decent thing and send some emails out to various people whose sites I have linked to.
I was pleasantly suprised to receive an almost immediate email from Glenn Hamilton with an update on his life (the last time I saw him was at his leaving do in early 2002).
For those of you who know Glenn (and have kept in touch), you’ll know what he’s up to.
For those of you who know him (but have fallen out of touch) – he’s doing well, has a girlie called Isabel (who’s good at fishing – and probably too good for him!).
For those of you who don’t know Glenn – I used to work with him, used to envy him (and still do) – I urge you to check out his website (he has promised to update it soon) – Walks, Travels & Flyfishing
Quote of the day (from Glenn)… Hi Keith, Good to hear from you and I’m glad to see you are living now. I rarely saw a man so haunted at work.
Well, Glenn’s right – I am living now and (as I replied to him) am ‘Haunted no more’.
All the best
