Welcome to My Diary - 2008
Comments from the author:
Whilst not exactly a blog, I hope that this will read like a list of things I would tell you, if I were sat next to you in the pub. Or, perhaps sat across a dinner table (enjoying a great meal), with me trying to explain what it is about my life that makes it different to the way it used to be.
Just little, ordinary things that happen to me that may not happen to you. Unless, of course, you also happen to live in the beautiful Breton countryside (where, it is rumoured, God comes for his holidays - when he needs a break from Heaven!).
Latest Diary Entries
Wednesday - 31st December - 2008 - End of Year Report
It's that time of the year where, I think, it pays to take a quick look back over the previous 12 months and try to identify the highlights (and lowlights, if any.)
I started the year feeling rather poorly and sorry for myself; I am ending it feeling somewhat less poorly and far more confident for whatever the coming year may bring.
So, here are some of the many highlights of 2008 (in no particular order.)
Wednesday - 31st December - 2008 - A House for Sale
As the Girlie has moved to Josselin, she has put her house up for sale.
Should you be (or know anyone who might be) interested in buying a fully restored farmhouse near the pretty town of La Gacilly (with an adjoining cottage and a small appartment), the price is 230,000 euros.
To take a virtual look round the house(s), please take a look at FarmHouseGites.com
The property has been successfully rented out as Gites and would suit someone who wanted a holiday home with an additional rental income.
Wednesday - 31st December - 2008 - kmeckstein.com
When I first started Breton Diary (way back in 2006), I also started a website dedicate to some of my thoughts about IT.
Unfortunately, I didn't do much with that other site but am now bringing it back online and up to date.
The site www.kmeckstein.com details my ideas about keeping IT simple.
If you are interested in the technical stuff (written from a not particularly technical viewpoint), please take a look.
Thursday - 25th December - 2008 - Christmas Time!
I took a few photos of the Christmas celebrations at 59 Rue St. Nicholas
These can be found on the Gallery Page (not for the squeamish!) - remember to click on the photos to see them full size.
Wednesday - 24th December - 2008 - Merry Christmas!
I would just like to take this opportunity to wish all the readers of BretonDiary a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I hope that you all continue to enjoy my little wafflings here and thank all of you who have contacted me about this site for your valued input.
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 Rues 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 Staurday, 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 - 13th October - 2008 - 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 dya 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.
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I managed to get a cancellation at the hospital for a consultation and, thus, what had been planned as a leisurely day wandering round Josselin and having a meal, had to be cut short.
Still, we did manage to have a coffee and a chat and takes some photos. To view any of the photos at higher resolution, just click on the image and it will be re-displayed.
To return to this page, just click on the X in the top right-hand corner of the higher resolution image.
It was so nice to meet someone in the flesh, with whom we had only ever talked to , on line.
There may be many things wrong with the internet but, if it helps people make friends, it can't all be bad!
Val is a very interesting person - you really should take a look at what she does for a living - Val Grainger - The Woolly Shepherd - Quality knitting wool and Countryside Consultancy
www.woollyshepherd.co.uk
Wednesday - 8th October - 2008 - A Present from the Cats!
Sometime I buy the cats some Prawnies.
This is almost always a mistake!
Not only are they expensive; the cats do like to give me a present in return!
This is what I found beside my bed this morning - Ta cats - Love you lots!
Wednesday - 8th October - 2008 - Bell Build
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.Brittany-Links.com
Wednesday - 8th October - 2008 - A Vide Greniers
My sister Briony, and her husband, Rick, came to visit the Girle and me (and of course, the Girlie's son, Joshy), last weekend.
Although the weather wasn't wonderful, we did manage to get out and about.
I suppose that that was lucky because I was ill on the Friday when they arrived at the airport at Rennes and left the Girlie to pick them up herself. She, being a Girlie, got lost and took the long (and scenic), route back to Josselin!
Wednesday - 8th October - 2008 - A Vide Greniers
The Girlie and I went to a Vide Greniers (a sort of very relaxed type of all day Car Boot Sale), the other day.
We were very lucky with the weather and, also, lucky with customers.
The Vide Greniers was held at La Gacilly and, although we had arranged to have a table inside, we decided to just lay out our stuff on the ground, outside.
Wednesday - 8th October - 2008 - Susie's Humour Page
After meeting (in a virtual sort of way), Susie Q on Brittany-Friends.com - she was kind enough to comment on this site (see Susie's Comment on this site)
She has also added some jokes to this site, which I shall publish here.
So, for some fun - Breton style - take a look at Susie's Jokes page!
Friday - 26th September - 2008 - A Slight, but Disturbing, Lack of Taste - 02!
I've been ill recently.
At least, that's my excuse anyway!
I know that I won't be able to use that excuse forever but, until that day comes, I'm sticking by it!
One of the many symptons of whatever is wrong with me seems to be a slight, but disturbing, lack of taste!
Friday - 26th September - 2008 - A Slight, but Disturbing, Lack of Taste - 01!
I've been ill recently.
At least, that's my excuse anyway!
I know that I won't be able to use that excuse forever but, until that day comes, I'm sticking by it!
One of the many symptons of whatever is wrong with me seems to be a slight, but disturbing, lack of taste!
Wednesday - 20th August - 2008 - Return of the Cat!
After 8 days away from home, Sammy has finally returned.
On Monday morning, whilst I do doing some work on the computer and the Girlie was in the kitchen, busily peeling garlic, we both heard a "Miaoww"
Sure enough, it was the Sammy beast!
Having said hello, the first thing he did was to rush to the food bowl and gorge himself - "nothing has changed there", I thought to myself!
Thursday - 14th August - 2008 - Site Updates
In between searching for missing Moggie and doing the housework, I have also been updating this site.
I've still got a lot more work to do but, at least I'm going in the right direction.
I do have to say, though, no matter how hard I work, the To-Do list is getting longer!
Thursday - 14th August - 2008 - Cat and Mouse!
Missing her big fat brother, no doubt, has brought out the hunting instinct in Cindy.
She had been out searching for the missing boy (who freely admits that he's built more for comfort, than for speed) and came back with a pressie for me.
I had to leave the room whilst she was eating it - it was still wriggling and the noise of the bones crunching - well, disgusting is too gentle a word!
Tuesday - 12th August - 2008 - Cat Missing - Missing Cat!
I have 2 cats - they are brother and sister - they were both born on 1st May 1999 - They are called Sammy and Cindy!
They've both been with me for a long time and have been through lots of adventures with me (not least the 18 hour trip it took to get over here almost 6 years ago!)
Sometimes, they've both really pissed me off! They seem to think that I am their slave and only exist to work to earn money to buy them Prawnies!
Tuesday - 12th August - 2008 - Typically French - again!
In France, it is a man's in-alienable right to have a pee wherever he wants!
We do it in our gardens (to ward away the foxes) - we do it in the street (just cos we can) - in fact, we do it wherever we want to.
Monday - 11th August - 2008 - Typically French
In France, it is possible to drive a very small car without needing a driving license.
These cars are known as Vehicules Sans Permis (normally shortened to VSP), and typically have a 500cc diesel engine and enough space for the driver, a passenger, a folded newspaper and not much else. They are, in my humble opinion, lethal! It's not that they only do 50km/hour - I personally have no problem with that - that tends to be my top speed, these days!
Friday - 8th August - 2008 - Hoopla Points
In France, when we make a mistake, we tend to say Hoopla! - although we don't pronounce the H.
This is the equivalent of Whoops-a-Daisies! - Although... "no-one has said Whoops-a-Daisies! for fifty years and even then, it was only little girls with blond ringlets!"
I, however, do say "Hoopla", quite a lot!
Wednesday - 6th August - 2008 - A Quiet Drink
The Girlie and I went to the doctor's this morning.
We had to discuss the results of my recent brain scan (all clear) and how my new medication was working for me.
Wednesday - 30th July - 2008 - The Last Supper
I'm going for my brainscan tomorrow; so I've decided to treat myself tonight.
It's not that I'm particularly worried about the scan (apart from a nagging uncertainty that they won't actually find any sign of a brain, at all!)
Wednesday - 23rd July - 2008 - Why the silence?
It's been an awful long time since I've updated this site. There's a simple reason and I'd like to expain. During 2006 and the start of 2007, I felt that I was getting very tired and, although my life was wonderful (disregading the old Bessie's habit of breaking down whenever she was grumpy), I sort of knew that something was wrong.
In June of 2007, I finally plucked up the courage to go to the doctors (I hate all that medical stuff).
Wednesday - 23rd July - 2008 - What's happening?
I returned to work (at the local pig abattoir), a few months ago. Rather than returning my old department (Conditionment; where pork chops and other bits of dead pig are packed into boxes for freezing - and where my job was to put those boxes onto pallets), I now work in Formage Cartons. That means I work with the team that makes all the boxes for the whole abattoir - it's hard work!
On the whole, I was enjoying my new work (although, being based in the roof of the building did mean that it got very hot!) Only time will tell if I can cope with that.
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