Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

Steady on @Ante1, we try very hard not to mention the 'C' word but eventually it does sneak out now and again. Please lets get Summer Holiday, Halloween and Bonfire Night out of the way first.

 

Up early on a Sunday, had a lovely sit with coffee on the deck listening to the awaking of birds. almost 7Am now. Visually listing my outside tasks to get into soon in the garden. A nice 70 degrees now.
Have a good day all.

 

@Ladybird4 we often drink Aperol when the family get together, we mix it with Prosecco. I usually put a bottle into my children's Christmas hampers.

Just had coffee and cake with friends to say goodbye until September. We take a ferry back to my house in France on Thursday.

 

I am used to folks from the UK talking about the "C" word early, have a cooking forum comprised mostly of UK ladies. You all don't get Thanksgiving first like USA folks do. We get rid of the cooking energy for Thanksgiving, our Christmas is easier except for the gifts. Just saw some Halloween stuff out, now that is nuts.
Had a lovely time spending Christmas in Quebec one year. That was beautiful.
I actually lean toward the bah hum bug, and look forward to all of it being done and finally January is here.

 

I've never had Aperol - should I rectify that?
Actually, there are many drinks I don't like - whiskey, Baileys (my cousins love that and, ergo, think I should too), rum and port being a few. I can't say I've ever had a cocktail either. I'm just not very 'soffistycated'. Come to think of it, I don't like red wine any more - though if a quality Riesling were to slip into my basket, I'd enjoy that!
Give me a cold cider on our deck on a warm summer's evening and I'm happy!
Glad your mystery fruit has been identified @RowlandsCastle and full marks to @Liriodendron for spotting it.

 

@Busy-Lizzie, that is how my sister introduced me to it and yes @Penny_Forthem you must try it. Its delicious! I will qualify that by saying I think its delicious and you can make your own mind up but I would say 'try it'.
@Busy-Lizzie, your stay in England seems to have flown by. Are you excited about going back to France on Thursday?

 

I don't like whisky or brandy or cognac either @Penny_Forthem tho I do use some in cooking now and then. Like rum but prefer it for cooking too. In fact, we have a good collection of booze including damson gin and vodka I made with the last crop of damsons in our Belgian house but they are untouched after 8 years here. I do like some wines tho. Apéro round here is usually Trouspinette or Pineau which are both quite sweet so you have to be in the mood. i do not like Baileys and the like.

We did not get the thunderstorms or any rain in the night and I slept 12 hours thru after a busy day outdoors yesterday. I shall have to repeat the watering as it's quite hot and set to stay dry for the foreseeable.

@Tui34 I hope they all have a good trip. Looks like I'll be doing a road trip after all as Possum definitely wants me to meet her in Genoa and then wend our way home. Route and stopovers to be decided. Interesting about the CBD.

Good spot @Liriodendron Friends of mine in Belgium have one and it's huge. The silvery leaves are lovely in a breeze.

I admire your stamina @Busy-Lizzie I find running one house and garden quite challenging enough. Yet there you are juggling two and their social lives too.

Agree about C @Ladybird4 and H @redstar

 

Here's a photo of the tree, from the NW.

 

speaking about Adult Drinks. June 9 this year, got a deer tick bite and Lyme Disease, treated with the antibiotics . Stopped drinking on that day. I always stop when I have a cold or flu. Anyway, have not started back yet. Had a few, very few sips of wine, two weeks ago. Just not into it. While I do like a good gin martini, have not had that either. I know alcohol makes my face budgie, so it does look slimmer. No clue. Mentally I am not saying never, but something about, not drawn to it anymore. Back to garden.

 

Thank you @Obelix-Vendée. I expect you know why I have 2 houses in 2 countries from the GW forum. In case anyone wonders it's because 2nd OH lives in England. I've lived in France since 1985, 1st OH's choice, so my family grew up in France and still live there. 2nd OH lived in France for a short while after retirement before his 1st wife died. He was selling his house and trying to move back to England when we met. If he lives in France his stepdaughter will have to pay 60% Inheritance tax to the French Gov. on anything he leaves her. I love England but I want to be near my family too and I love the area I live in in France as well.

 

An article in yesterday’s Guardian about “your” bit of France @Busy-Lizzie - The other Dordogne: exploring France’s unspoiled Périgord region

 

Would it make a difference if he adopted her instead of just being stepdad @Busy-Lizzie? probably something he's looked at tho.

Possum and I have just finished planning our road trip. I'm driving to Genoa over 2 days and then we're having 2 nights there so we can explore and then we're driving back thru Monaco and then on to Avignon, Millau, Cahors, Périgueux and home taking 6 days so we can explore. I'm hoping for lots of markets for picnic goodies as well as sites and scenery.

 

He enquired about adoption @Obelix-Vendée, but by then she was too old, has to be done under 18. She's now mid 40s. He's known her since she was 3.

We are 40 minutes from Périgueux. You don't fancy a cuppa or lunch in Ribérac? Market in Ribérac on Friday mornings.

 

@Obelix-Vendée that sounds an absolutely fabulous trip and I am very envious of you both. Such a super way to have some quality mother/daughter time together. Now all you have to do is a) not fall out over the music choice and b) no emulating Thelma and Louise! When is this trip beginning?

 

@steephill thank you for that article. My old house was only about 15 mins from Tourtoirac and 25 mins from Périgueux. I know all those places mentioned in that article. My children went to secondary school in Périgueux.