Ben and Dave’s Blog

As I write this blog at the end of another sweltering day’s heat, the rain of last Sunday is a very distant memory.  We are not surprised that the farmers of the UK are concerned about the state of crops and grazing land as this has proven to be an exceptional year – it’s unfortunate…

I wish I wouldn’t make these bold claims at the end of my blogs as, last week, I thought that everything was set fair for me to make some good progress.  However, as we have now very definitely entered the high season and have guests in all of our gîtes, there are is lot to…

Last week’s blog said that with far fewer distractions I would be able to make great progress on our outstanding projects.  That was half true!  I have at least managed to complete the 2 tasks that I started about 3 weeks ago which has meant that we have been able to make a start on…

Last week’s blog picked up on my comment of the previous week, that we need to take more time off and enjoy the experience of being in France, and the weather when that allows.  While we didn’t do that last week, looking back, I am afraid that I can probably say that I have achieved…

I finished last week’s blog hoping that this week would be more productive than the preceding couple.   Thankfully it was.  The first thing to say is that the weather has been amazing – and looks as though it will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.  Summer has arrived! I also said that, if…

Firstly, my apologies for not posting a blog last week.  Secondly, additional apologies as this blog is likely to be pretty short as well! The reason for both is that the last 2 weeks have not seen as much progress as previous weeks, and not on things that make for good photos, and last Sunday…

The title of this week’s blog was chosen for a number of reasons.  One is that, as I mentioned at the end of the last blog, the weather has now broken from the fantastic period of sunshine and blue skies that we had been enjoying.  In fact, the forecast has been very variable all week…

Despite saying in my last blog that this week’s major task would be to start clearing the old car park to create the new petanque pitch, I haven’t yet made a start on it! Having focussed previously on completing the wall alongside the man shed, this week meant that I had to focus on other…

As last week, we feel like we are making really good progress on a number of tasks and charging (relatively!) through the list of jobs to do and are ticking them off.  This has been helped in no small part by the AMAZING weather we have enjoyed for the last 3 weeks which, as long…

Looking back on last week it has been busy, both in terms of guests in the gîtes and work, and we have benefitted from (whisper it quietly) decent spring weather.  Even David made the comment today that this spring has been one when we have been able to tick off a number of projects. I…