My last blog was some weeks ago and, generally when there is a gap at this time of year, it means that we have taken some time for ourselves and have been on a bit of a holiday.
This year we did almost exactly what we had two year’s ago and drove south to the Alps for a weeks skiing. It turns out that our timing was pretty good as, while we were away, the weather in Finistère was pretty wet with a series of storms pass through bringing with them lots of rain. Thankfully, one of the only significant tasks I completed before we left was clearing out most of the gutters around the buildings which had become blocked in places with leaves and debris.
The first was Strom Eowyn which, while blistery here, was no where near as bad as the conditions experienced in Ireland, Scotland and parts of the north of the UK. Eowyn was followed by Herminia which brought more rain and would have prevented anything productive taking place outside.
Thankfully, while the weather was damp at home we enjoyed some great mountain days on the slopes and had 2 large dumps of snow while we were there. The last was on the night before we left which meant the roads weren’t as clear as when we’d arrived and I had to dig the car out and use the snow chains we’d bought before travelling down in 2023. A first for me.
We made it successfully out of the valley with the chains and, thankfully, were a couple of days ahead of a more major problem when the access road was closed by 3 extremely large boulders which crashed down onto the carriageway and closed the route for a few days which would have been very problematic!
It was a real ‘international’ holiday as we followed skiing with a few days on the shores of Lake Maggiore before visiting some very good friends who live in Klosters, Switzerland. We both enjoy the food and culture of Italy, almost as much as that of France, and found some lovely, simple, restaurants as well as the most amazing deli van at the weekly market with almost as many choices of cheese, saucisson and salamis as we have seen in local French markets.
After a great few days in the snow of Klosters we drove home late in the week and have come back fired up for a productive year at Kergudon. The plan for 2025 is to complete as many of the started but unfinished projects as we can – including those I have mentioned a few times like the garage and outdoor games and social area! The pool is key among those but, sadly, the focus now is simply to have a useable pool for the summer and the pool house may have to wait until the autumn.
That said, the first major project is something new – giving Gite Hayloft a bit of TLC. Hayloft is our couples’ gîte which was the first to be complete and welcome guests in 2015 and we haven’t revisited it since. Having changed the roof last year and so prevented a couple of leaks which occurred in heavy downpours, now is the time to give it some love.
Spring is usually a productive time and is one of our favourites as it includes our favourite annual sporting event – Six Nations Rugby and a great opportunity for some fun British / French sporting rivalry and, if you watch it, you’ll know that yesterday’s game was brilliant!
Today, being Sunday, we went for our weekly stroll and revisited part of the Plougastel Daoulas peninsular and the Kerdéniel viewpoint overlooking the Rade de Brest, Crozon and Bismark mooring dolphins (never used!) The weather wasn’t as clear as would have been ideal but was good to be out and walking.
The Hayloft refurb starts tomorrow so I will have more to update next Sunday.
Kenavo.