MESSING ABOUT.........

With my new camera, no time to read instructions life's to short!!

PROVENCE.....PART 2

It's hard to do justice to the unique splendour of Roussillon.

You can say that there are 17 shades of ochre daubed across the houses of the village, drawn from the palette of the old ochre quarry next door.

But that doesn't do justice to the flamboyant, technicolor glory of Roussillon, the reds, yellows, oranges and pinks that merge one into the other as you wander around the spiralling streets. Or the stunning contrast of the green of the pine trees or the blue sky against the red cliffs.

Why ochre?

The official story...
The ochre of Roussillon is there because of a complicated story to do with the fact that many millions of years ago the Luberon was at the bottom of the sea, and now it isn't.

The colour is caused by the mineral goethite (named after the German writer Goethe, who was a keen mineralogist), but just why it causes so many different shades is unknown.

Roussillon was our base and we stayed at a lovely hotel.

Bonnieux is one of the most impressive Luberon villages, probably the largest, with plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from, artisan shops, lodging options, and even a bank!

The view from Bonnieux is wonderful, out across the valley floor with its patchwork of orchards and vineyards, towards the equally picturesque perched village of Lacoste across the Vaucluse plateau.

Goult is perhaps the least known and visited of the villages in the Petit Luberon. Perhaps because it isn't really visible from afar, like its more photogenic cousins, but certainly not because it isn't worth visiting. It's a little jewel of a village, with a very pleasant atmosphere, a good café on the main square, and a 'hidden' and beautifully preserved old neighbourhood.

If the Luberon were a country, Gordes would be its capital. This is the Parthenon of Provence, an imposing edifice born of stone that has always attracted its share of attention because it is just so good-looking.
Inevitably, Gordes is officially one of The Most Beautiful Villages in France.

The Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque is a lovely medieval Cistercian abbey that is one of the best places to see Provence's famed lavender fields. Founded in 1148 and once again populated by Cistercian monks, the peaceful abbey welcomes visitors and provides overnight retreats.

WEDDING............

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

R&L back from visiting their daughter in the south of France only to find French air traffic control on strike so they had an extra day and on Wednesday went to FR for a meal.

Picked Bob up Friday and bless him he had bought me a new camera for missing our anniversary.......the tickets for the cruise he had hidden well!!

The wedding we enjoyed very much we had a drink before the service in Jumilhac church which lasted about 30mins not too bad, then it was outside for more drinks and a buffet, apparently it was a two day affair!! The bride spoke very good English as did the photographer so we had a good chat and felt more at ease.

Bob back to UK Tuesday and will be back in two weeks for his annually holidays which he has already earmarked for painting......I wonder when we are going cruising??

No photos still struggling with how to upload them.....maybe its a good thing as I have taken so many crap pictures of everything and anything.......SORTED

NEW GATES.........

New gates are all finished and we are having one at the bottom of the drive to replace the metal one so at least they are all matching.

Got a new camera and I dont seem to be able to upload my photo's in the words of my sister WHAT A MISSION

OUR DAYS IN PROVENCE...........

19th JUNE

We set off early Saturday morning with our mapped out route that Bob had gone through with us the night before............ Michael Bubbles CD on singing merrily along when about an hour into the trip we seemed to have gone wrong LOL. No problem we will go and visit Rocamadour. I had been here about 3o years ago so was pleased to be making a return visit.

Rocamadour is on the eastern edge of the area, across the border from the Dordogne into the Lot department. Rocamadour, in the Parc Naturel Régional des Causses du Quercy, Rocamadour, though small, is amazing for its location, it is built on the edge of a cliff, with the river Alzou below at the bottom of the gorge. Many of the buildings are cut into the rock.

Off again on our new route......we do like an adventure.... we went over a new suspension bridge which we had been told about but we don't know were it was !!

Found it.....This bridge is the world's highest road bridge. Opened in January 2005, it spans the valley of the River Tarn, a 2.5 km wide gorge dividing two plateaux in France's rugged Massif Central. Part of the motorway from Paris to Barcelona, it enables motorists to drive through the sky, often above the clouds.

The Millau bridge crosses the Tarn valley at its lowest point, linking the causse du Larzac to the causse rouge. The bridge is within the perimeter of the Grands Causses regional natural park.



We sort of went Rodez, Arles, Avignon, we did a nice sight seeing trip in Avignon and got slightly lost again but that's the fun.

We arrived in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse It is a medieval village tucked in a "closed valley" at the southwestern corner of the mountainous Plateau de Vaucluse, 25 km east of Avignon. It is ancient, it's interesting, and it's worth a visit. A key feature of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is the truly amazing and unique sight of a river gushing up out of the ground.

A much needed supper was had sat by a waterwheel, realising the time we had to try and find accommodation something we should of done earlier and maybe a ditch would never have featured....... tee hee!!

FIREWORKS........

To celebrate Bastille Day......went down to jumilhac to watch the display and very good it was too had a couple of drinks then walked back

BBQ'S.........

Been to two in as many nights......... had a lovely impromptu supper on Monday, then on Tuesday went to R & L after a dip in the pool.

Nookie seems OK and I am still tubbing his foot morning and evening. I have been giving him a small net of the new hay whilst he is confined to the far field.......The chucks go straight over to him as soon as I let them out and stay most of the afternoon over there........ 4th egg this morning quite big!

25 YEARS.........

Happy Anniversary Darling Bob.

We cannot really claim 25 years together.........but it seems like it LOL.

We both always forget this day for some reasons, not this year but we did have to make a decision that we wanted to go to the French wedding in two weeks and he could't be home for both.

BIG PRESENT ARRIVING SOON !!!!!!

200 BALES OF HAY.........

collected today...........it was sooooo hot we started at 11.00 and I finally crawled into the house at 8.30 KNACKERED had a long shower then sat down for supper about 10ish we managed to get 100 bales into one stable and another 50 in one of the garages and the rest is stored at viale. I was throwing the last bales in just as the havens opened.

Well that's a big job done, it's such a good feeling having hay for another year!!!

QUICK TRIP.......

Bob home for a few days which was nice we needed a tyre for the car to replace the spare which was used on a puncture I had last week, I had to do a damsel in distress act whilst Uncle Frank did his part and between us we got a very nice french man to change the tyre for us we were immobile for about 45mins not bad to say we were on the outskirts of a village and it was 12.30....... the sort of adventures you can do without.

Nookies abscess has returned with a vengeance Dr Venetz came out yesterday, he had cut a lot of hoof away when he decided it was too deep, he had a swelling on his coronet band so he lanced that and it released it somewhat, he then had a tetanus jab and I am tubbing his foot morning and evening it is actually very clean and by tonight he was walking so much better.

200 small bales of hay ordered................nowhere to put it, I think Bob will object to it going in the spare bedroom!!!

DRESSAGE AT POMPADOUR..........

Had a lovely day today at the dressage cheering on the Brits, overcast in the morning so ideal weather to watch the tests then it got hot in the afternoon so went and watched the working in whilst eating fritz with mayo, chocolate crepe and a freshly squeezed orange juice in the shade. No pictures forgot my camera Poo!

Judy Harvey whom I used to watch give lessons in Carlise to a very talented Ruth Edge came 5th on Fitzcerraldo the class was won by Jade De MV ridden beautifully by Castilla Ruiz Claudio from Spain whom I saw later in the schooling area bareback with halter and rope just chilling how refreshing to see! Ellen Bodenkemp on Donner Hit also rode beautiful. The Germans working in was a joy to watch unfortunately cannot say the same for the Dutch!!!!

I used to love schooling, not one for hacking out never liked it never will, just a means to an end but schooling has a real sense of achievement, I think i got it wrong for 95% of the time but I did experience some magical moments and if I'd been in a competition I would have won LOL.

I am glad I can go and enjoy watching without the feeling of wanting to DO IT I think my riding days are well and truly OVER!!

MEMORIES........

Hautefort: Chateau will return here to visit the gardens
Sarlat: Restaurants galore, beautiful old buildings you can shop till you drop
Domme: Fabulous views, so many chateau's, steep hill, another petit train ride, typical tourists

Bob arrived home to look after the animals and he stained the pergola!!!

Next stop PROVENCE

I JUST HAVEN'T MET YOU YET...........

The song that will remind me of the last three weeks......We have done so much its going to take some time to get it all written down.........We have played this CD on every trip...... it's my summer 2010 tune