tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17421143733794095192024-03-16T11:51:23.389-07:00Sue Russell's blogAggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-32572477296003685172023-12-18T14:05:00.000-08:002023-12-18T14:05:56.135-08:00Research and fiction<p> I am now in the middle of writing my tenth novel. I like to write about things that intrigue and fascinate me, and I live in hope that others may also find them interesting. In November my intrepid husband and I took our elderly motorhome to North Yorkshire, because my current story takes place there in large part and while I have visited the Yorkshire Dales before it has always been in summer. Now, I needed to experience the area in worse weather, and was secretly hoping for snow (my driver was hoping quite the opposite.) As it turned out, for the eight days of our stay it rained every day but one, and we hadn't even arrived at our campsite before we were faced with impassably flooded roads. Some floods we braved, but others looked too deep and we were forced to take a back route - think tiny bendy roads, big puddles , drystone walls...</p><p>Owing to the unusual quantity of rain the rivers and becks were swollen, the waterfalls were roaring torrents and the low fields lay under water. A few meters below our campsite pitch a sizeable river rose and sank as the rain came and went, but luckily we were several meters above it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjVQSpTtsM2l8oQ-RntVAXLXzkpv2aF1JlI9_QnKSQctuqvcOY4ahdovwb31NHEbZtLEHDHfEovZzvF9oDjNsdTxL_NXZGr9VxHJviiOXxEtXDiHxgX4ATm6nMqSRck9c6TWeQKNNWzR6B-XzXpM-jaFi9-mnWFRUt88Aa4ijC2-hbAm-LHgTg5oZ73T0/s4624/IMG_20231120_120638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjVQSpTtsM2l8oQ-RntVAXLXzkpv2aF1JlI9_QnKSQctuqvcOY4ahdovwb31NHEbZtLEHDHfEovZzvF9oDjNsdTxL_NXZGr9VxHJviiOXxEtXDiHxgX4ATm6nMqSRck9c6TWeQKNNWzR6B-XzXpM-jaFi9-mnWFRUt88Aa4ijC2-hbAm-LHgTg5oZ73T0/s320/IMG_20231120_120638.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>This all made for dramatic scenery which as tourists we enjoyed, but I imagine the locals, especially the farmers, were less impressed.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhwSYXkxmyNDcT83_siq3ZquwqenqeXQ6Qjc2jCvB5qsES1ULxzSwh0jAH1OshtJ2le5IetMsrWcYiwfxNHhRpyk83U14aE0RWxgfqf6DfDZI4g6grAv7Xbw6A-JLMAVkhwnVhipnWM3Py2XlLIPNODtkVMQ8r1Hgxs0rCRTzERAKK5uBfGtniN2OGfVR/s4624/IMG_20231117_133134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhwSYXkxmyNDcT83_siq3ZquwqenqeXQ6Qjc2jCvB5qsES1ULxzSwh0jAH1OshtJ2le5IetMsrWcYiwfxNHhRpyk83U14aE0RWxgfqf6DfDZI4g6grAv7Xbw6A-JLMAVkhwnVhipnWM3Py2XlLIPNODtkVMQ8r1Hgxs0rCRTzERAKK5uBfGtniN2OGfVR/s320/IMG_20231117_133134.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The only day when it didn't rain we decided to drive the long, winding, and occasionally quite alarming but very beautiful (in a bleak wintry way) Buttertubs Pass, where we encountered high drama in the form of sharp bends, steep climbs and scary plunges - as well as many sheep.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAI9D-pU9rutKYGMsgDPazteZIR1GY3E5QV3tUcpEp4LoV1cfWda8Sz80-fb2WPMq74Lx4qp1H-VdkuJZnR6RhBLLRSNfmhMS58HJdOkgSatgr02qY0ZXIAXjESOrA7hHSj_ANqdK-8q6dYz_AZdv1G_wX1Jm_0-7KNRCOVaqeK7dLwFLmcRtpVNJxe0V/s4624/IMG_20231120_120232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAI9D-pU9rutKYGMsgDPazteZIR1GY3E5QV3tUcpEp4LoV1cfWda8Sz80-fb2WPMq74Lx4qp1H-VdkuJZnR6RhBLLRSNfmhMS58HJdOkgSatgr02qY0ZXIAXjESOrA7hHSj_ANqdK-8q6dYz_AZdv1G_wX1Jm_0-7KNRCOVaqeK7dLwFLmcRtpVNJxe0V/s320/IMG_20231120_120232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>These were the famous Swaledales, a hardy breed, with their curling horns and black and white faces.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOVCuMVYzMbUjMEuIH5FVhXfuyLXcqdJk2tzz2H2bU6G5jhaoLkEGWcprcLry-I-f28SvLJXQ073esYT5AA7DdCqbeFMTRGkdStrVY8WpG61gK_J5DB4uDmN0Ov1bUokuRIpIjdQJpyuka-MC1Owo2se9mIGh7mHBQDzEaYD8IHHqCQGLkQBCEVTvN-gf/s4624/IMG_20231117_133209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOVCuMVYzMbUjMEuIH5FVhXfuyLXcqdJk2tzz2H2bU6G5jhaoLkEGWcprcLry-I-f28SvLJXQ073esYT5AA7DdCqbeFMTRGkdStrVY8WpG61gK_J5DB4uDmN0Ov1bUokuRIpIjdQJpyuka-MC1Owo2se9mIGh7mHBQDzEaYD8IHHqCQGLkQBCEVTvN-gf/s320/IMG_20231117_133209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Once in a while the sun showed itself and we were rewarded with a landscape in which you could stretch your eyes for miles.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98ISrSBbExvuoHWE2wisDEIS8dhK63A4X2hNIJuqOMaBMZkHwebNTFUi_j2S2PLZAQTuLROuNQxPIFbod8YnVKixsuyfX3z7WQJwAG0O-whwejhMia57MMuwO-XIsDFgwztfiFF9ckokd_dUT9err86Wy-SQBQuLvB1dlGV7SgFzcZz-90LqWp9ot93eT/s4624/IMG_20231120_141345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98ISrSBbExvuoHWE2wisDEIS8dhK63A4X2hNIJuqOMaBMZkHwebNTFUi_j2S2PLZAQTuLROuNQxPIFbod8YnVKixsuyfX3z7WQJwAG0O-whwejhMia57MMuwO-XIsDFgwztfiFF9ckokd_dUT9err86Wy-SQBQuLvB1dlGV7SgFzcZz-90LqWp9ot93eT/s320/IMG_20231120_141345.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>As the day wore on the weather closed in, threatening heavy clouds piled up in the sky, and it was obvious that rain was on its way - a safe bet. Nevertheless I wanted to look at a station on the Settle to Carlisle railway, because at this station, or one very like it, my protagonist alights from the train. Here it is, lonely and damp, and not a soul in sight.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiA_DOds_UoGqlGTJ9dSW0nRVt27zZUvWfHhDxPHf__mj9I-SUFr76jCdKPrNKtGl1BC7zuOT1uWUYygdZ2PE32LH5HmiLz1RdCyAkSwlg18wNcshqCcyl_CbKtNqbs_s-V4N66L1SwYC0Y4LnJyIoG9TeK7Bypq1JOWuNYCRuapDBwXctwFTSz-nbaPU/s4624/IMG_20231117_151358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiA_DOds_UoGqlGTJ9dSW0nRVt27zZUvWfHhDxPHf__mj9I-SUFr76jCdKPrNKtGl1BC7zuOT1uWUYygdZ2PE32LH5HmiLz1RdCyAkSwlg18wNcshqCcyl_CbKtNqbs_s-V4N66L1SwYC0Y4LnJyIoG9TeK7Bypq1JOWuNYCRuapDBwXctwFTSz-nbaPU/s320/IMG_20231117_151358.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I had hoped that our trip would inform and inspire me and set my imagination leaping and bounding, but I wasn't prepared for quite how lasting an impression it would make. A month after our return I am reliving it and finding that it has enriched the background to my story. I hope I can do justice to this stunning region and make it live on the page.</div>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-43593341621952952092023-07-24T02:39:00.000-07:002023-07-24T02:39:34.807-07:00A long goodbyeWe knew the day would come - when we would make the decision to leave France, sell our house, close down that period of time when we lived parallel lives. Originally it was a ten-year project, but things changed, and by the time we go - next spring onward, if all goes to plan - we will have been there 22 years. It's a long time! Two thirds of our married life and the only house we bought together. <div>So it's been longer than we thought and we are thankful for the great privilege of living in another country (albeit a close neighbour), sharing a different way of life, speaking a different language, and there is much we will miss. </div><div>Several things have contributed to our decision, the majority out of our control. The Covid pandemic set limits on movement, and there were two long periods where we couldn't travel, first 9 months, then 5 months, and when you have a wild acre of cider orchard an enforced absence allows nature to take over in a big way! We have never really caught up, and I have had to lower standards. A weed-free drive? Not a chance. Now too the Brexit regulations are beginning to bite, and we can't stay as long as we used to, so again controlling the garden is becoming more difficult. On top of this, we are getting older and creakier, and less willing to spend our whole time labouring; and it is becoming more expensive too to run two homes.</div><div>We've loved it, and it will be huge wrench. But nothing lasts for ever.</div><div>Apart from friends, I will miss my trees the most. Some we planted as metre-high saplings and they are now tall, spreading and stately. Inevitably some shrubs we have lost, but others have recovered from frost and drought to flower brilliantly. I have taken lots of photos to remind me just how beautiful they are, and I share a few of them here.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4igXb6SQ5SFwfzM5iqz7zJC71iqmnzDsbFZ9v8NxCgH612Db6uwU7U_mAAYp2sbfEaR1QAKImgmhbzSWAU3WhOuknpi4ZDmIlF4YgS4fRYo8HxXWuKFzGM_sr8evxtHRqR6vTHK-UsgSoQIVlvG5s6yENDb3JGvZto1robRoqaRUyxbtU83NyD7E31HV/s4624/IMG_20230629_215824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4igXb6SQ5SFwfzM5iqz7zJC71iqmnzDsbFZ9v8NxCgH612Db6uwU7U_mAAYp2sbfEaR1QAKImgmhbzSWAU3WhOuknpi4ZDmIlF4YgS4fRYo8HxXWuKFzGM_sr8evxtHRqR6vTHK-UsgSoQIVlvG5s6yENDb3JGvZto1robRoqaRUyxbtU83NyD7E31HV/s320/IMG_20230629_215824.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Our dog Rosie has been coming to France with us since she was 9 months old, and in a couple of months she'll be 16. Here she is, looking down the drive.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0Fi4CfzCKW6mw2tsoPJREJG4QI0wIPHhw-tuCcHO_gsbIc0tHfWcFJ73_p6dCxWPyPj_Wc-tbQz6IjcDYya27xYkpPB2JbwoJnSsSBavfXfPvs_f6HcWaZ9A7wuWs8oVK4QGPToguXC2Y4Ta2LJMN4v0O4DmUUOChVha4viWYdziCBs73Hk57ykPjeZV/s4624/IMG_20230629_215031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0Fi4CfzCKW6mw2tsoPJREJG4QI0wIPHhw-tuCcHO_gsbIc0tHfWcFJ73_p6dCxWPyPj_Wc-tbQz6IjcDYya27xYkpPB2JbwoJnSsSBavfXfPvs_f6HcWaZ9A7wuWs8oVK4QGPToguXC2Y4Ta2LJMN4v0O4DmUUOChVha4viWYdziCBs73Hk57ykPjeZV/s320/IMG_20230629_215031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>A close-up of that glorious blue hydrangea. The soil is acid, so I have been able to indulge my love of azaleas and rhododendrons.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqkg4BEfeqgbpAPs951uuWnihB8nNXo-StEeDb1loQ3f4cTbLjo2qnszVYC-rMBsnB-_DWsn3XV1QRmLrQlwCQU8RDKojOE1Dj7JsCJ_LKSVbTTqGPxcUszL53SzOeU3sbzypiQU2GA4JzM8bc3JX6oRdtZ4nZMOhABEXiHoS6AjMnzd_N0ppJuvPRaj9/s4208/IMG_20230629_215252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="4208" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqkg4BEfeqgbpAPs951uuWnihB8nNXo-StEeDb1loQ3f4cTbLjo2qnszVYC-rMBsnB-_DWsn3XV1QRmLrQlwCQU8RDKojOE1Dj7JsCJ_LKSVbTTqGPxcUszL53SzOeU3sbzypiQU2GA4JzM8bc3JX6oRdtZ4nZMOhABEXiHoS6AjMnzd_N0ppJuvPRaj9/s320/IMG_20230629_215252.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I know this beautiful tree as a redbud, but it has many names, so here's the Latin: Cercis Canadensis.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_G4bnNX_fQWB1zPxsdb2NBf8zlj298ynCMzg2GbR_TjnzhFlA_ii9N6Wj3NKgHAjxT2rJc5U_Ef5fp4r8DLI0irPXHFmN1OBwWvpcIK0OzIa8w1x5qqCK8iGO0jqtgpdnz2jQq-dwNMPcvx9ScVyBNIOTynKrIOTT18lFUQt8zr6rwRDScFe6k0IRmjAL/s4624/IMG_20230516_174259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_G4bnNX_fQWB1zPxsdb2NBf8zlj298ynCMzg2GbR_TjnzhFlA_ii9N6Wj3NKgHAjxT2rJc5U_Ef5fp4r8DLI0irPXHFmN1OBwWvpcIK0OzIa8w1x5qqCK8iGO0jqtgpdnz2jQq-dwNMPcvx9ScVyBNIOTynKrIOTT18lFUQt8zr6rwRDScFe6k0IRmjAL/s320/IMG_20230516_174259.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The grass just cut, shrubs in flower, definitely not a bowling green!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzLKTg_7Kw-3v-nJ83VLUkLYTZAax771auQes6aTkPGkQ2eU4LNb9qsrEPx5mAdof89mu-VG5dEGDc3LLcC1L3FKruVy9LobyURfq9viJ-KRio4pJRypJFHnOiI0XpYB00jJoXnv8wvYaGGxiyx_o94rO46z3qtkmN6R5Hx69IkFq2EvAhFjLuVmBSCSK/s4208/IMG_20230629_215534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="4208" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzLKTg_7Kw-3v-nJ83VLUkLYTZAax771auQes6aTkPGkQ2eU4LNb9qsrEPx5mAdof89mu-VG5dEGDc3LLcC1L3FKruVy9LobyURfq9viJ-KRio4pJRypJFHnOiI0XpYB00jJoXnv8wvYaGGxiyx_o94rO46z3qtkmN6R5Hx69IkFq2EvAhFjLuVmBSCSK/s320/IMG_20230629_215534.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Fruiting pears. Over the years the ancient cider apple trees have died or fallen and been cut up for firewood, but we have panted apples, pears and plums.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WpdpihDHZcVW9zmkfpzTbh2nzCwQd6H99TzHB0hwZy_OeCaRn6lFJt8rQ0YvBC6GsFmY9hgLhq3AV7sbIenYfx3w1wciNbdWNse32jBL_wGH8xJpJwqQPimpx_jsUgw6DjxPDL2xJz41XbKL472ffEnKUkomEBg1tRt2RhyhbyFsNk4moyhAMGipUAQA/s4624/IMG_20230712_150609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WpdpihDHZcVW9zmkfpzTbh2nzCwQd6H99TzHB0hwZy_OeCaRn6lFJt8rQ0YvBC6GsFmY9hgLhq3AV7sbIenYfx3w1wciNbdWNse32jBL_wGH8xJpJwqQPimpx_jsUgw6DjxPDL2xJz41XbKL472ffEnKUkomEBg1tRt2RhyhbyFsNk4moyhAMGipUAQA/s320/IMG_20230712_150609.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Of all our trees perhaps this one, Catalpa aurea, has been the most magnificent. From a waist-high sapling to a shapely, tall tree, with golden-green, tea-plate-sized leaves in spring and clusters of delicate, pink and white, fragrant flowers in summer, it bowers over the side garden and is quite dazzling.</div>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-57495294204272847852023-06-03T09:46:00.000-07:002023-06-03T09:46:08.122-07:00An exciting new venture<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XVg5OodtMVBp0JMqbhavowQHxbM0o9JRaRYM2kZyiwOlRhFbReiheFPpZ78x-vGWOXc56EEPoQ7GE0NuQ5kMCHxIIqtxbqcLSwjBsMZ9_TEEZu90SWptRWveh0uFMUI5m6uG_ReCP3yilUDntmu3Y-Qh0XOHuDcAQwhdMgSmW0Zdka9Qa4BkgO-VSg/s4624/IMG_20230520_122913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XVg5OodtMVBp0JMqbhavowQHxbM0o9JRaRYM2kZyiwOlRhFbReiheFPpZ78x-vGWOXc56EEPoQ7GE0NuQ5kMCHxIIqtxbqcLSwjBsMZ9_TEEZu90SWptRWveh0uFMUI5m6uG_ReCP3yilUDntmu3Y-Qh0XOHuDcAQwhdMgSmW0Zdka9Qa4BkgO-VSg/s320/IMG_20230520_122913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Against a sun-drenched backdrop of the glorious hills and valleys of West Dorset in the UK, a group of authors - of which I have the privilege to be a member - celebrated the launch of our consortium, Resolute Books.</p><p>This came as the culmination of many months of discussion and preparation, and with the members coming from all over the country it was all done on Zoom. Some members hadn't met each other in person until launch day, and that was an added pleasure. </p><p>Two members launched their books on the day, making it even more special: Paul Trembling brought out his crime novel, Local Killer, latest in his 'Local' series.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2lynD1xjY8XRXaJBIcd5PeGqEO_acHHW0UafYKmYoeb1ZJzu1P3HH8ViFIw416vs3TfsZ1dA1Np6W1uy2OK-BEm7i_N-DtMD6EYMRQNOSkS5TviipMRVvZIBc2MKqxuEW0uHbhzngLHC3en8HaT_YcTV1FJnOzzMa_s0sYStosCxFmzxbrpc02SoNQ/s4624/IMG_20230520_122931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2080" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2lynD1xjY8XRXaJBIcd5PeGqEO_acHHW0UafYKmYoeb1ZJzu1P3HH8ViFIw416vs3TfsZ1dA1Np6W1uy2OK-BEm7i_N-DtMD6EYMRQNOSkS5TviipMRVvZIBc2MKqxuEW0uHbhzngLHC3en8HaT_YcTV1FJnOzzMa_s0sYStosCxFmzxbrpc02SoNQ/w140-h254/IMG_20230520_122931.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><p>And C.F.Dunn introduced Wheel of Fortune, the first volume of her historical fiction series, The Tarnished Crown.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzvm-AO_LvSBI7z07lF6RNdkzTHMngecmVy-HXDv_H2h1v16OkAG--d2cJX0WLn-EgY9qu0S3MAV4r5Lr6rVEwL9QCshpe9eT8dcuDK5oee_T1kFaeJILL8dWUC9rYX3mekpZfdsDWbfS0rnEOPTC1tPFWShgZeqDF2FGEyxaaKg4DSzg29KKnRt3sg/s4624/IMG_20230520_143539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2080" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzvm-AO_LvSBI7z07lF6RNdkzTHMngecmVy-HXDv_H2h1v16OkAG--d2cJX0WLn-EgY9qu0S3MAV4r5Lr6rVEwL9QCshpe9eT8dcuDK5oee_T1kFaeJILL8dWUC9rYX3mekpZfdsDWbfS0rnEOPTC1tPFWShgZeqDF2FGEyxaaKg4DSzg29KKnRt3sg/w144-h258/IMG_20230520_143539.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Both these fine books can be ordered from bookshops or Amazon.</p><p>Other books by Resolute members, published elsewhere, were also on display. My own are there, flanked by Paul's other works and the Isabella M. Smugge series by Ruth Leigh. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetV8NgcXKXFBd-hpi2Zv8ytBhni9unL8eSDY5RtdIw0-GzC0WwNggbaI7Ij1YFanTHpFHhqqUiF6pjP3Rr6e8sjS4psI864E488R01okFgFCvZLqtK36-CA9W886ceP82pBgAuKUocDxtbJYbOj3MqtnCYdgqy41rbg7kNofJu6Njxlmq-vz4z--GmA/s4624/IMG_20230520_123047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetV8NgcXKXFBd-hpi2Zv8ytBhni9unL8eSDY5RtdIw0-GzC0WwNggbaI7Ij1YFanTHpFHhqqUiF6pjP3Rr6e8sjS4psI864E488R01okFgFCvZLqtK36-CA9W886ceP82pBgAuKUocDxtbJYbOj3MqtnCYdgqy41rbg7kNofJu6Njxlmq-vz4z--GmA/s320/IMG_20230520_123047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>No celebration would be complete without food and drink! The French fizzy was well chilled and the canapes were magnificent.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBUG5rS3VS5wqYE3JeMJtAvOtF1hWMN6QTJOQgN_Cd9UzHk-tn15_2MkuF9dh8UgSLmkrx-tnrPnleA0_CslKXrm2ZidLKCmG0o_bCX3uBD7_PB3CJje91Hnv44087qpkOzrZU4xicBW6uhka9rDj9ukvTgaauzvBhPC64QmziH6fxoalngEalV_7dA/s4624/IMG_20230520_130202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4624" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBUG5rS3VS5wqYE3JeMJtAvOtF1hWMN6QTJOQgN_Cd9UzHk-tn15_2MkuF9dh8UgSLmkrx-tnrPnleA0_CslKXrm2ZidLKCmG0o_bCX3uBD7_PB3CJje91Hnv44087qpkOzrZU4xicBW6uhka9rDj9ukvTgaauzvBhPC64QmziH6fxoalngEalV_7dA/s320/IMG_20230520_130202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>There will be more titles published under the Resolute banner in the fullness of time, with other members' work represented covering a sweep of genres, from thrillers to crime, memoir and contemporary drama, devotional and humour, among others.</p><p>For more information please visit www.resolutebooks.co.uk</p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-7840745561421295192022-10-26T09:05:00.000-07:002022-10-26T09:05:53.522-07:00A special birthday<p> My husband said he wanted to be mowing our acre in France on his 80th, and he got his wish. He is very fortunate to be able to! Here he is, wearing an appropriate T shirt given by a friend.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG1qf8vP5DFtrzU1dgRdeBb4-cX69qAYmbK9qdEutKm24mB6c4o14ZgjOS_l9vXL-RVs5I6zBe6nQb1rF0NHXpuPbrBDoasW04sQ6UaPBYiMfuvRkkSB30YmVHV1uOxMAUYc8-Nh4WonTXd2nm8hoBvG8QM2N0CoxN8_PSocUM7K8fL7li6IwNYwHfA/s4624/IMG_20221004_172407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG1qf8vP5DFtrzU1dgRdeBb4-cX69qAYmbK9qdEutKm24mB6c4o14ZgjOS_l9vXL-RVs5I6zBe6nQb1rF0NHXpuPbrBDoasW04sQ6UaPBYiMfuvRkkSB30YmVHV1uOxMAUYc8-Nh4WonTXd2nm8hoBvG8QM2N0CoxN8_PSocUM7K8fL7li6IwNYwHfA/s320/IMG_20221004_172407.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Having family members with us made it even better, and we did some touristy things, including a very wet visit to Mont St Michel!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpPNthh3rL_WkIEzn4tqvD2HSE6S7GEDeB1JXpMMzQsVlimpZ4PRBWdZInjRF6-F5YYoEodud_u0qB-DQ4Ev78CowZCi53f7QXHoD-14VrSkDNLjeSFbmXxHCTXxr_1pvEw9dpLjCU1CgDCmUHauOfCekuBJQ5KGhJqy_uLd1v7QyN3uLZU7oCNgU1Q/s4624/IMG_20221002_161954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpPNthh3rL_WkIEzn4tqvD2HSE6S7GEDeB1JXpMMzQsVlimpZ4PRBWdZInjRF6-F5YYoEodud_u0qB-DQ4Ev78CowZCi53f7QXHoD-14VrSkDNLjeSFbmXxHCTXxr_1pvEw9dpLjCU1CgDCmUHauOfCekuBJQ5KGhJqy_uLd1v7QyN3uLZU7oCNgU1Q/s320/IMG_20221002_161954.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>The weather wasn't great, but it didn't deter us, and the dogs loved this beach.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3K-HtLN0t4DuS8sAIS4TdG_YjUOOqEbo7C37ipWXo13HYLDuUsIZaoJkslfOFJC5XAcURD_i06oPXgMmVSZBZYDxJdATCg3nvijN-s9mhCxkUg-SyyBHDVi81HaCRS9ispv5Xx98EBCySFvC75ZIdauL8vYNM8QSbe2oipRzh6QPb80RuPmknz5PsQ/s4624/IMG_20220928_101932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3K-HtLN0t4DuS8sAIS4TdG_YjUOOqEbo7C37ipWXo13HYLDuUsIZaoJkslfOFJC5XAcURD_i06oPXgMmVSZBZYDxJdATCg3nvijN-s9mhCxkUg-SyyBHDVi81HaCRS9ispv5Xx98EBCySFvC75ZIdauL8vYNM8QSbe2oipRzh6QPb80RuPmknz5PsQ/s320/IMG_20220928_101932.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>The highlight was a musical party with friends, most of whom made a contribution. The family practised beforehand, indoors and out.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxW-zq1jfkvAG1X1D1K92iCy7ib2lFSV68djRS7TzpkPEtB9w9SdmqLpdFZyN5mugIwhaw_jL4pvyf_wRKDO_gNpkR1nNU5dMltc2zeD8T9eQM41k9jZDswGr5KQE9aQ6s_4WVGLHdw2h50kMvEFEixQahMURSJkBknEeHfz8ZtHyYjCzZ0b5xPnRxA/s4624/IMG_20220929_152346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxW-zq1jfkvAG1X1D1K92iCy7ib2lFSV68djRS7TzpkPEtB9w9SdmqLpdFZyN5mugIwhaw_jL4pvyf_wRKDO_gNpkR1nNU5dMltc2zeD8T9eQM41k9jZDswGr5KQE9aQ6s_4WVGLHdw2h50kMvEFEixQahMURSJkBknEeHfz8ZtHyYjCzZ0b5xPnRxA/s320/IMG_20220929_152346.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZIGif3D4UBOZjV-1vzr-fIDqExj6lg1dBqJqnK0X8imJcXDJpewQ_xPQCv_zbbgM1NNlA0dtjyQLDDXaFs6OdKPKFy4E2dq1L3EqnKITUZuSluXLJVOoZDaFwiH9cJxuyZP5-KsFx4f0LxdbGnaE63a3OZfG6o9xky_vGzeDU0KMlLxzu05WBWDyUA/s4624/IMG_20220929_130516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZIGif3D4UBOZjV-1vzr-fIDqExj6lg1dBqJqnK0X8imJcXDJpewQ_xPQCv_zbbgM1NNlA0dtjyQLDDXaFs6OdKPKFy4E2dq1L3EqnKITUZuSluXLJVOoZDaFwiH9cJxuyZP5-KsFx4f0LxdbGnaE63a3OZfG6o9xky_vGzeDU0KMlLxzu05WBWDyUA/s320/IMG_20220929_130516.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>A clever friend made this magnificent cake.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMZMsbC1bKQgoG2rRZSzuI1w_5cZLFZmBYjiI_8I2WGOsieaYLWRlFp2k4UhHrsCcruvjJzXN6RR0xpXBXoHugyq1OEQ_DiQm9Y878JMejafLa66kAx2ftyX1gHy8vVnK2OEvKVXGqOjzr5gkXOLoPxKCJiShXdNLiU12La43VPOwhggx15yqvZaOoQ/s4624/IMG_20221001_154647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMZMsbC1bKQgoG2rRZSzuI1w_5cZLFZmBYjiI_8I2WGOsieaYLWRlFp2k4UhHrsCcruvjJzXN6RR0xpXBXoHugyq1OEQ_DiQm9Y878JMejafLa66kAx2ftyX1gHy8vVnK2OEvKVXGqOjzr5gkXOLoPxKCJiShXdNLiU12La43VPOwhggx15yqvZaOoQ/s320/IMG_20221001_154647.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Then everyone went home, and we got on with the jobs - including harvesting our apples.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEEjub-EAgx1h4kUyWKwaqroR_pneGDUh9bx0-49v8QD1wDkk4fKpWKwYk-GoRSmM5TtMs079BU-0Bg4AGpobt17qEQBJlZFGlCw2_zxPJfewP_qafuZd8pFSUrTGYtPOCoYXlBA8chtZe5-u-cC7HSPLWSywugyoPwObN2UIrRwQTTjoai2LghMQfA/s4624/IMG_20221009_151404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEEjub-EAgx1h4kUyWKwaqroR_pneGDUh9bx0-49v8QD1wDkk4fKpWKwYk-GoRSmM5TtMs079BU-0Bg4AGpobt17qEQBJlZFGlCw2_zxPJfewP_qafuZd8pFSUrTGYtPOCoYXlBA8chtZe5-u-cC7HSPLWSywugyoPwObN2UIrRwQTTjoai2LghMQfA/s320/IMG_20221009_151404.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-13365032748909941862022-06-24T14:07:00.000-07:002022-06-24T14:07:40.522-07:00More on the follies, and keeping up with Rosie<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>That dog of mine has been posting again, so I thought I should follow suit. <div>The new patio in France came into use on our last visit. This was breakfast on a sunny morning.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6R3KMSufKfpXDVaASUsuzL82JFmG3OvfSM2R8Mn95-DtINsIZ45Dg2BBvutjCJX2_a53qylbmQbdyGD4ppDZ5r5L-RPkOI7hXmdrSFHCUew7-eycaavP1YNL3EFErVK2V0h4pFG-qKgP3oOHH-86FAE89u5hoZO8tLVYMZi_FfSNcZbR2AWXD_V_F4Q/s4624/IMG_20220517_134705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6R3KMSufKfpXDVaASUsuzL82JFmG3OvfSM2R8Mn95-DtINsIZ45Dg2BBvutjCJX2_a53qylbmQbdyGD4ppDZ5r5L-RPkOI7hXmdrSFHCUew7-eycaavP1YNL3EFErVK2V0h4pFG-qKgP3oOHH-86FAE89u5hoZO8tLVYMZi_FfSNcZbR2AWXD_V_F4Q/s320/IMG_20220517_134705.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>In folly no.2, the motorhome, we had fun recently up and down the beautiful hills of Derbyshire. It was quite disconcerting at times finding ourselves poised on the brink of a totally-unforeseen downward swoop. On the upward slope that followed there was some doubt whether we'd actually make it to the top!</div><div>Probably inevitably, our photos usually seem to involve meals! Here I am, under the awning, with Rosie taking her ease.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQp1BGsmDhI_-2eB7Px5Vu0tX0KNy0Ru_gb4SWiC77NsEXP0yiH4Fb8hqdXxGmpCnHBatt5Dur9__9i9AqklrRn1_g5aiqSwQniylJJN7NEJIfalG8FcDdU2SyH9deuB5fPO1hi_KzYdM72z0OcHl10myQJnremON1u0MbtS6BYsbzZKalKMDafTS8w/s4624/IMG_20220602_131937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQp1BGsmDhI_-2eB7Px5Vu0tX0KNy0Ru_gb4SWiC77NsEXP0yiH4Fb8hqdXxGmpCnHBatt5Dur9__9i9AqklrRn1_g5aiqSwQniylJJN7NEJIfalG8FcDdU2SyH9deuB5fPO1hi_KzYdM72z0OcHl10myQJnremON1u0MbtS6BYsbzZKalKMDafTS8w/s320/IMG_20220602_131937.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>The motorhome will be back in her usual parking spot soon, awaiting her next adventure, because in just over a week we are off to France. After a gap of two months or so, no doubt there will be a jungle to tame - again.</div>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-59844231122670060092022-05-27T14:27:00.000-07:002022-05-27T14:27:06.119-07:00Put to shame by my dog<p> Some of you who have dipped into this blog may remember that my dog Rosie had a blog of her own, called Rosie's Ruminations. I think she's trying to shame me into posting more often, because I see she has just published a new post! If you would like to see what she's been doing, it's at www.doghair1.blogspot.com.</p><p>Here's a photo of Rosie in our motorhome, ready for a new adventure.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtacwTJTJU9NuVm5aM5j79HCSQZ-TTIeAv6iCDwQehh4cdxTEt180FbaFqZijy8YgpwpMAa8JJ3jG_827dJPQGBBYWVpmW_jNQKU8zJruo54DJVIHCCpTgKOlVfLynub0M7TdJ0P0U6p_pMXXIvP2U9qKt8hVtlHSq3Xett15MNB2DmQPezYYZcGjEQ/s4624/IMG_20211020_141931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtacwTJTJU9NuVm5aM5j79HCSQZ-TTIeAv6iCDwQehh4cdxTEt180FbaFqZijy8YgpwpMAa8JJ3jG_827dJPQGBBYWVpmW_jNQKU8zJruo54DJVIHCCpTgKOlVfLynub0M7TdJ0P0U6p_pMXXIvP2U9qKt8hVtlHSq3Xett15MNB2DmQPezYYZcGjEQ/s320/IMG_20211020_141931.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I can't feel too shamed because at least I have posted sometimes in the last nine years, whereas she has been most neglectful! We both need to do better.</p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-16950413959019515232022-04-17T00:04:00.004-07:002022-04-17T00:04:43.402-07:00He is risen!<p> Wishing you all a happy and blessed Easter.</p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-57316158182394025162022-03-20T01:41:00.001-07:002022-03-20T01:41:51.011-07:00Calling all readers in the US!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2QEyEB3djayRZnLbc8RXeZ8fah5z42yUcxFu0ml9oVvOCoVf0TR_C6ZB6ccxXIDq9MUvVZrcPvIp7awaT8ZnIVCIeSgx7sHkAkZHpXvvvcyP1yH-TGeFMRiWUmNRewRDg8e2m6nkGWfBSAiSmGvhmtSIiIiCZSiCgzpQpayc7X6vlruYiQEPxETUz_Q=s2560" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1611" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2QEyEB3djayRZnLbc8RXeZ8fah5z42yUcxFu0ml9oVvOCoVf0TR_C6ZB6ccxXIDq9MUvVZrcPvIp7awaT8ZnIVCIeSgx7sHkAkZHpXvvvcyP1yH-TGeFMRiWUmNRewRDg8e2m6nkGWfBSAiSmGvhmtSIiIiCZSiCgzpQpayc7X6vlruYiQEPxETUz_Q=s320" width="201" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>There's a giveaway on the blog tour today - a signed copy for a UK reader and another for someone in the US. Head to www.penelopeswithinbank.com to read an interview with me and find details of how to enter. </p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-66018031249952407372022-03-19T03:04:00.000-07:002022-03-19T03:04:06.252-07:00Winding up the blog tour<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjF8yoQVIiSabZppz5_VMLQoHD74pZXrehmwfh1hvobQOgCQP56dZkcPR9iDi3Bkx_WWsd4dCUOltLj9g7Zcthj3Fv1It4thu2JEEDRh4Hdu_nsAPwMahAX4wJLdohODNLBwA1fvIgy5EUJneRu6kXRPR7cHR2GKNnwocN0c6LQfMl0iGEE8vL3iYuy9w=s2560" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1611" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjF8yoQVIiSabZppz5_VMLQoHD74pZXrehmwfh1hvobQOgCQP56dZkcPR9iDi3Bkx_WWsd4dCUOltLj9g7Zcthj3Fv1It4thu2JEEDRh4Hdu_nsAPwMahAX4wJLdohODNLBwA1fvIgy5EUJneRu6kXRPR7cHR2GKNnwocN0c6LQfMl0iGEE8vL3iYuy9w=s320" width="201" /></a></div><br /> The blog tour for <i>The Wounds of Time</i> is coming to an end. Seven bloggers have contributed so far and I am very thankful to them for their generous support. If you missed any, I'm giving their links below. Just two to go now: tomorrow Penelope Swithinbank is offering a giveaway to her UK and US readers, and on Monday - publication day! - my good friend Deborah Jenkins rounds off the tour. I should note that all these people are gifted authors you may well wish to investigate. In addition, Liz Carter is responsible for the production of the book including the cover design and I warmly recommend her publishing services. From Monday copies can be ordered from Amazon. I hope you may read, enjoy, and possibly also review. Thank you for reading this far!<p></p><p>www.wendyhjones-bookaholic.blogspot.com</p><p>www.yearningblue.weebly.com</p><p>www.cfdunn.co.uk</p><p>www.stillwonderinghere.net</p><p>www.vicarioushome.com</p><p>www.penelopeswithinbank.com</p><p>www.greatadventure.carterclan.me.uk</p><p>www.scskillman.com</p><p>www.ruthleighwrites.co.uk</p><p><br /></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-72317695017534414922022-03-15T02:20:00.001-07:002022-03-15T02:20:46.224-07:00More on the blog tour!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRQhVMteGa45wL5ApIZoQ8Mppy7BUaI6ELVzZe0hkYHEuZd_Sn6DTkfRCvHzMAes6-EY9_Uk0dbnsXouugPWlm4rMBvHsc0MVIu8UxcuV8QCgE9Fl46Xm2pj9WHM722m0EGWA4Evcb2EXzNQzSwzxxeMFpT1ffpDzZryNWRvUV-jUu_SzEWaSRe-FkZQ=s2560" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1611" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRQhVMteGa45wL5ApIZoQ8Mppy7BUaI6ELVzZe0hkYHEuZd_Sn6DTkfRCvHzMAes6-EY9_Uk0dbnsXouugPWlm4rMBvHsc0MVIu8UxcuV8QCgE9Fl46Xm2pj9WHM722m0EGWA4Evcb2EXzNQzSwzxxeMFpT1ffpDzZryNWRvUV-jUu_SzEWaSRe-FkZQ=s320" width="201" /></a></div><br />The blog tour for<i> The Wounds of Time</i> resumes today with an article by author S.C.Skillman. <p></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-28083507761137899572022-03-11T03:05:00.000-08:002022-03-11T03:05:43.503-08:00On with the blog tour!<p> Two fascinating views on <i>The Wounds of Time</i>! Paul Trembling (author of <i>The Hidden Libraries,</i> among others) is at https://yearningblue.weebly.com/the-reality-escape-committee and today's review and interview is by Ruth Leigh, creator of Isabella M. Smugge at RuthLeighWrites. </p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-70025308275278396672022-03-08T01:46:00.001-08:002022-03-08T01:46:33.720-08:00The blog tour begins!<p> The blog tour for The Wounds of Time starts today with vicarioushome.com. Why not take a look?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSckC802HKAETgK7jHlajNd6vsUimWOZ0oEIdipnAPBFKZXgYWEW_WDeqOvVAb0yQU7IGksNfJNOsvw5C0LKv8o7WFzD7BQ2QiFNY0dJ9jsql28LhWYwrbpCd53mh0sjFRSoiQ3v7Lz0jX-8A0HLNDCdnoE-yUr1TkcE7IRehKub7WQg5gL8toYxofvQ=s2560" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1611" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSckC802HKAETgK7jHlajNd6vsUimWOZ0oEIdipnAPBFKZXgYWEW_WDeqOvVAb0yQU7IGksNfJNOsvw5C0LKv8o7WFzD7BQ2QiFNY0dJ9jsql28LhWYwrbpCd53mh0sjFRSoiQ3v7Lz0jX-8A0HLNDCdnoE-yUr1TkcE7IRehKub7WQg5gL8toYxofvQ=s320" width="201" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-91727611341987269512022-03-07T06:28:00.000-08:002022-03-07T06:28:12.719-08:00A new book!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEqYlJtELzo-haBxf0vIC21kBWRPKajanf9Q9CK1V-RuLEf-d7P3TULU94H1Eh61LftYPynMilY46gM4v9FrZ137wSzB00v1QtZqDsg-5QpP-4Qq34HSibOl6b0UJdMY8u83YPmvspmYuakT4bRbbDM2Own-L9Wh1jU2dCT5GeUQ_SzxdEfFZXn0RVpw=s2560" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1611" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEqYlJtELzo-haBxf0vIC21kBWRPKajanf9Q9CK1V-RuLEf-d7P3TULU94H1Eh61LftYPynMilY46gM4v9FrZ137wSzB00v1QtZqDsg-5QpP-4Qq34HSibOl6b0UJdMY8u83YPmvspmYuakT4bRbbDM2Own-L9Wh1jU2dCT5GeUQ_SzxdEfFZXn0RVpw=s320" width="201" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p>Novel number nine, almost published! <i>The Wounds of Time</i> is the third in a sort-of series following <i>The</i> <i>Healing Knife </i>and <i>The Thorn of Truth. </i>Today it can be pre-ordered on Kindle and there will be paper copies available after 21 March. Tomorrow 8 March a blog tour is beginning. Visit my Facebook page to keep track of what readers are saying!</p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-58310362017007015752021-11-22T09:37:00.001-08:002021-11-22T09:37:47.400-08:00Back in France at last - plus the latest folly<p> We've been back in France now about ten days, and so far the weather has been kind for November. We've had rain, but not for long, and there was one very cold evening and night, but we've also had brisk breezes and bright sunshine, and the trees have been resplendent with colour. Here are some of ours, big and small, before the cold and the wind stripped them bare.</p><p>Liriodendron tulipifera - gloriously golden leaves bigger than my hand, with their odd geometric shape.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFkkT5h3ELVTLbEbZmEtvqppxebwGBf920WXqBkgYsgpH_6cHJ2ocQh_7cpIs4M-V7wPxl1tsxXPdY7smfUz6ke9-wRe9kaw6t9JYf-x_H55PtPi22N9Zp37plRjIuZTP-xpr5nGif2Tp/s2048/IMG_20211115_155104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFkkT5h3ELVTLbEbZmEtvqppxebwGBf920WXqBkgYsgpH_6cHJ2ocQh_7cpIs4M-V7wPxl1tsxXPdY7smfUz6ke9-wRe9kaw6t9JYf-x_H55PtPi22N9Zp37plRjIuZTP-xpr5nGif2Tp/s320/IMG_20211115_155104.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The copper beech<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAdPM3w8mBlb8O2lF-UGv6HOQR-9M78xI2eVj6BYfEnLqNAJSWywWRl3pRg_Nj5rESrdvrqnRj1Y43ZEMsd1KgAN0S6DUrHtRYaSJLS1QFFNk3d1jdilIDbxMYbdSollswzn2ENN13wT4/s2048/IMG_20211115_155229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAdPM3w8mBlb8O2lF-UGv6HOQR-9M78xI2eVj6BYfEnLqNAJSWywWRl3pRg_Nj5rESrdvrqnRj1Y43ZEMsd1KgAN0S6DUrHtRYaSJLS1QFFNk3d1jdilIDbxMYbdSollswzn2ENN13wT4/s320/IMG_20211115_155229.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Magnolia 'Yellow River'<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23jG56i9nsExCQTZXlALzFo8A1MpkWr0gZGh7mXmJluc5ud_CgNMvgri45SsN-zzHtUxjhoTYBrS_rzppIb7iM_d9oYYFR83t4bLojAYq0l3V3nH9Zdg7p7mvUK4K-TXvsnWVB2yiU2ya/s2048/IMG_20211115_160012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23jG56i9nsExCQTZXlALzFo8A1MpkWr0gZGh7mXmJluc5ud_CgNMvgri45SsN-zzHtUxjhoTYBrS_rzppIb7iM_d9oYYFR83t4bLojAYq0l3V3nH9Zdg7p7mvUK4K-TXvsnWVB2yiU2ya/s320/IMG_20211115_160012.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9b1812Tumkb0zY4eMlob2U4uEfhYQEYz6et9in3vGfzxCfnCdscMxi7dwvnB34TwwqOdgYk2FXXfmoArBCEA0HHhO4F7hSiAgdYQ9dJTh8dNJIz7fDRviNFszJ3gwnTgXImHJI4ySIch/s2048/IMG_20211115_155426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9b1812Tumkb0zY4eMlob2U4uEfhYQEYz6et9in3vGfzxCfnCdscMxi7dwvnB34TwwqOdgYk2FXXfmoArBCEA0HHhO4F7hSiAgdYQ9dJTh8dNJIz7fDRviNFszJ3gwnTgXImHJI4ySIch/s320/IMG_20211115_155426.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Sadly we were too late to see the resplendent autumn colour of the Claret Ash, but Rosie thought she would pose in the drift of leaves all around its trunk!</p><p>We thought it was too wet for much garden work, but I managed to cut back and weed and clear enough for two trips to the dump. And then the mower came out after all - but stopped in its tracks when the petrol ran out!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmJ_ecdSeB8EN28AG9lujMdRw3uBWO3rzm8JvXX0LFewsZQtjVFdZubb4IHNwfzUOf07cWvloCMAS8avNdVJsTM-fp9ddzqP-kqdT90dSFiIDOH4-UtuEjSJuNulAuDIyLiH52y31wAd8/s2048/IMG_20211122_163352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmJ_ecdSeB8EN28AG9lujMdRw3uBWO3rzm8JvXX0LFewsZQtjVFdZubb4IHNwfzUOf07cWvloCMAS8avNdVJsTM-fp9ddzqP-kqdT90dSFiIDOH4-UtuEjSJuNulAuDIyLiH52y31wAd8/s320/IMG_20211122_163352.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Here's a lovely drive up to a chateau where we walked the dog.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c_wqMoZ_mDfhTBkuxUFjhgEtrFh6El_KUicM0hsWY2UUwBQlxT8v0jgt-frb1cNDD5ytQFrvGMpwEiVRPmh_6xz0YsXl5K46AGhAYVuCf8IOs_8toUY1enAU0M4pxhNRKNy3lc0ltrxF/s2048/IMG_20211120_165647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c_wqMoZ_mDfhTBkuxUFjhgEtrFh6El_KUicM0hsWY2UUwBQlxT8v0jgt-frb1cNDD5ytQFrvGMpwEiVRPmh_6xz0YsXl5K46AGhAYVuCf8IOs_8toUY1enAU0M4pxhNRKNy3lc0ltrxF/s320/IMG_20211120_165647.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I took some photos of inside the house, since nearly everything I post is of the garden. Our lounge rarely looks this tidy, but we were expecting guests!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZCQy_FnL6KNZhvst_YaEPubQvsSwhRQR8PTUPkFabj5dgY7_VVj033SwReUP8v8HLlB_SoDcymHulqD0HoK252s3tvPs44sfbaGAB8KOkPQWJ2lAkjLiB58UiGk-d3WVJBc4ElUlro7s/s2048/IMG_20211117_091724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZCQy_FnL6KNZhvst_YaEPubQvsSwhRQR8PTUPkFabj5dgY7_VVj033SwReUP8v8HLlB_SoDcymHulqD0HoK252s3tvPs44sfbaGAB8KOkPQWJ2lAkjLiB58UiGk-d3WVJBc4ElUlro7s/s320/IMG_20211117_091724.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />As if an ancient pile in France were not enough, we have recently acquired a motorhome (that's the folly.) The thinking was, 'If we leave it till we no longer have our home in France, we'll be too doddery to go anywhere.' <p></p><p>Here she is: a venerable lady 20 years old.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4N9AyLEkVdb5aGke8LzK5dwIocKdRkSynu_URz-gr-7jmc4iEmbsgQvhmgZXh9m_U5gANfNyNfTlkBP92t0dysLK4_I08_Y9nxBC4MTMPKaFQmzUCHqpGONWJ03AhCEeagI7bfwnhgDNm/s2048/IMG_20211101_144348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4N9AyLEkVdb5aGke8LzK5dwIocKdRkSynu_URz-gr-7jmc4iEmbsgQvhmgZXh9m_U5gANfNyNfTlkBP92t0dysLK4_I08_Y9nxBC4MTMPKaFQmzUCHqpGONWJ03AhCEeagI7bfwnhgDNm/s320/IMG_20211101_144348.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Our first (and so far only) night away, just to get acquainted.</p><p>Rosie thought it might be amusing to explore the bathroom.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4Bi_BcAbI7vkc0xeEaYepaItK9yv7rqK7R325n7deFEHx9Tt973Z5-8e_iFSozhvygkl8ShDemf7Bkyf8G9cGjqiv8foODWPYL7gosFHez8ENF6rMUtVmFfeLHGiX6ScK7pEvCyqXMcS/s2048/IMG_20211102_083734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4Bi_BcAbI7vkc0xeEaYepaItK9yv7rqK7R325n7deFEHx9Tt973Z5-8e_iFSozhvygkl8ShDemf7Bkyf8G9cGjqiv8foODWPYL7gosFHez8ENF6rMUtVmFfeLHGiX6ScK7pEvCyqXMcS/s320/IMG_20211102_083734.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It was very cold that night, and we weren't especially well-prepared, so we were awake for a cup of tea at 6 a.m.!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYURQMYsrgtIbfBSzX12f1QycKk8oLsnsUWqNLfUkW84q3TSvHwWf77q1aTjBvcrznwUJdT_BJX5U0Qd72h_9E6hnJEn7g0eyMoTo45ILhfh2_nzLiLG7LV8bGBF4yPiKOeMZyeqq6n-f_/s2048/IMG_20211102_055958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYURQMYsrgtIbfBSzX12f1QycKk8oLsnsUWqNLfUkW84q3TSvHwWf77q1aTjBvcrznwUJdT_BJX5U0Qd72h_9E6hnJEn7g0eyMoTo45ILhfh2_nzLiLG7LV8bGBF4yPiKOeMZyeqq6n-f_/s320/IMG_20211102_055958.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>What next? We hope to explore other parts of France using our house here as a base. A friend has alerted us to a man-made lake, miles away to the east, where thousands of cranes flock in the autumn. Maybe that's something to aim for next year!</p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-74968580473537643342021-11-03T14:40:00.000-07:002021-11-03T14:40:07.709-07:00New website address<p> As of today, my website is at www.slrussell.org. Why not have a look?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9O6T83yjy8ypfSap3WbbOtdhYmsV0ZDstotWPiKVMjCt4-3-FsRV0DMZARgxSknRqd2HBcwz_Fe5BTeShQyFkuERTl2I75AZ4C63CAEVwoMuOL3fdMvTCMBQXddZj6iI8xGEVu-Fx-di/s1500/9781782643562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="985" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9O6T83yjy8ypfSap3WbbOtdhYmsV0ZDstotWPiKVMjCt4-3-FsRV0DMZARgxSknRqd2HBcwz_Fe5BTeShQyFkuERTl2I75AZ4C63CAEVwoMuOL3fdMvTCMBQXddZj6iI8xGEVu-Fx-di/s320/9781782643562.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-27553448868506634282021-10-24T10:48:00.000-07:002021-10-24T10:48:59.068-07:00Towering vegetation<p><br /> After the experience of 2020 when we were away from our French house (reluctantly) for five months, arriving to a bewildering amount of garden clearance, in 2021 we found a man to cut the grass every fortnight from March until we were able to do it ourselves. This time the period of enforced absence was longer still - nine months. We arrived in August and stayed a month, and even though the grass had been seen to there was still a huge backlog to tackle. Looming large, both in fact and in our minds, were our hedges. There are two of them - one runs the width of the back garden, the other forms one border of the potager, and both have their other side in our neighbour's property.</p><p>This neighbour is new to the place, and we don't know him. Our impression is that he has no wish to know us, unlike the previous people who were happy to chat when we coincided and were generous with their surplus produce. Our unpopularity may be something to do with the number of bonfires we lit when trying to clear the contents of the fallen boulangerie. As a result the far side of both hedges, always inaccessible by us, were still out of reach, because the hedges are about eight feet deep! A few years ago a doughty visiting family member who happens to be very tall found an old door which he put on top of the hedge and then sat on it and wielded the chainsaw and hedge trimmer - but even he couldn't reach the far side. So the hedges were a problem, and one we couldn't solve by ourselves. As has sometimes happened in the past, we consulted our long-term French neighbours who live half a mile down the lane. They are very helpful and know everybody. True to form they suggested we seek the help of someone they knew, who lived very close and who would welcome extra money. It was confusing as both these gentlemen had the same name and we had to refer to them as J1 and J2! After inspection and polite negotiation along came J2 and worked extremely hard over three days to take our hedges down to a manageable height so that once again we could deal with them ourselves. As a bonus he knew our neighbour and obtained permission to cut from his side. How, we wondered, would he get up there to do the job?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjModrc73J3quMNoUbw8lklFiZdJ-fdQoR8tjFH_1m2bmRzY67HOAuKj_3VJoFGh5NqdBghVjRrmWHQQnRk40UcU6TxYfQcqLSmxhskLIjZJwXidzTnYGzpaTV6iHEcK1rxQ8e50y2nAcy8/s2048/IMG_20210825_142138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjModrc73J3quMNoUbw8lklFiZdJ-fdQoR8tjFH_1m2bmRzY67HOAuKj_3VJoFGh5NqdBghVjRrmWHQQnRk40UcU6TxYfQcqLSmxhskLIjZJwXidzTnYGzpaTV6iHEcK1rxQ8e50y2nAcy8/s320/IMG_20210825_142138.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He brought his elderly tractor round to our back garden, and attached to its front forks three or four pallets which acted as a platform. He then scaled a ladder propped against the side and proceeded to wield his chainsaw with alarming insouciance. When I suggested it looked dangerous he waved away my cautious British objections with a very Gallic shrug, and it wasn't until after the job was completed that I asked myself who would have been liable if he'd had an accident. Happily, for him, for us, and for his two young children who found our garden a great place for riding their bikes, he didn't.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The finished hedges looked trim as never before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4tdPZrUa3Y4CnQi3jhKYbGlexfnyBNUvmIlSK9EOssjZIzfHnaBeq34uCyBSuKPiqsBvZmhYxHbH6GC-80fn4jeGf0b6sfCBR3DiHsAta9LVt-y2l2kqna40Plxlqi-8fLpGDTyKbYds/s2048/IMG_20210827_090006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4tdPZrUa3Y4CnQi3jhKYbGlexfnyBNUvmIlSK9EOssjZIzfHnaBeq34uCyBSuKPiqsBvZmhYxHbH6GC-80fn4jeGf0b6sfCBR3DiHsAta9LVt-y2l2kqna40Plxlqi-8fLpGDTyKbYds/s320/IMG_20210827_090006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course his efforts resulted in piles of clippings. Disposing of unwanted vegetation involves for us bootloads of stuff and many trips to the local dump. But here our wonderful neighbour - J1 - came to the rescue. With considerable skill he trundled down our drive in his tractor, turned it round and attached a large and antique-looking trailer. I commented, 'J, I think you have done this before,' and he just grinned.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1bdSgiz-ihd7U-hODYwzcbOoOc2z42iRxk1_PD3LdWLzepFlDSVDHwHFIMw0XmjGANolv4zj5exPPe16yexbY9zaZi1qBJ_r9rs0KNsRefMQj6zHjCNIWufZIK1JrDCdA8K_qJBzVI2V/s2048/IMG_20210826_093750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1bdSgiz-ihd7U-hODYwzcbOoOc2z42iRxk1_PD3LdWLzepFlDSVDHwHFIMw0XmjGANolv4zj5exPPe16yexbY9zaZi1qBJ_r9rs0KNsRefMQj6zHjCNIWufZIK1JrDCdA8K_qJBzVI2V/s320/IMG_20210826_093750.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With a few webbing straps in place, the swaying heap was taken away. We had no idea what they did with it - I suspect farmers have pits they burn stuff in - and we didn't much care. For the first time in years the hedges were down and a weight lifted from us. Not only that, but in J2 we may have found someone we can call on in the future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7wS1AVN7zRQ8sBtCv12FcihB_yNCZStH3abKG2BeutjbNzgrqnJG0sPbZOsACHi7xJIChnroLSLAJb9j05z2iwOgHm0D3yYk-137HTUeQaRvFop00so-v7Ogo1W5MsAjspiIgVGN6OtA/s2048/IMG_20210827_155555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7wS1AVN7zRQ8sBtCv12FcihB_yNCZStH3abKG2BeutjbNzgrqnJG0sPbZOsACHi7xJIChnroLSLAJb9j05z2iwOgHm0D3yYk-137HTUeQaRvFop00so-v7Ogo1W5MsAjspiIgVGN6OtA/s320/IMG_20210827_155555.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amazingly, very little was spilled!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-bHoAxRI-D7XL0JdGLyBy2FsoIy1fWpOvSZ-j3o76287HTGwP2pgNW7_FR5QG-CPMJLxYtBdwJtv_dfW2D1xVEsdNWPKONYKiFq468jhag31q77gfk7VKjuN8nqLz3zsXuDFEUhZtJgM/s2048/IMG_20210827_155532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-bHoAxRI-D7XL0JdGLyBy2FsoIy1fWpOvSZ-j3o76287HTGwP2pgNW7_FR5QG-CPMJLxYtBdwJtv_dfW2D1xVEsdNWPKONYKiFq468jhag31q77gfk7VKjuN8nqLz3zsXuDFEUhZtJgM/s320/IMG_20210827_155532.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-13952325536294669592021-09-04T03:49:00.003-07:002021-09-04T03:49:35.706-07:00A welcome review!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pXaSgwWbEEx5ZkSoUUi0o_ZHTJU5RFMB6Cp3yWf5CjEOhW2ivvs-nxTw7uOxf6S6k4nTEzrd1xIllHxdqnGlUI6TGsvmpfbKclEHOl2owrv5GvjbDPROZBWuMllWMd0rsLfI3q0R-5RR/s1500/9781782643562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="985" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pXaSgwWbEEx5ZkSoUUi0o_ZHTJU5RFMB6Cp3yWf5CjEOhW2ivvs-nxTw7uOxf6S6k4nTEzrd1xIllHxdqnGlUI6TGsvmpfbKclEHOl2owrv5GvjbDPROZBWuMllWMd0rsLfI3q0R-5RR/s320/9781782643562.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /> My latest novel, published this year, has garnered a very welcome 5* review from Readers' Favorite today!<p></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-38187327794993970462021-08-14T12:51:00.000-07:002021-08-14T12:51:23.820-07:00<br /><p><br /> <b><span style="font-size: large;">The old bakery: part two</span></b></p><p><br /></p><p>After nine months of restrictions on travel - no doubt necessary, but all the same frustrating - we have made it back to France. The grass was trimmed, but everywhere else was a jungle. The work is ongoing, but my priority was to clear the new building and its surroundings, including the path, which was almost invisible under all the rampant growth. To be reminded of the mess that it was, scroll down to a post dated February this year. Here's what it looked like when we first arrived: crowded in by grass and weeds, and the path almost invisible!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX1zcnRgnmcCRSG02KSHmlrAVGcDfUemMMDZUIe_8mvHzhAFGMcQy4u8FVukPlMwHyqIxCSYd5TgFuCnXPGMo9jpWbV4fLd3VMPE08qid6c5N4OUotV3V6KUZucSqAhadAS7XB6bFTCOM/s2048/IMG_20210729_100508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX1zcnRgnmcCRSG02KSHmlrAVGcDfUemMMDZUIe_8mvHzhAFGMcQy4u8FVukPlMwHyqIxCSYd5TgFuCnXPGMo9jpWbV4fLd3VMPE08qid6c5N4OUotV3V6KUZucSqAhadAS7XB6bFTCOM/s320/IMG_20210729_100508.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Here's what it looks like now: not only weed free (more or less, and of course not for long!) but also beautified by flowers and solar lights. And also the view up the lower drive, strimmed and mowed.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDcCKaNnbXI0ADtqr-4RUAyJ11ZBhABNXRfewg1FwMpxNvUNYmZvOEPEP0MRHvX7rdJ-h8UiD-8jif3k0W2VPGEomza_bKWvHRjtj6IuAANxPM6TEwba0OSlGkOj3QuopLszrZcu37ZSo/s2048/IMG_20210813_144451+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDcCKaNnbXI0ADtqr-4RUAyJ11ZBhABNXRfewg1FwMpxNvUNYmZvOEPEP0MRHvX7rdJ-h8UiD-8jif3k0W2VPGEomza_bKWvHRjtj6IuAANxPM6TEwba0OSlGkOj3QuopLszrZcu37ZSo/s320/IMG_20210813_144451+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3ZcuhmvviNjCfYXEDvTkRbR08g46Bt1gU92Qq_7ORbYXCnWPr3RbwOesi_gcyB5CsFm6s4E0NFKTtex37bb3FfJjn1UHx-d1FVT37UpS-F-NsOSGf54xQDJ3UIpEtF-PtSnlR_DC-iT1/s2048/IMG_20210810_111158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3ZcuhmvviNjCfYXEDvTkRbR08g46Bt1gU92Qq_7ORbYXCnWPr3RbwOesi_gcyB5CsFm6s4E0NFKTtex37bb3FfJjn1UHx-d1FVT37UpS-F-NsOSGf54xQDJ3UIpEtF-PtSnlR_DC-iT1/s320/IMG_20210810_111158.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />The weeded path (needing constant vigilance!) </div></div><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0jvwDvP6L6syMWxQ_i7Hloyt4MWSldggC5t2I_t-KuNNubSIdb5j7nbfnUsFNKE2awP7baGJaM_XYJaghRb0hor43H7Ldd80jCIot9YLKy3PKB1x2iABvzYmgzdZfCim9yg1-qTKvkx-/s2048/IMG_20210810_111141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0jvwDvP6L6syMWxQ_i7Hloyt4MWSldggC5t2I_t-KuNNubSIdb5j7nbfnUsFNKE2awP7baGJaM_XYJaghRb0hor43H7Ldd80jCIot9YLKy3PKB1x2iABvzYmgzdZfCim9yg1-qTKvkx-/s320/IMG_20210810_111141.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMBmEiU5EGwak7txiiLE_qwaq5aYgP6mhkll2iX2Itg6B_YcrN7MST1DHtGZyCAOA0xtPNHQVfchU46cvagxdk1Sqw7IH8JU9dZBVpWxp6JJ90mMNZlk66y2bBPttyi0LEuxmCRjsuKdK/s2048/IMG_20210806_150438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMBmEiU5EGwak7txiiLE_qwaq5aYgP6mhkll2iX2Itg6B_YcrN7MST1DHtGZyCAOA0xtPNHQVfchU46cvagxdk1Sqw7IH8JU9dZBVpWxp6JJ90mMNZlk66y2bBPttyi0LEuxmCRjsuKdK/s320/IMG_20210806_150438.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><br />One of two fabulous 'Vanille Fraise' hydrangeas, undaunted by so many months of neglect.Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-8344743261483777732021-07-04T04:40:00.001-07:002021-07-04T04:40:28.607-07:00A plus from a pandemic<p> I count myself blessed to have four step-grandchildren, ranging in age from 11 to 6, two boys and two girls. Until recently, because of Covid restrictions, I hadn't seen them for a long time, but it is difficult to see them anyway as they all live many miles away and have working parents and busy lives. At the beginning of the first UK lockdown in March 2020 children were away from school and learning at home, and one of my stepdaughters suggested that the children and I had an online video session from time to time so that the children could read to me. It was a great way of keeping in touch. The six year old soon ran out of books and had other fish to fry, but his 8 year old sister, a keen reader, kept up the contact even after she went back to school, and it is (certainly for me, and I hope also for her) a really lovely way to keep connected. So far she has read a favourite book to me, and I have read three of the Chronicles of Narnia to her. Now we have started on another book of hers, but the reading is interspersed with chat about all manner of things. Even allowing for bias, she is a bright, articulate child, interested in everything, and often wise beyond her years. Recently it came out that part of her school homework was to write the blurb for a book she had been reading, and as I have some experience in this I offered to help. We duly composed, between us, a succinct and tantalising script, and she announced triumphantly, ' I will tell my teacher that I had help from a relative who's an author!' (I quote verbatim.) As many an author will tell you, publicity and marketing is the toughest part of writing a book, but maybe now, thanks to this delightful youngster, the word is out!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGmvw4xShN4hn5hMczQ1wKe-_DDYlTFrS9BEMSRH5P79qZRnJB8I6xVuAPSQe5f85Pwwss9hxFwg6cEGab8TZYjdV-OWjn6m-vimVf7N8k6aGxTDeRsVP-r-H5YCldyfJC0VYAo2bT2zp/s1500/9781782643562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="985" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGmvw4xShN4hn5hMczQ1wKe-_DDYlTFrS9BEMSRH5P79qZRnJB8I6xVuAPSQe5f85Pwwss9hxFwg6cEGab8TZYjdV-OWjn6m-vimVf7N8k6aGxTDeRsVP-r-H5YCldyfJC0VYAo2bT2zp/s320/9781782643562.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsby7iRPGwSecdv-x4zg7l5FwdfnqbXD_8masa6VFOMbnjWkLgnYHnklvUlL5NedZ-F7Zv4bF856qh5NkTFTRCugtr-cEth_h4sLueo9MDOaUdSNdFNESRqkSpFemRUwchsydAQ5dBfMQ/s2048/DSCF8055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsby7iRPGwSecdv-x4zg7l5FwdfnqbXD_8masa6VFOMbnjWkLgnYHnklvUlL5NedZ-F7Zv4bF856qh5NkTFTRCugtr-cEth_h4sLueo9MDOaUdSNdFNESRqkSpFemRUwchsydAQ5dBfMQ/s320/DSCF8055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-7278895961516637952021-04-21T09:50:00.000-07:002021-04-21T09:50:26.262-07:00A new book!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYONOdV_LscVRtYybv07k2BQtmq9YY_FksjTEivlzMnyL5Dt-uk5l_aO4WPJDKbYwltJH_f4r37NJ12ntde1IBLvxcyrF1fFz4teeG6T-SZTciJGpM8FddRizGMDpx1bSMboI2O2TUCtDq/s1500/9781782643562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="985" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYONOdV_LscVRtYybv07k2BQtmq9YY_FksjTEivlzMnyL5Dt-uk5l_aO4WPJDKbYwltJH_f4r37NJ12ntde1IBLvxcyrF1fFz4teeG6T-SZTciJGpM8FddRizGMDpx1bSMboI2O2TUCtDq/s320/9781782643562.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>My new book will be published on May 21, 2021. It's available in all the usual places: Amazon, bookshops, other online outlets. For anyone who has read my previous novel <i>The Healing Knife</i>, this one is a kind of follow-on. While the story is quite different there are some characters who reappear. I write about things that interest me, and the law is one of those things. In a nation such as mine, we take its operation for granted - but should we?</p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-24979364926729592782021-02-28T05:53:00.000-08:002021-02-28T05:53:08.206-08:00The old bakery, risen from ruin<p> Once more in lockdown, we have had to rely on photos sent by our builder, and these were received with great interest as you might imagine. The work was eventually started in early January, and took five weeks rather than the original estimate of two; but as we weren't there, no doubt the weather was a factor and other jobs may well have been done at the same time.</p><p>Here's a reminder of what it looked like to start with:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd89M4xF5RmNqRLy8Uj-sxo1Wp-6hv0MkSuRMzADadmSVGiyOkXSQy0zRV8wOKXRArhZ603uNjD1op33Cdcj-fA-1igCiL4IaBM8mYfnc-BbM9GaTZ-j65DQsfy2L8U-ho4khkQXQT2U_u/s2048/20210104_095249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd89M4xF5RmNqRLy8Uj-sxo1Wp-6hv0MkSuRMzADadmSVGiyOkXSQy0zRV8wOKXRArhZ603uNjD1op33Cdcj-fA-1igCiL4IaBM8mYfnc-BbM9GaTZ-j65DQsfy2L8U-ho4khkQXQT2U_u/s320/20210104_095249.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJE5gDEHGIbYVR4ylt0rvXdfVtgUPBVJpGvZ3qhg9oYhOpEx2lK4gp-s1Ij2LDoXpojS9veXxSTEa_M47leUemwLbxPsqEdmnFK8vMnfK_lqiVtQ4wgix2fXD1bnk77H_9erkPoW4BgN0/s2048/20210104_140504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJE5gDEHGIbYVR4ylt0rvXdfVtgUPBVJpGvZ3qhg9oYhOpEx2lK4gp-s1Ij2LDoXpojS9veXxSTEa_M47leUemwLbxPsqEdmnFK8vMnfK_lqiVtQ4wgix2fXD1bnk77H_9erkPoW4BgN0/s320/20210104_140504.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The site cleared, and the resulting sea of mud! (It was winter, after all.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7Pdsg4JKplALdouqoin-YzQOtsAc9KiCLCb2YE-rvSUFK_JEBt9FsVI4kaAQsqW9-LtgGheTfR9mdPupC-ttPBh5DbFoX6lMiEAY1vnzJ2Kzy8jdCBcMjBrnk_LJGO7ZvXPnmHBCVqcE/s2048/20210111_155036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7Pdsg4JKplALdouqoin-YzQOtsAc9KiCLCb2YE-rvSUFK_JEBt9FsVI4kaAQsqW9-LtgGheTfR9mdPupC-ttPBh5DbFoX6lMiEAY1vnzJ2Kzy8jdCBcMjBrnk_LJGO7ZvXPnmHBCVqcE/s320/20210111_155036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The slabs are laid and the path gravelled.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_JDuBfZ6jeVfeYi3LkfYzqt-fWThxRus0EQwdDvzUiyV9QQEK9iR9XvYgXCVTE69hcn1F70MS23hC9MENOOKiD7pfNen68z5MGzrw0lO_pmzvnSlDsjx9WEutFaMVaMAyLbghswNjwMI/s2048/20210108_103429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_JDuBfZ6jeVfeYi3LkfYzqt-fWThxRus0EQwdDvzUiyV9QQEK9iR9XvYgXCVTE69hcn1F70MS23hC9MENOOKiD7pfNen68z5MGzrw0lO_pmzvnSlDsjx9WEutFaMVaMAyLbghswNjwMI/s320/20210108_103429.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The path as it leads down to the house.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oTKVxFW4Bz8UFGidaQkyYEpc6M1G42WNVf8GkPvB78a5y160opk5CFewp_xmgYw018Gxu1JX5IUzACkwrSaC3GdUU7rfCK1_sZM9IuLa_LHUViXGEYl8KAxxxiaqHpTfPa6xqExihKQL/s2048/20210126_124056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oTKVxFW4Bz8UFGidaQkyYEpc6M1G42WNVf8GkPvB78a5y160opk5CFewp_xmgYw018Gxu1JX5IUzACkwrSaC3GdUU7rfCK1_sZM9IuLa_LHUViXGEYl8KAxxxiaqHpTfPa6xqExihKQL/s320/20210126_124056.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here the wall has been pointed but it had started to rain and the capping had not yet been done, so the men doing the pointing insisted that the tarpaulin stayed in place.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have photos of the finished project, complete with capped wall, but for some reason they have declined to upload. So the end of the story will have to wait until we can ourselves go to France and see with our own eyes. At the moment travel is forbidden, but things are opening up, and we live in hope of spending the summer there. Meanwhile we have found a local man to cut our grass so we don't arrive to a jungle as we did last year; and he has agreed to put some grass seed on the sea of mud. We wait - with varying degrees of patience!</div><div><br /></div><div><p><br /></p></div>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-78532791041563752752020-09-25T09:00:00.001-07:002020-09-25T09:00:51.386-07:00Fallen buildings - the way ahead<p> It's a bit like buses - you wait for ages and then three come at once. My blog is in the doldrums for months, and then I write three long posts in rapid succession!</p><p>Following our drive to render our French acre less of a jungle and more of a garden after the months when we were forced to neglect it, I thought I would share our plans for the building that collapsed last autumn. This disaster I covered in a post dated 21 November 2019. But perhaps I should begin by showing you what it used to look like when more or less intact (it's always been a bit dilapidated.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTRVBFaT0DgS2-JwE351NC-C3bPNCMObGcmO0XB1BxLGYLHoJLEaHwN79cqMi8OOOgUUl1Hy7EFowETxelQqSi0ra2CeRI7LMxQOPVAxGhx0OjHu6gLfhWu4DqC0TimVdwGI_N4WdMMdv/s2048/DSCF5042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTRVBFaT0DgS2-JwE351NC-C3bPNCMObGcmO0XB1BxLGYLHoJLEaHwN79cqMi8OOOgUUl1Hy7EFowETxelQqSi0ra2CeRI7LMxQOPVAxGhx0OjHu6gLfhWu4DqC0TimVdwGI_N4WdMMdv/s320/DSCF5042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyamgO9_QLzA90G6KGFRbZjBFdqk0vdrZ5ckQagJ7a9Z6_VFk12A0s-jp8a5C-xE3NvzkAjofHOPqjvn-wYxytBSM7n5nF1nthzBjBXzT_qpv7dzfBisfHwIctESWRuRoNK1tmkZ_cYi8E/s2048/DSCF7260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyamgO9_QLzA90G6KGFRbZjBFdqk0vdrZ5ckQagJ7a9Z6_VFk12A0s-jp8a5C-xE3NvzkAjofHOPqjvn-wYxytBSM7n5nF1nthzBjBXzT_qpv7dzfBisfHwIctESWRuRoNK1tmkZ_cYi8E/s320/DSCF7260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBpbkU_5RSI0bpnKLXdduUVtGWi05OGY6K1aCCr8seh9AS8Ydda7pPZuzaaQTiuQu3L83_vVdVCNmJLsfAIOR4RX2JiD7w9JR4GlUTZhDJ2_sq1xHWr5B7j-hXpoTQuTp6hJlRQm7uR95/s2048/DSCF7828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBpbkU_5RSI0bpnKLXdduUVtGWi05OGY6K1aCCr8seh9AS8Ydda7pPZuzaaQTiuQu3L83_vVdVCNmJLsfAIOR4RX2JiD7w9JR4GlUTZhDJ2_sq1xHWr5B7j-hXpoTQuTp6hJlRQm7uR95/s320/DSCF7828.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />This is how it looked in July, among the overgrowth. Believe it or not, we had already by this time done a lot of clearance. For example, here's the pile of rescued timbers in our garage, ready to be sawn up for firewood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnq44Sgyi5uKyq5Mv24lp8hfoRANfbh-nh7_9gid4WKvH6CKjHElB4XKK7lqJZaCYD9pdFD7CPsjlFcp0zDt70sNyj2WwOOSMxsr4ltvpY6jyr1Y7PrEi4zcmMMpSbowYGP-ufDSzI1-R/s2048/DSCF7970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnq44Sgyi5uKyq5Mv24lp8hfoRANfbh-nh7_9gid4WKvH6CKjHElB4XKK7lqJZaCYD9pdFD7CPsjlFcp0zDt70sNyj2WwOOSMxsr4ltvpY6jyr1Y7PrEi4zcmMMpSbowYGP-ufDSzI1-R/s320/DSCF7970.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We realised we had to do <i>something.</i> Left to itself it would not only have a look of neglect but would be actively dangerous. The mortar used when it was first constructed was little more than mud, and would soon be washed away, so that eventually the wall would fall. So after some deliberation we called in the man who a few years ago rendered our drive passable, digging it out and filling it with gravel, so that it was no longer a muddy farm track unreliable in wet weather. (That's an understatement - when it rained a stream flowed down the track from the lane above and there were times when it took several hours to drive 100 metres. On more than one occasion we almost missed our ferry at Calais.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> He took on the idea of developing the old bakery site into something we could actually use and would look good as well. He would cap and repoint the wall to be proof against the weather and therefore secure, remove all the remaining debris, put in a slabbed area using the original footprint and connect it to the patio with a gravelled path. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our job meanwhile was to put a tarpaulin over the top of the wall and remove the great pile of mouldy faggots still lurking in the building and burn them. The placing of the tarpaulin (just a big sheet of plastic which we'd saved from a previous roof job) was a bit of a palaver involving ladders, rope, heavy stones and wooden props - a typical ad hoc job!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyV3UqS_UUOvQcsdNxpG_p3f5cpAQjeZi8o8zF7dTzXAE86WL6yQ2T9FtIb581bcLNDDN4BXCbKolXJa1vYV0w5qZ5selndg2AEUtD4WdOh-TmEwEcqNXuJtmISF-NibUh8zo96WDp8wp/s2048/DSCF7967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyV3UqS_UUOvQcsdNxpG_p3f5cpAQjeZi8o8zF7dTzXAE86WL6yQ2T9FtIb581bcLNDDN4BXCbKolXJa1vYV0w5qZ5selndg2AEUtD4WdOh-TmEwEcqNXuJtmISF-NibUh8zo96WDp8wp/s320/DSCF7967.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Front...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAKqDkijKomJnhTbY81CCBrdb7ogU6DLlPFWryePf0IWoA_3k6OycyZZN5UcpCsoqGPqgk5v36ohTXTToKY3MpPES9hRoWlz2Rmgw5pnqr-HU5RtgXu_v5z-HqICTA73sKYX-ABV-RaHB/s2048/DSCF7969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAKqDkijKomJnhTbY81CCBrdb7ogU6DLlPFWryePf0IWoA_3k6OycyZZN5UcpCsoqGPqgk5v36ohTXTToKY3MpPES9hRoWlz2Rmgw5pnqr-HU5RtgXu_v5z-HqICTA73sKYX-ABV-RaHB/s320/DSCF7969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> and back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The removal of the faggots was hard work, repetitive and dirty. Load after load went on to the bonfire over several days. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw54S9BwyuNoaM7Sy9l9jFa4B3qB_iVFA-lfqs2bAQXx5wvyka7DL1D0YVPIGVIjeDXp9-4-isU_11TUTUDa_l5sfcVyb9DlmFrKbXnhj9Ztb16LHIKv6pZ_m3JfPWMxC4Rg2BnRwPgJ9H/s2048/DSCF7968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw54S9BwyuNoaM7Sy9l9jFa4B3qB_iVFA-lfqs2bAQXx5wvyka7DL1D0YVPIGVIjeDXp9-4-isU_11TUTUDa_l5sfcVyb9DlmFrKbXnhj9Ztb16LHIKv6pZ_m3JfPWMxC4Rg2BnRwPgJ9H/s320/DSCF7968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Half way!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfE-wnDfzzyXHbmgv2YO-ZsRuIE8S6043CD0Jkz2eGP-sqHjR8bsbueEgM_oEbFMJHCK5Vrxrv4egs28oBsO9wLTnfWqRzQRxFAxYxg_xBWxBGz-qA2kZyXXyAN73rFesZHRpf9Lh1aym/s2048/DSCF7985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfE-wnDfzzyXHbmgv2YO-ZsRuIE8S6043CD0Jkz2eGP-sqHjR8bsbueEgM_oEbFMJHCK5Vrxrv4egs28oBsO9wLTnfWqRzQRxFAxYxg_xBWxBGz-qA2kZyXXyAN73rFesZHRpf9Lh1aym/s320/DSCF7985.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Faggots cleared - phew, what a slog that was!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We hope the work can be done in October or early November, because as the year progresses and the weather gets colder it it will be impossible to do the pointing, and obviously it would be best to avoid subjecting the wall to another winter. I am pleased, though, that we can turn the old ruin into something positive rather than simply repair and make good. We feel we have a responsibility to the place while it belongs to us, but there was no way we could afford to fix two old outbuildings, and this one was of no real use. Now I am having all sorts of thoughts about the refurbished site. It would make a rather good stage or auditorium...perhaps we could have a musical soiree at our house like the ones others have hosted! And this gives me the incentive to clear the area of rampant ivy... When it comes to our place in France, there is no end to work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-38138358917727085902020-09-24T05:33:00.000-07:002020-09-24T05:33:35.120-07:00Two against the jungle - Part 2<p> Towards the end of August we returned to France. Under the regulations then (and now) current we knew we would have to self-isolate for a fortnight on our return, so we decided to stay for a month to make it worth while.</p><p>Now battle was joined in earnest. </p><p>I should note that my husband is not a young man - next week he will be 78. I am younger, but by no means young, and we both have joint problems. But to see him in action in France wielding heavy, awkward machinery and working for hours at a stretch you'd never believe it. First he had to get the worst of the grass down with the wheeled strimmer, which has an engine but still has to be pushed. After that the grass was low enough for the mower. To clear the orchard, which slopes steeply downwards, he first towed the strimmer to the top of the garden on the back of the mower. Then he strimmed down as far as the drive. He then walked back up and mowed down over the roughly-cut strip - a sequence repeated many times over several days. Because the grass was so long, mowing resulted in swathes of hay everywhere which if left would have killed the grass underneath, so after mowing he had to attach the hay collector to the back of the mower and pile it all up in heaps. Here he is doing just that. The very long untouched grass is visible in the background.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x1KdzlDrHcIS6O9Gf0WYhbN3PH8TAxQB7EJquBHIfd2u9cY6ossYdwk7PpQC4DeWL94YPiek5Z6sN0NitTFanIvCSOGSScIBJ_K3gUAuVMSXsOBPJNPW4ZRS75McH2zrtB0pXLiTv5JT/s2048/DSCF7930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8x1KdzlDrHcIS6O9Gf0WYhbN3PH8TAxQB7EJquBHIfd2u9cY6ossYdwk7PpQC4DeWL94YPiek5Z6sN0NitTFanIvCSOGSScIBJ_K3gUAuVMSXsOBPJNPW4ZRS75McH2zrtB0pXLiTv5JT/s320/DSCF7930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Things began to look a bit clearer; trees and shrubs started to emerge.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1k65_89t61LciI-Jc6a5GwCMRhaj97RAcU4fWtvPuY0Jb-wgvuqTOjaUlLXuHgHnmfyYQXcdC-f0l4i85GxfX_DAlrCOnn3NHwHyFYjuj9f0rPyxj0Hj9nFOOWLjsD0YIxSd1bNxE6cx-/s2048/DSCF7861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1k65_89t61LciI-Jc6a5GwCMRhaj97RAcU4fWtvPuY0Jb-wgvuqTOjaUlLXuHgHnmfyYQXcdC-f0l4i85GxfX_DAlrCOnn3NHwHyFYjuj9f0rPyxj0Hj9nFOOWLjsD0YIxSd1bNxE6cx-/s320/DSCF7861.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBg7nJRytQmJYksg_Zsvy-UQGl0kOmgGzsa4IPHPbIOKZQGbtkmkMI6nSF2QqcksVkedOPeG4i-17SYHppDnFzedDreoEswJViIWwKriqwzQSAVj6_WaUCFmSzLDEQxzv80EWKrLN8MchA/s2048/DSCF7858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBg7nJRytQmJYksg_Zsvy-UQGl0kOmgGzsa4IPHPbIOKZQGbtkmkMI6nSF2QqcksVkedOPeG4i-17SYHppDnFzedDreoEswJViIWwKriqwzQSAVj6_WaUCFmSzLDEQxzv80EWKrLN8MchA/s320/DSCF7858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>All this while I was not idle! I wielded the small strimmer in awkward spots, clearing round the shrubs and making space, as well as cutting back and weeding. We were blessed with the weather: it rained only twice during that month, but it was hot, and we got very sticky and dirty. Here's the bank from which in years past I evicted a huge mass of brambles and on which I then planted other things - invisible till I strimmed it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtxnlufcSdz4nUO_ZLLoYKfcD9KK8CpXIVBxf3l6vIv-1KF4EEJjnbjpx8a85onWdYpkuA0RbfikX9TRIyAKl5TF7LLif9ftxb2BMYgizw3nfrhDicJ-YBzaRU41IKYuDweuFIz_sSKPp/s2048/DSCF7944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtxnlufcSdz4nUO_ZLLoYKfcD9KK8CpXIVBxf3l6vIv-1KF4EEJjnbjpx8a85onWdYpkuA0RbfikX9TRIyAKl5TF7LLif9ftxb2BMYgizw3nfrhDicJ-YBzaRU41IKYuDweuFIz_sSKPp/s320/DSCF7944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>What to do with all this hay and clippings? Over the weeks we were there, apart from regular trips to the dump, we must have had 6 or 7 bonfires. Here I am, nattily dressed as always, feeding the blaze.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYzYZq4pYsB0hqFKFDkjAGgCguS9TgKxH_BrkflwqcxMwCkNtxP9u13Xsjnwj1mQkbJM-Xv42to1i5_eSoj2NS95r8mC246v0iCd7UyK4JDfsLIw2XwvbeeuFWz2EslEeCSm0Kq9YbzDr/s2048/DSCF7915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYzYZq4pYsB0hqFKFDkjAGgCguS9TgKxH_BrkflwqcxMwCkNtxP9u13Xsjnwj1mQkbJM-Xv42to1i5_eSoj2NS95r8mC246v0iCd7UyK4JDfsLIw2XwvbeeuFWz2EslEeCSm0Kq9YbzDr/s320/DSCF7915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>As well as clearing the garden we were also working on the small outbuilding which collapsed last autumn. This involved getting rid of floor-to-ceiling bundles of mouldy twigs which in decades past would have been used to fuel the bread oven. I lost count of how many barrowloads we shifted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQCLrFYLn6KnqFqVA6haGU6qurK-IW_p8XIfK1KUB4gOkD-QCjjiBOrrTkzZZf_AOEk9MvZHOkgkjEhX3jBe-2l84Nqe2vEtxYYC66tbfKTepU7lkuZbtRPZu9Alp7PSxoGkMPHZltczi/s2048/DSCF7975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQCLrFYLn6KnqFqVA6haGU6qurK-IW_p8XIfK1KUB4gOkD-QCjjiBOrrTkzZZf_AOEk9MvZHOkgkjEhX3jBe-2l84Nqe2vEtxYYC66tbfKTepU7lkuZbtRPZu9Alp7PSxoGkMPHZltczi/s320/DSCF7975.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />At the end of the day, a well-earned break and a glass of wine!<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkV7jdrhyA7BXMbP1o0Hgh_tnRkyNyg4qmarzwkTFplsSfHlBjgaT1Pzq7BGdqU6YRb8a2KT4el7WbDuaTte3Ymfnn75h1qQnqlhkIx4RSuZblFaMKZtmjzfj27FR9x5Xh6ZR6OhhZl8y/s2048/DSCF7890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkV7jdrhyA7BXMbP1o0Hgh_tnRkyNyg4qmarzwkTFplsSfHlBjgaT1Pzq7BGdqU6YRb8a2KT4el7WbDuaTte3Ymfnn75h1qQnqlhkIx4RSuZblFaMKZtmjzfj27FR9x5Xh6ZR6OhhZl8y/s320/DSCF7890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Finally, the jungle began to look more like a garden.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXVmJbuw_MDIclQQI35w6uEl50rbGz-1Uy0CrqOKib2bJy-vmY7kmoWPXVOaylbzMSKAta6bEo-qPclymHh9yFvrO2wudrnqMGAsc53EHPP1ArWIakfLMve5srgsCWX4QCl40kGgrZjYW/s2048/DSCF7983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXVmJbuw_MDIclQQI35w6uEl50rbGz-1Uy0CrqOKib2bJy-vmY7kmoWPXVOaylbzMSKAta6bEo-qPclymHh9yFvrO2wudrnqMGAsc53EHPP1ArWIakfLMve5srgsCWX4QCl40kGgrZjYW/s320/DSCF7983.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU9_WJ89xbaJ3vgcJNjfqAxCCBq9yX5diORCcAAoW7tRX1KV3cVJpEpdHshuaKDG1AJOb12RoteXeSeowPEl7Vs5SE95bHg5aYgU4TeAjqpElVrzByaDK1nm-DWZoAq4ZCfVOE-4cfaqF/s2048/DSCF7984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU9_WJ89xbaJ3vgcJNjfqAxCCBq9yX5diORCcAAoW7tRX1KV3cVJpEpdHshuaKDG1AJOb12RoteXeSeowPEl7Vs5SE95bHg5aYgU4TeAjqpElVrzByaDK1nm-DWZoAq4ZCfVOE-4cfaqF/s320/DSCF7984.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNI-UpqvdV0y5bzOZ-w2ZDeRctU7AIyLGrI-X2lsa_GJJgusxCpKENCn2qlJ8MiDQyK9xQPHQdbtftWeTfeyuraGZYRP1E9z_Ond9HjpN6UBv0G1nJyRr-GtFSY7qowlR96VDGtd_-sI7/s2048/DSCF7982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNI-UpqvdV0y5bzOZ-w2ZDeRctU7AIyLGrI-X2lsa_GJJgusxCpKENCn2qlJ8MiDQyK9xQPHQdbtftWeTfeyuraGZYRP1E9z_Ond9HjpN6UBv0G1nJyRr-GtFSY7qowlR96VDGtd_-sI7/s320/DSCF7982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry_ZvDi1n5n7XclKfus6g1eHOsKp8lbmF7jlbKi9oXDdk7RcvogdhifwCwL6ZDvaF9NQmMSXt_Ey_seFioLUZaZUzJvV2-zzl4J2nQEqd7qyMBNVF-IO7uxHnIbOO5_ZZxt-KKld1HnT2/s2048/DSCF7981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry_ZvDi1n5n7XclKfus6g1eHOsKp8lbmF7jlbKi9oXDdk7RcvogdhifwCwL6ZDvaF9NQmMSXt_Ey_seFioLUZaZUzJvV2-zzl4J2nQEqd7qyMBNVF-IO7uxHnIbOO5_ZZxt-KKld1HnT2/s320/DSCF7981.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />And as well as all the work, we managed to find time for a bit of sociable fun. Here we are with friends, enjoying a musical evening and a game of croquet.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDARBueXVY_ZH32GCIkujaSfjiCdwpIv1ZiczEoFPANfJ3vFaDaS1Z-bp463z_49M0lF5bzifiiUeHqODV_kzCjsysacRTMOsm5_LavmQPX8Mpc0-ojWEaHp_nGUS7S7hrUoVgyX8ZWPuf/s2048/DSCF7980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDARBueXVY_ZH32GCIkujaSfjiCdwpIv1ZiczEoFPANfJ3vFaDaS1Z-bp463z_49M0lF5bzifiiUeHqODV_kzCjsysacRTMOsm5_LavmQPX8Mpc0-ojWEaHp_nGUS7S7hrUoVgyX8ZWPuf/s320/DSCF7980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOY0f8Id5rIHuysGiicj0Txx-iXoYU31h_vZzaBGJFFx7emqRlFsqOSUSTOebrLifwU-NYyyPjC2BKjww56trLTKlOQKvv8Q0XaODz4g-wF8t7ETOGVgRvYVHPxTULDfGCOrAdJQH8qcj/s2048/DSCF7962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOY0f8Id5rIHuysGiicj0Txx-iXoYU31h_vZzaBGJFFx7emqRlFsqOSUSTOebrLifwU-NYyyPjC2BKjww56trLTKlOQKvv8Q0XaODz4g-wF8t7ETOGVgRvYVHPxTULDfGCOrAdJQH8qcj/s320/DSCF7962.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /> <p></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-88475174634074078092020-09-23T09:38:00.001-07:002020-09-24T04:10:38.973-07:00Two against the jungle - part 1<p> We left our French house at the end of February, after a couple of weeks cutting down trees. I am a big fan of trees in general and we have planted quite a number over the years, but these were almost-defunct cider apple trees which dropped their fruit every autumn creating a slippery mass of rotting apples, dangerous and unsightly. There was a time when our neighbours would pick the fruit and make it into cider, but the only licence to do this was held by our neighbour's mother who died recently, and our neighbours are no longer able to pick the fruit. So we decided to cut the trees down for firewood. Two of them we logged and stacked, leaving just the twigs on the ground. The third we cut and left on the back garden in its entirety, having run out of time. 'We'll be back in a month,' we said. 'The grass won't have grown much.'</p><p>How wrong we were.</p><p>For this was 2020, the year of rapidly-escalating infections and restrictions on movement. In normal times we wouldn't ever have left our French garden at the time of maximum growth, but these weren't normal times, and we didn't get back until July.</p><p>The grass was thigh-high, dry and brown. My little shrubs were invisible, the bigger ones just battling to get their heads above the rampant growth. It was a daunting sight. Here's the whole cut tree as it lay </p><p><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnwaivhMMSgd5jMNrdrC-UG-bp5TF56Vt6abR9dwwfadav85khHI_7ChMTXgxgWRquMYHWIP4xl45Ti9PKsmU93HbMqtv_0iTdk0lDTziWxjhdk9Zqi3PDF2HbgbN8aFWJcQiUMKZMyvZ/w354-h242/DSCF7819.JPG" width="354" /></p><p> awaiting our efforts, and the view up the garden before we began: </p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZjrfRhEvaYnMhO4f83O5Ie6S8WosXNSDSHx60xda_O4vhXXusvKUob3TlzAk163EtkBQ7GmoSXpXqsIb89u3IAJfod3SKYEbPPXw2RsfSjDTzFO7EvesSDezT1-WK3S775wdZE2aL1RC/s2048/DSCF7811.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZjrfRhEvaYnMhO4f83O5Ie6S8WosXNSDSHx60xda_O4vhXXusvKUob3TlzAk163EtkBQ7GmoSXpXqsIb89u3IAJfod3SKYEbPPXw2RsfSjDTzFO7EvesSDezT1-WK3S775wdZE2aL1RC/w373-h283/DSCF7811.JPG" width="373" /></a>July saw some of the hottest temperatures across Europe, and we spent a lot of that trip pulling dead twigs and branches out of long, tangling grass, cutting them up, taking some to the local dump and burning others before logging the big branches and the trunk. We did the whole tree and the twigs from one of the others. It was hard, rough work, and when we had done all we could I said, 'If I never see another twig, it will be too soon.' </p><p>Of course that wasn't all that was horribly overgrown. We turned a blind eye to the towering hedges, but I couldn't let my old enemies the brambles get away with their takeover bid. This is what they looked like sprouting unchecked out of a small hedge adjacent to the covered laundry area:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2oW9FMFjVpZlEEklkCDDns8yR11O-qsbgll1ku414v3A3Po-45jv0O1eR0OPzecV9ykd4gJh5slmo0L3VI0Oy1Z0HEvAJ7wgwWKo5PG0PvMAZ2QGAZS16Q0N2NUWSasmkLNCf1Xu1ECb/s2048/DSCF7824.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2oW9FMFjVpZlEEklkCDDns8yR11O-qsbgll1ku414v3A3Po-45jv0O1eR0OPzecV9ykd4gJh5slmo0L3VI0Oy1Z0HEvAJ7wgwWKo5PG0PvMAZ2QGAZS16Q0N2NUWSasmkLNCf1Xu1ECb/w320-h235/DSCF7824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The lower drive looked like this:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-ApZfcy53RLw9HikHQdGMfVYZ7KEnPX6YuJqUc-HXlluF6pG7-0phef3x3RG_91kqBYBsK2_rkDpdCYWrSndFeksMkvKVxgiuWZVzqylzLPLiwrgXqc_VbTD2pTYjPGICKryqQH8AvJF/s2048/DSCF7836.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-ApZfcy53RLw9HikHQdGMfVYZ7KEnPX6YuJqUc-HXlluF6pG7-0phef3x3RG_91kqBYBsK2_rkDpdCYWrSndFeksMkvKVxgiuWZVzqylzLPLiwrgXqc_VbTD2pTYjPGICKryqQH8AvJF/s320/DSCF7836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The vegetable patch was a tangle of gone-to-seed leeks and purple sprouting:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2ScTwOZ27rLTDecXQd2Fed2BPHfrPQMIKBqqrqF34q78kVdZ9IIymZuZJmDkAuSQ73K89ejC66JCNr8rvTLaVBKQXi-kNdUPKvP4QJgUITrXPzR_LTbnbo-QjgydjrPtHyFAq5_3j_I2/s2048/DSCF7829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2ScTwOZ27rLTDecXQd2Fed2BPHfrPQMIKBqqrqF34q78kVdZ9IIymZuZJmDkAuSQ73K89ejC66JCNr8rvTLaVBKQXi-kNdUPKvP4QJgUITrXPzR_LTbnbo-QjgydjrPtHyFAq5_3j_I2/s320/DSCF7829.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The gravelled drive was overrun with weeds, which over several days I pulled up by hand:<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcR_68vKuZQzoDGQyeU42MYG6qpNr7-9LRhrLvj35Ab5r1QMAsi0T0Sw2VYgS57Wj5ZuG_Yrz1gx1O_cceKYFSIpFKhqNOai-9qLHvXDRHB8_VmKKBla0eHZbKszvwvh40jjM_IcQT9Jyl/s2048/DSCF7840.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcR_68vKuZQzoDGQyeU42MYG6qpNr7-9LRhrLvj35Ab5r1QMAsi0T0Sw2VYgS57Wj5ZuG_Yrz1gx1O_cceKYFSIpFKhqNOai-9qLHvXDRHB8_VmKKBla0eHZbKszvwvh40jjM_IcQT9Jyl/s320/DSCF7840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And even when strimmed, using the big wheeled strimmer because the grass was too long for the ride-on mower, it still looked rough:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWY9-dc9ZjxBuMqKFd5nciU40PgLmV0VhBbAXgD9S71v9QUUvKuZjPbxrqZJlbDZ9SAPLdypcEUIkksSRgSD9KsAZMGORP9foAiOjNr9RX7W05QqbswtzRTpKhlxd4SoEkvfNb1SGv1If/s2048/DSCF7853.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWY9-dc9ZjxBuMqKFd5nciU40PgLmV0VhBbAXgD9S71v9QUUvKuZjPbxrqZJlbDZ9SAPLdypcEUIkksSRgSD9KsAZMGORP9foAiOjNr9RX7W05QqbswtzRTpKhlxd4SoEkvfNb1SGv1If/s320/DSCF7853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>But then our time ran out, and we had to come home.<p></p>Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1742114373379409519.post-14628824338837880332020-06-30T03:25:00.000-07:002020-06-30T03:25:12.362-07:00Website refurb!In the interests of not letting The Healing Knife disappear into Lockdown Limbo, my trusty web wizard has updated my website. Why not take a look? <br />
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www.slrussell.net<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYFMfc1PnrJEZG4LvIF1awjufyXVq3_ZiK2sWdkNsZ0RwWNDPqApCt1gEgWx0pxGwXcO4gATaS49ppQYOvZ_zHFEW5MY_cT24vBbMmwmlB19oTz97wBD5iMZnyaAs99gXvhUVscnqDrDK/s1600/COV_HealingKnife_FRONT_NEW+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1050" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYFMfc1PnrJEZG4LvIF1awjufyXVq3_ZiK2sWdkNsZ0RwWNDPqApCt1gEgWx0pxGwXcO4gATaS49ppQYOvZ_zHFEW5MY_cT24vBbMmwmlB19oTz97wBD5iMZnyaAs99gXvhUVscnqDrDK/s320/COV_HealingKnife_FRONT_NEW+%25282%2529.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
Aggie Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423816343811534473noreply@blogger.com1