Bees Too

These furry bumblebees seem to have taken up residence in the living room shutters. Being of hollow construction I guess they where just the right size for the bees to fit in.

We have the windows open and the bees come and go. They come into the room only occassionally and don’t bother us much. Will have to keep an eye on the size of the colony though, as the summer goes on.

Red-tailed Bumblebee on approach.
Red-tailed Bumblebee on approach.

Wasp!

Having not used the car since Saturday I opened the boot yesterday to find a wasp had started to build it’s home inside the hinge at the top of the door. I’m glad I caught it before its family had really taken off.

Objat Market

Objat is a pleasant little town in the Corrèze that is renowned for it’s Sunday market. There’s plenty of parking space and the market wends it’s way through the town streets to the market hall. Here they have vegetables, flowers, bedding plants and some poultry, guinea pigs, cage birds and rabbits. Outside there’s the usual shoes and clothes for sale along with plenty of cheese and meat stalls, fresh cooked chickens and huge pans of paella and potatoes fried in duck fat with lardons and onions. There are plenty of shops and cafe bars open too. Here’s a few snaps from this morning’s visit, I’m sure we’ll be going back again soon.

Delicious Coffee
Delicious Coffee
Objat town centre
Objat town centre
Objat market
Objat market
Objat market
Objat market

Spring At Last

After, what people have told us, was the worst winter in 20 years, and spring is here at last. Yesterday was fabulous, and the first day with the temperature topping 20C.

The countryside is beginning to wake up too. Buds are bursting on all the trees, kites are becoming a familiar sight in the skies and the first cuckoo’s were heard over the Easter weekend.

Each week I visit Excidueil for my French lesson. This small town has plenty of interesting architecture and links to the templars. Here’s a few pictures from the town.

Part of the Templars' stronghold

Templars' stronghold

Excidueil chateaux

Street scene

Excidueil chateaux

Three Month Anniversary

We’ve been in the Dordogne now for just over three months. It’s been fairly hectic settling in, but we’re getting there. Here’s some of the things we’ve accomplished / done in that time:

  • Installed a wood-burning stove
  • Had the roof insulated
  • Had the ridge tiles replaced
  • Installed electric radiators in the kitchen and bathroom
  • Had a lovely Christmas dinner at L’Auberge des Tilleuls
  • Attended the annual Repas de Chasse
  • Started taking French lessons
  • Been abandoned by our French tutor
  • Found more French lessons

These are just a few of the things I’ve not found time to write about. I intend to remedy the lack of writing.