Sunday 19 August 2012

Lazy wasps and the fish boys



Settling back into life in Caunes Minervois after a 2 week trip to England hasn’t been hard. Not much changed while we were away. The boulangerie has taken on a new assistant, the pool seems to have sprung a bit of a leak,  the hazelnuts have ripened and popped out of their frilly pods and have fallen onto the floor, we are over run with tomatoes and courgettes from my hastily erected  trial veg patch and we found a little wasps nest in one of the aloe vera that proved fascinating to 4 year old Dexter.


We have lots of visitors, some who are making their second visit of the year….which is great as they clearly love the place just like we do.
On a really hot day, we left the pool and ventured to a lake in the Black Mountains, near Mazamet, where it was a few degrees cooler and surprisingly uncrowded.


After the excitement of le Tour and then the Olympics in London, all has settled into a simple quiet routine again. It is perhaps the lull before the storm as our next trip back to England will involve our eldest daughter’s (technically…. Mark’s daughter ) wedding. So, we are making the most of the lazing around in the heat time, and enjoying watching the grandchildren turn into fish as they gain confidence in the pool.



24 comments:

  1. Idyllic relaxing summer moments - love the photo of the wasps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm particularly pleased with the wasp photo...I am trying out a new camera, and so far it is coping well with the paces I am putting it through.

      Delete
  2. What joy you must feel with these two darling boys. All I can do is smile at their laughing faces as they play in the water, with all the delight and energy little boys exude. I know you will enjoy this time before the excitement of the wedding is at hand. What a spectacular summer you have had, and continue to have, Janice. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are adorable boys Penny, and this being their second visit of the year, has been great as they feel they know the house and garden well. The little one is only 19 months old, but he believes he is at least 3, and is as adventurous as his big brother. J.

      Delete
  3. Well it seems like your trip away didn't have too bad an effect on the garden Janice.

    Your photos are just superb..you are a very good photographer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amazingly enough, the garden survived my absence well. I did have a couple of people on watering duty, and there was a good storm and downpour that helped. Thanks for the comment about the photos... I'm experimenting with a new camera, and really enjoying myself. J.

      Delete
  4. Enjoy your time before the wonderful 'stress' of the wedding!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes, I am hoping to be completely chilled out before returning to England for the wedding madness. I hope you are having an equally great time. J.

      Delete
  5. Super photographs...such happy boys!
    The wasp photograph was fascinating....you seem to have mastered the new camera.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the wasps too, and the camera seems to be coping with all the tasks I have set it so far. Capturing the boys' enjoyment is my main aim. J.

      Delete
    2. sorry about being logged in as our son Matt..... the above comment is really from me... Janice.

      Delete
  6. Love the last two pics of the boys throwing themselves the slides with such joy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They tend to throw themselves into most things ! J.

      Delete
    2. sorry about being logged in as our son Matt, the above comment is really from me...Janice.

      Delete
  7. The colours in your photos are fantastic - the wasps too. Our miserable UK weather has meant that we've seen very few so far - it may be un-ecological of me but I'm glad!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes..the wasps I can do without, although we all quite like the nest. The French heat wave is really building up at the moment, so I guess there will be more of them. I dont wish wasps on you...but I hope the English summer improves. J.

      Delete
    2. sorry I've been logged in as our son Matt....the above comment is really from me. Janice.

      Delete
  8. Janice - what has happened, you appear to have turned into Matthew Pattison!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know....my dear son ( step son ) logged into my account, forgot to log out and I didn't notice...... he has just started writing a blog about his attempt to take up running and has been learning how to use blogger. Having me to teach him is probably not the most effective way of learning. Anyway, he is a delightful boy ( 32 years old, but you know what I mean) so i could think of worse things to turn into ! J.

      Delete
  9. Ah, the secret of your alter ego is revesled, Janice. :-) Super photos and oh, how I envy you your pool! It was hot (for Normandy) while Grandson#3 was with us and a pool would have been bliss. In the weather you're having it must be a life-saver for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The pool has been perfect during the heat Perpetua. Last night the children all dived in at about 10pm, just to cool off before bed time. As for son Matt, his running in the heat has certainly required cooling off time in the pool ( after a serious shower ! ). Hope the heat isn't too bad for you. J.

      Delete
  10. Great title, great photos, great fun!! I too envy you your pool and saw the fantastic 360 photo that Jess has done. Wonderful guests making the very most of all that's on offer. And tomatoes and courgettes too - not a bad year, Janice...not a bad year. Axxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So good to hear from you Annie, I have missed you lots ! It has been a pretty good year I must admit, and I haven't even posted about my aubergines yet. One thing I do know is that being here in Caunes for half of each year is absolutely the right thing to be doing at this stage of our lives. Take care, and enjoy being home again at last. Jxxx

      Delete
  11. Looks like you all had a fun and relaxing time, you have a very nice family.....great shot of the wasps. We have our share of them here this summer.

    ReplyDelete