I capture the castle ;)

I’m going to be switching between current pics and catch ups from now on - I’m sure you don’t mind. So, let’s continue with pics from last year’s France trip in the summer. After our visit to the Marqueyssac gardens, we drove the 10 mins down the road to Chateau de Castlenaud, which was perfect, as the gardens were definitely more of a thing for the mamas. At the chateau there were trebuchets, armour and weapons to have a look at, and facts to learn about the castle itself and what life was like back then. I wonder if they ever stood waving at their own shadows too?

A trebuchet and the top of the castle. And a very blue French sky.

I spotted these birds perched on a ledge, and I was myself kind of hanging out of one as I took this, thinking that it would be so stupid to fall to my death taking this. I was hoping I might catch one of them in mid-flight, but no luck.

Window filter.

Taking it all in.

And finally, a beautiful evening sky on the drive home. The boys sat in the back listening to an audio book while we all gazed at the changing colours and the night creeping in. Seems so long ago now.

Meanwhile, spring is happening

Went for a walk like so many others on Saturday. We’re not in full lockdown yet, so it feels like we have to strike while the iron is hot, and get out as much as we can - while we can. Spring has sprung, and whilst we withdraw, nature is opening up. This pretty tree stands outside a house on our street, and I’ve never noticed it before. Beautiful, isn’t it?

We’re extremely lucky to live near some woods, which gets incredibly muddy in places in winter. It looks like it’s slowly drying up though.

Oomoo and R, messing about. We walked with friends, as it feels like the only way to hang out right now, but I think this weekend might have been the last time we see anyone for a while.

I feel so humbled by nature carrying on as if nothing’s happening. We must respect the planet more than we do. Shame on us.

We now know that we’re supposed to be walking 2 metres apart - we didn't on Saturday.

There are a few makeshift swings hanging off trees in the woods, and this guy was showing us his technique for doing it if you were larger than child-sized. We all felt too old (wise) to try it.

Some of the cherry trees have started donning their party outfits. I hope we get to stay out for a bit longer so we can watch them like wallflowers at a dance.

Spring goes on.

Buddy picture of the week VI

Hey peeps, hope you’re all doing well considering. It’s been quite a week (or few weeks/months depending on where you are), and as of this weekend the schools have finally closed here in the UK. So far the social distancing requirements have been a bit vague, but then I wouldn't expect anything else from our government in charge at these difficult times. I mean, we have BORIS JOHNSON as our prime minister during our biggest crisis in 80 years for G’s sake! Insert forehead slap emoji here. You have to laugh. Which is what I do every time I find Buddy in our bathroom sink; you’ll only see him there as you go for your morning toilet, as he’ll sometimes jump up and bed down there during the night. He’s a big dude, so it’s quite a squeeze and I admire his perseverance. And no, he doesn’t go there to drink from the tap, I think he just like the tight cool space… Hope you have a good weekend, finding joy in the little things, if you can. xx

Dans les jardins

Apart from hanging out in the house we also went on excursions a bit further afield, and one of them was to the Marqueyssac gardens, which as you can see in this pic was a-mazing. I’ve never seen hedges like it!

The house in the grounds used to be someone’s fancy abode in the late 18th century.

Which we got to see a bit of on our way to the loo. Like you do.

A place ain’t fancy unless it has peacocks strutting around the grounds. Gosh, we humans are so boring looking compared to these guys. I mean, you couldn’t make it up. Those long back feathers, with their green and blue eyes on them, that then opens up into that display, and those little head feathers looking just so.

We went along a path in the boiling heat that took you through the gardens, and there was lots to look at along the way.

Like the Dordogne, flowing past way down below.

And here we all are, taking in the views.

I totally recognised this man’s hunched up camera posture, as I do it too when I take pictures. I would so love it if there’s a picture of me, hunched up exactly the same way, with my straw hat on, taking this picture, like one of those infinite mirrors :)