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Month: September 2016

Sand and surf

Sand and surf

Sunday morning and we set off for a spin in the car. I doze off and wake up in – Biarritz. Wow. Back at my beloved Atlantic again. With sunshine. What a treat! It feels like my birthday. In actual fact, it is His Lordship’s birthday and this is his treat, but I’m certainly not complaining! Typically, the Oldies had set off on spec. Nothing specific planned, no accommodation booked, the usual. This time, however, they hit the jackpot. They…

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More building sights

More building sights

Disaster has struck the building site. Every builder’s nightmare: the kettle died! The Oldies are devastated. Shocked too. I mean, the kettle was only about 15 years old and it had served them well on numerous building sites over the years. Of course, it was a bit on the dusty side, but sure that goes with the territory. And it leaked, but only a little because Her Ladyship had superglued up most of the holes. The contact point was also rather…

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A day at the races

A day at the races

It’s Monday morning and we are back on the building site. I hear the gentle hum of power tools and smell the pleasant aroma of radiator paint and skirting board glue. Quite a change from yesterday, when the deafening roar of racing cars and the overpowering smell of elderly engines assaulted the senses. But what an exciting day it was. It got my adrenaline pumping, I can tell you! Sunday was race day at the annual ‘Circuit des Ramparts’ in…

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Building sights

Building sights

I’ve the first few days on the building site already under my belt and I have to admit that it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. First of all, the Oldies thankfully don’t expect me to get my wings dirty. I am only here to keep them company, it seems. Fine by me! Secondly, the house itself is quite fascinating. It is about 150 to 200 years old, has three storeys over a cellar and is situated…

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From Lake Constance to the Charente

From Lake Constance to the Charente

The Oldies had previously driven along Lake Constance on the German side so this time they thought they’d give the Swiss side a go. Good choice. It is possible to drive directly alongside the lake for longer stretches in Switzerland than in Germany. The towns along the way are, appropriately enough, true chocolate box kitsch, though not the ‘Heidi’ mountains and chalets variety. They are oozing with beautiful timber framed houses, so it is more the German cliché than the…

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