It happened one Thursday in February .... and
Roger's Creative Urge ......
Now there are two - blogs that is!! "It Happened One Thursday in February" chronicling our move, having fallen out with bureaucracy in our respective jobs, from busy somewhat stressful lives in the UK to sleepy rural France and an almost equally busy, but not stressful life - gardening, house renovating, entertaining visitors and putting down roots!, had almost run it's course. "It happened ......" continues but almost in a diary format, with observations and updates on life in the Vendee. But, as it was starting to contain more and more creative and fanciful pieces, to the extent that my wife (her indoors!) and my greatest critic, was endearingly heard to mutter "The longer we're married the less I understand you and the madder you become!" Taking this as the wonderful compliment that I'm sure it was meant to be, was the catylist for the launch of my second blog, "Roger's Creative Urge!", which will contain exactly what it "says on the tin" some of my creative urges - words, pictures and sometimes a combination of the two!
This is the picture for the other blog! Click on the picture to visit my other blog.
Me and her!!
Roger and Linda in the sunshine outside their Vendean abode!
Visitors Book 2014
Another year another batch of visitors, and as last year the latest visitors will be at the top.
Caroline and Stuart, July 2014
Maggie and Bryan, July 2014
Mum / Barbara July 2014
Eyes down for the St Laurent de la Salle summer picnic at Le Stade
All together! June 2014
Janet, Angy, Bruce, Claire and Jeremy, June 2014
(Linda), Heulwen, Dave, Dorothy and Dave, June 2014
Chris, Chris and Sara, May 2014
Mum / Barbara, April 2014
Awaiting photo
(Linda, Fergus) & Victoria, April 2014
Sue and Bob, Feb 2014
Awaiting photo
Visitors Book 2013
Another year, another list! A change this year ~ latest visitors first!
Steve and Anne, not forgetting Fergus
Oct 2013 All's well that ends well. It seems also that all was forgiven with the holes in the woolly leggings and Fergus didn't end up as a hot dog in the bread oven behind!!
Viv
Oct 2013 En route back to the UK after the summer in the south of France. Here visiting the Vice-consulat du Royaune du Patagonie-Arancanie, in nearby Vouvant, and maybe thinking about her next adventure. Look up the kingdom on Goggle, it's fascinating!!
Ray and Yvonne
Oct 2013 En route back from their annual three week "cure" at a health spar, so a picture of health. It's good when visitors bring their own lunch - fresh oysters from Rochefort, and also wonderful fresh fish (peche de la nuit - last night's catch) for dinner!
Fergus
Oct 2013 Arrived to stay - for good!
Sue and Bob
Sept 2013 Back for more house viewing and nearly purchasing!
Paul and Joan
August 2013 Paul was due to retire at Christmas but has successfully applied for a post of Head of an international primary school in Malawi. As this will be the last time we see them before they head off for darkest Africa, it seemed only right to dine in the dark!! Actually, drinks at a friend's house had gone on rather longer than expected!
Sue, Bob (cousins) and 'er indoors!
August 2013 Taking a break from househunting, Sue and Bob not us. At the seaside - Jaud sur Mer - in the sunshine!
Mum, Barbara
July 2013 A difficult one this, a lonely figure visiting the beautiful and peaceful Jardin du Batiment in nearby Thire.
David and Dorothy, Heulwen and Dave
June 2013 Sadly a curtailed visit, as events at home took a tragic turn, but this picture was taken after Heulwen had officially opened our new traditional English five bar gates.
Richard and Jill (cousins)
June 2013 A surprise visit as they headed north from a wedding they had attended in the top of the Dordogne. With some of our neighbours and our hamlet behind.
Victoria
April 2013 Well wrapped up for Easter"ish" on the prom in Biarritz, before we headed back up to The Vendee.
Max the Dog!
Didn't want to be left out!
Visitors Book 2012
As the visitors start to arrive this year, thankfully all the rooms are now habitable, just a little finishing off and tarting up! The last three years have all seen 27 visitors, a coincidence because they're not always the same people! Will you get in the "book" this year?
Dermot, Victoria and Tyler
March - April 2012 On the quest for Melusine, a local princess turned mermaid, at Vouvent, but don't tell Tyler about the princess!!
Dad and Mum, Ricky and Barbara
April / May 2012 Deep in conversation avec les voisin (the neighbours!)
Dave, Heulwen, Dorothy and David
May 2012 The newly renovated, balcony not the visitors!, at Le Hotel de Ville, La Rochelle.
The Six Hairless Bikers
June 2012 These intrepid bikers travelled from York to the Pyrenees and back, a distance in excess of 2000 miles (3200 kms) in a week. They stayed with us for one night on the way home. Here they are about to set off on the last leg of the French part, with Linda posing as a "pit lane Dolly!!"
Paul and Joan
July 2012 Paul thought he had found a quiet place to read, but Joan still found him!! Subtitled: Twit on a toit (fr: roof)!!
Olly, Catherine and Scott
July 2012 To make them feel at home, well the camper van is quite small, we gave them the smallest room in the house - unfortunately the roof wasn't finished!!
Chris, Sara and Chris
July / August 2012 Jeff, our friend down the road, was telling one of his engrossing stories!!
Bob and Sue
August 2012 They didn't quite buy a house in France, but this boat rather took their fancy!!
Isobel and Tony
August 2012 Surprise visitors, popped in for a cup of tea on their way to the Alps, via La Rochelle, as one does!!!
Lyndsey and Jim
September 2012 September sunshine in the magical and musical Jardin du Bâtiment, in nearby Thiré.
Ray and Yvonne
September 2012 With the boats of Rochefort behind them. After they visited us they went to Rochefort to "take the waters" or as they call it their annual "cure."
"Visitor Book" 2011
Just so visitors don't think they will be coerced into digging the new garden or painting the new house, this year's "Visitor Book" will feature pictures of our guests at local tourist sites!!
Steve and Ann
March 2011, enjoying some early Spring sunshine at La Rochelle
Jim and Lyndsey
April 2011, enjoying hot sunshine at the newly restored group of windmills at Mouilleron-en-Pareds
Dad and Mum, Ricky and Barbara
April / May 2011 Picnicing in the sunshine above Mouilleron-en-Pareds
Dave and Heulwen, David and Dorothy
May 2011 More picnicing, this time near Vouvant. Note the Russian champagne - hardly coals to Newcastle!
Victoria, Sara, Chris and Chris
May / June 2011 About to enter the NOZ experience, as those of you who have visited recently will know - a must go outing!!! Those not in the know you'll have to come and find out!
Paul and Simon
July 2011 Visiting the wolf pit, they arrived quite late so it was starting to get dark and over the next couple of days they would be busy following "Le Tour!"
Joan and Paul
July 2011 A romantic interlude in Fontenay-le-Comte
Victoria, Tyler and Dermot
August 2011 On the way into town at La Rochelle, after visiting a beach just as crowded as the one seen here.
Anne and Steve
September 2011 No they weren't arrested, they are high up above Paris on the Eiffel Tower!
Mum and Dad, Barbara and Ricky
October 2011 Outside the new abode checking up on DIY progress
Maggie and Bryan
October 2011 OK the bubble had to burst sometime and very useful they were too!! Note Linda sitting and watching!! Maggie and Bryan weren't the first to "up" tools, Anne and Steve beat them to that but the Eiffel Tower, Paris picture seemed more appropriate!!
"Visitor Book" 2010
Another year another lot of visitors!
Anne and Steve
February 2010
Caroline and Stuart
March 2010
Mum and Dad, Barbara and Ricky
Visit 1, April - May 2010
Heulwen and Dave, Dorothy and David
Too hot to walk down the road - well actually we were so busy we forgot! ~ May 2010
Chris, Chris and Sara
May - June 2010
Dad and Mum, Barbara and Ricky (2nd visit!) with John
June 2010
Hannah, Mary, Kirsten and George
July 2010
Lyndsey and Jim
August 2010
Sue and Bob
August 2010
Daniel and Lisa
December 2010
"Visitor Book" 2009
A picture record of our visitors, mostly walking down "Our street!"
Our first visitors ~ Victoria and Dermot
They arrived as the boxes were still being unpacked! Picture taken on Victoria's Birthday trip to La Tranche, in the April sunshine.
Mum and Dad, Barbara and Ricky
April 2009
David and Dorothy
May 2009
Dave and Heulwen
May 2009
Sara, Chris and Chris
May 2009
John, Mum and Dad (Barbara and Ricky)
June 2009
Anne and Steve
June 2009
Jim and Lyndsey
August 2009 ~ The nights are closing in!!
Family Weekend
August 2009." Chris and Chris, Victoria and Sara, Mum and Dad, Sue and Bob
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