And we’re only half way through the month.
Traditonally Les Vacances the long Summer holiday in France, we’ve been experiencing long hot, dry days with drought and water restrictions virtually country wide. Here in the Charente weeks of plus 30 degrees and no rain, bushfires in many areas bring back memories of Australia.
However the country comes alive with music festivals, markets, exhibitions and just too many attractions to choose from! So here is just a taste of what we have been up too and needless to say horses feature yet again 😂
We started off with a small Reno on the coffee/cocktail cabin. Having pulled up the rotten wooden decking there was much discussion about concrete, tile or gravel? The quickest and cheapest option won through and so it was on one warm sunny day a ton and a half of “gravel “ was delivered – like this.
Which then had to be spread – like this!
Have to admit that Chris did most of it and the result is just what we wanted. So worth the effort. Overseeing the project was regular visitor Sybille who lives across the lane but seems to prefer being on our side.
After that it was time to have some fun so off to a local village for a combination of Abba and harness racing?! The evening started with Abba Forever (an actual Swedish band) who gave us all the good old hits for well over an hour, in true outdoor French style it was byo seating or just stand and dance along. Hope the video uploads as they were really very good.
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Then it was just a stroll across to the track with bottle of rose in hand to enjoy the evening race card. It seems that their are ridden trotting races here too but that we didn’t see.
Such a strange sight to our eyes, but why not??
The atmosphere was wonderful as families enjoyed sitting out on a warm summer evening, the kids had clowns, balloons and various sideshows whilst the adults could enjoy a glass of wine and barquette of frites or sit down to a 4 course meal. We called it a night about 11pm and as we wandered back to the car down the floodlit tree lined path, past tables of families enjoying their evening, our group discussed the likelihood of drunks and endless litter at similar events in UK or Oz?
An exhibition of works by artist Amanda Rackowe saw us make a trip across to Boyardville on the Île d’Oleron. A great little gallery and an opportunity to enjoy lunch with Amanda and Christian as well as experiencing yet another part of France. Famous for it’s oysters the area has picturesque little fishing huts and beachside eating spots.
Oysters it had to be, so a short drive from the gallery found us tucking in outside a great little rustic shack restaurant overlooking the oyster beds. Although we did draw the line at an oyster dessert!
They don’t come fresher than this
And only into the second week of August it was time to load up “Tonto” and head North. Firstly to St Malo to drop off big bro’ to catch his ferry to Jersey and then scoot a little further west for a camping spot on Cap Frehel. Very similar to coastal areas of Jersey which is hardly surprising considering the Channel Islands are within spitting distance.
The next day saw us travelling NE to call in on John and Steev. So good to see the guys again and to see the amazing progress they’ve made on their little piece of paradise. Still a way to go but having seen their project at the start it’s brilliant to see what can be achieved- you should be on a certain tv series!!
The next morning after watching John work his youngster on the arena we continued on with our “horse fix” travelling SE to Haras du Pin for the 3DE. The attraction this year was not just the competition ( which was jam packed with elite names for the Nations Cup team competition) but also the opportunity to include an art experience.
A call was put out to artists and sculptors by Le Grand Complet organising committee to display and produce some of their work over the weekend. An opportunity not to be missed, who wouldn’t want to paint in the surroundings of a French chateau during a horse event- the best of both worlds😂
So the easel was set up in the shade on a 35 degree day alongside one of the 3 water complexes, as yours truly savoured the plein air moment and applied (very quick drying paint) to canvas!
Needless to say painting fast moving eventers requires working from reference shots, so I had already put a ground on the canvases and added a dressage test and cross-country map beneath the drawn up subjects. I choose to work in a quick, loose style in the hope of creating energy and movement but this was quicker than usual as the paint dried between palette and canvas 😂 Results below
The various works were then put up for sale with proceeds going to a French charity Le Resto. If I fully understand the text received this morning I think mine sold !?? Whatever, it was a wonderful experience and hopefully to be repeated next year.
Now onto what the weekend was really all about.
4* winner Michael Jung on Fischerchipmunk
Hazel Clifford and Willinga Park Clifford
And so yesterday after a hot but fabulous weekend we headed home, but not before a couple of final shots of Le Haras du Pin, the venue for next year’s European Championships. Book your ticket 😉
Excellent write up Sue, hadn’t realised you’d squeezed so much into the first half of the month….. and that’s without even mentioning the event at Tusson.
Oops, overlooked that one Dave!
Aaw, miss you both too 💕It really is only our friends that we miss after the move.
Wonderful Sue! Great paintings too. So envious of you being able to watch on course. oo
It was a bit special Jill, hope you’re keeping well x
Hi Sue. So sorry I missed you at le Pin. Saturday afternoon was just so hot. I went up and down several times and when I got your message I just didn’t have the courage to go back to the third water where I was earlier !!! Also I had to go back home as I had the house full (my nephew with his horse riders friends). Sunday we left quickly when it started to rain !! When are you coming back to Normandy ???
I know what you mean about up and down in the heat Veronique!! We just kept retreating further under the trees to find shade. Sounds like you had a fun weekend with with your nephew and all his friends.
No plans for a return trip to Normandy as yet, but will definitely send you a message when we do come that way. Take care.
Hi Sue and Chris. What a fabulous blog! You guys have certainly made France your home! Art…wine..sunny days..horses. . Couldnt ask for more. You arent missing anything over here in Aus, but we are missing you 🏇💗 Eils & Stan
Hello Sue. I posted a blog yesterday but I don’t think it got through for some reason. A lovely story this time and brings back so many happy memories of when we were in Normandy with you. What a great time it was. So you really seem to be enjoying the good life – and those oysters. I can only imagine how Chris would love those! We are both well here in the middle of calving down 40 shorthorn cows that we have brought plus looking at stallions for our mare to go to this year! Take good care.
That’ll keep you busy Liz. This is Jim’s retirement hobby is it??😂
You have become seriously good Sue, Not that you weren’t before. Such lovely memories have resurfaced.
What a wonderful rime you are having. Love to you both xx