Exemplary cats

Time for the cats annual visit to the vets for vaccinations. Cue a lot of chasing and stress - both for the cats and Jane - getting them into the travel boxes. Wellington managed to escape twice, but third time lucky got him in with much complaining. Ended up having to make three seperate trips to the vet, who did declare they were 'exemplary cats'! His English interpretation may not be exact but he meant they were in good health and good psyche - so they should be, given the charmed life they lead.

 

Summer visitors

Unsurprisingly, living in the south of France we are now a magnet for visitors. It's already been a busy summer with friends and family coming to stay, almost constantly, since May from NZ, Australia, UK and USA. Plus, we've had people staying in the gite from the UK and Sweden. It's been wonderful having the garden finished so that people can relax by the pool, eat outdoors and generally indulge in an al fresco lifestyle made possible by a really good climate!

We're pleased and amazed that in a year we've gone from this:

 to this:

Another brick in the wall

One more garden wall completed with stones recycled from the original garden. Just one more long wall to go and we're done. Have got the consistency needed for the concrete down to a fine art now as well as matching the right sized stones.

Tour de France

Today's TdF route comes near us, finishing in Cap d'Agde. Had thought about catching a train to Sete to watch the race coming through, but it's too hot for crowds so am settling for the cooler, indoors, TV option.  As it's also Bastille Day it will be more crowded than usual. 

We recently went to nearby Agde, a lovely unspoilt town which, 2500 years ago, was a thriving port. Over time the silting up of the Herault river pushed the coastline from its walls and it's now surrounded by canals. Its fishing heritage is much in evidence in the medieval streets and squares. A much nicer place than its 'evil twin', Cap d'Agde, which is a sprawling and characterless modern resort.

Merv is currently in the Alps, providing support for a cycle trip going over some of the cols of this year's Stage 11, including Col de la Madeleine and Col de la Croix de Fer - although the group won't be doing them all in one day like the TdF riders!
 

Miss Havisham's cat

 

Nothing gets in the way of Wellington and his food ...

Bits and pieces

The stairway railings to the gite entrance have now been painted. 

We've made a garden bed below the trellis to grow some climbers, recycling bricks previously used in the garden. We have a lovely bright red bougainvillea, bought by Jane's mum, to put in here.

And the magnolia lives! After our severe pruning earlier in the year we have magnificent new growth and lots of fragrant flowers. Phew.

First crops

Although it's late in the season to plant vegetables, we have put a few staples in. Very pleased with the progress of the beans which were grown from seed only a few weeks ago. The pear tree has a good amount of fruit this year - having found a way to deal with the ant & aphid problem which affected it last year.