Hard At It (ish)

Play Barn Floor

Last week's heavy rain has meant a slow down in some of the work, Although we did manage one nice afternoon on the beach. And whilst we enjoyed the sunshine by the sea those that stayed in Lenault enjoyed a full afternoon of rain.

This week the weather has improved and as Ady (Helpex) has continued his good works in the Old Bakery I have been doing various jobs around the place plus made a vast improvement to the play barn area.  I have now constructed a wooden floor and as it previously only had a mud floor with a farmers method of a damp proof course - old plastic fertiliser bags - it is now a much more pleasant place to play and/or sitting. Unfortunately this now makes the walls look even worst and those rotting timbers are next on my list.

Old Bakery

Ady has done great works in the Old Bakery and it is fitted out with a sink and work preparation area plus it now incorporates some wall units.  This will be used as the animal feed store, butchery and food prep. area. We - well Ady - have also moved the stairs.  I had put them centrally with the idea of shelving under them, but now we - well Ady - has put all the other equipment in place it made more sense to move the stairs to the back wall.

Prep Area

So upstairs will be for storage and we - well mainly Ady (but I did help a little) - have knocked a passage way through the wall into the adjacent workshop/garage upper floor.  This means that this space can be utilised better instead it being 'the where shall I put that' place!  Only problem is we are running out of 'the where shall I put that' places - but I'm sure we'll find somewhere new!

Mud Glorious Mud

Posted by Rosie

If you allow 4 boys to have a mud fight  5 minutes before bedtime you may well find that after their bedtime THIS is what your bath will look like!!

Lost duckling

Posted by Rosie

A couple of days ago Simon and I lost a duckling and only 14 of the little ones rushed out for breakfast instead of 15. Now ducklings are not the easiest of things to count, especially when they are legging it from one bowl to another and also when there are 10 big ducklings, 2 adults and 5 turkeys to further confuse the issue. It was also slightly worrying because only 2 days before, we had introduced Harold, the drake, back in with the youngsters and he does have previous for duckling assault. No-one could be sure the duckling actually went in the night before (see earlier point about difficulties counting ducklings) yet we were sure in the morning that we could hear it ... somewhere. The shed was checked. Large patches of nettles were checked. Inside and outside of the duck enclosure and the neighbouring field were checked. No duckling.

Throughout the day we recounted the ducklings and there was still only 14. We resigned ourselves to the fact that Harold had attacked it the day before and it had gone off somewhere to die.

What happened was the missing duckling ?

However, for those of you with a nervous disposition, this is a story with a happy ending. Come supper time the mystery was solved and 15 little ducklings went to bed that night. So who reckons they know what had happened to our missing duckling?

August let

The week of the 13th-20th Aug is now let.

Extra week available in August

Due to a late cancellation we now have the week of the 13th to 20th August available at Eco-Gites. This is our only remaining week of the summer holidays and gives you the opportunity for a family friendly holiday in the beautiful Calvados countryside.

For further details visit our website by clicking on the gite picture at the top of the right-hand sidebar. Alternatively email us direct at  bookings@eco-gites.eu or phone us on 0033 231 09 27 51

Monsal Trail and Back to France

Monsal Trail

The boys and I are now back home in France after a very busy week in England.  On our final day we cycled the Monsal Trail  in the Peak District.  This is an 8.5 mile trail between Bakewell and Buxton on the old railway route. The trail has just been fully opened on completion of repairs to the 6 tunnels.

Newly Opened Tunnel

I parked up at Hassop Station about 1½ miles along the trail, from Bakewell, thinking that Tom and Ben would not do the whole 17 miles (there and back).  We then cycled, on a very gently upward incline, to Wyedale, through some stunning scenery.  There was plenty to see and lots of information about the route, the history of the railway and the wildlife.

The Main Attraction - Dave the Dog

It took us a sedate 1½ hours to reach Wyedale. This is one end of the route and we found the Lazy Days Tuck Shop here.  Drinks for the boys and a well earnt cup of tea for me where soon purchased to go with our picnic. You can hire bikes here as well (www.peakblackwellcyclehire.com) if you need to.  Plus there is the added attraction (and I think the highlight of the boy's whole week) of Dave the Dog.

Rain Stop

After lunch we cycled back to the car but we than decided to do the rest of the trail down to Bakewell - where we had to buy a Bakewell Tart, of course.  We did have to take cover a couple of times for heavy down pours of rain on route (very useful these tunnels) otherwise the weather was pretty good.

So we did the trail both ways plus cycled to and from Bakewell itself.  The boys notched up a good 19 mile (30km) ride and my bottom was definetly glad to get off the bike saddle.  If you like a good walk, cycle or horse ride this is a great place to go, especially with kids.  We had a great time - well maybe not my bottom!

Saturday was the drive to Portsmouth and ferry home which was not that eventful - apart from Sally having to catch me up, as Ben had left the all important 'Barney the Bear' at her house.  And at Portsmouth we picked up Lou - our HelpX from last year - who is now staying with us for a couple weeks.  The boys didn't know she was joining us and their faces where a picture when they realised.

Finally thanks, again, to Sally for a great week and putting up with us.  And sorry about my mishaps, breaking a glass full of wine, knocking over a full cup of coffee and blaming you for burning toast, whilst in fact it was me trying to set fire to your house (oops) !!!!!

More From Whatstandwell

Our trip to England continues to be very energetic.  Monday - all day - I took the boys to the Alton Towers Water Park.  We had a great time on the flumes and rapids.  The boys worn me out as they played on a variety of water features but nevertheless a great place to take kids.

Blue John Cavern

Tuesday was suppose to be an easier day but ended up just as busy.  We had to go into Matlock, for eye tests, so we caught the train up from Whatstandwell.  We then went to the park and the boys played in the playground including a mini water park.  After the opticians we decided to walk back to Matlock Bath, but not the normal route.  We chose the route which runs up to the cliffs which over look the road between Matlock and Matlock Bath.  It was a pretty adventurous walk at times and we definitely earnt our lovely fish and chips when we arrived in Matlock Bath.  Then we caught the train back to Whatstandwell.



Tom & Ben on Mam Tor



Wednesday we went up to Castleton and visited the Speedwell and Blue John Caves.  The Blue John Caves were excellent and we really enjoyed the tour.  On the other hand the Speedwell Caverns were pretty boring, even though part of the tour was on a boat, and both boys and I thought it was total waste of money. 

We then walked up to the top of Mam Tor, which was a little windy, but the views were great.  There again watching the rain heading towards us soon sent as racing back for the car.  The boys were given a lesson on map and compass reading and some mountain craft by a passing walker which they enjoyed.

Thursday was, in Ben's view, the highlight of the trip.  A trip to the cinema in Nottingham to see Kung Fu Panda 2 in 3D.  The boys loved it and I must admit it was pretty good and the 3D effect was superb.  We then went to Wagamamas for noodles and dumplings for dinner - so keeping in the theme of the afternoon.  I also dragged the boys round various shops to get bits and pieces that I needed. 

So that is an update of our trip so far and I'll continue with the last couple of days on another post.

La Causserie to Whatstandwell.



Bakery 30th June 2011

I am now in the UK spending a week with my sister, Sally, in Derbyshire.  It was the usual last minute rush and I ran out of time to do a post so I now have a little time this morning to catch up.
First a brief update on the work on the Old Bakery. The exterior is, apart from one or two finishing off touches, is complete and we are now working on the interior. We are boarding the walls and will tile around the sink and worktops.  This will give us a good area for food preparation and storage when it is finished (hopefully the end of next week).  We are really pleased with the results so far and looking forward to getting this area into use.

  

Ben Orienteering

On Friday Tom, Ben and I got the ferry to the UK and then drove up to Sally's in Whatstandwell, arriving on the Friday evening.  This arrival at Sally's is ,strangely enough, timed with the village Beer Festival on the Saturday evening - can't think why? 

On the Saturday morning we took the boys to a 'Come and Try' Orienteering event at Swadlincote Woodlands ran by the Derwent Vally Orienteers.  It was a great morning and a very well run event.  The course we did was pitched just right for the boy's level.  Many thanks to those from Derwent Vally Orienteers for a lovely and well organised morning. Greatly enjoyed by all of us. 



Drum Workshop

 

Saturday evening was the Beer Festival and once again a very good evening.  Excellent beers and good bands.  Plus a few events for the children including a drum workshop, which Tom really enjoyed but Ben found a little fast.  The boys made many friends and played all evening - I only saw them every now and then and they had a great time - whilst I sampled a beer or two(?) and listened to the bands.  I couldn't get to the festival last year and was amazed to see how many people came this year.  It was an extremely enjoyable and successful evening.

 

On Sunday we took the bikes up to Minninglow then, after a picnic, cycled just over 17kms along the High Peak Trail/Pennine Bridleway, via Middleton Top (ice cream stop) then down some very steep inclines to High peak Junction and the Cromford Canal. 

At the Cromford Canal we visited the Leawood Pump House which had an open day.  The boilers were fired up and the steam engine running.  The pumps lifted 800 gallons of water, per pump, from the Derwent river 10 metres up into the Canal.  When this was a working canal, and the boats grounded, these pumps could fill up the 14 miles of canal within 24 hours and it was children that stoked the boilers - working 8 til 8.  Tom and Ben were fascinated, and overawed, by this amazing piece of machinery.

After that we finished our cycle ride back to Sally's and a well earnt cuppa and rest.