I Went Canoeing

Guest Post

 

Hi Folks,

Sedate Canoeing

A good mate (Simon) over here in France wanted to take his two sons (Tom and Ben) out canoeing and his wife, Rosie being of a slightly chicken nature wisely chose not to risk life and lung by getting involved. Turned out I was short listed as being the next likely candidate, or stupid enough to say yes without thinking. Last time I was in a canoe I capsized 3 times in 10 minutes. I explained that to Simon and he was fine about that. So we booked the good weather for the Wednesday afternoon and flipped a coin for who got his least favourite son (joking) and I had Tom, Ben went with his Dad.

We got to Clecy and set off in their van with a trailer behind loaded with big plastic things that resembled flattened bananas and drove 7kms up stream. (that's just over 4½ miles in old money). Turned out those flat bananas were our boats. I thought they were buoys!

We set off fine, though the nosedive into the water was a tad intimidating and any hopes I might have had of keeping my bum dry were dashed. I'd even dried the seat before getting into the canoe! Sitting in a puddle needlessly seemed just too stupid for words. I shouldn't have worried really, that entry made sure I was wet up to my waist! Yes I've crossed the instructor off my Christmas card list!

Oh and the "Instructions"  were: red end forward, yellow end at the back. Hollow side up. This is a paddle. Y'know essential stuff like that!

5 mins into our epic voyage we were just getting the hang of the paddles when we found the first and biggest weir. I was all set to get out of the canoe and carry it around but noticed some poor sod got caught in the flow and went over the edge screaming... then came back for another go! NUTTERS! Then I realised this was meant to be. Sheesh, talk about baptism of fire.

Ben & Simon on the Weir

So with beating heart and suppressed girly scream Tom and I went over the edge. Poor Tom at the front end got the full force of the bow wave as the nose went under. Him being light though meant we didn't go that deep, unlike the couple that followed me. He was wet only to his eyelids. I suspect that woman's spleen was still wet two days later.

Anyway Simon and Ben wanted another go and so did Tom, I thought we were tempting fate, but was peer pressured into conceding. So Tom and I went for it again, dragging the canoe up some handy rocks beside the sheer 17ft cliff edge. (well it felt a lot higher than it was) Turned out hauling that canoe was a lot easier than I thought, but it did mean getting out of the boat and involved some wading. YUK! I think I have some cat genes in my make up because I don't like getting wet needlessly. Oh well needs must. Besides I think Tom would have hit me with the oar had I said no.

So we had 3 goes each. Simon even took both boys down with him at once. I got that on film. Anyway the

Aaron -  a born natural?

boys have some great memories and I had a few more grey hairs but I had to admit it really was fun. I saw 3 other boats capsize on landing, so Simon and I can count ourselves lucky... or a natural born canoeists

The rest of our paddle downstream to Clecy was a relaxed and very scenic. Passed some derelict buildings and managed not to snag ourselves on fishing lines from people on the riverside. Waved, did the "Bonjour" thing, look at us paddling in our boats aren't we clever. I bet they see it all the time. Anyway it was a novelty for us.

At one point of deep river Ben climbed out of his boat onto a rock midstream and Tom thought that was a good idea too, so we paused and then the two boys had a swim. That idea soon lost interest as they were shivering within 5 mins. At least Tom was. Truth be told I was a bit worried for him, he's just skin and bone, no blubber, unlike me. He got back in the boat and I had him take over the paddling a bit so he could warm up and I think it worked.

Tom hitting the 'Bow Wave'

Next couple of bends we had showed familier scenery ahead of us and then we found ourselves amongst the pedelos and dinghys. Somehow we resisted the ramming speed thing us now being experienced rivermen. 10 mins later were were climbing out of the canoes having had a really, REALLY good time. Dripping wet but grinning.

Big thanks to Simon for asking me along. I had a great time and will do it again. Thanks to Tom for being such a great sport and allowing me to do 90% the paddling. I sooo enjoyed that. Thanks to Ben not coming with me and making me paddle fast to keep up with his Dad who made it look so easy. I was tail end charlie most of the time.

All in all a throughly good time. Took us just over 2 hours. Any longer and it would have become a chore. We both agreed what we did was enough and was fun just like that.

Woke the next day with only mildly aching shoulders but otherwise fine. My trainers still haven't dried out though.

Aaron / Dad / Uncool Aaron / Biker

Copy of email Aaron sent to his family and friends. Glad you enjoyed the trip and thanks for helping with the boys - Simon

We're still here - honest!!

Posted by Rosie

Just a really quick post to say we haven't been eaten by a triffid vegetable or chased off the farm by Orwellian animals but that we have been so busy with everything that we never quite seem to get round to writing a blog. We have a lovely volunteer helper here this week helping me to find the vegetable garden in amongst the weeds so I have been busy helping her as well as processing the fruit and veg we've been harvesting. Simon has also fitted in some days out with the boys (hopefully he'll do a blog about the canoeing trip they went on yesterday).

At some point in the next 10 days I have the dreaded shoe shopping to do with Ben as well as buying all the files, pens, paper etc they need for school - neither of which are jobs I relish but, bearing in  mind they have less than a week and a  half before school starts, I suppose I need to get my act together.

Mind you, it would appear not everyone is completely busy round here:

Onward and UP-wards

Attic October 2009

Eighteen months ago I started (with HelpX'ers) on our attic space.  This was just to insulate it.  I only got as far as the insulation boards.  Then just before last Christmas (over a year later) I managed to get it fully insulated - making the house about 4°C warmer - and then get some plaster board on.  I even managed to get some of the wiring in place as well.  And there it waited.

Attic 02/08/2011

And to be fair, in between I have converted a barn into a gite plus done one or two other jobs. So at the end of last month I was able to get back to it.  The worse part was trying to remember what wiring was for what but eventually that was sorted and Ady (HelpX) and I were off.

We completed the wiring, finished the boarding, put timber up on the ceiling and partition wall.  Prepared the walls and painted them.  Ducting for a heat exchange unit is being laid in and shelves constructed (mainly me).

Attic Room 13/08/2011

We have now laid the floor (mainly Ady) and now, at long last we have something that looks like a room.  We have some electrics to finish and all those finishing touches that need to be done - timbering edging etc. The worse part of the project, apart from having to lug everything up and downstairs, is the moving of all the boxes and furniture around.  Definitely a job made easier having a helper. 

So hopefully very soon we will have another bedroom and living area.  The next job is to put in a first floor bathroom, which I'm hoping to start next week.

French Farms of Yesteryear

Posted by Rosie

Someone on the forum http://www.downsizer.net/ linked to this site showing some wonderful black and white French farming photos from yesteryear.   http://www.kamdou.net/2010/11/pps-la-ferme-autrefois-chez-alain.html

Click on telecharger below the photo for the full slide show.

The Waiting Is Over.

Charlotte's 7 Piglets

Very late yesterday evening I thought I'd give Charlotte a final look in before I went to bed.  Rosie felt she was at last going into labour and this was obviously the case when I went to her sty.  At 11:40pm the first piglet arrived.  Followed 30 minutes later by numbers 2 and 3.  Number 4 quickly slipped into the world soon after - so quickly in fact that I missed it when I went to close the sty door.

Number 5 took it's time to appear and eventually came out rear end first - hence the delay, maybe.  We now had 5 ginger and black spotted piglets - all looking the image of their dad.  This seemed to be it and nothing else was happening. As Charlotte had only had small litters previously we decided it was time to turn in.

This morning when Rosie went to feed Charlotte and check on the piglets she found we had another two - both black and white this time. All are doing well and are presently having a good feed.

Still waiting

Posted by Rosie

For Charlotte the pig to give birth that is. OK, so originally I totally miscalculated my dates making her pregnancy only TWO months, 3 weeks and 3 days, not 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days, but after a quick recount I reckoned she was due on July 28th. However, Simon has 5th Aug written down which is now looking more and more likely. Poor Charlotte - she's only a small pig and she's huge and is looking really fed up, especially in this hot weather. I am seriously wondering whether I should give her a curry and suggest she has a jog round the field to get things going!!