Gail’s parents arrived on Wednesday and hopefully it’ll help with the recovery of Gail’s dad.  They have certainly brought the weather with them.  We actually had a BBQ and I could cook in glorious sunshine 🙂

I moved the motor-home back so that Gail’s folks could get the the car into the garage.  That had the added benefit that the Satellite TV worked as it could pick up reception between the house and a large tree that had been previously beside the motor-home; this was important as there was the Europa cup final that I wanted to watch and there was a clash with the English programme watching in the house.  This was also useful as good preparation for the World cup so they’ll be no viewing clashes 🙂

We’ve got another week in the house before we go off somewhere in the motor-home for about a week.  We’re unsure of the destination as yet, though it’ll probably be around the area near to Rouen.  Fingers crossed that the weather stays for a bit longer…

If you want to hear about an evening where we BBQ’s apparagus whilst watching the football, then I’m araid that you are going to be disappointed as the 3 topics in this case are not related.

We have now checked that our new BBQ works connecting it to the external gas point from the motorhome, one of the last major things to check, though it is still to be used in anger to actually cook something; next time 🙂

Yesterday we brought some white asparagus, it was definitely the 1st time that we were going to cook it.  Luckily just before cooking, we found out that we need to peel it and cook it for longer that it’s green cousin.  Luckily the internet saved the day, though as we hadn’t had green asparagus for quite a while we don’t know which one gives your wee a stonger smell of sugar puffs..!!!

Yes it is near the end of the football season, which I’m sure is great for some, but not for others; we also have a split household.  However, there still remain what could be some cracking matches; the final premier league games tomorrow, the Europe cup final, the FA cup final and then the Champions league final.  That said, being an even year, there is only about a 3 week gap and then in this case it is the World cup that will begin and last for about a month; luckily we have the  motorhome which also has a TV 🙂

Yes, although it is fairly fresh today, it has been pretty sunny which is fantastic considering that it is a bank holiday weekend; well in Endland anyway as they had their bank holiday here actually on 1st May.

As such, we decided to have a BBQ, and even this didn’t manage to ruin the weather.  I must say that our digestives of damsen and sloe gin are not bad at all and have got even better with age… If only we could 🙂

We picked a fantastic day to visit Caen, the rain stopped all day and for most of the time it was blue skies and sunny.  What more could one ask for…?

Although most of the city was bombed in the 2nd world war, there are still, although slightly restored of course, the 2 abbeys of Willam the Conquerer and the fortified Chateaux.

The weather was so good that we ate our lunch at a restaurant close to the Chateaux outside in the sun after a wonder around the city.

Whilst we were up in Caen we also visited a could of places which had some motorhome accessories.  Finally we are fully equipped as we now have a BBQ and a table for outside; bring on the dry and slightly warmer weather!!!

As the weather has been raining alot over the last couple of weeks, with sunny spells, the grass and better said ‘weeds’ have gone on the rampage.  Due to this dry day, we took the opportunity to cut the grass and the edges in the evening when we got home from Caen as we knew that Thursday and Friday were going to return to be showery.  It’s not perfect, but better than before 🙂

Andy Ewings of the Lansdown tennis and squash club mentioned a challenged to performing a plank for 5 minutes, though building up the time little by little to achieve the final time.  Gail and I both reached the 5 minute goal yesterday – yeah hey 🙂

For those of you that don’t know what a plank is, exercisewise I’m talking about, then look at the below youtube link:-

Time to cut the grass again, and Gail helps cutting all the edges with the new toy 🙂

This is the location of our “gym” outside of the house in France 🙂

It’s incredible to think that we have been living here in France for almost a 1 1/2 weeks now, it is amazing at how time flies by sometimes…

We’ve managed to survive the 1st week of French classes ( Keith has about 2 hours and Gail has 1 hour 4 times a week), though we seem to be getting quite alot of homework; still when you want to learn and your paying for it you tend to be a bit more focused!!!

It’s not been all work and no play.  We’ve managed to join the local tennis club in the town, which has 6 indoor (see the photo below) and 6 outdoor courts.

Gail has started to practise her French with the neighbours.  Once the weather improves a little more, and once Keith has cleaned up the BBQ, I’m sure we’ll soon be eating out on the terrace with the neighbours.  The wine and French conversation I’m sure will be flowing; it’ll take Keith quite a bit of the former to help with the later 🙂

Keith’s aspirations for a bigger garden have got the better of him …… thankfully the weather hasn’t been too great since my parents were last here in September, otherwise we may have been using the machetes 🙂

Three hours later and we – sorry I should say Keith as I didn’t get involved – have a good idea of what the next six months’ gardening has got in for us and we haven’t even started with the edges or beds…..

Most importantly though …. the bar-b-que works 🙂

It can’t all be bad….. although the clocks went forward and we lost an hour the sun is shining and we have just gorged on the most delicious (although visually it may not look that appetising) croissants 🙂

Not that we are trying to entice anyone out here … but just as a word of warning I reckon the almond croissants way at least a kilo each!