The Wanderer Returns

To this blog, if probably only for a while.
Also, we have returned to France. To live. Maybe also only for a while, who knows what the future holds, but let's settle down first and unpack some boxes.

I trust everyone has had a lovely Christmas (or whatever it is you celebrate), and let me, at this time, wish you all the best for the upcoming brand-spanking New Year !

What has happened ?
We sold our house in Ireland and moved just over a month ago into our new abode. Well, the first few weeks we spent in the holiday cottage on the property we bought.
The Département Corrèze is where we've settled and we're still finding our way around and trying to install ourselves and prepare for our upcoming big project.
The project being, running a small campsite (25 pitches), a holiday let, and bar/resto for holiday guests.
The land, the buildings and the surrounding area are all beautiful and I will tell you more about all of this in a later post.
At this time it is very difficult for me to write this post as I am already missing my dearest friends in Ireland (you know who you are), my mother hasn't been well and at the moment our dog Millie is at the vets, where she has to stay till Friday, at least.

The cats have found their groove, as you can see, even though they haven't been outside yet.

Blackie would like nothing more than to go back home,

but then Santa Ikea arrived on Christmas Eve with some sofas.

He couldn't believe his luck when the arrival of a sofa could make it into 'home'

I am about to start work on a website for our new adventure and will post a link on here, once it is ready.  From then on I think it is time to really round off this blog, as it has come full circle. It started its life in France, almost 12 years ago and there will be a blog on the new website too.

Until next time,
Salut
Patricia xxx...x

All About Cats

When our our kitten Pixie/Gypsy  left one evening never to return, a year ago now, I was so, so incredibly sad for weeks (still am), that my mum suggested I adopted another kitten.
Woah there ! Bert had always said, if a pet died or disappeared there would be no replacement for a while.
I, however, thought it would be a good idea.
And, my mother said, if you get two, you'll be entertained all the time, because they will play with each other and they will have so much fun.  Bert protested, but was overruled by two to one.
Off we went, my mum, my friend Sophie and I visited the local cat rescue and came back home with two male, ginger and white kittens.

Meet Alfie & Louis, who came to live with us October 2017.

Mischief, always full of mischief.

Louis (left) & Alfie (right) - look at that scrunched up little face.

 Watcha doin' mister ?

Helping with the reupholstery !

Keeping Blackie company. Poor dog had his paws attacked many a time.

 There I was thinking, I'll make them a big christmas present to play with. Maybe they won't be eyeing up the tree.

I was wrong !

Granny time !

 Louis, clean as a whistle. Alfie, not so much.

 Taking turns.

Louis, who loves to crawl into his little den, but also loves a blanket to curl up under.

Here they are now, just over one year old and they have given us lots of laughs so far.

Louis is a real hunter and we'll often try to save his prey, not always successfully unfortunately.

Alfie goes more after small fry, like insects, a piece seaweed, a mussel shell or a clump of grass.

That's it for this post. One year in the life of the ginger twins.

Patricia xxx...x

When You Turn Your Back for Two Seconds...

A courgette (zucchini) will turn into a big fat marrow, or monster, to be precise.

This very large specimen is 60 cm in length and 16 cm diameter and weighs an astonishing 10 kg !
I prefer my courgettes petite, but I'm really, really, really loving this huge masterpiece. I guess courgette soup is on the menu for the coming months, at least.

Patricia xxx...x

Closing One Chapter....

I don't know if anybody is still out there, but if there is, I would like to apologise now for not keeping up with this blog.
We've had many exciting plans for our future here and none of them came to fruition, so we think it is time to indeed close this chapter and start penning down the new one in our story. The ink had dried up in our pen and we're looking for another one at the bottom of the clutter drawer. Until that new pen is being found, I'll leave you with the news that our house in Ireland is now on the market !

It is a fantastic house in the most stunning surroundings. Don't believe me ? Take a look for yourselves.
House in Sneem, co Kerry, Ireland

Have a great day,
Patricia xxx...x