Getting hotter in Brittany

Saturday 30/05/2020

This good looking chap was exploring the garden this morning.

Toni and I haven't been this warm since we left South Africa in 2006.  It's not exceptionally hot but has been around 25°C every day for more than a week, much warmer and dryer than we're used to.  It's really lovely to be able to dress so lightly and live more outdoors, but it does mean Toni's hayfever has flared up again - something that was mostly absent when we lived in the UK.

With the hotter weather we do our gardening in the cool mornings and late evenings; the advantage is that the grass has slowed down so we aren't mowing as often anymore.  The vegetable are all coming on wonderfully and the garden still surprises us with new flowers all the time.

With the ever changing world our plans have shifted again (and probably will a couple more times...).  B&T's ferry on Tuesday has been cancelled and re-booked for the 15'th so we have delayed our UK crossing until we can hand the property and cats back, and will then work out what happens next.  At the moment the UK quarantine rules mean we will have to isolate for 14 days when we enter the UK, not that easy when you no longer have a home.

Farming life has carried on through the lockdown and we really enjoy watching the activities from the house (and seeing how many farm vehicles the neighbour uses for his different tasks).  It really is amazing how much hard work goes into making sure we have food on our plates.  

18 Month trip anniversary

Wednesday 06/05/2020

Today is the 18 month anniversary of our trip - we left our house and handed over the keys today, November 2018.  To celebrate we have some pictures from the spring garden which keeps getting lovelier every day!

Bonus pic:  The baby Blue tits in one of the nest boxes are almost fully fledged now and should be leaving the nest soon, just as well as their house is starting to look a bit crowded!

Spring gardening in Brittany

Saturday 02/05/2020

We've had to stake up some of the irises blown over by the wind but those that survived look stunning.

Jasper enjoying the lawn on a rare dry spell.

We're a week away from 7 months straight in the house sit and still loving life in Brittany.  The weather threw us a curve-ball this week; we'd become accustomed to cool mornings followed by warm sunshine and working in shorts, t-shirts, slops and hats.  This past week we have been back to wearing layers of clothes to go out, and building fires to keep the house warm.  It's not too bad, the garden has certainly appreciated the rain although the strong winds were decidedly unwelcome.

The pots have been kept under cover for the winter
so we can start moving them out again.

We're not really any closer to understanding what life will be like after all the lockdowns or when we'll be able to move from here.  We are busying ourselves with odd jobs on Bokkie when the weather is grim and gardening the rest of the time.  

The veggies are coming along nicely and the fruit is starting to grow in the established garden.  One of our biggest disappointments is the bird life, particularly the tits.  Toni kept them well fed through the winter (rain, wind and cold), but they just aren't repaying the favour by keeping the caterpillars under control, and these are wreaking havoc in the fruit trees!  On the plus side there should be a good summer butterfly population.

Rhubarb emerging in front of the currant bushes.

Currant crop starting to fill out.

New potatoes growing well, Toni has been drawing the soil up.

Gooseberries growing plumper, the winds were so strong some
have blown off the bushes.

Spot the bumblebees hard at work on the berries.

We've been on the road for almost 18 months now and, in spite of the Covid-19 induced market flutters, we are still in a comfortable position with no plans to return to 'normality' any time soon.  We're looking ahead to our return to the UK and trying to decide what we will do with ourselves once there - first on the list is seeing Charmaine and Chris of course.

Bonus video:
We love watching the cows when they are either let out for the first time or moved to a new field.  These are the milking heifers being let out after a long winter in the barn and they seem to be loving the new freedom, much to the consternation of the farmer.