race around our lac

  

       

Trail du Magnoac....runs of 8, 14 and 26 km, taking in the lake, there are different coloured spray arrows, three to be precise for the different routes round the town and countryside. It was a fantastic morning and although it looks hot, a very nice day without being blistering hot. It's nice to have fun events in the town, lots of people turned up for the event and a good fifty odd people participated. The event was opened by our mayor, Bernard verdier and probably ended in Joe's bar, i say probably as sadly we had to slink off to a prior engagement before it all finished.

the gathering outside the library

looking lean and mean on his velo

in front of the Dupont and ready for the off

late or just very casual

a few more bikes turn up....

and the men's running is off

25 km here we come

a second batch released

a few onlookers

the water stop at the end of our road

running past our house and through the presbytery gates

coming up from the lac magnoac

water stop, refuelled by joe across the road in the bar

one of the officials, checking the traffic flow

our house at the end, where marc is watching, and christianne is from
 respective balconies

new balls please!

this is Milou, proving she really is daddies girl, she bought back almost three quarters of a basket of balls, that is a lot of balls. Every time they went into the net she would go and pick them up and bring them back to the same place by the basket next to the bench. If you asked her nicely she would even bring them to you and give them up without a fight, very impressive. This was a trick that she learnt on her own, maybe it was to impress her master and mistress after all the wee (being the operative word) accidents.

"they are silly, they keep hitting it in the net"

Thinking about it even though green tennis balls obviously bare no resemblance to sheep, her natural instincts for gathering things up, including the kittens is instilled within her from birth by her mother.

a full basket of balls, job done

"I will just take this one off for safe keeping"

and see if my missus wants this one?

it's a hard life being a kitten

sorry, but they are irresistible...

...especially when they are asleep

first steps

new nets please!!

Porthos plus jangly squeaky mice skills

Milou with Darcie, just checking you don't go to far

where am i ??

Aramis, ears back...looks good so far

much more fun with three

it's all extraordinary

my first kitten pose for the paparazzi outdoors

a second pose for the cameras, by my little bro

a composed pose for the cameras

just jumping on the bandwagon from the above and i have sat on your kittens ....

the two girls stick together

Aramis looks scary

love fest!! BIG bonding

bonding?!

Aramis and Darcie well and truly s(ch)aton

i  know i can add to the washing

Porthos and the yog pot

• mummies  boy...aramis

happy families

ginger tinker up a tree

two ginger tinkers up a tree

Milou, hide and seek

Milou avec bal

my blue eyed ginger boy

fourty love, then game set and match

a magnificent cake from Liz and settings by Karen, aperos and apero's and nibbles by Jennifer
in Suzanne's flat

Odiles pad in Bonnefont

it started with a kiss..... and a tennis racket. I introduced them in Joe's bar, Marc then coached Suzanne and then Hugo for a month of tennis before going back to England, Hugo was more than a little smitten. By the time we had been back in England for about six weeks there was news across the seas of a little more than a friendship going on. When we were back at Christmas's that year they had fallen in love with each other, by Easter the following year the engagement was announced and a ring was proudly been shown about.

the hen night....girls in the pink

a basque three course meal, her is the main, veal and a beautiful mix of fresh peppers and spices

are you all paying attention because now i will begin

Annabelle,  Liz and Nathalie

thoughtful place settings  and flower arrangements by Karen and Laura

all gathered outside the Maires office in Castelnau

Bentley followed by Juggernaut!!

Suzanne looking gorgeous in her wedding dress

one of the bridesmaid

i do... or was it just "marvellous"

Emma, looking for more exciting things under the table

James (Hugo's nephew) and Marc holding the rackets

rice, paper and lavender followed

the happy couple making their way to Joe's bar

the Bentley

the family shot

admiring the beautiful views

a beautiful catch

the reception, a beautiful sunset and other young lovers

Georgia and Mia

James the DJ (who is now on a successful musical career of his own)

and finally a slice of the cake before a night of dancing!

today they have flown off, a week later for their honeymoon in Tunisia