Day 153-154, 12-13 November 2014, Afternoon out in La Souterraine. I headed out with good friend Barbara this afternoon for Christmas shopping endeavours, a coffee and a cruise around the historic heart of 11th century La Souterraine. (Pictured is the Rapunzel like tower of the 13th C. Porte de St Jean/St John's Gate in the city walls). The heart of the town is truly medieval and lovely to stroll on foot - but as we discovered with cars sneaking up behind us con...

Day 152, 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. 96 years ago today saw the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front and the armistice signed in Compiegne, France. Some new friends picked me up on the way past and we headed to the local village of Lussac-les-eglises - population about 600. Which compared to my hamlet of 18 houses, two thirds of which are empty, is pretty big in a little smoke kind of way. The ceremony was short - only 13 minutes. But...

Days 146-151, 5-10 November 2014, Les Clotures. It's been a while and there's a dearth of other photos right now so Oui! C'est Moi! here in the deep, dark and increasingly cold depths of south-west France. We've not had a frost - yet, but definitely getting down to a damp and chilly 5 degrees most nights. Highlight of the week so far was Zoo-Day (also known as Sunday in the rest of the world and Dimanche here in France). Zoo-Day is when the rabbit and chinchil...

Days 141-145, 31 Oct-4 Nov '14, Benevent-l'Abbaye (day trip), Maximum Antique Store (AKA: "le déchèterie" in Mailhac-sur-Benaize). Wow - how time flies when day trips start to happen. So much so that actually writing about them falls by the wayside after walking the dogs, building fires and enjoying country living. Halloween passed un-remarked - enough things go bump in the night out here in the dark that I usually leave a light on anyway. After All Hallows...

Days 136-140, 26-30 Oct 2014, Montmorillon, France. Busy week as rural idylls go. An enjoyable visit to Terry's Tearoom in Magnac-Laval with my great neighbours. A wonderful discovery - Beef en Daube (beef cheeks), even from a can, is superb in France. Get this... people still pay for things with cheques in France - actual "get out your chequebook out at the supermarket register" type of payment - I didn't think anywhere did that anymore. Today topped off my b...