Update and various reflections

K

I note I haven`t posted an Ark for ages,so I thought I would post a sort of selection of thoughts and reports.
   On Sunday, as it was so sunny and mild, we visited our favourite local attraction, the weir at Rejallant, near Ruffec. it looked beautiful, with loads of water coming down the Charente and we had a gentle wander over the new footbridges. a pleasant foretaste of summer. We used to like the restaurant there but it's gone very up-market and expensive.. Afterwards, we had a drive over the Charente at Condac and visited the hamlet of La Leigne, where we often used to walk.. Later, perhaps when my legs have strengthened...
   Another reflection which comes to mind is gratitude at the warmth emitted by our wood burner . Bought to replace the old and decrepit cooking wood burner, it's true you can't really cook on it but it's easy to light and gives far more heat for less wood, as the air circulates between the caste iron core and the sheet metal casing. As you can see, it only has a small window through which you can see the fire but this feature hides a clever trick. Most wood burners with 'picture' windows have to be cleaned daily or they soot up so the fire can't be seen. The clever trick with our Supra is that the window is very close to the firebox, protected by stout bars . It is of a special glass and is itself protected by an outer double glazing. The inner window becomes extremely hot and any soot burns off, it needs no cleaning at all. Neat, eh?

    Other more personal news is that my cold has finally departed and Kim's is much better, though there is still a nasty cough which is difficult to shake off. She's feeling stronger, though. I'm still having Kine sessions twice a week, and things are gradually improving, not as quickly as I would wish. Still when I remember the state I was in when I left Niort hospital to go for rehab at Le Grand Feu, there's no comparison I'm nearly back to normal, just a case of building up strength and dexterity.

Bye for now,going to get in some logs!

Back home again!

Well, here we are re-installed in our French home,  quite a change from Alyson's house in Goosewell. We spent a very happy few days in Plymouth, having made the sea- crossing both ways and the long car journeys with only one car- driver, as my licence is, I hope, temporarily withdrawn in view of my stroke in October. Kim had to face the driving on her own, which daunted her a bit, but she is feeling proud at having managed it. We stopped at St Brieuc on the way up and spent the night, before embarking the following day. On the return overnight crossing, due to sea conditions, the ferry was diverted  to St Malo rather than Roscoff. This in fact suited us fine, the journey by road back home being 100 km shorter! We thus managed it without an over-night stop. No doubt, foot-passengers for Roscoff, who had to face a long coach trip back there were not so keen....
   Unfortunately, we have both brought back with us an unwelcome souvenir in the form of a virulent English cold, which has left us both very much under the weather, with severe chesty coughs.. I haven't felt much like blogging but will try to upload some Christmas pics and especially some of Mimi, the new great- granddaughter in my next.
   Bye for now, got to take my medicine....