Summer camp at Aucun

  On Thursday we returned home from the camp des  Aines at Aucun. We had a splendid ten days seeing most of our old friends and enjoying tasty meals we didn't have to cook. The weather was fine most of the time, if a little hot at times, and we were able to take several strolls with the two dogs, which we took with us. Ian looked after the remaining livestock, so we had no worries about them.
  The van ran well, using very little fuel for a comfortable vehicle, it shows little wear for the very considerable mileage covered, never shows any sign of giving up, despite the high temperatures outside. It's been baking hot since our return, though we had a heavy shower this morning, while I was walking the dogs, with thunder which much alarmed the dogs so they turned tail and ran back to the van.. The sun came out almost straight after, most changeable weather.
  Bye for now having afternoon tea and brioche.

Excellent news

We recently visited our cardiologist and our bowel specialists. In both cases, we were given a clean bill of health and told they didn't need to see us for a year! We were both overjoyed, and returned home rejoicing.
   Kim is at present en route to the U k to visit the family, especially the grandchildren, she is very nervous, as she doesn't like flying... I hope to contact her soon to see if she had a pleasant flight.

Bye for now.

Good news from Niort hospital

  I spent a week in Niort hospital after having my illiostomy bag removed and my small intestine reconnected, a much shorter op than the removal of my cancerous rectum. Kim visited every day, which mad her very tired. Aft r a blood test, it was confirmed that no further treatment would be necessary, terrific news!

Christmas at Lille

  As is our habit, we went to visit our friends in the north. However, we broke our journey near Orleans at the gate managed by Laeticia, the Pasteur at Matha. The gite is spacious and luxurious and the dogs are allowed in, although not on the furniture! We take in their car rug so as they can lie down.
  The next morning, we drove on to Wattignies, to Cecile and Patrick's large house. We had hesitated to go, as Cecile was really not well, having lost the hearing in her left ear and suffered from vertigo but Patrick had insisted on our coming, as he was on leave , and Elise and Dimitry were also there to help with the copious meals cooked by Eric. We ate loads of delicious food and must have gained pounds. The Gilets Jaunes didn't hold us up much , about five minutes near Orleans, so we had an uneventful trip, despite rain and fog patches.
  Coming back, we did the trip in one day, arriving back home tired out and went straight to bed. The animals had been cared for by Agnes and Phllipe and seemed pleased to see us back. Settling down to warming the house by stoking up the fire...A smashing way to spend Christmas. I forgot to say we went to early Mass on Christmas Eve at St Lamberts church which we both enjoyed very much.

Christmas greetings to all my readers

.   I would like to extend to all my readers my heartfelt good wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! I will send a further blog later to say how we spent the festive season.

A fantastic visit to Ark79

.  On Tuesday we visited the Ark79 shop at Ste Soline, which Hope had said was closed. It was absolutely packed, all Emma's faithful clients had heard the news that the shop was in fact open, widely spread on line, and here was a line of people carrying in new stock and departing with their purchases. We came away with several items as usual, most satisfactory. Kim in particular was delighted with her new duffel coat. A glass of free fizz plus a nibble was on offer and Emma confirmed that she had restocked the shop. So pleased to hear and how dismayed Hope must be! All the doors and windows removed by Hope had been replaced and repainted and the shop was as good as new. A most satisfactory result!

Good News!

  This morning, we attended an appointment with the surgeon , who had carried out my operation to cut out the cancer from my lower bowel and create a stoma. We went with some apprehension but in the event, he gave us the news that all was clear and there would be no need for any further treatment.  My plumbing can be reconnected early in the new year and the stoma closed up. We could scarcely believe how lucky we have been! The operation will require a weeks stay in hospital but after that I will be as good as new.
   We celebrated with a cup of coffee in the tea shop before making the necessary arrangements and driving home rejoicing.

Visit by Cecile, our friend from Lille

  We had the great pleasure of a flying visit from our good friend Cecile, who dropped in for a day, after visiting her son at Angouleme. We collected her from Ruffec station as arranged but only succeeded by the skin of our teeth in catching the train back to Poitiers on her way to Lille. Thanks for your visit, Cecile!

Status update

I haven't written a blog for ages and readers are understandably worried. In fact, we have not had a moment to call our own, having gone to Niort hospital every day by taxi ambulance for radiotherapy to shrink the tumour in my rectum. I am happy to report that the treatment was effective and the tumour was diminished by fifty percent, allowing the surgeon to operate successfully and to create a stoma. I spent some time in the hospital with Kim visiting each day but am now back home.
We had the pleasure of a visit from our daughter Alyson come to spend a week with us. She flew in to Limoges airport, lucky she isn't going back today, with the road system in chaos to protest against the cost of fuel!

  Love you lots, Al xx

Noah's diary..Damage to the Ark

 The bolt hit the pole at the top of our street, blowing the lid off the telephone box, all our lights went out, the power supply to the phones exploded, making Kim and I jump a foot in the air. We had had storm warnings for the morning but as the thunder seemed to have receded, we had started to reconnect the systems trusting that the lightning would start in the distance. 

  In the event, the first bolt was almost on top of us! We went to the Mairie to ask them to ring Orange for us and after a couple of days, a technician rang to say he would call. He replaced the burnt out box and said we had phone and Internet back, but would need to replace two filters. In the event, our router and live box also needed replacing, as our very competent expert, Nick explained the next day. He replaced the two boxes with a single combined second hand box which seems to be working well. I got the lights and power on again by resetting the fuse switch and luckily that was the extent of the damage.

  Phew even the thought of that huge bang gives me the cold shivers! Bye for now!

Blam! Lightning strikes the Ark

  On Sunday, we were very shocked when a bolt hit the pole at the top of the road, only 50yards away,  

Noah's diary ..further hospital visit.

   On Thursday 31st,we had a further visit to Niort hospital, for a scanner this time. The appointment was for 220pm and we arrived in good time but had great difficulty in parking. We got into the waiting area just in time, but in the rush I had forgotten my trousse so Kim had to return to fetch it.The nurse inserted a drip into my arm to inject a substance to highlight the details, which made me feel warm all over and I was then put on a bed and passed through the scanning ring. After quite a short time, it was all over and I spent a quarter hour with a drip to purge out the substance. We were then free to go. I had packed a box of biscottes to eat straight away, as I had to starve during the morning, Kim bought us a coffee. She kindly drove us there and back as I had taken a Xanax being a little agitated this morning.
  Now back home, having a well deserved drink. Bye for now.

An unfortunate hospital trip for Noah.

   On Monday morning , we were due at Niort hospital for checks following a worrying loss of blood from my rear end. A colloscopy as it's known involving a rectal examination. Firstly, I had to clean out my bowel by inserting a rectal wash which cleared me out completely. After a session on the loo and a shower , we set out at 830 for an appointment at 10.
    At first, all went well, we arrived with half hour in hand and had no problems parking in the free car park laid aside for consultations. Then problems began!
  The consultant's secretary told us the op was cancelled, the ERM had given all the information needed. The consultant had phoned to tell us but we hadn't picked up the message, the rectal medication wasn't needed! We did also have an appointment with the anaesthetist that afternoon, so our trip wasn't entirely wasted. Helpfully, the secretary phoned the other department to see if it could be rescheduled for the morning and this a was done.
  The anaesthetist said I would have to stop the blood-thinning drug I take and replace with a different one to avoid bleeding during the op. This had to start five days before, so my hospital admission would have to be delayed. This info would be passed on to the consultant. We were able to return home without further delay, pausing only for a coffee and a bun in the canteen.
  That afternoon he rang and spoke to Kim. The news was not good, the samples taken from the growth showed that it was cancerous and an op would be needed plus perhaps chemo and radiotherapy.... A shock but not completely unexpected. We shall have to face it together.
  Today, I start a low residue diet to prepare for surgery, I can eat only things which don't fill the gut, such as rice, ham chicken etc. Milk and veg are not allowed.
  Bye for now from a somewhat gloomy but resolute Ark.

The Ark visits the Hope shop at Ste Soline

  Yesterday, we paid a visit to the Hope shop , taking with us a van load of items donated by friends, together with some contributions from ourselves. The Berlingo has been full of sacks and boxes for some days, so we were pleased to get rid of them. In case you haven't heard of Hope, it is an organisation dedicated to raising funds which are then sent to various charities which help animals. The gifts from donors are sold off at very attractive prices, as Hope has no costs in acquiring its stock. Many of the items are new and from prestigious marques. Clothes, books, children's toys and electronic and electrical items can be purchased at minimum cost, and the shop has become well known to English and increasingly to French buyers. Yesterday, we were bent on replacing our electric iron , the original one having been dropped by Noah... We found a new Rowenta steam iron at only 3eur !  Kim bought loads of clothes and several handbags plus a replacement torch and I found several books at a euro apiece . In addition, we ate bacon sandwiches for lunch and sat out in the sunshine to enjoy them.
  A bit dazed with sun and buying we set off for home very happy with our day out.

Bye for now, sitting by the gaz Fire, it's a bit parky today and spitting with rain, quite a change from yesterday!

Knife crime in the UK

   There seems to be a spate of murders in London at present, figures suggest the death toll is worse than New York ! The remedy is to remove all knives from people, and in England, as in France, anyone caught in possession of a bladed weapon is instantly arrested and charged by the police. I feel that the remedy is not in the possession of a knife, but in the changing of the attitude of persons, especially the younger generation. When I was a teenager, admittedly in the dim and distant past as I am now 76 it was a stage of growing up to get your first penknife at about 12 years of age. All small boys had one in their pocket, admittedly not very sharp. The only person in danger of being cut was the owner and this was carefully concealed from our parents in case the implement was withdrawn. We used our ne knives to peel sticks, carve wood and slash vegetation threatening to block the paths we took on our rambles... The thought of stabbing someone never occurred to us. British kids just didn't DO that, it was the Spanish  and Italians that sank to these depths.... Yet I don't remember any cases of knife crime from my teenage years, though the term teenager was not invented til the sixties.
   Incidentally, the ' weapon' shown in my header pic was issued to Mediteranean army units to be the most unwarlike tool imaginable, incapable of stabbing anyone, perhaps these could be authorised by the Authorities..
   In my own case, I would be lost without my Swiss Army knife and continue to carry it guiltily. I would starve to death without its scissors and short blades as my left hand is no too weak to tear open food wrappings!

Another death in the village

   We have recently heard that Blanche, Phillipe's mother, died in hospital . It must have been very sudden, as she had asked to return home a couple of days earlier, though the hospital hadn't allowed this. Very tragic for Phillipe and all his family to lose both in such a short time and sad for all at La Mort Limouzin.

Quite a week for the Ark

Earlier in the week, Mrs Noah decided to replace the grey cat, Blue, who disappeared weeks ago. I was not so sure but when she located an abandoned female cat who had been wandering for weeks, already chipped and sterilised we were touched by her plight. She had been traced to her former owner by a refuge but far from cries of joy, the hard hearted owner refused to accept her back! She had passed a period of mourning , she said and had replaced the cat... Kim agreed to accept the cat called Habby and to pick it up on Tuesday. The refuge turned out to be in the Bay of Arcachon, a three hour drive away! The weather was a bit chance, very cold with snow a distinct possibility . Fortune favoured us, for the day was uniformly bright , though freezing cold with a bitter wind. The Satnav took us to the town and we found the refuge by asking at the Tourist Office who kindly supplied a map. The volunteer in charge introduced us to Habby, somewhat shy as was only natural. With some difficulty, we stuffed her into our cat box picked up the paperwork for the change of chip details and set off home, arriving just before dusk. The cat is currently confined to the lounge and we are slowly making friends.
  The very next day, it snowed heavily the journey would have been very different if we had gone then!
    We had noted a back and white collie/ spaniel cross hanging round the village. We tried to approach it but it was very shy, not hungry as it didn't eat a stale bread thrown to it. On Thursday morning, I went out to feed the animals and found one sheep dead and the other bitten in the neck! They had been attacked, most probably by this dog, as there were traces in the snow of rather small pads. We arranged a vets appointment that afternoon for the survivor, who we confined to the closed cour. Mr Marty sewed up the wound and injected antibiotics and pain relief, leaving two syringes wit us to inject on the Sunday. We got Phillipe to help with these, as they had to be done in the inner thigh, which he kindly did..
    Not a week we can recall with pleasure!

Funeral of Georges Touchard

   Yesterday at three o'clock , we went to Loubille Catholic Church to take part in our friend's funeral. We have attended several ceremonies in France over  the years and were somewhat prepared. We dressed very warmly, expecting the church to be cold but in the event, it was quite warm. People in France dress less formally than in England many of the congregation were wearing jeans...
  We all waited outside for the arrival of the funeral car, a very shiny grey machine with the coffin and loads of wreaths. The funeral director took immediate charge, the coffin was unloaded and wheeled in on a trolley, the family, who were formally dressed, were marshalled in first, followed by the other worshippers and we were ushered into our seats. The order of service was printed on small leaflets, with various hymns. The church was quite full, Georges was well-known locally.
  The singing was a bit pitiful to ears accustomed to the lustier singing of the non-conformist
churches... Typical of Catholic Churches though the people won't sing if they are not sure of the tune. Actually, most of the people are not regular churchgoers, only attending for Christenings, weddings and funerals! Two ladies were in charge of the ceremony, there didn't seem to be an officiating Priest.
  After a normal Catholic Mass, the family first, then the other worshippers were invited to file past the coffin to take their final farewell to Georges and to sprinkle the coffin with holy water with a bunch of herbs. Then everyone filed out and stood almost blocking the road until the coffin was carried out by four bearers from the funeral director's. It was loaded onto the vehicle which drove slowly off , followed by the family and the congregation in a slow procession, to the cemetery, where Georges will be interred in the family plot. The coffin was installed over the pre-dug grave. After a short service, everyone filed past the coffin to take a final farewell.
   Everyone then left the graveyard and assembled outside to greet friends and have a good gossip. We went into the cafe to enjoy a much needed coffee with several friends .
  Bye for now, it's next morning, I've lit the stove and will start to feed the flock.

Noah's progress--latest

  I have to report a set-back to my recovery-- yesterday I was trying to load a large log into the log-burner when I lost my balance and fell forward into the hearth, hitting my ribs a painful blow against the stove, as I was unable to save myself as the stove was hot.. I thought at first that I'd broken a rib, luckily I hadn't but the pain was agonising . The soreness prevented me from excercising my poorly arm and I went to bed early with a hot-water-bottle applied to the sore part. This morning it was a bit better and continued to improve throughout the day but Kim had to drive herself to Zumba, at Sauze Vaussais . I did succeed in driving the car this afternoon but found walking the dogs painful, and cold really affected the ribs. I'm hoping a further nights sleep with a bottle and a paracetamol may do the trick . One step forward, two back...

  Bye for now, going to sort some tea

End of an Era Death of Georges Touchard

  On Friday, Claudie, Phillipe's wife came down to tell us of the sad news of Georges death. He passed away on Thurs afternoon at his home, after a long illness. His health recently has been poor, he suffered agonies from a back destroyed by a lifetime of literally back-breaking work on his farm. When we first arrived in Mort Limouzin , we often saw him and his wife, Blanche milking his herd of 80 goats in his little veg patch opposite the farmhouse or carrying the pails of milk into the dairy to put in the cooler. We would take down our bottle to have it filled with the still warm, frothiy goats milk, delicious on cereal or in a rice pudding. No comparison with the pasteurised and strong-flavoured goats-milk sold in the shops. Sometimes we would meet him, leading his herd to eat grass or shrubs along the local foot-paths or digging in his veg garden beside the road. Memories of a vanished time...another village inhabitant gone not many of us left now. Lately, Phillipe or Claudie had to call at the farm to help him undress etc and he did have a home-help daily I believe. Once, I was called in to help Claudie, when he fell out of bed and couldn't get up. Most undignified , a sad come-down for a self-reliant farmer... I'm sure he was ready to go. Still, a shock for his family, but at least he died at home.
     RIP Georges, it's been nice knowing you.
  Bye for now.