March 2023

 We had a good week in England with all the family at the beginning of the month. It even snowed!!
Back home the temperatures have shot up and we have enjoyed some spring sunshine. Everything green is growing very quickly but it is difficult to get petrol for the mower at the moment as the on-going strikes have created some shortages. Hopefully things will sort be sorted out!!

Lesley's album

Dave's album

February 2023

 Lucy, Andy and Nala came to see us this month! 😃 They wanted to get in a few days skiing so booked a hotel in El Tarter for 3 nights. I joined them for 2 of the days. The first day brought a bit of fresh snow which was very welcome. The skiing was good but it was very cold - seats indoors for lunch were very hard to find! The following days were bright and sunny so they were able to make the most of the skiing.

I also enjoyed a short walk one day in the snow in the mountains with Jean Paul - it was really warm in the sun. 
Temperatures also reached 17 degrees at home for a few days so we could eat outside at lunchtime and make some progress with jobs in the garden. It has now turned very cold again  - we even had a dusting of snow here yesterday morning.

After struggling with his new knee since last June due to a cyst, Dave is now back on his e-bike so we have enjoyed a few local rides when the weather has been less cold. He has also seen an osteopath who has given him some exercises to help with the flexibility as he is still finding walking up and down slopes in particular very difficult. Hopefully he will soon by good for some more mountain walking!

Here are our photos for this month
Photos

January 2023

 

A rather late blog entry this month! January was a month of 2 halves - very mild, then very cold!
We have continued to tidy the garden and have enjoyed a few bike rides when it hasn't been too cold for our hands, and have also enjoyed a music day with our friends and a weekend staying with Richard and Yvett.

Here are a few photos for January
https://photos.app.goo.gl/mRpfSMVNNpBwi4RAA

December 2022

 Happy New Year 

from the Ariege 

November 2022

 November has been a month of 2 halves. We had some lovely warm clear days to start with, but now the rain has arrived and there is snow on the mountains. The ground certainly needed the water, but it has all come at once! We finally need to light the boiler but are trying to use it as little as possible as the price of granules has doubled! Energy prices are increasing everywhere!

We spent a very enjoyable overnight stay with Richard and Yvett in Fenouillet and also had a trip out to a couple of local villages on my birthday. It was good to meet up with old friends Lisa and Neil while they were back over here on holiday as well as lunches and dinners with friends here - a very sociable month in all!

Our album for November

October 2022

We don't have many photos this month as it has been fairly quiet and we also spent a very nice couple of weeks in England with the family. 

Its still very warm and dry so we haven't needed to light the boiler yet, which is just as well as wood granules have been in short supply so far. We drove back to England this time and happily just about times it either side of the fuel workers strike here, but we hear it was chaotic while it lasted

The above couple of photos are of the latest brolly decorations in Pamiers town centre, and another view from my favourite bike ride

September 2022

 

The days are drawing in now and mornings and evenings getting much cooler. The farmers have been busy preparing the fields for winter planting but the ground is still so dry that it has created clouds of dust!
The past few days have brought some rain though, so everything is starting to turn green again.

I spent a week back in Engand - mostly to look after Siena while Dan and Jess went to a wedding, and to give Jess a hand while Dan was on a residential assessment course to become a police dog-handler The visit co-incided with the Queen's death and funeral which meant that Dan also to work very long hours. As a result I didn't see much of him, but was able to give Jess a hand with the children.
Dan got the job as a dog-handler as well, which was great news. He will start that next year.

 It was good to see Lucy and Dad as well of course....but didnt see much of Andy as he got Covid!

Dave kept busy here with the garden and enjoyed the last few hot days of summer!

Lesley's photos
Dave's photos