May 2013

May has been a busy month at La Maire with a number of guests, and also visits from old friends as well as Lucy and Andy. We also decided it was time we kept some animals and so we now have geese living in their own private area of the garden.

The weather has been the dominant feature of the month again with endless days of rain and the odd sunny day in between. The end of the month brings the news that there is still so much snow in the mountains that some ski resorts will open in a limited way for the weekend.

We would much rather see summer arrive now though.

Here are our photos for the month

Lesley's album

Dave's album

April 2013

Since we are no longer giving ourselves the task of taking a photo every day, our albums of the month give a rather false impression of continuous blue skies and sunshine, because its exactly those days that inspire us to take a photo! However we have had our fair share of cold and wet days in April as well. 

The month has included some more walks and a weekend away on the coast. We took advantage of a few sunny days to go camping near Argeles and were able to benefit from a luxurious campsite (at least as near to luxurious as camping can ever be!) at low season prices, as well as empty roads and beaches. It is a beautiful area and the light is especially clear at the moment.

 We have also had some busy days in the garden - both weeds and grass are growing like crazy and its time to start planting the things that we want to grow like crazy, like pot plants and vegetables!

Here are our albums for April
Lesley's album
Dave's album

March 2013

Well, the two photos above tell the story of the weather this month! More can be seen in our two albums below.
We returned to La Maire on 12th March after a busy but very enjoyable week in Maidenhead. Since returning we have received chambres d'hotes guests, both French and English, have cut the grass (several times!!), and have been out cycling. Dave went woodcutting again with our neighbours, has been preparing the vegetable gardens and started fishing again. I have been painting, cooking, did a 5 hour salsa and bachata workshop and a Saturday morning market at Revel with Jean Paul. We have also enjoyed dinners with friends and a few quiet days in watching the weather!
Looking forward to the summer!! Anyone else?!!
Lesley's album
Dave's album

February 2013

A little late this month!! 
We have just had a fabulous week skiing in Andorra with Daniel and Lucy and friends. The Pyrenees are enjoying record amounts of snow this Winter and conditions were fantastic - every run open and lots of sun in which to enjoy it. 
It was a great way to end a month that started with us both going down with the flu for a week!!
However we still had a good month, with several local walks, dinners and aperos with new and old friends, both English and French, and a day skiing at Ax as well with Lisa and Neil. 
Signs of Spring are now out in abundance and Dave has given the grass its first cut

Here are our albums for the Month
Lesley's album
Dave's album

January 2013

We had a good drive back to La Maire on 6th January despite Dave coughing and spluttering all the way with a cold that he had picked up the day before! We arrived here in fog, which lingered for the next 3 - 4 days. Eventually cabin fever threatened to engulf us so we hopped in the car with the aim to get as high as possible! We didn't need to go far above Foix to emerge above the clouds in the most beautiful sunshine and clear views over the mountains.

Since then the weather has been a real mix of rain, blustery winds, snow and sunshine, up until today when we have enjoyed our first coffee break outside this month! We have made the most of the sunny days to get out for some local walks and also managed a day skiing at Ax Bonascre, which was lovely.

It is tempting to hibernate in the cold weather, but we have been keeping busy. Dave has been finishing off some jobs around the house.....and making leek and potato soup in vast quantities! I have been painting and giving some painting classes.
You can see some of my recent paintings of the local area here on my website
originals
prints

On the social front, we hosted an aperos evening for around 40 friends and neighbours in the village - it was good to see them all and get to know them better...quite a challenge for our French though, especially after 3 weeks in the UK!!
 We also went to a dance party last weekend, run by my dance club....not much chat there, just lots of dancing and the traditional 'Galette des Rois', the cake which is baked in France to celebrate Epiphany.

We have both continued to take photos this month, without the pressure of one a day! 
Here are our albums for this month
Lesley's album
Dave's album

December photo a day albums 2012

So here we are already at the end of 2012. It has been an interesting year for us - continuing to enjoy and get settled into our life in the Ariege, establishing our chambres d'hotes business, keeping the grass cut (much more difficult than expected!!), expanding the vegetable plots, improving our grasp of the French language, meeting new people from all over the world, consolidating new friendships, and of course enjoying visits by friends and family as well as a few trips back to the UK ourselves. We have also continued to explore and get to know the local area, particularly the Pyrenees themselves (in all weathers!!), discovering the wild beauty and variety of this beautiful range of mountains.  

Taking a photo every day has been both entertaining and also a challenge at times. Its great to have a pictoral record of the year and hope they have been of some interest to all of you to whom we send them. 
We both agree however that a second year of a photo a day would become more of a chore than a challenge, so have decided just to update the blog at the end of each month with an album of photos taken as and when we have felt like taking them!  
We hope you enjoy the final 2 albums of 2012 and wish you all the very best for 2013. 

Lesley's album

Dave's album

November photo a day albums

Here are our albums for this November.
Another mixed month of weather - some lovely warm autumn sunshine and just recently, much colder temperatures and quite a lot of snow appearing on the mountains. Maybe it will be a good year for skiing!

We held a Christmas craft fair here last weekend, which was great fun and well attended.  It was good to see so many familiar faces here, but we also made new friends and met more local people, both English and French. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, so maybe it will become an annual St Victor Rouzaud event!
We hope you enjoy the photos - one more month to go!!

Lesley's Album

Dave's Album