Grapes outside my window (and plums too)...............

These grapes hang directly outside my study/workshop - I am a lucky man to have such a view.

And above are the plums; so why not use them for a still-life before eating......Oh, and the super stoneware urn is available in my shop HERE

A day in the sun.......

With beautiful weekend weather, albeit a real scorcher, I hit the road on Sunday morning and traveled further afield covering 130 miles to visit three different flea markets where there was also some antique shops, too. Again, pickings were slim, two of the venues being complete wash-outs but what I did manage to find my customers are sure to appreciate. 

At the end of the day and in a very small village in south west France, I took advantage of the outstanding scenery offering some great photo opportunities, and despite having left my 'real' camera at home utilized my phone which took surprisingly nice pictures. 

This gorgeous chateau is open for guided tours for just 6 euros but unfortunately was closed when I visited.  As a side note, closing 'shop' is a common pattern I've noticed in my region of France, bars, restaurants, shops, swimming pools, etc, all regularly closed on days that would prove to be very profitable; but why? Yes, yes - I agree, being laid back is all well and good, but many small businesses seem to close at irregular times, even on work days, which makes me wonder how on earth they survive? After all, it's not as though there are not plenty of great opportunities to close-up and chill out, such as during the long, boring winter months here when you're lucky to see any human beings!

In front of the chateau is an absolutely gorgeous restaurant with seating under umbrellas, and also loungers next to the river with a table each to place your drink and snack.  I might also mention, the river is clear and clean and you can see the fish swimming around. You can  notice a distinct lack of customers - I guess it was too early in the day as their menu board stated they were fully booked. I truly want to visit this place for drink and a meal - I really want to so badly - just not on my bloody own!

To take the photos of the chateau I am standing in front of an ancient stone bridge. If you turn around to view the other side you'll see the above, and please note, yet another beautiful restaurant.  It was so hot I felt like wading into the river but of course, didn't! 

I was standing across the road for so long trying to take a photo without people in the way, that I didn't stop to consider the photo would be rather boring with no human activity. Anyway, for just for a second the coast was clear - so this is a lovely wine shop minus any lovely people.

Okay, until my next post, au revoir.

Today's photo................

Someone is busy at work in my garden.........

Slim pickings..........

My weekend's buying trips produced very slim pickings which makes me realise I'm going to have to venture further afield to find items for my Etsy store. I suppose this is an advantageous situation, as surely now I can get to explore new areas, although it will also mean bigger fuel bills and other expenses. And just think, if I wanted to, I could jump in my Golf and drive to Spain, Italy, Germany or any other part of Europe I wished! That thought has always given me a big kick and is surely something to appreciate, even more so now, as who knows when this will all change.

At the moment I am being very careful with my euros, the fiasco in the UK meaning I'm living in the shadows of ex-pat uncertainty. I could talk about how frustrated I feel, seeing  the instigators of the UK's current situation jumping ship to make my country look even more laughable, but I won't. In fact I have just deleted a 'War and Peace' length mega-paragraph of thoughts on the subject - there are others more well-versed who can do the subject better justice and with decidedly more eloquence. 

Anyway, I digress! I am looking forward to seeing more of France so now seems the perfect time for some extended weekend buying trips!