French break and wedding in Belgium Part 1

Last Tuesday evening we drove to Kent and went across the channel on the Eurotunnel.
First stop France then Belgium. I was very much looking forward to seeing my parents and have some of my Mother's home made cooking! We couldn't have wished for nicer weather, really warm, sunny and azure blue skies.


I took the opportunity of catching up with some reading. I read more in those couple of days than I had done in the past four months! So wonderful to just be able to relax and not have any work to do :-)
Miss P spent a fair bit of time playing in the garden and looking out for bugs.
On one afternoon we took a stroll along the beach and visited a nearby war cemetery where soldiers and airmen from all over the world are buried. It was the first time that Miss P had visited one, she found it sad and interesting.


Making new discoveries in the garden


On Friday we left France and drove to Southern Belgium (Wallonie - French speaking part) to attend a family wedding over the Easter weekend.

On the way we drove past this sign. Each country seems to have funny place names.


We arrived on Friday afternoon at my cousin's house (my Aunt Suzy's daughter). She has a lovely big house, I couldn't resist taking a few pictures to give you a little taster of it.

These beautiful tiles are in the hallway


Very large mirror in the hallway. It used to belong to my Aunt Suzy who restored it and painted it by hand.


The door leading to the cellar


The garden shed

On Saturday morning, we all woke up early. The house was a hive of activity as around 10 of us were getting ready for the wedding, it was a great atmosphere.


Alan and I outside "Le Chateau d'Oupeye" (The town Hall) where the civil ceremony was held.






Miss P and I about to join the rest of the guests for the start of the wedding.

The rest of the wedding photos will be in Part 2 where we will be heading for the Château de Florzé...

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

The Island that inspired Agatha Christie

On Sunday, I had the sudden urge to go to the coast! Although we had quite a few other things to do (work, garden etc..) Alan felt the same, so without further delay we dropped everything and drove to South Devon.

The first place we went to was Noss Mayo, it was a lot busier than I recalled. The last time I went there was about 15 years ago or so and was not during the holiday season. So many cars this time, it was a nightmare navigating through the narrow road leading to the harbour. After a short time there we drove on to Newton Ferrers where we stopped and had a walk.


We left Newton Ferrers and headed for Bigsbury-on-Sea, on the way there we drove through Modbury, a pretty little town. Alan and I stayed there a couple of years ago.


As we arrived in Bigbury-on-Sea we were greeted with a view of Burgh Island.

It looked more like a summer's day, adults and children were playing and sunbathing on the sandy causeway.

This surfer almost knocked people down with his kite as he appeared to temporarily loose control of it. It only just missed them!


View looking back to Bigsbury-On-Sea


Pilchard Inn on the left


I was really looking forward to seeing the famous Burgh Island Hotel. Famous, as it was here that Agatha Christie wrote two of her novels "Evil under the Sun" and "And Then There Were None". Both stories are set on the island. The hotel was also used for the TV version of "Evil under the sun" with David Suchet as Poirot.

I had hoped to have afternoon tea at the hotel and perhaps get a glimpse of this beautiful room


but my hopes were dashed when I saw this sign at the entrance:

:-(( Oh well, we will just have to go and stay there some day...


I contented myself with walking around the island admiring the views all around it.










Remains of a former chapel

As I walked around I could imagine how this place might be the perfect setting for an Agatha Christie story. The Art Deco hotel, the dramatic scenery and steep cliffs...




By the time we decided to make our way back to Bigsbury-on-Sea, the tide had covered the causeway so we waited for the sea tractor.



Funny looking thing but it does its job well.



Goodbye Burgh...





Time to head back home...

I hope that you all had a good weekend.

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Thank you to Elegancemaison who added some very interesting information about Burgh Island in her comment below. Here is a picture of the book mentioned. It looks like a must have book if you are interested in Burgh Island or Agatha Christie. I shall certainly be getting a copy of it.

TEA TOWEL LOVE!

I am a big fan of tea towels! Over the years I have built up quite a collection. Some of them are over 70 years old and have been handed down the generations on the Belgian side of my family. I find tea towels so versatile, drying washing up of course but the "special" ones I use as a little table cloth, a little curtain, making cushions or simply to add a decorative touch to the kitchen.

You really cannot have too many tea towels!

I have acquired another three this week from All Tea Towels, they have a fantastic and varied selection and postage within UK is FREE! It was hard making a choice and I feel sure I'll be tempted back to that shop again in the not too distant future...When you visit their website, you will see what I mean.





This one will be perfect to use on a little table in the garden in Spring/Summer.




This one will look just right in my kitchen




There are quite a few Union Jack designs out there but this one stood out as being different, I really like it.


So lovely to see that Spring is really here at last, the weather this weekend was glorious!

A bientôt!

Isabelle X