I’ve said it before and, no doubt, I’ll say it many more times – both in this blog and elsewhere – Life here is good.  Yes, we are incredibly privileged in that we are able to spend 2-3 months a year here, but please don’t believe that we take it for granted.  It is probable that, as we’re only here for relatively short periods instead of full time, our honeymoon with France will be longer than normal. But I don’t see this as a problem.

The view from our terrace(s) provides a constantly changing canvas of activities to regard: the fishermen quietly idling away a few hours, people canoeing down the Dordogne, older folks sitting enjoying the view, (previously mentioned) teenagers canoodling where they think no-one is watching, the diverse bird life – swans drifting serenely, herons poised expectantly, ducks dabbling busily, moorhens diving, a kingfisher hunting, and our beloved swifts (house martins too) providing us with hours of summer entertainment as they swoop above our heads in search of insects.

Last weekend this view was augmented by the arrival of a Poney Club (yes,that’s how it is spelt here (and that’s the English version of “spelled”!)) camping trip. The ponies were tethered in a long line between two trees, and it was only when they were unsaddled that we realised that they were staying the night.  The girls were lucky, as it was a warm and dry night for them to sleep close to the horses.

The following morning there were about 17 small heaps of sleepers who slowly got up, gathered their bed rolls and made use of the loos and showers at Sainte-Foy Plage.

Sadly, there was a down-side to this – the horses were left tethered in the same spot for almost 24 hours.  Where their riders went that morning is beyond me, but by mid-afternoon there were a lot of displeased and distressed ponies whinnying for relief from the intense sun and what must have been quite a thirst, plus boredom.  Before long a large trailer and a few smaller ones arrived, and everyone drove home.