There is a lot more going on in the commune in the winter than in the summer. In the summer we are busy with visitors and our gite guests, gardening or sightseeing. We make litttle progress with learning French. But in the winter we enjoy the activities at the foyer rural and we have the opportunity to learn new skills and enjoy conversing with our neighbours.
It’s been a busy weekend. We both ride on Saturday mornings, getting on very well in our respective classes. The horses are wonderfully schooled. This week I rode Muscade, a pretty grey, who understood and obeyed the instructions from the monitrice before I did.
Muscade de Givry
Vannerie has resumed on a Saturday afternoon. By chance Chris and I are both making bird feeders. We are using prepared materials at the moment but soon we are going to switch to the natural willow and hazel to make the more traditional baskets. I think it is clear that my talents lie outwith basket making so I’ve been given the opportunity and the materials to try some cross-stitch and begin making cards for Christmas.
Chris beginning a new project in vannerie
In the evening we were treated to a film made by a couple who travel to exciting places around the world in their campervan. We chose to hear about their trip to the volcanos of Italy. The footage of Stromboli erupting was incredible. Apparently to get the shots the couple camped for the night on the side of the volcano. This is no longer allowed. On Mount Etna men were scooping up molten lava into moulds to make souvenirs for the tourists.
Games morning at the foyer rural
This morning was the monthly games session at the foyer rural. There is always a game of Scrabble going on which gets you familiar with all sorts of obscure French words. Today we played another game with tiles and numbers which, although simple, took a great deal of cunning.
Weatherwise it has been a beautiful weekend and to take advantage of the sunshine we went walking this afternoon. We did a circuit taking in some of the voie verte and met some of our neighbours on the way.
A Sunday afternoon walk on the voie verte
It’ll be another nice day tomorrow but later in the week it will be wet and much colder. Last chance to get the garden tidied up before the bad weather.
