Allez les Bleus!

'Least said, soonest mended', my mum used to say, so we won't say too much about the departure of all the home teams from the rugby world cup.
We were at the Salle Jeanne d'Arc in Chatillon again yesterday for the Wales v France match, and, although we changed our hats we were surprisingly neutral as to which team we wanted to win.

Notice they are hard hats!

Suffice to say, the French contingent in the audience were overjoyed with their win, and didn't rub it in too much. Our friend Chris took it all in good faith (he has an affinity with Wales, having worked there for a number of years).

Half time deliberations - who will win?

We'll be back there next Sunday, but I fear there will be some glum faces as New Zealand seem to be on a roll. However, stranger things have happened!


When we got back, John and Dominic (our neighbour) set about the roadworks at our entrance. We get a lot of water running down the 'drive' from Monique's place and the surface has gradually broken down - not that there was much of a good surface anyway! We decided it would be a good idea to tackle the problem before the onset of the bad weather, so the chaps took advantage of a late few days of beautiful autumn weather to tackle the problem. They dug out and laid some special gutter concrete blocks to provide a run-off for water into a current drain. In a couple of weeks we will have some gravel delivered and this will be laid over the current rubble. We need to roll it flat so will engage the local youths to help (Dom's son and his friend!)

Notice Poppy supervising!

We have started getting things organised for the winter which is a bit depressing but necessary. The potager is being turned over but I need a bit of rain to soften the ground - it sets like concrete when we don't get any rain!
I have finished sorting out the strawberry bed and have some of the suckers saved for friends who have yet to start their strawberry patches. I'm still picking raspberries which are having their last gasp before I cut them down.

John doesn't care for this time of year, but it's all part of the natural cycle - if we don't have winter we won't have all those lovely flowers and fruits come the spring and summer.