Despite the global onset of Covid 19 we were still able to get over to France for a short break.
It seems like an eternity since we were last in France. Covid 19 became a global pandemic in January 2020 and the ordered, stable world that we have known changed almost overnight. Face masks and a ‘stay-at-home’ order had meant that most people have stayed indoors, working from home (home-working) but we are not going to rant on about Covid in this blog because we are going to stick to the subject in hand which is our holiday in Rohan and what we were and were not able to do.
As usual we took some photographs and I will inlay them into this blog.
Wow - What a Roof
Over the course of the time that we have owned the house we have had a couple of problems with the house. One of those main problems has been the roof. From time to time tiles have slid from the roof and we have had to have work done (which has generally been patching). A year or so ago we decided that the roof required replacement. We obtained a few quotes and then we decided to have the roof replaced by Mr Stephen Fishlock ( http://www.roofersinbrittany.com/en/ ). The roof was replaced last November and by all accounts the weather was really wet and windy but despite the elements Mr Fishloch still did a first class job. New galvanized drainpipes were provided together with some new galvanized guttering. All of the edges of the roof and the exposed roof beams were covered with tiles. Galvanized tile pins were used (so this should help with the longevity of the roof ) and the apex of the roof was covered with terracotta ridging. A new velux window was also introduced which it was hoped would bring some much needed light into the house.
So much more than a little illumination.
Even though the roof has made the house look much smarter and has provided vital protection for the building against the elements it is in the inside of the house that the roof has made the biggest difference due to the introduction of a reasonably small Velux window which has turned the once dark and uninviting staircase landing into a really well illuminated space. The photographs below show just how much light is now pouring into the house form the roof area and exposes the beautiful wooden (original) floor and the stone wall.
New Fridge - What New Fridge
Yes, we had to buy a new fridge. It was’nt that the old fridge was old and clapped out but it had gone a funny kind of yellow since someone had left some food in for a few months or so ( yuk ). A new, bigger fridge with a larger freezer section wsa purchased and Eddie and myself collected it with E&L installing it and made the necessary adjustments to the kitchen.
Lazy Days in the Garden
Having a holiday means that if you wish to do nothing then you can do just that. We had several days where we just enjoyed the sunshine and the countryside together with some good food and wine.
Visit to Our Favourite Pizza Restaurant
No visit to Rohan is complete without at least one trip to our favourite pizza restaurant ‘Le Petit Tonneau’ . Even under Covid 19 conditions the restaurant thrives. Its absolutely necessary to book and we did witness peopole being turned away. As always the pizzas were great and the house red is fine and reasonably inexpensive.
The restaurant is suituated on the bank of the Nantes-Brest canal so on this occasion we were able to watch a craine bird strutting around together with an otter. Normally boats do pass as they go down the canal and there are normally some fishermen trying their luck
Back to the Beach ( La Plage - Mendu )
We always like a trip to the beach or two. On this trip we went to both Mendu and Berger where we had a great ( but short ) walk.
Lazy Alex and No Jamie
This year James decided that he would not come with us but would stay at his new base in Durham and complete his work for Laid Law. I think that it was the first time that we have been to France without the four of us ( disciounting the early days when Alex was not with us of course ), we did of course call Jamie up on the interweb so althouh he was not physically present he was not forgotten.
With his long, long break from school Alex has changed his daytime hours and instead of getting up at say 7 am for school he has now adopted a more casual approach to living and generally rises sometime after 11:30 am. On holiday this gets extended further to maybe 12 or 12:30
Warm and Wet on Lac De Duc
Alex , Jean and myself decided that we should go and pay a visit to Lac Du Duc. Lac Du Duc is a 30 minute drive from the house and it is a great area for water sports, table tennis, walking and it is just a pleasant area to be in. On the day we went it was really hot. Alex and I decided that we would lile to go kyaking for an hour, this is something that I have not done for quite a while and the last time I went was with Jamie on the Nantes-Brest canal near Josselyn where I struggled to make headway but was great at spinning round. But on this occasion with Alex we were able to paddle all over the top section of the lake, avoiding the water skiiers and the pedallos. It was great, we both jousted with each other and we came back really wet but because of the heat we soon dried – it was great. I think that the next time we go we will have to do a 2 hour stint (rather than just the hour ) and venture further down lake. Once we finished we of course met up with Jean then back home in time for afternoon tea.
Another visit to the outdoor art gallery that is 'La Gacilly'
It seems that every time we go and visit Brittany we go to ‘La Gacilly’. La Gacilly is a small town that opens its doors to visitors all year round by turning itself into an open air photographic gallery. Usually there is a theme OR there are views of the world taken by a series of talented photographers both old and new.
This year we were most impreseeed with the images that were captures of Gold Miners in Brazilia. Normally we would not re-photograph a photograph but this year we just could not help but try and recapture what we viewed at the exhibition.
The Journey Home
LEven though wewere only in France for 2 weeks it was a really refreshing break. The weather had been great with long warm sunny days. Most days the temperature was in the hig 20’s though on one occasion it did reach 35 Centigrade.
We were to depart form the house at 7:00 am but with the final jobs that we had to do we eventually setoff at 7:20. We had to be at the port early due to Covid 19 restrictions and changes.
As can be seen from the images below the sea was calm and the day was hot, the ship seemed to be deserted. I spent some of the time at the rear of the ship on deck 7 just looking out to sea and admiring the view which was beautiful, blue and calm ( it was like being on a Carribean cruise ).
Then back to Blighty and Home
This holiday break was unlike any other in some cases and even though there were the Covid 19 restrictions and even though people had to wear masks and socially distance themselves form each other, apart from the ferry crossing ( where the ship was like the Mary Celest ) the holiday was more or less what we would have on a 2 week trip. Border control at Portsmouth seemed to be checking everyones car ( for illegal immigrants ) but we even avoided that and the car journey home was ( apart form the 2 turnings that i missed ) was reasonably uneventful so it was a good end to a good trip.
