A celebration for WPH!

Strictly speaking Father's Day is still three days away but we decided to celebrate today. WPH has been extremely busy here over the past few weeks.... tree felling, grass cutting, painting and repairing have all featured on his 'to do' lists. Time then to take a much needed break.

Le Carre des Gourmets, newly opened in St Antonin, was our choice for a special lunch. Choosing a new restaurant may sound a bit risky but not when you already know the reputation of the owners and their chef.

Frederic and Veronique Raffi moved their business to this vacated riverside hotel during the winter. Builders and decorators have transformed the old 'pink hotel' into a stylish and attractive restaurant. Once the scaffolding disappeared it was placed on our must visit list. Today was not really warm enough for eating on the terrace but the views from it were still amazing.

WPH and I chose the menu decouverte, a set menu offered at weekday lunchtimes. For any foodie readers the actual menu can be seen on their website http://www.carredesgourmets.fr/mets.fr/

I had of course taken my camera but forgot to take a photo of the mise en bouche until I had nearly finished it....my apologies. However the crevette ile flottant was as tasty as its name suggests.

Other courses followed and believe me they were all delicious.

as were the liquid additions.

Happy Father's Day WPH!

Oh my goodness!

Yes, I really ran for my camera when I saw this amazing sight yesterday.

These are two western whip snakes (non venomous!) in an amorous clinch.

'Let's go for a walk'

Over the years WPH and I have enjoyed discovering many of the 'petites randonnees', (round walks), which abound in this area of France. Needless to say I am thrilled to be back in my walking shoes this summer and able to tackle some of the longer promenades. Last Sunday was perfect walking weather, not too hot, dry and with a gentle breeze. We chose a local walk we had done before, taking in two substantial hills which offer wonderful views.

Wild flowers, including orchids, were everywhere and my camera was soon clicking away.

We heard golden orioles, summer visitors from Africa, with their tropical throaty birdsong and WPH was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the golden flash as one flew past. Two and a half hours later and we made it home. I was very gratified when I glanced down at my pedometer.

6.8 miles is my longest walk for quite some time!

The things I do in France....

I've always been keen on the great outdoors and here in France there's always something outside demanding our attention. Today, having looked at the weather forecast, WPH decided he needed to cut the grass in the field before 'les orages' (thunderstorms) rendered the long grass saturated. The sit on mower, WPH's boys' toy, has had a dodgy battery for at least two years now. This hasn't been too much of a problem with jump leads and some assistance from yours truly, transferring revs from car to mower. Normally I sit in the car on the very steep hill adjacent to our garden, while WPH does the clever bit with the jump leads through a fence. Today however was different. Maybe I am becoming protective towards my new hip but I found myself suggesting we push the mower up the very steep hill and into the drive, so that I didn't feel so precarious sitting in the car, totally blocking the lane, but vulnerable to speeding Frenchmen, whilst revving the car. There is no photographic evidence of us pushing the mower but believe me it is a steep hill and the mower is very heavy but we finally made it!

Some expert revving and soon the mowing was underway.

Yet again I find myself thinking how lucky I am to be able to do crazy things like pushing a heavy mower up a very steep hill with la nouvelle hanche. I know of two people who are having major hip operations today and I hope their outcomes are as positive as mine. One is Beth, aged 8, and the other is J's friend. I wish them both well and hope they are also doing crazy things before too long...

She who dares ......

I realise that almost a month has passed since my last blog. No reason really but it may reflect the way life has settled down as a hipster. However significant improvements continue to take me by surprise and therefore others, facing a hip replacement, may be encouraged by my recent log of achievements.

• The other day I ran indoors spontaneously as it began to rain. I contemplated running a marathon too...not for long BUT the thought was there!


• When I rose from a chair yesterday I no longer needed to stand for a few seconds to collect my muscular strength before walking.


• Getting in and out of the car is a doddle and I managed the long drive down to our French home with minimal stiffness.


• I can now lift quite heavy items and carry them without pain.

But best of all is what I managed to do this morning. I was feeling a bit daring do... WPH says he is glad to see this aspect of my personality re-emerging. I decided to throw caution to the wind and handed him the camera....

And here is the evidence. I can SQUAT! Yippee.

Some intensive hip physiotherapy

Last week we returned from a wonderful six days in Venice where we had been celebrating our Ruby Wedding. This perfect romantic venue was planned last November, when I was newly bionic; the medieval part of the city, without cars, would provide plenty of walking opportunities.

After surviving a full body scan (fellow hipsters beware!) at Heathrow....despite my protestations about having a hip replacement and producing a card from the hospital to confirm it, I decided I was up for anything. Just as well. Standing, let alone balancing in the high speed water taxi, which transported us from the airport to Venice proper, tested all of my leg muscles.

But the first sight of St Mark's Basilica from the water was unforgettable.

And my first cappucino confirmed we had chosen the perfect destination.

The canals are never far away when walking around this special place and getting anywhere involves crossing the water several times. With more than two hundred bridges to go at there is plenty of choice for pedestrians! The Rialto bridge bustles with tourists, shops and vendors and once negotiated, leads to the vibrant fish market.

'Step ups' and 'step downs' were literally the order of the day as each bridge was traversed. Wasted muscles gathered strength daily as the intensive bridge therapy began to take effect.

And climbing fifty steep steps up to the balustrading on San Marco provided views of the Doge's Palace and a real sense of achievement, as well as terror for those more vertically challenged.


Full marks to the hip then....and what memories we have.

Back on the bike

I have really forgotten when I last cycled, but it was probably about a year ago. To coin a phrase, it became too difficult to get my leg over and too dangerous to stop and put my right foot to the ground, as the old hip steadily declined. The bike languished in the shed throughout the winter, gathering dust and cobwebs but with Spring beginning to appear and my improved hip confidence I decided to give it an airing last weekend. Cycling is an approved activity for hipsters like me as it is non impact and uses the wasted muscles in the hip and thigh very effectively. Time then to put myself to the test....

WPH kindly pumped up the tyres, the frame was wiped down and I managed the leg over bit without a twinge. Fantastic! Imagine my surprise though, when I glanced down into the bike's wicker basket....

.......there was a beautiful nest, literally nestling at the bottom of the basket, composed of leaves, moss and hair, but now forgotten. Cobwebs suggest it had been there since last summer, a wonderful hideaway for one of our garden visitors. Out came the bird books and the following description seems to fit.

'the nest, usually with a frontage of dead leaves, is made of moss and lined with hair, and is placed in some sort of hollow: in a bank, wall, tree-stump, old tin, and in many curious places, even in occupied houses.'

I feel very honoured that our friendly robin made such good use of my inactivity in such a curious place!