What happened to May?

The second weekend in May is the Bandas festival in Condom with three days of music and merry-making.  We went with (French) friends and a jolly good time was had by all especially as the Montreal band won a prize for best local band and another for musical quality.  They've never done that before so were as high as kites.

We worked on the bathroom a bit.

Then there was a mid-week walk at Montreal with the people and families from the local home for people with learning difficulties (very appropriate for our French!) where we met some lovely people over another long lunch.  Next day (Ascension) was off with the walking group for four days in the gorge of the Aveyron river.  Weather wasn't particularly good with heavy rain at times, but very convivial all the same.  We walked (sometimes in the wrong direction!), visited castles, caves and towns and even ate and drank a bit.  We shared a mobile home with two English ladies who have become good friends.

                                           This notice is at the top of a really steep climb!

Then we worked on the bathroom a bit.

For four weeks there's 'art' in five different places in the area, some a bit strange but one fantastic bit of computer-generated rose windows projected onto a huge sphere in small church.  The pattern changed all the time - quite stunning, like a giant kaleidoscope .

This one was in the gardens of private chateau.  The art wasn't up to much but the chateau is beautiful.

And we worked on the bathroom a bit!

We had hoped to have the bathroom finished by the end of May, but...

...it is finished now.

If more enjoyment doesn't get in the way too much, it's the bureau and bedroom 2 next.  Although, having said that, today was a meeting of the quilles group with aperitif provided by one whose birthday it was, and the next two weekends seem to be full already!  Judy will be playing for one of the ladies' teams next Saturday.  Team Z I think.  But we have also found someone who wants to play petanque in the next village fete so we'll be a team of three, I just hope he's not too good as we definitely aren't!

Along the way the plumber finally arrived to install our solar hot water system and we spent an hour with a very helpful French tax inspector and later managed to fill in our French tax declarations.  But we're still waiting for quotes for the final render coat outside.  We've also organised a trip to Oz from the beginning of November until 10th January, including a bit of work for Chris in Perth and a conference in Sydney before heading to Donna's for Christmas and New Year.  Really looking forward to this.  Donna has a new job which she is really enjoying so finally all is good for her.  We'll also get to meet our step grandson which will be nice especially as it looks like he'll be the only grandchild we'll have!