A regular visitor to our garden!

Scenes from our garden yesterday morning.

Wildlife isn't 'locked down'

Taking advantage of a sunny, dry afternoon to do a few things around the garden, and sit in it of course, I noticed a sharp, furry movement on our patio. A while ago I discarded a bird feeder with some mouldy old peanuts intending to empty it and clean it later. Too late, a woodmouse had beaten me to it! He scooted away every time he saw our movement but soon came back.
I decided to move the feeder off the patio and a few minutes later our mouse came back looking for his great find. He/she went away disappointed and left me feeling very guilty. I have no doubt it will soon find them in their new place though.

Updated Blog

This blog used to be called Lettres de Lavelanet from the time when we had a house in Lavelanet in the Ariege.
Since our family have all moved up to the High Peak I thought it was time for an update.
All posts with an earlier date than this are from our time in France.

Our very own Bat Cave

A few days ago, about to have a cup of coffee on our patio, I needed to raise one of our parasols. A minute later Chris said "A bird just flew out of the parasol". We were surprised at this but assumed it had found its way up inside the folded parasol by accident.

The next day, with the parasol having been folded down overnight, we again put it up around the middle of the day, and, after I had sat down I noticed something flying from the direction of the parasol towards our loggia. I thought it looked more like a bat than a bird - and indeed, on looking up in the roof of the loggia, there was the nose of a small bat poking out from between the tiles.

On the third day, we thought we should raise the parasol slowly, just in case - and there he/she was - hanging upside down inside our parasol. We folded it back down and left it to its new found daily resting place. It has been there every day since - whether we raise the parasol and disturb it for the rest of the day - or leave it in peace.

I think it is probably a Pipistrelle.

I attach a couple of photographs of our bat - if anyone thinks it is a different species, or has a similar story - I would be pleased to hear your comments.

For the moment it seems to like the shelter of our parasol during the day, and so long as it doesn't mind being disturbed sometimes, we are happy for it to continue to use it.

Did I meet a rugby hero?

Well, we are back in Lavelanet again, for the month of June. Back to a very mixed bag of weather - arrived a week ago, the first three days were nothing but sunshine followed by rain, then cloudy days - but the sun came out again today! It seems likely to continue mixed for the next few days at least.

A good drive down, stopping off in Jersey to see Wayne and Nikki. Then to St Malo, stopping for a couple of nights in Limoges - searching the porcelain, pottery and antique shops.

Seemed so easy splitting the journey into two stages, instead of 600 miles and 11 hours of driving.

Walking back from Lavelanet today - an elderly guy in a small ancient van spoke to me as I passed. When he realised I was English he spoke a few words so I asked if he spoke English. He said not really and I am sure he went on to tell me that he had picked up a bit when he played Rugby League in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand many years ago - I think he said the late fifties. I am sure he told me he was touring with the French Rugby League team. I don't know who he was, or if I understood what correctly what he said - my understanding of spoken French is not the best! However I think I will believe that I briefly met a French rugby hero!

Discovered that Dr Feelgood are playing in Lavelanet on the 3rd July. I doubt whether it will include Wilco Johnson and, of course, it cannot feature the brilliant Lee Brilleaux, but maybe the Big Figure will still be there. Looking forward to it anyway.

Also looking forward to La Fête de la Musique on 21st June.

Could be an interesting experience this weekend - there is an auction in Pamiers which we plan to go to - better not catch the actioneers' eye!

Ariege Summer

The swallows are here, the swifts have gone

The blackcap sings his lonely song

Dazzling beauty of butterfly days

Shimmering through the summer haze

Evenings are warm, days are long

The Ariege summer rolls slowly along.

Sunflowers ripen with faces aglow

Turned to the sun, each field on show

Pyrenean peaks framed with blue

’Til clouds and mist hide them from view

Ariege summer rolls slowly along

Blackcap still singing his lonely song.

Clouds and mist bring thunder and rain

Brown-burnt grass turns green again

Slugs and snails follow the dew

An evening glow worm may shine for you

Ciccadas take over the blackcap’s song

As the Ariege summer rolls slowly along.

© Donald James Dolby, August 2009