The weather so far this month has been changeable with quite a lot of rain, which of course means we have lots of snow up at La Mongie and the ski resort is opening on the 29th Nov, which is 2 weeks earlier than usual.
People have been going up the mountain with their cross country ski’s, so it looks like we are going to have a good season this year.
We have also had some lovely hot and sunny days as well. I have been out on both my MTB & road bike 4 times in the last 8 days. Steve and I drove over to the Lourdes valley on Sunday with our mountain bikes and spent a lovely day riding up the valley next to the river where there are some nice single tracks running parallel to a cycle path which is a disused railway track and has been developed for cycling, walking, skating.
This is a pic that I took just past Argeles-Gazost.
There is a new Ryanair flight going from Stanstead to Tarbes/Lourdes starting on the 20th of December (20 mins drive from Bagneres) flying from Saturday to Saturday for the ski season. Hopefully if there is a good demand for the route it will continue during the summer.
Andrew is flying with his snowboard from Luton to Biarritz for 10 days over Christmas, arriving the day before his 25th Birthday. It is an easy drive from there. Steve prefers driving to Biarritz rather than Toulouse, although it is further it takes about the same time to drive.
Gary was made redundant at the end of September, the company he had been working for the last 4 years went into liquidation. He is working for an agency he has worked for in the past as a Landscape gardener, temporarily, until he can find another permanent job on a similar salary that he was earning in his last company. Both Gary and Eli have both got part time jobs at the local Leisure centre to help supplement the shortfall to their income. They both seem very positive and Gary has a few irons in the fire as far as a permanent job is concerned.
We will have to get our ski stuff this week and check it out for the start of the season on the 29th. I can’t believe how quickly it has come round.
Steve and I were up at La Mongie bright and early on the 29th Nov for the lifts to open at 9am. Steve and I had a great day skiing. We managed to go skiing about 8 times before picking Andrew up from Biarritz on Sat 20th Dec and we still managed to have an afternoon on the pistes. Andrew enjoyed being back on his snowboard again.
It was Andrew’s 25th birthday on the 21st Dec and you can guess where we spent the day. Yes! That’s right on the pistes.
Luckily we only had a few guests during Andrews stay so managed between Steve and me to take Andrew snowboarding most days. Christmas as usual was spent skiing/snowboarding with an early evening Christmas dinner. A perfect day!
We had a New Years Eve party with about 50 guests. The party went very well and everyone seemed to enjoy them selves. Sorry for all our friends back in the UK who used to come to our New Years Eve parties every year, you were all missed.
From New Year’s Eve for the next week we were very busy everyone was here for the skiing and the weather was great.
Sunday, 17 May 2009
OCTOBER 2008
Steve went back to the UK to visit his mum and dad on the 18th for 5 days. He popped into his cousin Colin and caught up with all Colin and Jane’s family news before making his way to North Camp to spend the evening with Gary and Eli, taking them both our for a meal at a new local Nepalees restaurant for a curry.
Sunday he caught up his old drinking buddy Bill and guess what they had for dinner, that’s right yet another curry.
On Monday he drove up to his parents spending 2 days with them, he thought that they both looked well, his mum couldn’t wait till she could get the plaster off her leg and she could get about under her own steam again.
Steve drove down to Bedford to meet Andrew after he finished work and they went out for dinner, catching up on all the news before leaving late that night to get to Stanstead for his early flight on Wednesday back to Pau. He had left his car in the long stay car park, which was reasonably priced for 5 days and it meant that I didn’t have to drive him to Pau and pick him up again. He was pleased to be back in France.
Sunday he caught up his old drinking buddy Bill and guess what they had for dinner, that’s right yet another curry.
On Monday he drove up to his parents spending 2 days with them, he thought that they both looked well, his mum couldn’t wait till she could get the plaster off her leg and she could get about under her own steam again.
Steve drove down to Bedford to meet Andrew after he finished work and they went out for dinner, catching up on all the news before leaving late that night to get to Stanstead for his early flight on Wednesday back to Pau. He had left his car in the long stay car park, which was reasonably priced for 5 days and it meant that I didn’t have to drive him to Pau and pick him up again. He was pleased to be back in France.
SEPTEMBER 2008
My French lessons started again at the beginning of the month. I think learning French will be a life long endeavour for me. I definitely know more French than I did before I started the classes, including a lot about the French culture.
We had managing to keep another 3 nights clear of bookings and we went camping again for another 3 nights but this time to the Med, just south of Perpignan at Canet Plage, we had a great view of Étang de Canet from the front of our tent and could watch the flamencos and herons on the lake.
We enjoyed time exploring the area and spent time on the beach. Steve also did a little fishing. One evening Fiona and I were going to do a little shopping while steve fished from the harbour before dinner and out of no where it suddenly started to rain, then there was a tremendous storm, thunder and lightning & torrential rain, everyone was caught unaware and got completely soaked. Fiona and I sat out the storm in a café drinking coffee and Steve sat waiting for the storm to pass so that he could fish, but by the time it did finish it was too dark for fishing.
We visited Carcasonne on our way back to Bagneres. We had never been there before and will definitely return, you could quite easily spend a whole day there. We were pleasantly surprised that the price of eating out there seemed reasonable, with a good variety of food available. We were quite surprised that there were several places that you were charged to enter, rather than just one entry charge. There is enough to walk round see and without paying for entry into the other areas for a first visit and that is what Steve, Fiona & I did, as we were only there for a couple of hours.
We arrived back in Bagneres on Friday, Steve had to take friends to Toulouse at 5am on Saturday morning and Fiona was flying back to Edinburgh from Toulouse on Saturday, late afternoon. We had a quiet relaxed Sunday as you can imagine.
When we have guests it can be a bit of a struggle, as I have French lessons Mon, Tue & Thur mornings in Tarbes and I have to leave home about 8.20, and Steve has his building work, luckily he is working in town at the moment which makes things a little easier.
Steve went off for a golfing weekend with a group of Brits and French from Bagneres golf club, for a competition between the two groups which started last year and looks as if it is going to be an annual event.
I went to the UK on the 19th to spend a week with my mother while my sister Wanda and brother in-law Carl go on holiday in the sun for a week. As usual I have tried to fit everything in while I am there. I arrived in Stanstead and drove down to Owlsmoor where I have a dental appointment for a check up. Stayed the night with Gary & Eli and Wendy (my hairdresser for the last 10yrs) cut my hair on Saturday morning, before I drove up to the north stopping at Newport Pagnell for lunch with Andrew. Arriving at my mothers on Saturday afternoon. I was able to catch up with my sister Louise and brother William and old school friend. Nina. The following Saturday afternoon I will drive down to Gt. Gonerby just north of Grantham to visit Steve’s parents, his mum has broken her leg and is a wheel chair and being looked after by Steve’s father. They seem to be happy to be back living in England after almost 2 decades living abroad in Australia and France for the last 2 years. I flew from Stanstead to Pau on their 6.20 flight on Sunday the 28th.
We had managing to keep another 3 nights clear of bookings and we went camping again for another 3 nights but this time to the Med, just south of Perpignan at Canet Plage, we had a great view of Étang de Canet from the front of our tent and could watch the flamencos and herons on the lake.
We enjoyed time exploring the area and spent time on the beach. Steve also did a little fishing. One evening Fiona and I were going to do a little shopping while steve fished from the harbour before dinner and out of no where it suddenly started to rain, then there was a tremendous storm, thunder and lightning & torrential rain, everyone was caught unaware and got completely soaked. Fiona and I sat out the storm in a café drinking coffee and Steve sat waiting for the storm to pass so that he could fish, but by the time it did finish it was too dark for fishing.
We visited Carcasonne on our way back to Bagneres. We had never been there before and will definitely return, you could quite easily spend a whole day there. We were pleasantly surprised that the price of eating out there seemed reasonable, with a good variety of food available. We were quite surprised that there were several places that you were charged to enter, rather than just one entry charge. There is enough to walk round see and without paying for entry into the other areas for a first visit and that is what Steve, Fiona & I did, as we were only there for a couple of hours.
We arrived back in Bagneres on Friday, Steve had to take friends to Toulouse at 5am on Saturday morning and Fiona was flying back to Edinburgh from Toulouse on Saturday, late afternoon. We had a quiet relaxed Sunday as you can imagine.
When we have guests it can be a bit of a struggle, as I have French lessons Mon, Tue & Thur mornings in Tarbes and I have to leave home about 8.20, and Steve has his building work, luckily he is working in town at the moment which makes things a little easier.
Steve went off for a golfing weekend with a group of Brits and French from Bagneres golf club, for a competition between the two groups which started last year and looks as if it is going to be an annual event.
I went to the UK on the 19th to spend a week with my mother while my sister Wanda and brother in-law Carl go on holiday in the sun for a week. As usual I have tried to fit everything in while I am there. I arrived in Stanstead and drove down to Owlsmoor where I have a dental appointment for a check up. Stayed the night with Gary & Eli and Wendy (my hairdresser for the last 10yrs) cut my hair on Saturday morning, before I drove up to the north stopping at Newport Pagnell for lunch with Andrew. Arriving at my mothers on Saturday afternoon. I was able to catch up with my sister Louise and brother William and old school friend. Nina. The following Saturday afternoon I will drive down to Gt. Gonerby just north of Grantham to visit Steve’s parents, his mum has broken her leg and is a wheel chair and being looked after by Steve’s father. They seem to be happy to be back living in England after almost 2 decades living abroad in Australia and France for the last 2 years. I flew from Stanstead to Pau on their 6.20 flight on Sunday the 28th.
AUGUST 2008
Steve and I were both quite busy this month but managed to have a few days away camping at the beginning of the month to the Atlantic coast where we thought we would have a surfing lesson, wow! Hard work, we will probably hire a board some time if the weather conditions were good but won’t be taking it up seriously. At the end of the month Fiona arrived for her holiday, she flew from Edinburgh to Toulouse for the first time and found the flight quick and easy.
We went camping for 3 nights on the Atlantic coast just a few miles north of Hossegor & Cap Breton, we explored further up the coast and went to Léon on recommendation and loved it there, there was a large lake with water sports available, we hired a 3 man canoe and spent an hour exploring the lake. There are easy cycle paths all over the area, we couldn’t believe the number of people on bikes. The beach is only about 10 mins away, so you have the best of both worlds. We will definitely by going back there.
We had to return to Bagneres for the arrival of guests we were expecting for 5 nights.
We went camping for 3 nights on the Atlantic coast just a few miles north of Hossegor & Cap Breton, we explored further up the coast and went to Léon on recommendation and loved it there, there was a large lake with water sports available, we hired a 3 man canoe and spent an hour exploring the lake. There are easy cycle paths all over the area, we couldn’t believe the number of people on bikes. The beach is only about 10 mins away, so you have the best of both worlds. We will definitely by going back there.
We had to return to Bagneres for the arrival of guests we were expecting for 5 nights.
JULY 2008
BOB members from the UK Clive Ely and Paul Howard (our web master) arrived for a 2 week stay over the ETAPE & TOUR weeks.
Sue Frazer and her boyfriend Michelle stayed with us for the 3 nights of the ETAPE weekend and Steve dropped her off at Pau for the ETAPE on Sunday.
We watched the ETAPE group going past our house on route for the Tourmalet and cheered on both Sue and Nicky and acted as their water & loo stop. We were very impressed that they completed the ETAPE ride in weather conditions that could have been better.
The Tour de France had a finish stage in Bagneres down by the river on the 13th July and on the following day the 14th the TOUR passed by our house ‘DEEZARK’ on route for the Tourmalet. On the second day Steve, Clive & Paul all rode further up the mountain to see the Tour and found a great spot looking down the valley with views of the riders as they made their way up the mountain. On the other hand I watched the TOUR go past the house in comfort from the roof of our garage with Adrian (Radders) & Claire (his future wife) along with a couple of Ozzie guests,
who are living in Wimbledon for a while, Clare & Clive table, chairs, wine and a great view.
If you have EURO SPORT you would have seen our house DEEZARK on the right just as the TOUR was leaving Bagneres. Shirley (in OZ) saw the house but didn’t see us on the roof of the garage or all the BOB club tops that I had laid on the slopping part of the garage roof. I thought that the helicopters might spot them as they followed the TOUR out of Bagneres. It was all very exciting.
Paul arrived home with piles of TOUR goodies, Steve and Clive didn’t manage to do quite as well as Paul on the goodies front.
Sue Frazer and her boyfriend Michelle stayed with us for the 3 nights of the ETAPE weekend and Steve dropped her off at Pau for the ETAPE on Sunday.
We watched the ETAPE group going past our house on route for the Tourmalet and cheered on both Sue and Nicky and acted as their water & loo stop. We were very impressed that they completed the ETAPE ride in weather conditions that could have been better.
The Tour de France had a finish stage in Bagneres down by the river on the 13th July and on the following day the 14th the TOUR passed by our house ‘DEEZARK’ on route for the Tourmalet. On the second day Steve, Clive & Paul all rode further up the mountain to see the Tour and found a great spot looking down the valley with views of the riders as they made their way up the mountain. On the other hand I watched the TOUR go past the house in comfort from the roof of our garage with Adrian (Radders) & Claire (his future wife) along with a couple of Ozzie guests,
who are living in Wimbledon for a while, Clare & Clive table, chairs, wine and a great view.
If you have EURO SPORT you would have seen our house DEEZARK on the right just as the TOUR was leaving Bagneres. Shirley (in OZ) saw the house but didn’t see us on the roof of the garage or all the BOB club tops that I had laid on the slopping part of the garage roof. I thought that the helicopters might spot them as they followed the TOUR out of Bagneres. It was all very exciting.
Paul arrived home with piles of TOUR goodies, Steve and Clive didn’t manage to do quite as well as Paul on the goodies front.
JUNE 2008
Jan and Nick came to stay for a couple of nights at the beginning of the month before I went on a short visit to Nysa in Poland to visit my father and cousins. It was great to see everyone again; it was 8 years since my last visit. My cousin Jeryz and his wife Ada made sure that I was well looked after and I would just like to say a big thank you to my cousins for looking after me so well, Derek his wife Theresa, Jan and wife Annya, Kasia and son Robert (13) who acted as interpreter during my stay. Robert and Asia (Derek & Theresa’s daughter) had grown so tall since the last time I saw them and I met Jan & Annya’s 2 children for the first time.
I arrived back from to find a new Specialized Dolce road bike in front of the fireplace. (Father Christmas came early) Steve and I found the bike in a bike shop in Tarbes the week before I left for Poland. I always have problems finding bikes to fit with me only being 4ft 10ins tall or should I say small. That afternoon Steve and I went for a ride to see how I would get on with a road bike instead of a mountain bike and I can tell you it is very different.
A week later I rode up Col d’Aspin for the first time ever.
We have had guests this month from OZ, SA, NZ and of course France and the UK.
Monday, 15 September 2008
MAY 2008
The weather has been very changeable this month, not as many sunny days as usual for this time of year.
We had BOB member Sue Frazer and her friend Nicky staying with us for 4 days as a pre ETAPE training trip, they did really well and rode all the major cols they had intended to and feel better prepared for the ETAPE in June.
Andrew and his girlfriend Bibi came out for five days during the half term at the end of the month they seemed to enjoy their break and on their last night in Bagneres our niece Hayley arrived with her boyfriend Brendan, they were staying with us for a week as part of their WORLD TOUR from Oz. Andrew would have liked to have been able to spend more time with them while they were here but their dates didn’t match up but they are going to manage to get together again in the UK before Hayley and Brendan head back to OZ via Hong Kong.
We also had friends Jan & Nick visiting from the UK, they were house sitting for friends who live about 40 mins away and called into see us a couple of times when they came into Bagneres.
We had BOB member Sue Frazer and her friend Nicky staying with us for 4 days as a pre ETAPE training trip, they did really well and rode all the major cols they had intended to and feel better prepared for the ETAPE in June.
Andrew and his girlfriend Bibi came out for five days during the half term at the end of the month they seemed to enjoy their break and on their last night in Bagneres our niece Hayley arrived with her boyfriend Brendan, they were staying with us for a week as part of their WORLD TOUR from Oz. Andrew would have liked to have been able to spend more time with them while they were here but their dates didn’t match up but they are going to manage to get together again in the UK before Hayley and Brendan head back to OZ via Hong Kong.
We also had friends Jan & Nick visiting from the UK, they were house sitting for friends who live about 40 mins away and called into see us a couple of times when they came into Bagneres.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
