The Gite Bit

*Warning: photo heavy!*

Thank you for the lovely welcome home comments on part 1 - Toulouse is great! And lovely Floss (who lives there) has offered to get the bear! How ace is that?

So, after Toulouse we tootled Northwards a little. Our gite was in the Tarn-et-Garonne region, kind of in between Bordeaux and Toulouse.

The house is part of a tiny Hamlet called Le Pouch and had tons of space inside and out - perfect for boisterous boys.

The owners Zena and Ian lived there for 2 years whilst renovating it and only started renting it out commercially last summer.  

The red cupboard houses the old prune oven in the lounge!

The nearest town is Montaigu de Quercy

Look at that little cottage - so pretty. And with the keys in the door!

 

We spent our time...

I managed 9 books - a  most random list!!

I didn't let him beat me. He thinks he's smarter than me and every now and then I need to remind him he isn't. YET

view from the pool!

Bonaguil Castle

 

 

 

 and lots and lots of

 The local markets didn't disappoint. Full of colour:

 and wonderful food:

We planned to do very little but the little Bastide towns in the area were so gorgeous we had to visit.

 [a 'Bastide' is a fortified town built during the 13th and 14th century, largely in the SW France. They typically have a central square surrounded by arcades and a grid layout]

Monflanquin is frequently listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France:

 

 and Penne d'Agenais was also charming

and very artsy with galleries galore

but my favourite was Lauzerte (another of 'most beautiful village')

The town square was perfect and all the shop signs were metal pieces of art

the animal one is for the local vet!

In one corner of the square the floor had been pulled up like the page in a book 

- with coloured tiles underneath!

I love how in France even the dullest town is made 

colourful with bunting!

...and every other door is a photo opportunity...

The Granny joined us for the last few days - bravely hiring a car from the airport and driving herself to our gite AT NIGHT! 

We were initially excited, then worried, then full of respect that she did it!

You rock Granny!

It wasn't ALL sunshine and light. Whilst we were away a little friend of ours died from cancer. Beautiful Lydia was only 7. Anyone who has read my blog for a while will know that we are more aware than most that this could very easily have been us.

Her family have been amazingly strong and an inspiration to everyone who knows them. We had a little pause in our holiday antics whilst her funeral was taking place but they will all be in our thoughts over the next few months as they come to terms with all they have been through.

Coincidentally we share the same Oncologist as Lydia and had an appointment to see her today. Yesterday it was cancelled - and we were just as pleased. We're hoping to be given the final all clear for Kenzie, -and nervously excited as we are, it just felt wrong to celebrate that this week.

BUT because we know how very lucky we are we make sure we treasure our precious time with our boys. Even when they're hard work!

fee x

ps here are the details for the gite. Zena was most accommodating and I'd highly recommend their labour of love!

www.ownersdirect.co.uk/france/fr6713.htm