Well, it’s certainly been a wet January so far…..

spring on the quay

now

the boat is usually on a stand - hope it's water tight

You may have heard of the two big ‘tempêtes’ that we’ve experienced here in the past week, Carmen and then Eleanor. While we have been far enough inland to be saved from the worst, we did have winds over 110kph on new year’s day. And it has been raining. Now all that water from up country is reaching us and , despite flood control measures above Bergerac, this is the highest the river has been in our six winters in Ste Foy. 

the chateau hides behind the trees above the river in summer

now the swans can almost swim up to the front door

At the height of summer, and it was a hot one last year, the river was so low that the bed was exposed in places.

it was a dry summer

the boat ramp has disappeared

These are the tops of trees - there are rose bushes beneath them

Now we are experiencing road closures along the riverside on both sides of town and some unlucky people have flooded basements. Graham has just checked our cellar - no problem.

a bit tricky on some roads

hope they moved their wine from the cellar

people ride their bikes and walk their dogs along here, normally

today !

garden gate onto the riverside walk

the quay at Ste Foy la Grande - a sunny spot to admire the view

Just as well the town is built nice and high

usually, cars park here on market day

We have the good fortune to be fairly high above the quay so we are not worried, but the amazing sight of water up to the village carpark on the other side has brought out lots of sightseers. 

Hoping for the glorious blue sky days to return soon.

 

meilleurs voeux à tout le monde

***  and I do love this joke. It says “Yesterday, a carp was snapped at 140kph !  The suspect is still on the run. If you have any information, please contact the gendarmerie”.