I love 'just looking'....don't you ?

It's that time of year again. The spring brocante fair at Quinconce in Bordeaux has arrived and will entice many for the next two weeks.   As so often happens for us, it was a cool cloudy day but that just makes it perfect for wandering the allées of the fair without being overwhelmed by the heat that can so often come with spring. 

does your bird need a new house...something a little more unique ?

definitely a bit of a bird house theme going this year

for the larger bird...

I’m not usually looking for anything in particular, I just like to search out the unusual, quirky, the “atypique” as they say in french.  There is such a big variety here, from “chateau chic”  to just plain junk.

toys for boys small....

...and big

Yes, I do find things that I would love to own, but then where do you put a three metre high bibliothèque , or  the iron balustrading from the external staircase of a chateau ? Gorgeous…..but !

your very own lifesize madonna

...or a domestic goddess

something musical

caretaker of the walking sticks

"les nains de jardin" in french

a little something for the stairs to your chateau

friends

?????

wouldn't this look good in your garden ? the pigeons would love it..

this old darling even brings the comforts of home
 when he works the fair 

bonne chasse mes amis

Lunch in the garden…

picked this up at a flower fair

The spring weather has finally arrived and it’s time to enjoy the garden as it is revitalised by all that sunshine.

geraniums always look happy

A friend has been back in town for a few days and we took the opportunity for a catch up. So, lunch in the garden with the usual suspects….oysters, a platter of charcuterie, fromage and a fresh baguette, and finish with strawberries and cream. And of course, a couple of very pleasant french whites.

freshly shucked oysters from l'Ile d'Oleron

 a couple of suitable whites

 

 Let summer begin ! We're ready for you..

Restocking the cellar…

With visitors from Australia due soon, we realised we are low on wine in the cellar. The result of lots of winter drinking but not being bothered to go out in the cold to buy more.

With another glorious day upon us, we drove off to the little hamlet nearby of Le Petit Paris  (delusions ?) and the Château Laulerie . This is a beautifully restored collection of farm buildings around a courtyard with a view over the lush spring countryside.

Visiting a local producer here for a tasting is nothing like the grand tasting rooms of australian vignerons.  As there was just a small room and one person running the tastings, we had to wait our turn behind an older couple and ‘grandma’ with her walking frame, who all tasted and voiced an opinion.

We were encouraged in our degustation by the lovely Mathilde. She  had just returned from a year in Sydney and had lots of positive feelings about Australia. Apparently, it is ‘trendy’ amongst young french people to take their gap year, or at least a holiday, in Australia these days. We have certainly met a few who have visited or are planning to. 

The amphora contain cabernet franc. Mathilde explained that the terracotta better ages wine from this grape. It’s the first time we have seen this used. Should be interesting to try the result.

A few boxes later and our restocking is underway.

 jours heureux à nos amis

and the second part of our visit to Sydney

guess where !

We took a couple of ferry trips  including around to Barangaroo on Darling Harbour to see the expansion of the tourist precinct and the site of another Packer casino. Just what every city needs – two casinos opposite each other on prime waterfront property.

interesting new apartments at Barangaroo
- dwarfed by more mundane tower blocks

Barangaroo apartments

a cruise ship dwarfs everything

the old waterfront warehouses have been gentrified

The Hungry Mile - so named during the depression when men lined up here
hoping for a days work on the docks

now look at it !

 

with Paul and Margaret

And lunch at the rooftop bar at Coogee Pavilion

                           

view of Coogee beach from the Pavilion 

 

trendy rooftop bar

nothing like when my grandmother lived here

Our friends introduced us to some of the new developments including the Tramshed,  and a unique pub on Millers Point. 

The ground floor of the Hotel Palisade is a typical old fashioned Sydney pub with dark brown tiled walls ( easy to wash down) and a rowdy clientele. The three levels above have been renovated, including the addition of a roof bar with magnificent views of the harbour. As the sun set we sat back with our cocktails and mood music in the background and enjoyed the show. Sydney Harbour is fabulous.

Paul, Georgina and Flyn...sharing with everyone they know ?

what a sunset !

We are blessed with some very kind friends who took us in and shared their homes with us. Thank you to Margaret and Paul, and Georgina and Paul. Looking forward to seeing you back here with us soon.