Yet again I have been remiss in updating the blog, but hopefully all will now be sorted.

It has been very hectic since we've been back and today is our 42nd Wedding Anniversary - amazing!

Latest news is as follows:

First Tuesday we were back, after yoga, I painted with the Isle of Wight Art Group at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Weather a bit fresh, and sun intermittent, but I did manage something....

Managed to paint a couple of "squibs" before they moved them.  A regatta was being held at the weekend.

Osborne House - Following Tuesday's painting.  Again sun made an appearance later in the morning.

Mottistone Manor Gardens - Yesterday we decided to go for a picnic.  Fabulous place.  Bertie had a really good run around.  Lovely colours, and very, very warm.  Think we'll come back here for another visit before we get into winter.

Today's picture. Lakeside country club at Wootton.  Again a little overcast first thing, sun only appeared about half an hour before I finished.  We are starting to get a touch of autumn colours.  Should be great in a couple of weeks.

And of course one of the very important event.  On Sunday Perry cycled round the Island.  (He said he was only going to do half, but I knew he would do the lot).  He managed to get a medal (I should think so too), which he let Bertie wear for the rest of the evening.

Should is still uncomfortable, but I will be going for physio soon.  As today is our wedding anniversary I suppose I had better rush off into the kitchen now and make a bit attempt at making something edible.

Saturday 23rd august - Combourg. Weather still unsettled. As usual I listened to someone else's suggestion and ended up painting something I had no enthusiasm for!

Sunday - Bazouges la Perouze - really don't like this place. Weather again unsettled,but at least I think this turned out to be the best picture I've done this summer - and of course it's the last one for me!
 Saw a programme on dog behaviour, so now Bertie is having training lessons. However he prefers foraging for blackberries.

We are now in our last week here and beginning to get things ready for the return. Have to get van ready for its winter rest home.
 Frozen shoulder is still frozen. Had dinner with Mike and Fay yesterday. Great, but over ate again. Guess what - forecast is for good weather!

 Bazouges la Perouze

 Combourg

Thursday 14th August - left for St Benoit des Ondes where we had superb mussels and chips. Unfortunately after that the heavens opened! Went to Jugon les Lacs where it was still raining hard.
Friday painting - ok, but overcast in morning,then started raining again.

Bit wishy washy but never mind. Decided not to go on to Quintin and moved to a nice aire near Pleslan.
Saturday lunch at Hirel  via Lidl at St Malo. Then headed home - no rain, typical.
Sunday to wednesday, showery.
Saw a programme on fat dogs, so now Bertie is on a diet. Also saw Pamela, who is here fir a quick visit. Pleased.

Today I am just trying out our World SIM wifi rather than using Mike's internet.
Just for interest sake, of the 20 or so books I have read this holiday,my favourites are
Diary of a provincial lady
A short history of nearly everything
Wolf hall
The Rosie project

August

Back from England - met a couple of nice American ladies on the ferry.  They were undertaking quite a trip - best of luck girls!

Perry met me off ferry and we went home. Left on Saturday morning for Lanvellec.  Sign on was at a chateau - incredibly impressive. However, day started off a bit damp - what's new!

How lovely is this.

 

Here's my version.

A week later, we are in Elven.  However it rained all day!

Sunday, St Nicholas des Eaux.  Unfortunately I am getting a bit bored of going to places we have been to before and also painting in the rain! Have to start think of something else. 

Dol de Bretagne

Well I have been pretty naughty and got really fed up painting in the rain.  Although we arrived at Dol in reasonable weather, it rained all Saturday night right through until Sunday afternoon.  You can see my attempt, a bit wishywashy, but at least it is something.  Decided not to go to next venue because of the unsettled weather.

 

.We moved to Hirel for the night, which was OK,and then Monday went to St Jacut de la Mer.  Again unsettled, but at least we got to mess about on the shore line.  Couple of nights here, then I decided the weather was still so unsettled that I was not going to do the next weekends painting.  Went back to Hirel and messed about again.  Decided to explore a little of the Normandie coast went up to St Jean le Thomas.  Absolutely fabulous.  Enormous sweeping bay , the bottom of which houses Mont St Michel.  When the tide went out I am sure you could walk to Jersey.  However,  in the evening a young man from the council came to warn all of us in our motorhomes that storms were forecast (including us) for 31 departments of France and we had better prepare accordingly. 

It turns out it was the storm that never came, although I understand it was pretty dramatic  in the UK.  It was incredibly hot, but no thunder and lightening and only a moderate amount of rain.  Unfortunately it did mean that Saturday morning was again grey and very sultry, so we decided to go home.  Stopped at St Hilaire du Harcouet for some shopping and the heavens opened up - I can't remember ever seeing that much rain in such a short time! 

I left for England on Tuesday, and arrived to what appears to be a heatwave, and so far it just hasn't let up.  It is so hot! I'll be leaving here tomorrow (Friday) and we will be off to a painting venue in Finistere on Saturday.

We are back at La Pelouiniere, weather a bit unsettled, more rain than the UK!

After staying at campsite we moved on to visit Cap Sizun in general.  Managed to get in some  "wild camping" as well.  Fantastic views, just like Cornwall.

Yes, it really did look like this!

Right way up would have been a bit better

Steep walk  to this harbour, and boats are launched via a lift!

Stand up straight girl!

Pointe du Raz

Super

After this wonderful weather we went to Loctudy.  Arrived on the Friday - lovely weather, good subjects.  However, Saturday it started to rain.    Unfortunately it continued all day!

This is me painting in the rain....how I hate painting in the rain!

Managed to produce something (under a polythene bag!), and was a runner up.  Decided to not do Sunday's painting, because it was still raining.

 

Went back home but started to get ready for next weekend.  Left on the Friday and stayed in one of our favourite places

Me

St Jacut de la Mer - lovely

Again - how lovely

However, I did manage to paint something.  The villas on the sea defences.  Very windy, damp and difficult to paint! What's new! I won first prize - amazing!

Saturday, left for Pleneuf val Andre.  Unfortunately, guess what, it rained, and rained, and rained.  Sunday didn't look too good, so I thought I might abandon.