With May well on the way we have had some gorgeous weather here. Combined with the rain the sound of the lawnmowers, strimmers, brush-cutters and ride ons signals the start of the grass cutting season.

Fierce competition for the toughest  grasses and highest weeds descriptions in every bar. Think of fisherman but arms pointing out heights not width and you get the picture. Our sturdy John Deere ride on has been going full stretch since our return from Kent. At first it seemed very unstable but I am now dashing up and down the orchard field, Its a race between me and Much Beloved who gets the John Deere and who has to put on the face mask and tackle the weeds with the strimmer. Believe me you need the mask, half a slug in the face is not a nice experience.

We have had a large toad nestling in the porch, a pair of Golden Orioles are nesting in the eaves and two sorts of bat living in the large cave under the house.

  To add to this we have purchased 3 lovely ducks at the regular market to live on the two trout ponds. No work gets done as we watch them swim, feed and play. It can take ages to get around the market each neighbour and friend has to be greeted with the right number of bisiaux this includes the bank manager and doctor.  Also at the market was a lovely display of flowering plants and vegetables all ready to grow. We used to wonder how french gardens looked so perfect now we know the secret buy them half grown. There are ducks, chickens. guinea fowl and geese sitting patiently most will go back to be fattened and on to the table. Unlike our 3 who if they do not get caught by buzzards, foxes or cats will live to a ripe old age.

The Correze starts to wake up now it is the first horse race meet on the 25th of May. Choral societies, walking groups and festivals are popping up everywhere. The BitchnStitch group ( www.bitchnstitchfrance.com ) is going strong. Raising money for the SPA (french RSPCA) is a new target.

A bientot!

Well Summer is on the way. The sure sign is the visitors descending on their Correze friends.

We had our first set a lovely family with a 6 year old son. In a whirlwind of activity they went to visit Segur Le Chateau, Brive  and St Yrieix that was the first day.

Second day a visit to the very pretty town of Martell on the way to Rocamador to see the fantastic town suspended over a gorge.

They also went to the Reptile centre and saw some very scary crocodiles and snakes. Finishing the day with a visit to one of the large underground caverns in the area.

Then they took of to Bordeaux for a couple of days on the beach. Gorgeous weather - until they got to Gatwick and snow.

Other people have had new grandchildren to see and old friends arriving.

With Limoges, Bordeaux and Toulouse airports being used by the popular airlines there is plenty of places to fly in to. Rumour is that Brive's airport goes international in 2009.