Friday evening
as rain clouds build
the heat wave is about to splash
fish spot insects and crash out
rippling surfaces of lakes and river
in concentric circles
house-martins and swifts
wheel and swoop -
they will not got hungry to bed
drooping flowers will be erect
come morning or bowed under a torrent
wooden chimes clank and clatter in the rising wind
leaves are torn from branches,
scattered along roads and pavements
and cluster in gutters and cover drains
we hold our breath and wait
wait - hang on - something’s changed
the sky clears and sun shines
the wind blew more than the leaves
Saturday morning
now it comes
light and heavy showers
from a grey blanket
this blanket does not warm
it’s not just the rain that drops
Saturday 28 June 2014
Friday 27 June 2014
Another little walk in town
Off rue des Tanneries, on the right, opposite the start of the ‘green path’ (see previous post) a footpath runs between a tiny, overgrown stream and large gardens.
It’s a pleasant place for a stroll...
The path leads to the main road where we turn right for a short way, then cut across the new car park for the pharmacie and bear right onto part of the old ramparts road which also runs between gardens and allotments.
Thus back to rue des Tanneries and centre ville.
This afternoon, the clouds are starting to build and a different cloud descends indoors with a sudden cut in the water supply. We discover that this is apparently due to road works on the main road as the mains-water pipe has been accidentally damaged.
Good job we all have a store of bottled water although I suspect much will be falling from the sky by tonight.
Others may be caught out as our little supermarket is shut for their annual holiday!
Ah, worry over - by the time I'd downloaded the photos for this blog the water supply was on, after only about an hour. Très bon!
Wednesday 25 June 2014
Plan d’Eau
Soon after we first moved to Lorraine, we discovered Plan d’Eau at Marville. Then it was a very popular facility for the community with a large lake and a small part of it divided by a pontoon bridge, the whole surrounded by grassy banks, roads, paths and trees.
The smaller part was shallow and ideal for toddlers to paddle in, sometimes for parents to teach their little ones to swim. The larger part had wires stretched above it to pull boards across the width on which older youngsters, who could swim, would kneel. Between the areas a spiral slide into the water gave many a lot of fun. Half way down the large lake small boats were for hire.
There was a shop and café with outside seating under a veranda next to an area for the tinies to play on a swing, slide and rocker. Families would eat there or bring their own picnics.
A few years later, apparently there were problems. The lake had to be drained for repairs to take place and then the money ran out so it stayed in that dry state for a couple of years before the water could be returned. Plan sans d’Eau!
It was good to eventually see the return of the water but swimming was forbidden - it may be everything had to settle, I don’t know the reason. The water birds gradually returned but now few humans visit.
The water slide remains shut off, the wires for board water skiing have been taken down. The shop and café remain closed and the outside tables and benches removed; also the toddlers’ play equipment.
The gym and swimming pool complex (top photo) remain open and buses bring and take children from local schools. The equestrian centre has remained open throughout. There is an area for camper vans to stay and another space to house what we assume are privately-owned wooden chalets.
It is still a beautiful spot, more so with the return of the water, and a few walkers and cars still arrive to circle the lake.
The friendly dog who lives at the equestrian centre comes to see us - I bet it's noticed the difference too!
But it is rare to see families and picnics.
And sad to think the community are still without a fully-functionable, valuable and much-appreciated facility.
The smaller part was shallow and ideal for toddlers to paddle in, sometimes for parents to teach their little ones to swim. The larger part had wires stretched above it to pull boards across the width on which older youngsters, who could swim, would kneel. Between the areas a spiral slide into the water gave many a lot of fun. Half way down the large lake small boats were for hire.
There was a shop and café with outside seating under a veranda next to an area for the tinies to play on a swing, slide and rocker. Families would eat there or bring their own picnics.
A few years later, apparently there were problems. The lake had to be drained for repairs to take place and then the money ran out so it stayed in that dry state for a couple of years before the water could be returned. Plan sans d’Eau!
It was good to eventually see the return of the water but swimming was forbidden - it may be everything had to settle, I don’t know the reason. The water birds gradually returned but now few humans visit.
The water slide remains shut off, the wires for board water skiing have been taken down. The shop and café remain closed and the outside tables and benches removed; also the toddlers’ play equipment.
The gym and swimming pool complex (top photo) remain open and buses bring and take children from local schools. The equestrian centre has remained open throughout. There is an area for camper vans to stay and another space to house what we assume are privately-owned wooden chalets.
It is still a beautiful spot, more so with the return of the water, and a few walkers and cars still arrive to circle the lake.
The friendly dog who lives at the equestrian centre comes to see us - I bet it's noticed the difference too!
But it is rare to see families and picnics.
And sad to think the community are still without a fully-functionable, valuable and much-appreciated facility.
Monday 23 June 2014
Sunday afternoon at Les Ballastières
Bon après midi!
A shady spot in a sunny corner by the large lake at Les Ballastières at Damvillers. It is a bigger complex than the one at Dun-sur-Meuse (which I have previously written about).
It is peaceful but not without sights and sounds. Chaffinches sing their glorious song. Chiff-chaff chirp their squeaky-gate calls…chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff. Bees bumble by. Distant donkeys bray. Frogs croak out messages to one another. A young coot cheeps as it follows its black-bodied, white-beaked parent across the lake. Ducks squabble and splash in the distant margin.
A red dragon flies perches on leaves to sunbathe and turquoise damsel flies skim the lake’s calm surface.
From around the island, a swan elegantly glides.
We spend half the time reading our books, the other half simply soaking up the sights and sounds of this beautiful scene.
Our spirits suitably refreshed, we return home for a welcome cuppa.
In the evening - a late sunset. Photos taken from our first-floor window. The first photo is somewhat shaky but still shows the time!
Bon nuit!
A shady spot in a sunny corner by the large lake at Les Ballastières at Damvillers. It is a bigger complex than the one at Dun-sur-Meuse (which I have previously written about).
It is peaceful but not without sights and sounds. Chaffinches sing their glorious song. Chiff-chaff chirp their squeaky-gate calls…chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff. Bees bumble by. Distant donkeys bray. Frogs croak out messages to one another. A young coot cheeps as it follows its black-bodied, white-beaked parent across the lake. Ducks squabble and splash in the distant margin.
A red dragon flies perches on leaves to sunbathe and turquoise damsel flies skim the lake’s calm surface.
From around the island, a swan elegantly glides.
We spend half the time reading our books, the other half simply soaking up the sights and sounds of this beautiful scene.
Our spirits suitably refreshed, we return home for a welcome cuppa.
In the evening - a late sunset. Photos taken from our first-floor window. The first photo is somewhat shaky but still shows the time!
Bon nuit!
Saturday 21 June 2014
The green path
A short walk from centre ville to the south-western edge of this little rural town via Allée de la Verte Chausée - the green path.
It seemed cooler this morning, so I donned jeans and a short-sleeved jumper. It became hot and very sunny this afternoon. No prizes for guessing when I decided to go for a walk. It was far hotter out than I had realised and I was glad I had chosen what I call ‘the avenue’ a path mostly in the shade from the tall trees along each side…a green path indeed.
At the end, a small roundabout and I re-trace my steps...
It seemed cooler this morning, so I donned jeans and a short-sleeved jumper. It became hot and very sunny this afternoon. No prizes for guessing when I decided to go for a walk. It was far hotter out than I had realised and I was glad I had chosen what I call ‘the avenue’ a path mostly in the shade from the tall trees along each side…a green path indeed.
To the left...
To the right...
Back near the start but down a grassy bank to the roadside...
past the pepper-pot house...
and back home...
Thursday 12 June 2014
You’re welcome…
Monday morning. Sunny, hot and getting even hotter by the minute. I awake with the worst attack of sciatica that I’ve had for years. But I potter on as best I can as today we have special visitors arriving.
Friends have been called back to England on urgent family business and had asked if we could look after their dog, Tilly, for a few days. She is a young, boisterous Fox Labrador but has been very well trained and is an obedient and lovely dog. They are going to bring her to us later in the afternoon.
Also in the afternoon, our son-in-law’s step-son and his fiancée are taking a few days to visit us all in France out of their trip to the UK from Australia, where they have lived happily for the past two-to-three years.
Everybody arrives at the same time and Tilly’s owners soon depart.
It’s serendipity our visitors should all be here together as the young people are strong, fit and healthy and happily volunteer to give Tilly her longer walks. (We manage the shorter ones!) It was love at first sight and she and they are new best friends.
In the afternoons, we leave them to other activities and drive Tilly the short journey to the fishing lake where she lives. She is happy to be in familiar grounds for a few hours and we find a shady spot to sit and read or just pause, listen to the birds and admire the water lilies on the lake.
The family visitors leave on Thursday afternoon. Tilly will be here until Friday morning.
The sciatica has slowly improved each day and hopefully will soon be gone.
Some visitors are more welcome than others!
Friends have been called back to England on urgent family business and had asked if we could look after their dog, Tilly, for a few days. She is a young, boisterous Fox Labrador but has been very well trained and is an obedient and lovely dog. They are going to bring her to us later in the afternoon.
Also in the afternoon, our son-in-law’s step-son and his fiancée are taking a few days to visit us all in France out of their trip to the UK from Australia, where they have lived happily for the past two-to-three years.
Everybody arrives at the same time and Tilly’s owners soon depart.
It’s serendipity our visitors should all be here together as the young people are strong, fit and healthy and happily volunteer to give Tilly her longer walks. (We manage the shorter ones!) It was love at first sight and she and they are new best friends.
In the afternoons, we leave them to other activities and drive Tilly the short journey to the fishing lake where she lives. She is happy to be in familiar grounds for a few hours and we find a shady spot to sit and read or just pause, listen to the birds and admire the water lilies on the lake.
The family visitors leave on Thursday afternoon. Tilly will be here until Friday morning.
The sciatica has slowly improved each day and hopefully will soon be gone.
Some visitors are more welcome than others!
Tuesday 10 June 2014
gone away
how sad when old friends simply disappear
fall off the radar that the years have honed
a different path by them or us jams signals
and contacts fall through the remaining cracks
nobody meant it to happen…it just did
just one of life’s unintentional mysteries
for try as we may there’s always the one
that got away…
fall off the radar that the years have honed
a different path by them or us jams signals
and contacts fall through the remaining cracks
nobody meant it to happen…it just did
just one of life’s unintentional mysteries
for try as we may there’s always the one
that got away…
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