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Rainbow Cottages in France, 7 lieu dit Street André, Saint-Nicolas-du-Pélem (2026)

06/09/2026

Sunday, 6 August 2026

Usual stuff done and then I drove off to St Nicolas du Pélem for the car boot out SuperU car park. Nothing really of interest to me. I was so often with the French car boot sales. I bought chilli pepper from the veggie stand and chatted with the seller about tomatoes. I did try some Szechuan pepper on another stall which was very pungent and almost perfumed, not my cup of tea really.

It started raining as I drove home. I went via the field to feed the animals there. 16.8°C at 1020hrs and still raining. My Small Cottage guests had sent me a message that they were leaving, while I was out at the car boot. When I got back, I stripped their beds and put the linen plus towels in the washing machines.

Breakfast was fried kidneys with bacon, fried bread and roast gravy. As I went to collect the laundry from the washing machines, the sun came out, just in time for me to hang it out on the rotary lines.

A bit of admin and then I watched the end of BBC Breakfast and an old episode of Have I got News for You.

Metrofrance.com, whose forecast I receive every morning, announced for this morning 24° and no rain. By midday we'd had a maximum of 22.9°C and at least an hour or so of rain. The forecast is so inaccurate lately that it's hardly worth reading.

I sorted out the stuff in the car again having had to fold down seats and move everything yesterday to get the table into the boot area. It doesn't take long for it to gather dirt and rubbish in it. Maggie is here tomorrow doing a changeover on Small Cottage so I'm hoping the weather will be kind enough to let her vacuum the car while she's here.

My bountiful tomato plant on the driveway has such long shoots that it was tumbling everywhere. I found four long support sticks in the garage and used them to prop it up. Another dozen tomatoes picked from it today. They are definitely not keepers and need eating almost as soon as they're picked, but the flavour is so good.

I've been looking at some of my Facebook memories and the one that came up for this date several years ago was a picture of me holding a toad. Yesterday evening, while I was having a drink with the Small Cottage guests, Lee spotted something moving on the courtyard stones and it was a big toad which I relocated close to the pond.

Supper was a lovely basse côte steak with jacket potato, lettuce, home grown tomatoes and Hellman's Mayo mixed with a little Coleman's mustard, followed by a coffee dessert.

Rachel sent me a photo she'd taken of me at the clapper bridge yesterday in Le Petit Doré which I've attached.

05/09/2026

Saturday, 5 August 2026

0715hrs and chicks and cats fed. Good night's sleep, probably helped by the w**e that Small Cottage guests and I were drinking last night. 0900hrs, 15.1°C and the sun was trying to get through in a blue and fluffy white clouded sky.

I walked up to the field to feed the chickens and had to avoid two huge piles of dog excrement one on the driveway and another in the lane - not very nice ...

No one was walking apparently this morning but Rachel did contact me about a walk at Le Petit Doré and I met her in Lanrivain just after 1100hrs and followed her there. She took a really long route to get there and explained that she'd lost the plot on the way, lol.

It was a nice walk, and very pleasant temperature. Just with Claire this morning as Toby is still recovering at home before his endoscopy on Monday.

Celia had left her sunglasses in my kitchen the last time she was here so I carried on to Bonen to take them back to her. They kindly offered me a buffet lunch in the garden which I gratefully accepted. From there I went on to a meeting of the Rostrenen associations to see if there was anything I would like to join. There were a couple of things. We'll see how I feel about them later.

Then to Ti Recup where I bought a book, surprise, surprise, and a slim, metal desk/table to go into Bay 2 once that is finished. One of the chaps there kindly loaded it into my car. It just fitted, so I was lucky. Far too heavy for me to lift out at this end, but luckily my Small Cottage guest answered my plea for help.

Partway home, I realized I hadn't got my mobile. I pulled in to the side of the road and searched the car to no avail. I pressed the tracker tag on my key ring. I could hear the phone ringing. I walked around the car and there it was on the passenger side roof ... Just a bit lucky there I think.

Back home and I cooked prawns in butter and ate them with sweet chili sauce and lettuce leaves.

Just one egg collected from the field and there was one soft shelled one that I gave to the chickens. 1700hrs and 23.8°C.

I watched an episode of Midsomer Murders this afternoon around a large nap in the middle. My Small Cottage guest returned and he helped me get the table out of the boot and then carried it to the garage - thank you, Lee.

A lovely evening, with lots of sunshine and the temperature was 21.4°C at 1900hrs.

04/09/2026

Friday, 4 September 2026

Greyish start to the day and the swallows continued to chatter outside my bedroom window this morning. Animals fed, watered and released and back upstairs to wash my hair and watch BBC Breakfast.

Downstairs and I washed up by hand as my dishwasher is broken and wondered what I should do about it. My guest from from Honeycomb left around 0900hrs and I went through to get the dirty linen and put it in the washing machine.

Maggie arrived to do the changeover and I had hoped to do my car inside as well but unfortunately it was raining too much by that time so it will have to wait until her next visit.

I heated up the remaining bowl of soup from yesterday and ate mid-morning. For lunch I had two slices of toast with banana. Laundry hanging up inside as obviously not possible to dry outside today.

I decided to go to SuperU to see if there were any bargains in the short date section. The price was €2.179 per litre for diesel at SuperU today, creeping up again. I bought chicken, potatoes, very small Tuc biscuits, lamb kidneys, and reduced pork roasting joint. Almost completely lean this last item and I shall cut it into cubes breadcrumbs and fry it. At least three meals on it for only €2.79.

I left the store and set off for the Arboretum, partly for a walk and partly to collect some more pine cones for my insect hotel. Not another soul there this afternoon just the wind whistling through the leaves. I dictated some of this while sitting on the stone bench in the last photograph. Back home via the poubelles for recycling and the field, one egg collected. Managed to avoid the rain, although it started again as soon as I got home.

A booking had come in while I was out walking, with no signal, and I wasn't here when they wanted to arrive. Managed to contact the couple and they will now arrive early evening.

An early meal so I won't be eating when the guests arrive, was the pork cooked in egg and breadcrumbs with salad, The other portions have been frozen. 22.6°C at 1645hrs.

03/09/2026

Thursday, 3 September 2026

Pretty good night's sleep. Although I remember whenever I woke I couldn't decide whether I was hot or cold. It seemed to change each time.

Yesterday evening, as I as I drove down from the field, I saw a black rabbit in my lane. There was no way it was a wild rabbit. I parked the car and walked back to Christian's gate which is where I'd seen it. It had disappeared. They were not at home, so I went into the garden. Still couldn't see the rabbit. Christian has an open workshop and when I looked from the doorway I could see the rabbit on the left hand side. The only people the rabbit could possibly belong to in the village would be Ronan and Fanny's family next door. I went round and knocked at their door and asked if they had a rabbit. Ronan said "a black one"? I assume they then went to bring it home. Job done ...
I was just thinking about it and between the two of us we have sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, cats, dogs, a rabbit and bees. If only I still had the geese and the ducks.

18.2°C at 0800hrs and very grey, overcast sky.
All animals done and dusted. Arranged to pick up Chris and Barry and drive to Corlay for our walk this morning. First I went to the pharmacy to hand my monthly prescription over. Then into SuperU for milk and a look around. 10 minutes I need to back to the pharmacy but my order hadn't been completed.

I collected Chris and Barry and we drove to the lake. Only one other woman walking her dog there this morning so it was very quiet. One duck on the lake which was quite green and not very attractive, but nevertheless a good walk. We came back by the pharmacy for me to collect my meds and then I dropped Chris and Barry back home.

Just one egg collected from the field. Back home and I cooked some dos de cabillaud in batter with fried potato and fresh tomatoes. 22.2°C at 1300hrs.

Just settling down for an afternoon of relaxation when Celia messaged me to say that she and Al would be over to do the honey harvest. We drove up to the field and started to dismantle the top of the hive. There didn't seem to be many bees but once we were in the hive it was surprising how many there were. Al managed to get stung through his beesuit and shirt on his tummy. Not a lot of honey but there'll be something to take. I imagine the paucity is down to the weather and the lack of nectar and pollen with the pathetic dried up flowers we've had through this secheresse.

The base the hive sits on had deformed and we swapped it out with one from another hive which wasn't in use. We put a super back on and some of the frames had a little honey in them. They've got a couple of months nearly to build up stores for the winter so hopefully they'll go through okay. We placed the removed super frames in a plastic lidded box to wait until my worker is here next week and hopefully he will do the extraction as turning that handle is a killer for me.

Back at the house we had some drinks on the terrace and a chat. Thank you Al for all your help.

Homemade lamb meatballs with tomato and basil sauce on on mix mixed grains for a very late lunch and a WCIL.

I planted out the rest of the parsley and lettuces from yesterday and the clematis, then collapsed on the seettee and watched Lovejoy, Edwardian Farm and Chateau DIY.

Chicken soup will be my supper a bit later. 22.8°C at 1845hrs.

02/09/2026

Wednesday, 2 September 2026

Very late getting to sleep last night as watching the first two episodes of Fallen, but nearly six hours sleep in spite of the lateness.

When I went out to release the chicks at 0720hrs, I think I'd missed the best of the sunrise but, quickly fetched my phone from upstairs and, took a couple of shots. Skies are so ephemeral.

12.4°C at 0745hrs and 15 minutes later the sun was trying to break through. I fed the cats and went back to bed to catch the news and weather.

On the way to meet Ginny and Chris at the swimming pool I called into SuperU. Diesel price now €2.129. I hadn't checked the messages on our walking site and when I arrived at the pool Kris and Celia were also there and Rachel met us at the stone bench, so a full complement of the walking group this morning. Celia followed me back home to have coffee on the terrace in the sunshine, and I had two slices of hot buttered toast to keep me going until later this afternoon.

I had a quick shower and then drove to Bourbriac. I went into Carrefour for liquorice, they didn't have any large tubes of Smarties so I didn't buy any. Instead, I decided to drive to Action after my physio appointment.

Unbelievably my physio was on time today. In fact I went in 2 minutes before my allotted time. Apparently the receptionist had emailed me to say I could come in earlier as their previous appointment wasn't attending after all but I didn't get the message. Another good session with her.

I then drove to Action at St Agathon, which is where I buy the diaries that I use for bookings in the gites. They're intended to be school agendas but work beautifully as booking diaries. Also, I'm hoping to get some decorating done in the gites over the winter months. I bought a whole load of rollers etc. so that we're ready when it's possible.

As I was coming through Guingamp, I stopped at McDonald's for a hamburger and chips which I ate in the car. I rarely have one of these and when I do I often wonder why I bought it afterwards. Then on to Noz and Netto. I bought a rather nice clematis in Noz for just under €4. Next stop was Point Vert why I bought some Batavia lettuce plants and a pot of parsley which I will split into four. When I reach the check out I was told that I had a €5 voucher on my account which I hadn't used so all I had to pay was €1, nice surprise.

Back via the Henbox to collect three eggs and then home to unload all my bits and pieces and find homes for them. I cooked some chicken soup for lunch and heat it up the chips from McDonald's in the air fryer.

I then fell asleep while watching an episode of Kingdom, before going out to give the poultry their afternoon feed. 1800hrs 23.2°C and overcast.

01/09/2026

Tuesday, 1 September 2026

All animals fed and watered, dishwasher emptied, two slices of butter toast spread with banana eaten for breakfast.

My worker arrived and we started by weighing the feed which I collected yesterday as I pay by weight rather than buy the bag. Then two bags were chipped into the containers in the garden. Henry and two were taken up to the field for the hens up there.

12.4°C at 0920hrs and it felt really chilly. So chilly in fact that I put my padded gilet on over my long sleeve T-shirt. When the sun came out it was really warm but when it wasn't tight it wasn't warm at all.

On the field Gavin's arm had fallen off so that was replaced and the drinkers were topped up. Back at the house the leaves blocking the corner camera slightly were removed and then the chick house was cleaned out and the hay replaced.

We drove to SuperU for bits and pieces and also to collect some stuff for doing the floor tiling. Lots of recycling taken to the poubelles on the way. Only just managed to get it into the containers as they were so full.

Lunch was chicken soup followed by two slices of hot buttered toast.

The new growth on the thornless blackberry was attached to the wall and we started on Bay 2. The ceiling was clad in pallet planks, the back block wall was painted with a waterproof product and then the floor tiles were laid. I was weeding and trimming. Then I washed my hands and continued knitting the sock I started earlier this week, no while sitting out in the sunshine.

The new growth on the vine and wisteria growing up towards the roof so that was all cut down and two full tarpaulins were taken to the field with all the trimmings. I collected three eggs while up there, and there was one other broken one, which was a soft-shelled egg.

I just got back from the field as my desk for Honeycomb arrived for three nights.

The leaf blower dealt with most of the fallen leaves and the trimmings which had escaped the tarpaulin. The last thing to do was to rake up the chick run which had a lot of small twigs and leaves.

Another good day's work and I am absolutely shattered. A second bowl of chicken soup for supper followed by a chicken, mayo and lettuce sandwich and WCIL. 21.4°C at 1800hrs and sunny.

31/08/2026

Monday, 31 August 2026

O730hrs and I released and fed the chicks, very wet underfoot. Fed the cats too and then back to bed for my second coffee.

Message from Johnathan to say, he'd be arriving between 1000 and 1200hrs to sort the corner house camera again ready for the police visit. Amazing how many tries we had to have to get it correct. He also sorted out the charging of my door bell which is unnecessarily complicated and showed me how to use my fire stick to view programmes I've missed etc.

Maggie also came this morning, to do the changeovers on Middle and Small cottages and bits of my house. I'd hung three lots of bedding on the lines outside as rain was not forecast. The forecast was completely wrong and it rained on and off all perishing morning.

I heated a bowl of chicken soup from yesterday and made prawn soup for the freezer. We'd apparently run out of dishwasher salt, so I drove into SuperU as the lights were flashing on two dishwashers.

20.1°C at 1300hrs when I returned from the field having collected three proper eggs and one soft shell egg. I toasted some bread, buttered it and fried the soft shell egg for my lunch, such a weird feeling to touch it. 1325hrs and the rain was pouring down again on my three loads of bedding it looked as it might not get dry unless the weather changed for the afternoon and evening.

I arranged with Ash to go over and collect some poultry feed from her this evening. I have to do it the day before my worker arrives so that he can lift it out of the car as it's too heavy for me, and he will be here tomorrow.

Amazingly, the washing had dried on the lines and I brought it all in before going over to collect the feed. It was in open sacks in the car so I drove very gently around all the twisty bends to make absolutely certain it didn't all fall on the floor like last time.

Because I've been knitting I haven't had Fifi on my lap and she is getting as close as she can to me without actually being on me, lol.

30/08/2026

Sunday, 30 August 2026

0745hrs and I went out to release and feed the garden hens. The rubbish bag for this morning's leaving guests was by the driveway gate so I took it into the garage. I stripped one of the beds in Middle Cottage, gathered up the towels and set off the first two laundry loads.
As I came back from Utility Cottage it began to rain and by the time I got to my door it was really raining. 16.6°C at 0810hrs. Food down for the cats.

Back to bed for my second cup of coffee and BBC Breakfast and I was joined by Lulu for her morning ablutions. The swallows on the wires outside my window were incredibly noisy this morning. I couldn't believe that Lulu didn't prefer to be on the windowsill watching them.

Usual chores done and Bovril on a hot buttered toast for breakfast. Prawns out of freezer for tomorrow. I hung the two washing loads up inside as rain seemed to be on the forecast for most of the day on and off. Next two loads were in the machines for setting off tomorrow morning.

The rain had stopped for a bit as I left the house to drive to Rostrenen to meet Celia and Al at midday in the Intermarché car park, and we then drove to Huelgoat in Celia's car. We were going to see La Roche Tremblante. As we walked down through the woods we could hear a harp being played which was really lovely.

The Trembling Rock is a 137 ton granite stone which it might be possible to rock if pushed in exactly the right place. Quite funny watching various men and children trying to rock it. Very demanding path to reach it.

We then went to the Crêperie nearby for our lunch. Mine was a cheese and ham galette sugar and lemon crêpe. It suddenly started to rain really hard while we were eating, but luckily we had an enormous umbrella over us and didn't get wet. The rain stopped and we took a difficult path with steps to see the Devil's Cave. Unfortunately, I found the steps too demanding going down and as Al and Celia had seen it previously we gave up at that point and went back to the car. There were so many people that I found it difficult to believe I was in Brittany. In spite of the people, there were quite bits and the woods are absolutely beautiful. I'd like to go there and enjoy the enormous rocks when there are fewer people, perhaps in the winter months and not a weekend.

We then drove to L'Autre Rive at Berrien, though it's nearer to Huelgoat. A pleasantly situated woodland café and bookshop for coffee for Celia and Al, but hot chocolate for me. A very pleasant way to spend Sunday afternoon.

Back to our parking in Rostrenen and we parted company. I came home via the field and picked up one last egg. Then two slices of hot butter toast for me followed by a bowl of chicken soup.

The animals all had their supper and I settled back to watch an episode or two of Harry Wild.

29/08/2026

Saturday, 29 August 2026

0730hrs and I could hear rain falling on the landing Velux window - an almost forgotten sound ... At 0810hrs I took the opportunity to go out and feed the chicks in the garden run during a short break from the rain..

Chicken legs roasted in the air fryer and I prepped mushrooms and cooked them with garlic, parsley and lemon juice in oil and butter.
Raining too hard for me to go out to fetch the potatoes from the garage so they had to wait until a dry moment. I boiled a large pan of potatoes and then put them through the ricer before adding butter and some full fat milk.

I went to collect eggs on the way to SuperU this morning and put two in my pocket. I then went back to adjust the automatic door and forgot them. Walking around SuperU, I suddenly realised my left leg was wet, you can probably guess what had happened. Luckily one egg was still intact. The diesel price had dropped to €2.155. Very busy in the shop and parking. I bought biscuits, A4 printing paper, mixed beans, lentils and reduced by 50% nightie.

Back home for a bowl of mixed beans with garlic, butter, parsley, and lemon juice and raspberry wafers. I prepped the belly pork slices which are to go with the potato and mushrooms this evening. I wanted petit pois too but can't find any in the freezers. I'm sure there are several packets in there, they've obviously got buried in the bottom. I'll substitute tomatoes.

1445hrs and it started raining again, not very heavily, in fact very fine rain and not for very long. 20.1°C while I watched cookery programs lying back on the settee and eating a WCIL. I checked the waterbutt in the driveway as I came back in from the garage freezer and it had filled to the top.

An episode of Jonathan Creek with coffee and raspberry wafers and I cooked the tomatoes for supper. Up to the field to collect one last egg and take the recycling which I forgot this morning.

Supper was belly pork slices, fried tomatoes, garlic and lemony mushrooms and buttery mash.

28/08/2026

Friday, 28 August 2026

12.6°C at 0730hrs. I wasn't awake at the right time early this morning so didn't see partial lunar eclipse. There was there a really lovely sky here last night before I went to bed.

Laundry done and hung out on the line. All animals fed and watered, usual inside chores done and then off to St Nic. In SuperU I bought the last remaining pack of Little Gem lettuce, tissues and a reduced moussaka. Not sure about the moussaka but will try it. Usually I'm not keen on ready meals here.

I drove to the swimming pool parking and met up with Celia, Ginny and Chris. Lovely temperature for walking this morning just under 20° I think.

Back home for chicken soup, pork spare ribs and a bowl of mixed beans with garlic, butter, oil, parsley and lemon juice, followed by a coffee dessert. Washing almost dry. 1215hrs and exactly 20°C, cloudy and breezy.

Fell asleep on the settee for 30 minutes. Walked up to the field and collected three eggs so finally have enough to complete order. Then watched an episode of Lovejoy with a WCIL. Dry laundry brought in from the line.

To I drove to deliver the eggs and Lorraine had lots of pine cones on the grass and let me gather a few to put into my new insect hotel. Topped up my diesel on the way home at SuperU where it cost €2.185 per litre.

Supper was the moussaka ready meal which was edible but that's the highest praise I can give it.

Rainbow Cottages in France

06/09/2026

05/09/2026

04/09/2026

03/09/2026

02/09/2026

01/09/2026

31/08/2026

30/08/2026

29/08/2026

28/08/2026

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