Apartment went live this evening on the estate agents’ website. Looks great!

This is how the bridge in Marmande over the Garonne normally looks

The old bridge over the Garonne at Marmande, normally a high suspension bridge. We believe the height of the river (extensively flooded now for some days) is beginning to recede a little. Long way to go though. #StormNils

Good morning Power and water have been stable since around 18.00 yesterday which is a blessing Going out in search of somewhere we can link to the internet later, other than via data on our phones My eyesight (and fat fingers!) make running life difficult via only a phone How is everyone doing?

Rather too much excitement in the last 24 hours. Hoping for a quieter normal kind of day tomorrow!

Currently on the 9th power cut of the day 🙄

Third power cut of the day. Are they trying to keep up with my mugs of tea?!

Exquisite

Just about to drink my 6th mug of tea this morning. I think it will be the final one. In my defence the mugs are a little smaller then our usual ones. 😳

Power in its second outage of the day Hoping these brief cuts are incurred in the course of reconnecting others who’ve been out for so long, since the storm on Wednesday night.

Good morning Power came back on yesterday after a couple more hours What a relief When I think back over the last month, what we’ve done & encountered, I’m astonished we are still standing! Well, “still standing” is relative … still breathing might be more accurate Exhausted in mind, body, & soul

No power in St Vivien de Monsegur #StormNils

All bridges across the Garonne between Agen and, now, Bordeaux have been closed. Flood is worse than ever before and not expected to peak until late today at earliest.

Google “Pete Greig prayer for Valentine’s Day” for an uplifting and thoughtful read.

Good morning from the ferry which has just arrived in St Malo. It will be interesting to see where the flooding starts as we drive south. Is everyone ok?

All bridges across the Garonne between Agen and Langon, a huge distance, are closed. Extraordinary.

Good morning Vast numbers of people in SWFrance still without electricity, some even without water, after Storm Nils wreaked devastation a couple of nights ago. Wondering what we will find when we arrive at our temporary home tomorrow evening. Or should we stay somewhere further north en route …

A thought about student loans, currently much in the news … and I declare an interest in that our eldest GrandBoy is in year 3 (of 4) of his degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Sheffield, and our number 2 GrandBoy will shortly be taking his A levels and going on to uni this year. #thread

The new James Bond has just been announced

Good morning Violent storms in our part of France overnight. Hoping all our friends are safe with as little damage as possible. Quiet night here at the Sussex seaside. More admin today 🤪 Have a good day

This can be the site for breaking news, if journalists choose to break news on it. It is as simple as that. And that is not utopian. It is precisely what has happened the last week or so. If you weren't on BlueSky, you were late to each development.

Apartment is now “magazine ready” 😳

😳😂

Good morning The Kindle arrived yesterday evening I’m pleased to report You just can’t fault Amazon’s excellent customer service Busy day ahead today with the apartment being photographed and measured for floor plans. First we have to try and make it “magazine-ready”! Hope everyone has a good day

Tenerife in March …

Good morning BlueSky Back home at the Sussex seaside after a lovely few days with precious family in Somerset We were reminiscing about past lovely family dogs and found this pic. He was a hilarious woofer, a real comic (if such a thing is possible with a dog) He also loved the garden

Pleased to report Amazon’s excellent customer service are on the case

R opened a package from a well known internet supplier that should have contained the Kindle he’d ordered to find this. Deeply shocked here.

I wonder what it was about this property on the internet which made my friend Cathy think it might appeal to me?

I just don’t get how or why anyone is still posting there.

Good morning Breakfast at the garden centre with DS then the long drive back to the Sussex seaside through the flooded countryside A camellia at NT Nymans last week to cheer you on your way today

Tour news 🚨 We've launched the first tranche of our 2027 butterfly tours on our website today. Lots to choose from, including Andalusia, Morocco, Abruzzo & Serbia, and many more to follow! All generate donations to support the great work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social mariposanature.com/calendar

Good morning, still from very damp Somerset. More lovely family time ahead today. I wonder if I’ll get any photos? Older teenagers aren’t quite so keen on having their photos taken! Here are some more photos from NY Nymans last weekend. The last one is, believe it or not, a Physocarpus

Good morning from Somerset! And it’s my beloved daughter’s birthday too. Here’s some Edgworthia at NY Nymans last weekend Hope you have a Good Friday

Lovely evening with almost 18-yr old GrandBoy in local gastropub, eating yummy food and discussing all kinds of topics. Precious times.

Good morning BlueSky Lots of rain forecast everywhere, photos of flooding appearing in my socials. Off for a welcome haircut, first for months, then westward ho to the Somerset branch of the family. Stay safe and dry! Here’s some pics of sundown the other day on “our” Sussex beach

Most recent novel finished a couple of days ago. The third of Marias’ books I’ve read. Very interesting writing style.

Whoops, missed my usual morning post as a rather busy day dealing with some rather grown up stuff. Having a haircut tomorrow for the first time since August and hugely looking forward to it. How is everyone?

I’ve always loved this painting of Gertrude Jekyll’s gardening boots, normally in The Tate but seen today in the William Nicholson exhibition at the lovely Pallant House Gallery in Chichester.

If you can get to see The Choral do go. It’s very very good.

Morning Off to Chichester today for a visit to the Pallant House Gallery which always has interesting exhibitions. Then we will go to a 1pm screening of The Choral. Such OAPs!! Pouring with rain outside by the sound of things Stay dry and enjoy your day!

Good morning The first Monday in February doesn’t seem to be an obvious date for any snowdrop openings anywhere!! Shame as it may be our only window of opportunity. Waiting to hear if a plumber might be available to sort out underfloor heating in a bathroom which doesn’t appear to be working

Just watched the first two episodes of Clive Myrie’s series on Africa. Absolutely wonderful and thoroughly recommended. So refreshing to see Africa through the eyes of a black man.

My timelines are filling with photos of snowdrops and hellebores. Sheer joy.

Good morning Glorious day yesterday with our small blonde Sussex men (one of whom is now taller than me!). Such precious times. Enjoy your Sunday

Wonderful Wish we were there too!

The Acte de Vente has been signed. We are no longer custodians of a wonderful French home. An era ends. My son said the other day in a WhatsApp, “I hope you aren’t sad leaving the house. It was a wonderful place and never to be forgotten.”

Back to an apartment which has been unheated (well, heating on frost setting) since early November but everywhere at 14 degrees which isn’t bad at all! Sad to see some notable absences from Christmas cards received here 😢 Have unpacked a few books which have arrived since last time so not all bad

Good morning The wake-up music on a ship : how I’ve missed you Approaching Portsmouth after very little sleep 🙄

We ended up seeing four, three on nests and one flying low immediately in front of us. Magic.