The longed for sunshine and warmer temperatures finally arrived in June.  The following Saturday our town council put on a free outdoor music event for the community in the  park overlooking the sea.  It was a glorious day and we had a great day marshalling at one of the entrances.  We were a little concerned when the local Extinction Rebellion group started to congregate just outside our gate as protest groups had been staging disruptions at a number of events.  However, they were happy to just talk to people as they arrived and even came in to offer us some very tasty homemade flapjacks.  Our lovely local policeman, Sam also had a chat with them and came back munching on a flapjack as well.  On reflection we then all wondered if we should have eaten them in case they contained any special ingredients and we did have a confession later from the lady who baked them – she had used butter so they weren’t suitable for her vegan chums!

With temperatures rising steadily we set off for ten days in the Loire Valley, where it was even hotter.  It was a long day with a very early start to get the ferry from Poole to Cherbourg.  The long drive to Saumur was straightforward and we arrived in time to shop before getting to the campsite.  However, the accommodation was extremely disappointing with a number of faults which lead to an almost ongoing battle with the inept holiday reps and the head office back in the UK.

The temperatures were in the mid 30’s so we spent early mornings on walks and sight seeing in Saumur which was extremely pretty and afternoons relaxing and enjoying barbeques on the large decked terrace.

We stopped off on the return journey to have lunch with Jean-Phillipe & Chantal.  We also asked Jean-Phillipe to put together an order of wine from his Cave for us.  On collection of course he added a few extra bottles as a petit cadeaux.  Thank you Jean-Phillipe!  The restaurant we went to was the same one used for the Twinning dinner last year and the food was exceptional.  It was a great way to end our trip and we look forward to seeing nos amis when we take part in the Twinning visit next year.

The ferry journey was the usual tedium topped off by a long wait to get through passport checks and finally leave the terminal.  The late night journey was then complicated by closures on the A30 for roadworks and the most tortuous detour along tiny country lanes.  We finally arrived home in the small hours after getting up at 4am the previous day.

No time for a long lie in next day as Freddy, Alex & Luke were already in the house and enjoying a few days in Seaton before we got home.  The full impact of the hot and dry spell was clear in the garden as all the grass was now brown. Luke was in full crawling mode and was covering ground fast.  He also enjoyed the beach and even tried eating the pebbles.

A week later and we were off to Bristol for number one grandson’s fifth birthday.  This was the party afternoon for the grandparents and it was a lovely relaxed afternoon watching him playing with his new presents and performing his incredible magic trick of making coins disappear.

Then it was off to London the next weekend for Luke’s first birthday.  Finally we had a journey by train WITHOUT a Train Strike – hurrah!  It was great to meet Alex & Freddy’s friends and their families and to see Freddy’s parents Ann & Guy who we last saw at their wedding. 

There was a gradual decline in temperature towards the end of the month, and a substantial increase in rainfall which was very much needed for the parched garden.  Unfortunately this has now settled into a pattern of regular heavy rainfall making the start of the school holidays feel like the monsoon season.  We dodged the showers to enjoy an Abba tribute night at the Tramway and Marlpit Lane Social Club came third in a quiz………..third from the bottom!! 

We had a visit from Chris and Viv who are in Wales for the summer staying with Viv’s mum in Brecon.  We managed a long walk across the golf course and the lanes around Axmouth on their first afternoon followed by an excellent meal in The Ship.  Day two the forecast was for dry weather so we started with big baps at our favourite café, Jurassic Bites en route to Beer and then on the coastal footpath to Branscombe, one of the top ten coastal walks.

It was all going well until the drizzle started just before we reached Branscombe.  The drizzle turned into full rain and by the time we got back to Beer we were a bit soggy.  We took a break to have a Beer in The Barrel Of Beer in Beer whilst watching the second half of England women’s football team vs China. 

Rain stopped and we walked on to have the usual ice cream stop at Jurassic Bites followed by walking along the beach from Seaton Hole to find pebbles with holes in them – we know how to have a good time with our visitors here in Seaton!

Talking of having a good time ……what has Neil been doing?  You will have to wait until next time to find out.