30 July 2013

CONTRASTS

Although we have now had our little house in the Loire for nearly six years there is still a lot of exploring to do in the area.  As we wander through the little towns and villages we find something new we haven’t seen before every day.

My friend and I went for lunch at Pouzay a couple of weeks ago.  Nick and I have eaten at our chosen restaurant a few times before but usually we just arrive, park up, eat, then go somewhere else.  This time we were a little early so we had time for a walk around the place.

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Just around the corner from the restaurant was this very smart looking butcher’s shop.  A very smart and good looking butcher was locking up and leaving for his lunch as we walked by.

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Directly across the road was this shop !!

I can’t help wondering how long it had been closed and I bet those old walls had a tale or two to tell.

Lunch was great.  More later.  I am currently tackling my harvest of redcurrants …..busy, busy…..how did I ever have the time to go to work ??  As Ken said, retirement is a 24/7 occupation !!

13 comments:

  1. 24/7 retirement - you are a temptress arn't you?
    I reckon that in our trips in the Loire, Sue and I have seen more than some locals but that is the nature of tourists sometimes and yet we take our home surroundings for granted.
    Enjoy Jean

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    1. Leon, you are so right.
      We live only 10 miles from Chatsworth House here in Derbyshire, yet apart from riding through the park quite regularly I haven't been inside for probably twenty years and Nick never has!
      Yet people come from thousands of miles away to see it.
      Maybe because it's on our doorstep we take it for granted, because we could just pop in any time we want to.

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    2. We are the same about Cannock Chase which is on our doorstep. Since reducing my hours I walk there most weeks with my ex-colleagues walking group.

      What's good about your retirement is that you are doing things 'because you can'. What better reason is there>

      Enjoy...

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  2. Careful now ... don't work yourself into a 'burn-out'! Love the photo of the butcher's shop. I'm sure he had some lovely and delicious produce on display ... something to work up your appetite. Martine

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  3. I think you're right about things on your doorstep. We've still not wandered over to see the dolmen! :-)

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  4. Glad you are enjoying your retirement, and that you are taking notice of what is around you in your patch of the world. I have been here for five years and still see something knew every time I am out and about.

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  5. Taking time to smell the roses is something that we scheduled into our visit to our house in France this year as we have been working so hard on our petite maison that we had never explored the adjacent forest let alone the neighbouring villages. Delightful "finds" were discovered each time we ventured into places unknown. So much so that for the first time we are contemplating retirement.....if only we had a magic money wand. Warm regards.

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  6. Those little artisan shops in France are very much the essence of what I think we all love about the country, whether is't a bakers or a butchers. That, and a good market of course.
    I look forward to reading about lunch.

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  7. That village is obviously going up in the world, Jean. :-) I do hope the old shop gets some TLC soon.

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  8. I find it delightful all the stores and shops seem local not conglomerate corporations. Or is this incorrect?

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    1. We do find there are many more independent shops surviving in France than say in the UK. Which is great.

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