Département de la Haute-Vienne

It’s my Birthday, It’s my Birthday! - So we didn’t hang around for once, as I wanted as much attention as possible in this 24hrs - so we got up and ready relatively quickly. Cards opened and placed in pride of place, just awaiting the mega present to arrive later 😂
We had decided yesterday to head to Confolens and later the Reclamation yard. We were on the road about 11am, travelling east across to Sauze Vaussais, to Civray, dropping down and skirting Charroux, then onto Pressac before finally onto Confolens. The weather which hadn’t been brilliant on waking had brightened as we got towards Confolens. We stopped just outside in a small lay-by just before heading into the town and had a wander over the main bridge - Pont Medieval, Rue Antoine Babaud Lacroze.
Located in the north-east of the Charente, at the confluence of Vienne and Goire, Confolens, with its dungeon, its Romanesque churches and the remains of its fortifications, testifies to the role it had in the Middle Ages. Confolens enjoyed prosperity due to the activity of its tanneries. On both sides of the Pont Vieux, about sixty half-timbered houses and numerous private mansions attest to this period. In the 19th century, it became sub-prefecture, it occupies administrative and commercial functions, which modifies its urban physiognomy. Since 1958, its festival of Arts and Traditions of the World attracts tens of thousands every year in the first fortnight of August. In 1895, Auguste Redon created a cake of almond paste called Kroumirs, from local specialty.
We walked back to Rox and parked up in town and then found our way into a patisserie for baguette and quiche. After another stroll we headed back to Rox. On the way out of town we stopped at a roadside small brocante, which transpired to be full of old tatt. I’d seen better stuff at local tip.
We ventured on heading towards The Reclamation Yard, which we had briefly visited a couple of days ago. Our journey lasting all of five minutes we arrived. We spent over an hour walking the numerous floors of just about everything you could want to find. It is very much a glorified house clearance venue, but bloody hell has it got some quantity of clearance items. There is an entire floor dedicated to doors of every shape, size and design and a basement full of sinks, baths and toilets, not to mention a full wood yard. So if you need an item for a quick renovation and not wanting to spend big bucks - this is defo worth a visit. We will be back without a doubt.
Heads swirling with ideas we hopped back into Rox with Tre having another drive. We were chased all the way home by the rain, we could see it behind us and we had the occasional shower - but we continued heading into the brighter skies.
Back at home Tre and I played with the Ninja again, this time preparing and air frying pastries full of brie, bacon and a touch of tomato puree - lovely!!
A couple of glasses of our now favourite Rose - Roche Mazet, a little TV and I’d had quite a lovely day . . . not such a bad first birthday in FranceLes mer