Some days you just have to wonder why..........

The builders are absent for most of the week, while the concrete footings cure, but the dedicated B team, from Australia are hard at it, working to complete the new wood shed. Sheets of corrugated iron are stripped from the side walls of the old shed and in the continuing 36 degree heat, we decide that the last remaining recyclable material - a zinc aluminium roof should also come off.

There was a bit of excitement when the European wasps heard us coming as they were happily resting in their small nest under one of the sheets of tin. Much swearing and buzzing of angry wasps, resulted in the addition of essential protective clothing, along with some heavy doses of pyretherum. The wasps retreated and the job was successfully completed.

In the absence of the pool, and the heatwave, necessitating orange warnings in France, we deemed it necessary to take a couple of days off and head to the nearby offshore island of Ile D'Oleron. We booked an overnight stay in a delightful 2 star Hotel in La Brée-Les Bains and I was awake early, planning the days activities to give us a good overview of the island en route to our destination. Later in the day, I was seriously wondering why I had bothered!

Perhaps getting in the car, and then realising the car keys were still in the fruitbowl, should have been a sign. There was no coffee shops en route and even though it was only an hour from home, by 12 noon, I was feeling very deprived.
Luckily, our first stop at one of the local oyster farms, provided the much needed caffeine hit, before we enjoyed the most delicious salty fresh oysters, with a glass of the local white wine. Things were looking up. But is was still extraordinarily hot and I figured a cooling dip in the Atlantic ocean would be the perfect solution. We were only 10 minutes from the coast and it was simply superb. Reasonably remote, with a small surf club hut (for the peak season, July/August) and a token long drop toilet/ change room, near the beach. Only problem was, I'd gathered all the towels, sunscreen, Roger's bathers etc into the beach bag, and forgot to pick my bathers of the back seat. Grrrrrr..... the water was crystal clear, and warm, the surf was a perfect break and I paddled up to my knickers while Roger body surfed like a pro. There were lots of locals cooling off, and a simple sign warning of rips, and advising there were no lifeguards - in France, adults are assumed to be intelligent and take full responsibility for their actions. Hallelujah! There were also no warnings for jellyfish, sharks or crocodiles. Simple .....swim at your own risk.

A late lunch was on the agenda, but there were roadworks on the roundabout which meant we arrived at the selected fish and chip cafe at 2.10pm, and you guessed it 'the kitchen is closed'! No problems, says the waiter, if you only want fish and chips, we can serve you at our restaurant next-door. Perfect, we say, even if costs an extra €4 for the pleasure. But in keeping with the days frustrations, my piece of fish is still cold in the middle, so I sent it back! The next piece was marginally warmer, but I'm still wondering how they had the title of 'best f&c shop' on the island.

After a less than successful start to the day we decided to head to our hotel - for a fresh start, we thought!
So we arrived at La Chaudrée to find the ubiquitous message on the front door 'we are away from the office, please call our mobile'. Two phone calls and 1 message later, I check my email - to discover the front entry code and our room number, 17, with a beautiful view overlooking the pool. We regrouped and then decided to head over to the surf side of the island again, wearing our bathers this time! Another very stunning beach but the wind had picked up and the waves were dumping resulting in lots od sand and seaweed. I really couldn't win. We retreated to our hotel for nice cool showers and then decided to seek a GnT at the in house bar. Only problem was - there was no TONIC! Figured I must have killed a chinaman in my dreams, but the agrum sufficed as by then I was almost desperate.

Finally, we hit the jackpot, with a short walk to the local calm beach, where we found the most delightful 'beach bar' called L' Atypique. Sitting at the top of some sand dunes, was a 'converted container' a couple of handsome young French guys and a cute gathering of chairs and tables made from recycled pallets, with coloured cushions overlooking La Brée-Les-Bains. We snaffled front row seats and enjoyed more than one Aperol Spritz and some delicious aperitos, fish balls, spicy tomato hummus, and a seafood rillette. We were amongst the last to leave, having drowned the 'days hiccups' well and truly.

A quick trip home in the Friday evening traffic, after some retail browsing in a couple of the larger villages. Ile D'Oleron is a delightful island, probably overrun with tourists in the season, but perfect the rest of the year and somewhere, we'd definitely like to return.

Gael, the 'pool man' arrived early Saturday morning and worked non-stop for 5 hours, installing the new pool pump and commissioning the pool. It was still 36 degrees and he had no hat, drank no water and had his shirt off after the first hour. Luckily we continued apace with the wood shed cladding so I could not be easily distracted. And by Monday, the heat had retreated and drizzly rain had arrived. The builders were back though, and the foundation concrete blocks were laid.Read more