Day 3 of our vacation in the south of France. We put Jerome in charge of cocktails, and I was put in charge of the barbeque. Aude’s father was put in charge of killing the bees, and Aude’s mother was in charge of the couscous. Aude volunteered to be in charge of sitting by the pool.

Look out — the bee killer is poised and ready for action!

 

Limes at the ready for mojitos

 

Experts at work making the cocktails

 

A consultation in the kitchen

 

Jerome wonders if he should use the entire bottle

 

More drink-ology

 

By the pool

 

Cats are very clean animals. Minouche gets ready to take her shower.

 

Minouche watches all the action from beside the pool

 

Aude takes her job of relaxing by the pool very seriously.

 

Matt is on barbecue duty — merguez sausages at the ready!

 

The couscous is a success!

 

Relaxing in the pool…

 

One of my favourite parts of living in France is the markets. I was up early one morning in Les Issambres, so decided to brave the crowds and head down to the local market with my camera. I probably would have been better on foot, as it took longer to find a parking spot than it would have simply to walk down the hill, but at least I didn’t have to walk back UP the hill!

Wondering the streets in the local market

 

An enormous pan of paella

 

Another pan of paella

 

Olives

 

Garlic!

 

Red tomatoes

 

Another paella — very popular with everyone going to the beach

 

A woman sells olives, artichokes and garlic

 

Repairing old clocks

 

Sausages and salami

 

Sun dried tomatoes

 

A woman carries her shopping through the market

 

My first real update in more than a month. Needless to say, August has been very, very busy. I am spending most of my time right now travelling between my client’s various sites around Europe, and August has meant trips to Ireland, England, Switzerland, France, and Spain. Deadlines are looming and people are becoming more and more stressed.

Early in August, I did at least get the chance to take a week off. Aude and I spent a week with Aude’s parents and brother in the south of France. It was my first real vacation since we went on our honeymoon nearly a year ago, and even the few days of sun were a welcomed break.

A nice swimming pool and view over the houses

Aude takes her first dip in the pool

Relaxing by the pool

More views over the swimming pool. I could get used to this view every morning.

Flowers

More flowers

Aude in front of the pool

Matt begins to relax by the pool

Aude’s parents are beginning to plan their trip to the US

Preparing dinner

Beginning to relax

Ah – it is because she has a cocktail in her hands!

In the kitchen

 

A few more pictures from Easter Sunday in the South of France…

There are definitely worse places to spend a Sunday afternoon…

Aude’s mother, hard at work preparing Easter lunch

Minouche watches everything from the garden

Jerome and Liher relax with a book before lunch

Even if my parents couldn’t be here in person, they were with us in spirit!

Aude has always been rubbish at hide-and-seek

Aude and her mother in the March sunshine

Jerome and Liher beside the pool

Everyone in front of the pool

Matthew, Jerome and Liher

Aude puts the final touches on the starter…

Foie gras and cepes — a great way to start Easter lunch

And now some pictures for those of you who are more visually-minded (or don’t speak English, or are just too lazy to read all the way through this entry).

Just back after four days in the south of France, where we enjoyed some truly superb weather and managed to sort out a lot of the final details around the wedding. The menu is chosen, the photographer is booked and briefed about what we’d like, we’ve seen the band and we’ve met with the DJ. Incidentally, apologies to anyone coming to the wedding – the DJ was a mandatory requirement of the Chateau (apparently he makes sure the place doesn’t get destroyed) and let’s just say that we don’t exactly share one another’s taste in music. I think we’ll sit Julien next to the DJ and hope for the best…

I also learned that the Mediterranean sun in the middle of the day is a little stronger than we’re used to in the UK. Which is why I mostly look like a lobster in these pictures.

There may be a million pictures of this view on my blog, but that doesn’t make it any less pleasant…

Aude clearly enjoys sitting in the summer sunshine. Much nicer than the cold, rainy weather in England…

Even the busy duties of planning a wedding can’t wipe the smile off Aude’s face!

Aude and her mother outside on the patio

Every family has one joker…

Clearly enjoying the fun…

The family in front of the pool

Aude about to go over the edge of the infinity pool…

This is why your mother always told you to put on sunscreen. What you can’t see in the photograph is that my nose is redder than Rudolph’s!

Back at work now, and the treadmill is turning just as fast as it ever was… I’d put my nose to the grindstone if it wasn’t so sunburnt!