Dont tell Jon about the dog !

When we leave the door open to our cottage we often come 'home' to find we have a visitor or two . The dog from next door sneaks in and rests on the couch. ( she is not supposed to be inside ) When she sees us she hides behind the couch or under the table so we can't remove her. Robbie and Kylie ( cats) visit each day, separately of course, prancing in, 'chatting' away to us . They go up the stairs "chatting" very loudly now ( look at me! ) and wont stop until one of us goes us and talks to them asking them what they been doing, providing lots of loves and pats. I then put the towel on the bed and they jump up and sleep, very content having be acknowledged . Not that different to people really.

What we look like now after 56 french pasteries

Well it has been very very hard work getting through a pastry or more every day.....pain au raisin, pain au chocolat or our favourite a pepito ! Not to mention the wine and tomorrow we have lobster!

Photo: We are outside the restaurant that Jon took us to for lunch after the wedding in Cancale - Chateau Reicheux .....more food, dessert and cheese trolley to die for and more......$35 for a Gin and T!

The Wedding of Briony and Mark at Le Castel

Their much loved dog was the ring bearer .
Very smartly dressed for the occasion with the rings were attached to his collar and bow tie. He was very well behaved and didn't disgrace himself in any way. Save option for a best man don't you think AND there are no embarrassing speeches .

The food

A vegetarian 3 days. Even a vegetarian wedding breakfast! Not only were a percentage of the guest vegetarian but one was gluten intolerant and the groom had allergies to peanuts. Shame about the peanut brittle on the croquembouch! As he couldn't eat the cake which was dessert for the wedding , he had a platter of fruit.

(We set up a sausage sizzle at the rear of the marquee , deux euros for un saussie and frites !)

The setting

A week before the wedding Mark, Jon and Graham erected the Marquee with no instruction manual and almost no injuries. (Mark fell off the ladder whilst they were trying to erect the main centre 'pole', but thankfully was unhurt) I then became the official ladder holder which was a promotion from washing the marquee sides before being erected.
A few days later the draping went up then side sections and 'walls'.
A wooden dance floor was made by Mark and Jon and carpeted. ( The surface of the lawn is so uneven due to the many mole holes so dancing would have been a definite ankle twister.

The wedding breakfast was at 4.30 and inside the Chateau .

The cake-Croquembouch

Gateaux de Mariage: Croquembouche

This is what our wedding cake should have looked like.
This one had a peanut brittle base, profiteroles piped with custard , held together by caramel toffee.

Mark and I have decided that for our 1st wedding anniversary we will attempt to make one that looks like this . Master Chef here we come!

Some of the star performers at the " wedding"

The chef, kitchen staff and waitresses. My hands were so sore at the end of the day from carrying plates and washing and drying dishes.








What a team of great enthusiastic hard working people , in no order of priority : Mark, Jon , Pauline, Graham, Karen ( florist) , Denise, Lyn the chef and her staff, Julie the photographer and of course Richard the marriage celebrant ( ex Army. Current Magnum PI ) We all worked to make the day a memorable one for Briony and Mark the happy couple .

Interestingly enough the couple were married in the UK on the Wednesday before and the 'wedding' was the celebration. To be married in France you have to be in residence for at least 40 days, then you are married at the Mairie ( town hall by the "mayor" or a person of similar standing) and then you go to the cathedral.


Mark had many varied roles from holding the umbrella for the photographer, sounds man, to pulling off the plastic coating of the carpet minutes before the Bride walking 'down the Ilse" .














The jazz band. This colourful lady arrived , walked into the kitchen and requested a Creme de menthe drink. She was politely informed that we only had wine , beer and juice.