QWERTY

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? This week I had a free period at school so started on the Mavis Beacon Touch typing course. In the space of half an hour I moved from 4words per minute with 76% accuracy to 8 words per minute and 97% accuracy. I wonder what I can manage this week.

Last Wednesday a group of us went out to Anna Shaw's for lunch, and managed to while away the afternoon just like retired folk. Olwyn, who has just had, and hopefully beaten cancer, wants us to do the Walk for Life next year. I have suggested "The O team - we'll run rings around cancer!"

The weather has been absolutely appaling, so it was good to have a Sunday lunch with friends - including Barry and Liz from Hamilton and we even showed our French Trip DVD, and no-one feel asleep.

Here's me eating a nutella crepe under the Eiffel Tower.

Problems and Poses

The problems in the wine industry have occupied our minds since I went to the winegrowers meeting on Wednesday. The industry is struggling with an over supply of grapes, which has built up by surpluses over the years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. When this happened in the 90's in Australia they flooded the market with cheap wine. We all enjoyed it, but now Australia has built a market niche for itself as providing cheap wine and now struggles to sell good wine at a price reflecting its cost to make. The result is that some blocks have stopped pruning, as they have been dumped by Montana and have no contract for their grapes. Fortunately we dont grow for Montana, but I have tried to contact Sileni, our wine company, but no answer yet on how we stand. We are over half way through pruning, so lets hope we are OK. The firm we normally buy our new grapevines from is hosting a seminar on growing avocados next week.

With all these woes, wouldn't it be nice to be back in France, playing with the street theatre on Montmatre? Rumours are flying as to whether the subdivision on our land will go ahead, so lots of unknowns in the months ahead.

D Day Landing

we were very interested to hear reports of the commemoration of D day which happened on June 6, 65 years ago. We went to Caen (say Con, or you'll be sent to Cannes)in the North of France. 158000 men and equipment all landing at once, totally out foxing the Germans. We spent the morning at the museum and then went on a bus tour to these places where Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword troops landed. The young American on the trip was totally blown away by the fact that the Americans mucked their landing up and suffered heavy losses. Most of the commemoration was held at the cemetry, our guide who was a german lass (french fiance) told us of lots of sad stories here. Then you can see me checking our one of the gun emplacements, and Duncan in a crater made by one of the big guns.

A girl just loves shopping

Yes, it doesn't matter where you are, or how expensive things get, its always great fun to go shopping. Here I am in France witha few shopping experiences. The markets were very interesting and even quite small villages held a market day. Since so many of then have their own gardens, it was a good place to sell your excess produce. At one stall I bought Nougat for the kids at school, I DIDN"T buy any live hens, we bought a little of the cheese - especially the goats cheese. The meats were alittle bit of a mystery (salami and pressed meat made out of allsorts) and what a girl just needs after four weeks on the road - cheap knickers!!