[Version 2 – I wasn’t satisfied with V1.] We’re on a Francine photographic foray. [How’s that for alliteration?] We don’t often do this often but we’ve gone away for a few days in the UK sans Guillaume. Scary stuff. Not…

From the outset, we’ve been referring to our little Spanish retreat as Casa Libélule. Whilst trying to remain reasonably minimalist, we’ve adorned it with a few suitably decorative items such as metal dragonflies screwed to the naya (a.k.a. balcony) walls.…

Well, it has been great weather for flying. Since we arrived, our first five days have been 25°C and that’s in the shade, as temperatures should be measured. I’ve been struggling to decide for some years whether 24C of 25C…

Yesterday I confined my Odo hunting activities to the rock pools in the river as it flows through Jalón itself. With another day of wall to wall sunshine and temperatures topping out at 33°C, I thought I’d try my more…

Yesterday was our last day at Casa for this trip and today we are driving back to Guillaume, waiting patiently back at Fanjeaux in France. We treated ourselves to a meal out with friends to reduce preparation for departure. After…

[Yes, I know I’m getting this all arse-about-face but that’s what happens swilling wine on the road.] Just above La Rochelle is the Baie de L’Aiguillon. We’ve been there before and, if you time it right, there are a couple…

The tracks and fields around Arçais have produced in the past some interesting orchids. Mind you, we’ve had to get the timing right. One year we discovered Pyramidal and Lizard Orchids along one of the excellently organized bicycle routes, only…

With no diary events to keep us at home and a clear-ish day, we tried being adventurous and decided to go exploring. Our first chosen target was Oliva, on the coast  a little north of us. The name of Oliva…

Francine has been wondering how to give our balcony a little lift, apart from its being adorned by Odonata examples of Octodoptera murdochii  and Gomphus oxfordiensis, that is. Our friend Jim, the discoverer of O. murdochii and who lives a…

After our first night in Casa we pronounced the guest bed fit for purpose. There was a problem, though. For the last three months, my right foot has been plagued by an attack of plantar fasciitis. At some time during…