Written on Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
restaurants, sheep, wildlife, wolves
Sue went to Cafe de la Poste this weekend – doing research for this blog naturally – and when she arrived Sophie and Prosper were deep in conversation with a local she didn’t recognise. It was the local berger (shepherd) who keeps his sheep on the mountains of La Lance behind Venterol. It appears that recently he has lost several lambs to wolves and even one of his dogs who was trying to protect the flock and was forced over a crevace.
When Sue first bought her house a letter came round from the mairie pleading for people to help the previous berger (the uncle of today’s berger) who had had to have his flock destroyed due to a notifiable disease. The sheep who graze on the mountain pastures do a vital job of keeping down the brush and scrubby trees – real eco-warriors! The maire was asking each household to buy a sheep and Sue and her ex Phil did just that. Sadly they never got to meet it (or eat it!)
The news about the wolves seems to solve a bit of a mystery. One evening not so long ago Sue was driving home to Venterol when she saw an animal in the headlights – too big for a fox and more like a wild dog. She did wonder whether it could be a wolf but everyone said that wasn’t possible and how much wine had she drunk anyway?
So perhaps it was a wolf?
Written on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 at 11:56 am
bureaucracy
This blog is really a plea for help from Sue.
Sue’s Mum lives in Devon and since the spring she has been unable to phone her using her French landline. The number rings permanently as engaged and the same thing happens when she tries another number in the same locality – such as a neighbour of her Mum.
It’s a mystery…
However, the numbers for this particular exchange seem to have one digit less than the norm – maybe that’s a factor but not one that can be altered.
Sue pays for her line through FranceTelecom and her calls through OneTel (much cheaper for international calls). She tried calling FranceTelecom and they weren’t much help (quelle surprise). In fact, they suggested that the only way in which they might help would be if she cancelled using OneTel!!! OneTel were pleasant enough on the phone but nothing they tried did any good. After returning to England she sent OneTel an email saying she might have to change provider. You’ve guessed it – no reply.
She can get through to her Mum on her mobile but it costs a fortune.
So what next? Has anyone else encountered this problem?
Written on Friday, November 11th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
autumn, garden, wood fires
I love autumn in the Drome.
The colours of the leaves changing from green to golden and deep red transforms the views across the nearby mountains. That special soft luminosity at this time of year is such a contrast to the brilliant sharp light of the summer sun. Often when you wake in the morning soft tendrils of mist are still swirling around the mountain tops like the remains of a dying bonfire.
Now is the time to tidy up the garden and winter the pool. At last it’s safe to have a bonfire to get rid of all those prunings. Don’t forget to add your dead leaves to the compost or maybe have a separate enclosure to create leaf mould which is excellent to add to your potting compost or use as mulch around your flower beds. If you don’t have room for a proper compost bin you can always make leaf mould in plastic sacks with holes punched in – just water the leaves as you fill the bag. Time too for any last minute ordering of logs and for me to collect kindling from the woods down the lane. Wintering the pool is Laurent’s domain but basically involves putting in special hivernage liquid, lowering the water level and emptying and blocking up the pipes. I think!
If hibernation is more your thing, this is the perfect time to start working your way through all that beautifully stacked wood. There’s nothing quite like an afternoon curled up in the library with a good book and a chocolat chaud (or a glass of local red, if you prefer), in front of a blazing fire. The wood basket is filled to the brim so no need to venture out. The thick walls of Colombier keep in the heat like an insulation blanket!
Do take a look at our page A year in the Drome which has some lovely photos – and, of course, read Keats’ poem to get in the mood!
Written on Sunday, November 6th, 2011 at 11:28 am
activities, walking in provence
Another walk that comes complete with information panneaux is found about two-thirds of the way up Garde Grosse the mountain opposite Nyons with its communications aerial on top. In fact, you can drive all the way to the top where there are amazing views out over Nyons and beyond. Be sure to take your binoculars – you can see Sue’s house near Venterol if you look carefully – and on a clear day you can see the mountains of the Ardeche.
Anyway back to the walk which is quite easy, well signposted and takes between 30 and 45 minutes depending on your level of fitness. There is a large car park and the panneaux explain the flora and fauna although sadly some of them are raindamaged and impossible to read these days. Still it’s a good choice for the casual walker and it gives stunning views out towards the mountains of Angele and Cougoir.
There are masses of maps and info on these and many other walks at Colombier and we’re always happy to advise and point you in the right direction – literally and metaphorically!
Sue went to Cafe de la Poste this weekend – doing research for this blog naturally – and when she arrived Sophie and Prosper were deep in conversation with a local she didn’t recognise. It was the local berger (shepherd) who keeps his sheep on the mountains of La Lance behind Venterol. It appears that recently he has lost several lambs to wolves and even one of his dogs who was trying to protect the flock and was forced over a crevace.