Monday 26/4/2014 – Markets of Amsterdam

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Amsterdam, Holland, market

We went to the market just round the corner for the kids to see if they could find anything to spend their holiday pocket money on. After much deliberating Sx bought an army hat (for the movies he makes) Dx bought a little magnet animal which wobbles and Lx bought a very elegant (but easily breakable) fan. Gx couldn’t  find anything he wanted.

 

We also tried some little pancakes – which were so good we went back for seconds!

And I earnt myself some “good Mummy” points with the boys by buying them some hot chicken legs from the Kip stall.

Back to chill out and watch a movie (and for the adults to have a nap! I am sure its the kids who are supposed to need them!!)

We went to one of Amsterdam’s famous pancake restaurants in the evening. Unfortunately the weather had now broken and it was pouring with rain. But the kids soon forgot the wet streets outside when they saw the size of the pancakes! And Lx loved her “princess pancake” which came with earrings, a necklace and a handbag. Dx had a “pirate pancake” which came with a little pirate ship to go in the bath.

The first photo of my brother and I for about 40 years! We have ones of the whole family but not of the two of us. My next project is one of me and both my brothers when we all meet up in the summer!

 

Monday 26/8/2013 – Pool, Picturesque Villages and Partying!

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365, architevcture, children, family, France, holiday, market, meal, medievil, party, photoaday, photography, pool, postaday, summer, UK, underwater, village

Today dawned overcast again – where HAS the sun gone??? It was warm enough in the afternoon for a dip in the pool and a chance to take some underwater photos – although not long after I got in, the children got out declaring it “the coldest the pool has been all holiday”!
 

In the evening we headed into the local village Segur le Chateau. We drove down intending to drive home later but then discovered just how BIG the party that evening was and Matt took the car home again so we could drink and walk home at the end of the evening.

The village is incredibly pretty with lots of medieval houses everywhere you look.

 

We had gone into town for the last big evening market of the season which is really like a big party. In the main square there are hundreds of chairs laid out for people to sit and eat.

There are stalls selling bread, salad, meat (which is then BBQ-ed for you) crepes, candy floss, cheese, wine – everything you need for a fantastic meal. We took our seats and ordered meat and chips to eat with the bread and wine we had brought with us – and then had crepes and candy floss for dessert. The children enjoyed the bouncy castle, the dancing to a singer – and making friends with a French boy which gave them a chance to try out their pidgin French!

Sunday 25/8/2013 – More markets (and a fireside film)

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2013, 365, childhood, children, family, film, fireside, France, home, market, movie, photoaday, photography, pizza, postaday, rain, weekend

Off to Objat today for another market. We lucked in as it was a special fete day and they had some traditional dancing going on (including some people who were wearing traditional wooden clogs)and bands playing…

…as well as the usual market stalls with local farm produce.

The weather held off till we were safely in a pizza restaurant for lunch and then threw it down. Unfortunately the raincoats were in the car so we did get soaked as we walked back (and we couldn’t stop in the market for crepes for dessert as we had hoped) but at least we had a dry morning.

The rain continued all afternoon so we made the best of it lighting a fire in the wonderful fireplace in the gite and snuggling up to watch some films together.

Thursday 22/8/2013 – Market Day and Movies Part II

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2013, architecture, childhood, family, France, holiday, landscape, market, photoaday, photography, postaday, summer

We went to the market at Excideuil today which is a very old quaint town with the market in winding narrow streets closed to cars. The town is overlooked by the imposing castle (no time to explore it thought I am afraid).

I love the selection of items for sale in a French market which we don’t get in England – the saussisons stalls, the big rounds of cheese, whole stalls of onions and garlic – and in such a tourist region, perhaps a few snails to take home as souvenirs. (The children turned these down).

But I also just love wandering the streets and enjoying the old buildings, the traditional shutters and signage.

Thursday 22/8/2013 – Market Day and Movies Part I

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2013, 365, children, crepes, family, film, France, holiday, market, movie, photoaday, photography, pizza, pool, postaday, summer

We set off this morning for the market at Excideuil which we had never been to before (photos of the town and market in Part II).

We try and incorporate a market visit into our holiday as the children enjoy wandering the stalls looking for things to spend their holiday pocket money on and seeing what items they sell in French markets that we don’t get at home.

It was a very friendly little party that walked into the town – lots of holding hands going on (including Dx and Gx whose new friendship is still going strong!)

 

This time they bought some little bracelets (Lx and Dx) some cord bracelets (Gx and Lx) and sunglasses (Sx).

Happy with their spoils we found a little restaurant for lunch and ordered pizzas and crepes. Unfortunately as soon as the food arrived (which took a while!) so did the wasps and we were driven indoors where a few of them still followed us. Poor Gx was beside himself with worry about them  and it wasn’t the lovely relaxed meal we had hoped for.

Home for a bit more play in the pool while Matt went for a bike ride on his own…

… and then “family film night” with popcorn and more pizzas.