Red Algae.

Red Algae can be a menace. On houses it can cover the walls in very little time, and isn't easy to treat. I think it arrived in this region about 30 years ago, and has since become quite a problem.

The Algae is a microalgae (Trentepohlia) which usually starts life as green, then turns red with age. I have seen new houses around here that are covered. The Algae seems to like cement rendering more than actual stone.

Usually it's an unsightly mess, but on my poolside urn I rather like it.

Inclement weather.

You may be shocked to hear that the sun doesn't always shine here in Périgord, and unfortunately we are having several days of rain just when we really needed sunshine.

So, what is a chap to do? 

Well the boys go off on their bikes or play Ping Pong, I retreat to my crossword book, Lady Magnon reads novels, and Kimbo goes off shopping for fine wines, Oysters, and other delights; of course.

We are doing our best to ensure the future of the oystermen of Oléron, the vignerons of Epernay, and the Goose breeders of just about everywhere.

Someone has to do it, and, anyway, what else could we do; our weather has been dreadful.

La Chasse.....Hunting.

                               

I'm not here to defend or even attack hunting, just to present you with some figures.

It has now been announced that here in Périgord this winter's hunting season will be between 9 September, and 28 February.

The hunting authorities in our particular area have also given guidance as to the number of animals that can be shot.

Between 12,250 and 18,200 Wild Boar may be shot, and between 16,600 and 18,300 Roe Deer may be shot.

I'd never previously thought about the numbers of wild animals that were shot each year; it seems a lot.

Périgord is just one of about 95 similarly sized départments (counties) in France. I don't imagine that all have the same wildlife problems that we have, but even if half do (and they shoot the same amount) that's an awful lot of Deer and Boar.

                                      'No Pheasant shooting'.

p.s. I no longer hunt, but I would like to make a plea to those who do. Please would you refrain from shooting any Pheasants or Red Deer for at least the next five years. Red Deer are such wonderful animals, and are becoming quite rare. In the UK Pheasants are regular garden birds, and I'd love to see that becoming the case here too. A simple five year amnesty would help them enormously.

Unknown neighbours; Lot-et-Garonne

I love these short films.This one may amuse you.

Here are some very typical old folks from 'down the road' (Lot et Garonne, 47). I rather like the old boy; he's thoroughly pissed-off with everything! Beware; early in the video it shows Madame killing a Chicken (1 min 50-ish), you may like to look away.



People such as these are everywhere hereabouts; it's simply how they are. I've spent the last 45 years in their company, and I can assure you they are some of the nicest, most generous, and helpful, people you could ever wish to meet.

Madame's smile says it all. She reminds me of my vigneronne.

Lost and maybe Found.

                             

With two young grandsons and their dad staying with us for a while, Lady Magnon suggested buying a drone for them.

I said they'd probably lose it within the first 10 mins.

"I'd tie a sausage to it", she said.

"Why on earth would you do that?", I asked.

"So that Bok could always find it in the long grass".

She's no fool; Lady M.

Naughty boy!

Regular visitors to this page will remember Bok's friend Marley. He really is a lovely boy, and with some training should have been the perfect pet.

Sadly he's blotted his copybook. He recently chased and killed my neighbour's hens; something of which I would never have thought him capable. It is well known that once a dog kills, you can never really get them to stop. Luckily Bok is very good with Chickens. He has always tried to 'herd' them; it's the Border Collie in him, he would never kill one.

I must say here that Marley's owners also have another dog. It's like a small black Bulldog, with a wrinkled face and an attitude to challenge Trump or Tyson. We call it 'The evil black bastard devil dog'; which is exactly what it is. It growls and snaps at you. It's only visited us on two occasions (accompanied by Marley) and I was obliged to fend it off with a stick. Nasty bloody animal.

So, Marley's future is now in question. The owner of the hens quite rightly informed Marley's owners of the disastrous event, and I imagine he will now be chained up, or just kept inside their garage. His roaming-free days are over, and he has lost friends due to his bad behaviour.

Of course, humans also behave badly, and regular readers may remember that some time back we were forced to 'cut' a couple of naughty local miscreants; sadly Dogs are as difficult to re-educate as certain humans.

Poor old Marley; we'll miss him.

Strawberries.

When I was small we had a lovely fruit-n-veg garden, ruled over by 'Fuller the Gardener'.

He was a wise old fellow, who taught us how to wring the necks of Chickens, sow Radishes, and shoot Rats.

However, the only bit of Fuller wisdom that I remember was about how much of what to grow. He reckoned you should grow 75% for your own consumption, and 25% for the wildlife.

I was reminded of this yesterday morning when I went to pick Strawberries. Loads of them had been half eaten, and I couldn't really understand how or why. I had put down Slug Pellets, the plants themselves are off the ground in old wheelbarrows, and I had been paying them special attention as it's Strawberry season.

When I went down later to pick a few for lunch, I found the culprits; about five Blackbirds were in amongst the plants fattening themselves on my fruit.

The plants are now covered with fine netting.

The wretched scoundrels!