June Retreat days 2, 3 and 4

Breakfast on the terrace

The week seems to have flown by. Tuesday was brighter weather so we spent the morning relaxing at La Verderie with our knitting, then after lunch a trip into St Jean d'Angely. I had a hospital appointment, so left the girls to find their own way around the town and came back to meet them in the cafe later.

St Jean d'Angely

Beer and coffee in the square

They managed to find the kitchen shop to make a few purchases and have a wander around the town. It was warm enough to cook and eat tagine in the garden.

a warm summer evening on the terrace

Wednesday was hot and sunny, in the morning we headed off to Cognac. A quick stroll through the indoor market where Jelena bought some cheese to take home and Jacqui bought some purple garlic.

the indoor market at Cognac

Next stop the yarn and fabric shop where everyone purchased buttons, trimmings and fabrics, Jelena and I split a remnant between us, to make a skirt for her and a shirt for me.

beer and coffee in Cognac

Then up to the square for coffee and beer and back home for lunch. In the afternoon we went for a dip in our friends pool and spent a lazy afternoon sipping chilled rose and tasting the local Cognac. Back home for a BBQ of fish kebabs, toulouse sausages and salad in the garden.

A cooling dip

Cognac tasting

This morning we have been to Saintes for more retail therapy, the sales have started! More bags of shopping to cram into suitcases tonight, just managed to get the market before it closed to buy fresh prawns and moules for a paella tonight.

the museum in Saintes

Saintes market

We are just sitting down for an afternoon of knitting and magazine reading, we don't seem to have achieved much knitting so far this week, but everyone seems very happy!