A trip to Bordeaux

Shades of autumn

The last knitting and crochet retreat for 2013 has finished, we have just Lin left to take down to Bordeaux. It is a sunny Saturday morning so Gill, Lin and I set off on the scenic route to Bordeaux through Cognac and Barbeziuex enjoying the autumn colours and rolling vineyards. We arrive in the city at lunch time and I spend half an hour driving around in circles trying to find my way to the car park I know. Having finally parked we wander through a silent funfair to the pedestrianised streets and a compulsory visit to la Droguerie, I buy some lovely leather handles for knitted/fabric bags and some brooch pins.

Macaroons!

A wall of chocolate bars

We have a lunch of omelette and salad in a busy cafe, then a dash to the covered shopping arcade as it starts to pour with rain, we admire the beautiful patisserie and chocolate shops. I think Lin is worrying about my ability to get out of the city centre faster than we arrived so we head off early for the airport and drop her off then Gill and I pop into a very busy Ikea on the way home.
It has been a great year for the workshops and retreats, we have met some lovely people and they have all made new friends. Bookings for next year are flowing in fast with a lot of repeat visits, the workshops are almost full already. To see the full list of dates and availability click here.

Knitting Retreat in France

The April knitting retreat at La Verderie is up and running and everyone seems happy in spite of the weather. I went down to Bordeaux yesterday to pick up Jane and daughter Hannah on the early flight from Luton, we went into Bordeaux for a compulsory visit to La Droguerie for some inspiration and a quick drool over the yarns, Jane bought one of their wonderful pattern books for children (an English version which I didn't know they sold). After that a leisurely coffee then a wander through the massive spring market that had food stalls (delicious sausages in baguettes for lunch) a brocante and plants. Back to the airport to collect Jane (G) and then the drive back to La Verderie.

A quick walk with the dogs in between showers, then Culli went off to Angouleme to collect Maureen. Jane G has brought three knitting projects with her, Hannah started a new one as soon as she arrived as she is keen to try fairisle, Jane F is ready to start a project from her new book and Maureen has a scarf project on the go. After apero's and supper everyone retired to bed early having been up since the crack of dawn.