Knitting holidays in France - October knitting retreat

The last retreat for this year has just finished. We have had a fantastic week with plenty of sunshine, lots of outings, masses to eat and a bit of knitting.

We started the week with a visit to the Brocante in Saintes and found a few bargains - metal signs, trays, beads, necklaces and fabric.

On Monday we had a day at home working on projects. There is a good mix of scarves, shawls, gloves, a child's sweater and a lovely X-stitch project.

Dale's scarf and gloves

Anne's completed shawl

Veronica's completed shawl

 Experimenting with double knitting

A bee from my bargain bracelet from the Brocante completes Purl's scarf

Sue's fish sweater

On Tuesday we spent the morning in Cognac shopping and sightseeing, then in the evening we went to Egreteau our local Cognac producer for a tour of the distillery and tastings of Pineau and Cognac.

On Wednesday it was a visit to Saintes, shopping for fabric and yarn at L'Oasis and gifts at Maison du Monde.

 Some amazing fabrics for cushion covers and bags

A lovely gift for me - a Louisa Harding shawl pattern and yarn

For our final outing we went to La Rochelle for the day, starting with a loo break at the Aquarium where there was an amazing exhibition of x-ray photographs.

Followed by a walk in the sunshine around the old port and down to the beach

 where we had a coffee in the sunshine

 and a paddle

 then back to the old port for lunch

 followed by a wander around the shops

 and a visit to the wonderful little yarn and fabric shop Mercerie l'Aguillee

We managed to squeeze in a quick visit to the market in St Jean d'Angely on Saturday morning before the trip to Bordeaux for their flight home.

April knitting holiday in France - last two days

Monday morning looks brighter, Culli and I have an early start as BeBop has to go to the vets for an operation on his eye, so after a long walk Culli takes him in for a day at the vets.

Imogen's lace scarf

Imogen's patchwork bag

Joan's chunky cable cardi

Betina's socks & beading sample

Betina's crochet shawls

I spend the morning helping Imogen with her patchwork squares, not that she needs much help as she is romping through the pattern. Joan is knitting more of her chunky cardi and Betina is swopping between socks and her crochet shawl.

edge of Le Vieux Port

meringues

the lovely streets of La Rochelle

gift packed sardines

hand made soaps

sadly not the real Jack Sparrow

Ice creams

We have an early lunch and go off to La Rochelle for a wander around the beautiful town with its designer clothes and colourful gift shops, followed by a coffee and ice creams in Le Vieux Port.
When we get back BeBop is home after his op which went well, but we have some worrying news from the vet as she has found a tumour in his mouth, so we now have to wait two weeks for the biopsy results and then possibly an agonising decision on what to do next. In spite of a general anaesthetic he is back to his usual chirpy self by bedtime, so it is hard to believe that there might be something seriously wrong.

BeBop and Buddy

Today is the last day of the retreat, after a leisurely breakfast Culli takes Joan to the airport in La Rochelle and I take Imogen and Betina to Bordeaux, we drop Imogen off at the airport for her flight and Betina and I go into Bordeaux so that she can visit La Droguerie and the book shop. She buys some lovely blue/grey alpaca yarn and a crochet book at La Droguerie and some more crochet books in the bookshop, her bag must weigh a ton as she has bought at least 9 or 10 crochet books over the last few days. I drop her off at the airport and set off for home.

cake shop in Bordeaux

It has been a lovely few days, I think we have all learnt a lot and really enjoyed each others company.
I now have a few days for housework, shopping and cooking before the Mystery Blanket workshop starts on Sunday, fingers crossed for a bit more sunshine.