From town to forest

A little walk through my hometown to introduce you all to some of our local features...
Starting with our local swimming-pool, the Piscine Saint-Georges, or Gambetta, which was built in art deco style in 1921. The inside is truly beautiful, decorated with mosaics and the changing cabins still have the original wooden doors.

Detail of the theatre on the Place de la Mairie.

For as long as I can remember, local punks have been using the theatre steps as a chill-out place.
Since the police apparently have nothing better to do and have their dwellings in the vicinity, it is a current occurrence to see them engaging in polite conversation with one another.
Rennes is the capital city of Brittany.
Some of the streets are signposted in both Breton and French.
Place des Lices. And no, it does not mean lice, but jousts.
The Thabor is one of my favourite parcs altogether.
I spent many an afternoon here, probably half of my life in fact!
The Place Sainte Anne is one of the most know in town. A lot of punks hang out here as well actually.
It is said that the mural above (in fact the wole building) is currently in danger of being destroyed to make place for a new metro line. Great shame, since it is one of the most picturesque features in Rennes. Actually, I even thought it was a protected building and consequently untouchable, but apparently not.


Leaving town, we go to the countryside. A walk along the fields takes us past traditional mud houses .
Then to the forest






Beautiful Spring!!

BZH

Much as it's hard to resume normality after an event like Flo's death and despite the cliché, life must go on.
For the same reason, it's also difficult to resume casual chit-chat in a blog, so this post will be all photos (mostly of Brittany, where I've now been on and off since I made it back to France on April the 10th) and I'll post something more consequent in a few days.
Boat
Cider
Blackthorn
Silene Vulgaris

Pointe Saint-Mathieu
Le Conquet


Daoulas

Camaret sur Mer

Pointe Corsen

Flo.

I am extremely sad to announce the unexpected death of my most-cherished and beloved sister Flo, forcefully taken from us this week in Guatemala.

My thoughts go to all of us who loved her so dearly.

Edwige, Papa,

Robert, Annemarie, ma petite Mumu,

Ré, Sabrina et la famille

Anne et la smala,
and of course, my mum and bro.

Hidihi,
nothing much to say, it's just cruisy routine at the mo.
Still got a job (the same one)
Still got a car (the same one)
Still living at the same place.

I'm coming to terms with it, I know it won't last.
Like the cakes in the shop. I'm eating way too much sugar (so what's new, will you say), but I go from the principle that everything is ephemeral, so might as well enjoy it while it lasts.
When will my next chance of bumping into such a good French patisserie come up, huh?

Theoretically I'm stopping work just before Easter, then going up to Rotorua for our capoeira encounter (YAY!!!!) and at some point in April/May we intend to go to the South Island with Paul, Sid, the truck and the motorbikes.

On days off, I'm starting to ride my bike further and further, which is nice.
I always know how much I love riding a bike, but I often don't realise how much I miss it until I get back on one.. It's really pleasant to ride here (around Okato) , at any rate: not too much traffic, road quite good, magnificent view, and loads of blackberry bushes providing restful entertainment and diversion along the way! :o)

I made my first batch of blackberry jam this week, and heaps of crumble, yum!!!

Here are a few related and unrelated pics.
See ya!
Hahahaha, endless humour...

An American Car festival in downtown New Pymouth 2 weeks ago took all the oldies out, whether metal or organic..

I want that one!

On the way to work, nice sunrise..

A couple of pukeko on the side of the road just after Okato
A walk up Lucy's Gully, offers a nice view on New Plymouth once you get over the native bush line..
The cute fantails follow you in the bush.
Why? Because by walking you disturb the insects they feed on.

Mount T. undercover
Because Taranaki is, after all, the Dairy Heart of New Zealand...
Yes Sidney, it is...
Mount T. at dusk
At last, I'm starting to get back into more cycling, naes!!!
A few 50ish km rides to get back into the groove.. we've got a big capoeira encounter coming up on Easter week-end I want to be fit for, at least as much as poss :D