Wednesday 28 July 2010

Massignac (Part 1)

Here I am back on my own again.  Nigel left yesterday morning with little desire to return to the UK.  Trouble is, someone still has to bring in the money!  We keep buying lottery tickets in the hope that he can drop tools and join me in retirement, but so far, all we have managed to win is the odd £6 or £10 - they keep forgetting to add a string of zeros on the end!



On my way home from the airport, I stopped off  to walk around a little village that I have driven through many times, but never really taken much notice of.  I thought you would like to take a tour with me.  
Taken from down the road on the approach to the village

I then crossed the bridge before entering Massignac

The lake that 'slims down' to run under the bridge.

A building in the centre which I think was a small restaurant. Note the brown 'item' behind the hedge

This is what it looks like from the other side!

The remainder of the centre, the boulangerie (baker) and the charcuterie (butcher).

I am sure this little gate has many stories it could tell

My guess is that this was used for grain storage, though I am possibly wrong. I think the grain was loaded in through the top openings and then taken out through the small doors at the bottom.
 
I just thought this looked quite pretty
and I was curious to know what was behind both of the above :-)

More photos of the church and the village to follow in another post.



28 comments:

  1. I've not been to France for ages...it's a country I love so thanks for taking me on the tour with you :-)

    C x

    Ps. Love the photo of the pig...made me smile!

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  2. You do live in the most beautiful place, Diane... no wonder your hubby doesn't want to leave it or you or your fabulous cooking!!! I am in the city for now but also hope to give it up for the country one of these days! Oh why does one have to work??? Let's both cross our fingers for one another to get a lottery... the zeros in all the right places!

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  3. Hi Carol, there is so much to see here as you obviuously know, it just a case of getting out and getting around:)

    Have a look at the 'pig' carefully, it has horns and an udder! Diane

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  4. What an adorable little village. Nice shot of the bridge with reflection and Love the pig.

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  5. These are such wonderful little villages Diane. It always seems so peaceful there.

    That make two of us hoping to win the lottery but I guess the reason I never win anything is because I never play it. :)

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  6. What a lovely village. I enjoyed the tour. Hope you will not be too lonely. Sometimes we all need stretching room.

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  7. A limousin cow eh! I met a french chap once who told me that our local cows are where the term 'Limousine' car came from. Initially the cars were brown, large and square just like a limousin cow, hence the name. Not sure if he was telling the truth but he had a very old car and was a bit of a car buff, so I took him at his word!
    Hope you aren't too lonely on your own xx

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  8. Sometimes it's good to stop and wander around places that we would usually just pass through. Thanks for the lovely photos.

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  9. Longpastremembered, I will keep fingers crossed for you as well as ourselves, maybe one day! Yes we do live in a beautiful place and thankfully, mostly lovely people. Diane

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  10. Gaelyn I was quite pleased with that photo of the bridge. I think the pig is supposed to be a cow! Diane

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  11. Joan, if you aint in it you can't win it:) Yes the villages here are lovely, so much history attached to them. Diane

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  12. Susan glad you enjoyed the tour. I have to say I am a person who enjoys my own company. Nigel unfortunately gets very lonely, and with working , cooking, cleaning etc it is quite hard on him. Diane

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  13. Roz that sounds like a good story. It would be interesting to know if that really is the true. Diane

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  14. Jean, Yes I think we do not stop often enough to smell the roses! It was an interesting walk about. Diane

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  15. What a charming village. You are surrounded by beauty. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  16. Mary there are so many small villages here all with their own charm. Have a good day. Diane

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  17. My what a picturesque village! I would love to have met you there and take a nice walk. I love all your beautiful photos!

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  18. That is the beauty of France - the countryside. What a serene entrance to the village. Perhaps you can return and check out the little restaurant, and surprise Nigel when he returns. I an guessing that the pig/cow is for outoor grilling?

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  19. It's so picturesque! I'm amazed at how close the buildings are to the road.

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  20. Great little village, quite typical of the French countryside!
    Seems very quite and peaceful!
    I am sure you have much to do while Nigel is away, winning the lottery somehow!!LOL!!
    Have a great day, cheers, Diane!

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  21. Lyndsey, it would have been great to have you walking around with me. Diane

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  22. Hi Mya, I don't think the cow opens, it is just made from a drum of some sort. Just a bit of local art! Diane

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  23. Marjie, it is typical of France. Our house is right on top of the road with all the garden behind. BUT we only have one other person who uses the road, other than one local farmer who comes past with his tractor from time to time. Other than the main road through the centre, the other roads will only be used by the few locals. Diane

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  24. Carine, I always used to say if I don't win the big one in the lottery I am not interested. I would now be quite happy to settle with a 1/4 of a million!!
    Cheers, Diane

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  25. What a cute village... thanks for taking us on a tour with you.

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  26. Pam watch out for the second part of the tour. Diane

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  27. I would have loved to join your for your discovery tour. What a charming and beautiful village. During our Summer vacation in France on a bike, we had the opportunity to discover some of these picturesque towns ( at least when I wasn't thinking I was dying from climbing by bicycle hill, after hill :-) )

    Here's to your future lottery winnings!

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  28. Velva it sounds like you had a wonderful holiday, sorry about the Paris bit though. Thanks for the good wishes for the lottery winnings :-)
    Diane

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