Le Ruault gîtes

22/06/2026

We’re trying to keep the third magpie chick that has fallen/been pushed out of the nest at the top of our cherry tree alive.

It is putting up a brave fight in 35-40° heat. Mum and Dad Magpie have been squawking around but not coming down to feed it, despite us placing it some distance from the house.

We’re using a Calpol syringe to give it water and tweezers to offer it morsels of raw chicken.

We’ve now brought it inside in a makeshift nest and put it in front of the fan. It’s still breathing…for now.

22/06/2026

I’m looking forward to singing this repertoire!

22/06/2026

What a sublime concert by OctaVoces - a French choral octet - in the little church in Bouillé Loretz.

The church suffered fire and smoke damage in 2016 and wasn’t repaired and restored until 2024, so I had never ventured inside before.

The concert included works by Knystedt, Rheinberger, Ola Gjeilo, Arvo Pärt. The singing was exquisite; their pronunciation (even when singing in English) was precise and pretty well perfect.

My spiritual cup overfloweth!

And, on a day when the temperature topped 49°, just over an hour in the cool was very welcome indeed!

18/06/2026

Never a dull day at Le Ruault!

Today’s nature drama involved a magpie chick falling out its nest at the top of a cherry tree just outside the back of our home.

We didn’t notice it at first as we were playing Skyjo with our guests at our outdoor table nearby, and thought it was just a large cherry hitting the ground with a thud!

But this little guy hasn’t quite got all his flight feathers and was disorientated by his sudden change of location, although still breathing and not struggling when Tim picked him up.

We’ve put him on the roof of our garden room, hopefully in view of his parents…

Honestly, you could film an episode of ‘Springwatch’ round here 😉

14/06/2026

A glorious day for a stroll around the Marché des Puces (literally flea market) at Montsoreau.

We managed to find some side plates in our chosen china to bolster what we have, and some beautiful botanical illustrations of mushrooms to frame and hang up. Not bad at all!

14/06/2026

A pipistrelle bat had found its way into Orchard Cottage and was lying on the floor obviously confused and dehydrated. A little sugar water made all the difference - it was lapping it up with its tiny tongue - and Tim put it in one of the sheds (where it was cool and dark) to recover.

30/05/2026

The previous owners must have enjoyed yuccas - once they’d outgrown their pots, they planted out at least six of them along the edge of our stream where they’ve thrived. Every now and again, one bursts into flower. Stunning!

29/05/2026

Just taking a quick break from cleaning the swimming pool cover, sitting listening to the delightful cacophony of birdsong!

26/05/2026

On an early walk before (a) it gets too hot - currently 27° at 9am - and (b) I start presenting the revision course for my CIPFA audit and accountancy students, I noticed that new vines have been planted on a hitherto non-descript parcel of land on a route I walk less often. It’s lovely seeing the local landscape change over seasons and years.

26/05/2026