I’m not at all sure about this “round robin” business – it does get bad press, so this is more a sort of a “square chaffinch” really, with lots of photos to look at, if you see what I mean.
To all our friends and rellies visiting us this year - there have been so many - and to all our new found friends on this delightfully "Long Village", both Lucie and I send our love and best wishes for a happy Christmas and new year.
For those interested in what we and our families are up to, there will be a number of photos and commentary so just click here when it says so - OK, but give me time...to get it done.
Just Some of The Good things….
Lucie and I are very well and having a marvelous retirement on “Body and Soul”. ……. so far, with lots of adventures to relate. The two dogs, Spud and Teddy have taken to the life with enthusiasm but, better than this…..the year 2007 has brought new life on Earth in the form of Charlie Blair, Lucie’s Granddaughter and first born to her daughter Sophie (who is married to Stephen Blair).
Of course, she is very beautiful as you can see. She engenders many superlatives and survived a particularly nasty operation within minutes of her birth. Happily she is now strong and full of life. Sophie and Steve had a very worrying time and came through it with flying colours. Her new Granny nearly didn’t but here comes Charlie anyway….
Clive and Aileen (Neé McCrystal) Walker
Clive and Aileen, the “not so newly-weds” came to stay on Body and Soul in September for nearly a week. They live and work near Austin, Texas and joined us in the Camargue - hence the pink flamingoes. 
We then crossed the exciting Etang DeThau, an inland sea linking the Camargue with the Canal Du Midi. We took about 8 hours to cross it which we did over 2 days with a wonderful nights rest at Méze and a fab fish dinner in a bar. They left us for the UK from Agde to see the folks back home – and especially for Aileen’s father’s 70th birthday. This was a complete surprise, to Willie, apparently.
It is true, the flamingoes are actually pink. This is due to the algae that they feed upon which is prevalent in the salty waters of the Camargue.
A view of the oyster beds on the Etang de Thau (right) and the lovely Aileen steers the ship under supervision! Huh.
We are disappointed with the first part of the Canal Du Midi which is rather run down. We find that there are a number of wrecked, abandoned and sinking boats on either side of the Canal. Clearly there is a lack of waterway managment here but in its way, its delapidation is all the more stark in contrast with what we find up stream soon after.
More to come soon.....
It is in fact a rare and probably an escapee version of the moor-hen. I think, from my own rather vague recollection, an American Purple Gallinule. Porphyrula martinica according to my book on birds. We took several people to see it including Rob…
