Steve's Blog Blogging since 2004, about the significant people, places, sights and sounds of my world. Now dabbling with retirement!

Today, the whizzy ‘TC-80N3’ arrived. That’s amazing speed of service from The Digital Camera Company. This is an advanced wired remote control that has a great set of features… Self Timer – Just like any self timer on your camera. Except where most Canon cameras offer either a 2 second delay or a 10 second …
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At last the final bits for the camera arrived. The eye-piece extender, the mains charger and thewired remote shutter release. Excellent!

Well, at last, the lens finally turned up! The good news is that Canon replaced the 75-300 with the new 70-300 and my order was upgraded accordingly. Early days yet, but the fact that the lens has ‘IS’ image stabilisastion on it, is going to give me a lot more opportunities to improve my shots …
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Homewood bound! We’re making the trip from here at Crepon eastwards towards Caen and then onto Calais. Left around 7.45am. Arrived Calais AT 11.30, just in time for the 12.05 ferry. Average speed 63mph, 233.8 miles, 35.7 mpg What a fantastic holiday!

Another fantastic meal in the hotel last night – super scrummy! Today, ‘plan a’ was to visit the outdoor market at Caen. However, the weather was simply appalling! It rained non-stop for most of the day. Still, it gave us the opportunity to get packed earlier and ensure we get off to a brisk start …
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A fantastic meal in the Hotel restaurant last night! A very busy place, and it’s clear its customers, both French and Brits come from miles around to eat here. Today started off cloudy and damp, so we plan to do museums and stuff that’s INSIDE. First call is the famous Bayeux Tapestry and the Cathedral. …
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We said farewell to Jacques and Yannick and headed towards our final destination ‘La ferme de la Ranconiere’ in Crepon, near Normandy. 196 miles later, averaging 50mph (38.1 mpg) we arrived to a gloriously hot afternoon. This is a small fortified farmhouse, turned into an Hotel and very nicely done. We took a short drive …
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Jacque and Yannick arranged for us to visit a local restaurant last night. Steak and CHIPS – excellent! The more we see of this current property, the more we like it. It took J and Y almost 13 years to renovate the place, and it looks wonderfulSee https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=chateau+plessisblutiere The day started with a visit to …
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We left early this morning and headed north. Rain rain rain! Stopped off at Parthenay, the village that time forgot! Everything closed, no-one around, maybe because it was Monday! Then onto Montreuil-Bellay, time for a croque monsieur created by an old crock of a monsieur! Finally onto Saumur, where the castle was closed for lunch!! …
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Started off visiting the Naval ship yard in Rochefort where they are rebuilding L’Hermione, an 18th century Frigate. Visited Ile De Re, the beautiful island across a recently built bridge that connects it with the mainland west coast. 16.50 Euros to get across, free to get back. In an effort to build rapport with the …
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A late breakfast and then a shortish drive to Cognac, home of err, Cognac! It was market day, and there were plenty of shops to look round. Then onto Pons, a strange town in that it had piped music in all the streets. We then drove onto Royen for lunch – Crepes all round, chorizos …
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Left Steve and Helen’s around 8.30 this morning. Took a leisurely drive towards Saintes, our next stop-over. Dropped into St Emilion, had a wander round and picked up some wine for Roger and Oliver. Wandered around Saintes and bought Ann a nice dress ring (blue). Arrived at Chateau Mouillepied around 4pm. We covered 156 miles, …
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A slightly later start today (for us anyway!) – – 9.30. Off to Market at Le Bugue (beautiful!) where we demonstrated our tourist tendencies by paying a fortune for some cheese from a local Trader. Then off to Montpazier, a stunning village, with coloured flags draped across one side the road to the other. It …
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A dull day weather-wise! Off to the village of Sarlat (best coffee so far!) and Beynac Castle, where it was used for some of the scenes of the 90s film ‘Joan of Arc’. We had a superb view from the top of the castle. Eating in tonight… More holiday photographs HERE

An early-ish start, 8.30, a cool start to the day, thank goodness, after the no-breeze-tropical-heat of yesterday. Heading south to Steve and Helen’s in La Dordogne. It took us around 5 hours (including a few food/drink stops) covering 283 miles. The last few miles took the edge off the mpg (34.5, Av. Speed 60 mph) …
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Picked up the 6am Ferry at Dover after an overnight stay at the Travel Inn in Dover. An hour later, we’re in France! 266 miles later, we’re in the Ibis Hotel in Orleans for another overnighter. Tomorrow, we’re on the road for around four hours, onto Steve and Helen’s… More holiday photographs HERE

We stripped out the shower room and gave it a makeover in preparation for the major overhaul sometime next year. It’s an optical illusiopn, but it looks so much bigger inside now!

Well, the new 75-300 zoom lens from Canon is a popular one! Still no sign of it, and it’s been on order for almost two months now

Finally, the extension arm arrived for my Camera. A long wait, but well worth it (Geek note: It’s the ‘L Bracket SB-E1’)

We went to see Roger and Jane and Oliver today. Probabaly the last time we’l see them before they move house! Oliver is still growing!!!!

Ann’s friend Nicki came to see us today. We’re all off to Mazza’s tonight for the obligatory Indian blow-out! We were joined there by Jo and Janet and Jan’s cousin Brenda from Australia who’s over here for a few weeks.

Well, this is the business! The new 60mm macro lens from Canon. Fantastically clear images and a much faster auto focus mechanism that my old Olympus E20p!

Want to start building up my stock of lenses for my new camera. The Canon 75-300USM IS Lens seems a good ‘all rounder’, plus the fact it’s got this new-fangled image stabiliser thing built in… Bahh! Everywhere seems to be out-of-stock – even Canon themselves (so, it must be a popular choice!) Looks like a …
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