Counting Steps!

I have bought two new pedometers since we arrived home a month ago.

The first one was a "supposed" bargain at only $10.00 with a built in radio... but it didn't work properly from the get go. 

This week I purchased another one... 

the "Smart Health Step Tracker" and it actually is the same one I took with me to France ...the only difference is the colour.

I now have a fluorescent orange one whereas the previous one was also fluorescent but in key lime-green.

Funny thing was that I clearly hadn't read the instructions the first time around. 

In bold, black type it clearly warns and advises...  

IMPORTANT : Do not put the Step Tracker in water.

Had I not fallen into Monsieur Honey's and I believe like most men's habits of trying to do something first before reading the instructions ...  I would have avoided the "French" drowning accident of my trusted pedometer in the washing machine at Beaucaillou.

So now I have my accountability factor.

Even without it, I have been trying to walk everyday.

Yesterday, I walked to our local Farmer's Market that is held on Saturday mornings downtown. 

I purchased some fresh fruits and vegetables and Monsieur Honey arrived at the appointed time to retrieve the shopping.

I continued walking and did some more Saturday shopping at the downtown stores. 

My criteria for any purchases was that the items would have to be minimal in quantity and light weight because I had to walk home carrying these items. 

The weather was perfect for walking ... although warm there was a breeze that provided some cool relief.

So with one foot in front of the other, I will keep on counting ...

The Doors

During our three months in France I took many photographs. 

Sometimes there would be a theme to what I was going to photograph. 

 

Most of the time I was looking for photos for "postcards" that as Monsieur Honey would say "tells a story" and there were times when I would just shoot and click.

One day on one of my "bla bla" walks with my friend Madame M  (generally we walked in silence but on occassion we would discuss family, friends and the world) she told me about a "Belgian saying" ...

"Veranderen van voordeur!" 

Literal translation is "change the front door"!

This saying is used when you celebrate a milestone birthday i.e. your personal odometer flips from one decade into another decade.

Next year this will be happening to me and I'm changing my front door... I 'll let you guess what the new number will be!

So I have been thinking about this quite a lot as I was looking at all "My French Door" postcards. 

Some very old and in need of repair, others more modern and colourful.

For me though I don't think it has anything to do with external appearances.

Oh yes I could fight the natural aging process by buying into all the hype of cosmetic surgery such as "face and boob lifts, tummy tucks", Botox  and the other treatments with their "Fountain of Youth" promises made by the plethora of beauty products on the market; but I think I'll save my pennies/dollars/euros and add then to my adventure piggy bank!

Age is where your heart is!

For those of you who know me well... I will still do some maintenance... I'm not ready to wear "Gray" hair and I will continue to put on my face everyday... In other words put myself together.

It's not that I'm so vain as in the lyrics of Carly Simon's song "You're So Vain"  rather I've always believed that you never know who you might run into... your next employer, a new best friend, etc...

                                  

                                               

      

                             

 

So the changing of my "Front" door next year will be about fulfilling a personal commitment to try something new ... 

I plan on walking part of the Pilgramage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Anyone else up for the challenge?

"T" is for Tuesday...

It's funny how your mind works. 

Last week I was bringing a couple of the grandchildren home for a sleepover and to keep them amused during the car ride we played some games.

First it was " I Spy" and then we tried the "Alphabet Game", you know where you say "A" is for apple and so on, this turned out to be the boys' favourite game.

So today that's how my title was arrived at ... 

"T" is for "Tuesday".

    A unisex hairdresser's shop in Duravel, France

Today started with Monsieur Honey visiting the local Barber Shop in our town... "Pour un coupe de cheveux bien nécessaire"... "for a much needed haircut".

He and I left at the same time, he travelling by horsepower from the car and I used my shanks' pony to walk downtown.

After our errands were done we ventured further south for a drive and lunch...ending up in Port Burwell.

We sat outside in the patio area at the Lighthouse Restaurant surrounded by Canadian flags and the oh so French geraniums reminiscing about our "French Rendezvous".

I asked Monsieur Honey... what the highlights of our French trip were for him.. so now here I am trying to remember what he said... the list is in no particular order.

The friendships ... catching up with old friends and cultivating new relationships.

Gardening at "Beaucaillou".

"Spannering" in Cazals

Oh yes "The Kiss" from Jenny!

The many Brocantes / Vide-Greniers and treasures we found...

                      

   

And some we didn't acquire...

All the different foods, wonderful meals and restaurants...and of course the wine both French and Italian.

The "yellow fleshed chickens" and the potatoes that taste like butter... and why can't we grow them here?

The pleasure of guiding our English friends "J & A" on their first visit to Southwest France.

The village resident with the birds who one day introduced himself to Monsieur Honey and shook his hand... not typical of the French.

The Italian themed soirée at Le Diabolo Fraise in Nabirat where we were treated to a feast prepared by Cathy and Fred, had fun with our "Belgian Connection" friends and made new friends with I & J.

The Rogues Concert in the vineyards at Le Caillau. 

An evening of great food, friendship and festivities with live music in the most perfect setting.

The getaway at "Chateau D'Ygrande" with our French Connection friends, B & C.

Fortuitously stumbling upon the Hotel in Bidart...that had it's own tropical oasis and provided the perfect base for our week's adventure along the Basque Coast.

...and as we continued to reminisce we realized the list was way too long.

My highlights closely mirrored Monsieur Honey's.

My new friendship with Madame M and our talks and walks was a wonderful part of this adventure for me.

Madame  M and I both think that Monsieur Honey and Monsieur Guy enjoyed their time doing "guy" things while we walked .... eg. concrete work and tiling of the terrace and of course sharing a cold one after a hard day's work.

After lunch we drove east along the Lakeshore ... 

    The Lighthouse...which houses the Tourist Office in Port Burwell.

    The Submarine Ojibwa...

    Everything you need for outdoor activities...

   The windmills along the lake...

Sailboats and soybeans... Can you see the boat? 

I know it's just a speck...this is why I need a camera with a better zoom feature.

   The Waterfowl Reserve... Long Point Conservation Authority

Not a bad way to spend a Tuesday...