Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Normandy Easter

We had a very quiet Easter holiday with some days of sunshine; enough to cut the grass, have one breakfast outside and sit with our backs to the warm stone wall with a drink shortly before sunset. But often it was either cloudy or rainy.

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So most days we kept the wood-burning stove going to give us some lovely, cosy heat while listening to music or reading. Most of the time I use my iPod and a transmitter that broadcasts to this old piece of music player (came with the house); Hi-Fi with radio, turntable and cassette facilities.

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But sometimes we actually use it to listen to French radio. There are some good stations with classical music, but most commercial radio stations play a mixture of (mostly) rubbish French contemporary music and music in English, which is always several decades old! There is a lot of Kate Bush, The Eagles, Supertramp, Chicago and Bread. Something to do with having to pay for playing the music? Or is there some sort of time filter? Only the French know.

For more Easter pictures, go to my photo blog, Camera Digitalis.

10 comments:

Zuzana said...

Seems like you had a wonderful time. I love visiting France, I have stayed a few times in small gites in and around Dordogne and Provance. There is a certain atmosphere in those areas that is so very appealing.
I too like to listen to the local radio at all times when traveling; even though I bring my iPod, I end up listening to the radio within the gadget, rather than to my own songs.;)))

swenglishexpat said...

Protege - We once rented a gite in the Lot (next to D.) and it was wonderful. Funny with radio; on the way home we listened to the traffic info radio station (107.7), and they do play some up-to-date Eng music, like Coldplay. Maybe they are well funded. ;-)

oreneta said...

What is it with the radio stations. I swear they have been playing the same darned music my whole life. WhY???

swenglishexpat said...

Oreneta - But I do love to listen to genuine French old type accordion music! And Charles Aznavour, but definitely not Johnny Halliday! I cannot believe how the French seem to love him, he is an icon in France. Beats me!

LadyFi said...

Love the wood-burning stove. We have one in the sommarstuga we are hiring in Sweden.

I do like those oldies like Kate Bush though!

swenglishexpat said...

LadyFi - Kate yes, but they play only "that song" all the time, it's like a time warp.

Veronica said...

I can just imagine a comfy chair in front of that fire, red wine in hand ... aaahhh!

swenglishexpat said...

Veronica - How did you know?

CanadianSwiss said...

Ahhh, the cozyness of a wood-burning stove. Wonderful!It is nice to hear the oldies, but, I agree, you need SOME diversity :)

swenglishexpat said...

CS - Diversity; easiest way is to put the 30GB iPod on full shuffle! :-O