La Vieille Source Blog

What’s new this week at La Vieille Source. Well we’ve been very busy since my last post, with the children off school for the numerous May bank holidays and the gite busy with new guests arriving and leaving.This past week the rose covered terrace has burst into life with it’s multiple white blooms and curling vines. The weather is fabulous and the town is humming with backpacking pilgrims, locals and tourists all enjoying this glorious weather. Our last gite guests made full use of the heated swimming pool and also the pool terrace, which they were delighted to discover is a real sun trap. They all left looking very chilled with an excellent healthy tanned glow.
We have a new addition to our family. He’s a very small and extremely cute and fluffy white kitten called “Chalky”, just 6 weeks old. He was a little shy on his first day but now he’s brimming with bravado and keen to explore every nook and cranny in his new home. Our older cat Guinness seems a little surprised with his new housemate but so far so good. They’re getting along well and today I watched them enjoying an energectic pouncing game and a few rounds of hide and seek under the sofa.
We’ve added a new pink climbing rose to the wrought iron gloriette in the central lawned garden and I’m eagerly anticipating the first flush of pink scented roses. The” who can grow the tallest sunflower” competition is well underway and everyone has their own pot with a good strong stem reaching skywards. The children are getting quite competitive with their techniques. I’ve suggested perhaps talking or even singing to their seedlings will help, and they are remembering to regularly water them and in a few weeks add a little plant fertiliser. I’ve decided I’m sticking to the organic approach with a bit of sympathetic chat so it’ll be interesting to see how our final blooms will compare.
We thoroughly enjoyed a few relaxing hours this week at the thermal spa in Lectoure. The bathing pool with it’s powerful jets and cascading waterfall is so soothing. We felt thoroughly spoilt with the bubbling jacuzzi, scented steam room and breathtakingly hot pine sauna. The refreshing jet showers were a real welcome pleasure, some hot and soothing, some powerful and invigorating. I did notice a special promotion for fête des Mères (Mother’s Day) which is celebrated in France the first weekend in June (hint hint!)
The weather forecast for the next ten days is showing continuing sunshine and temperatures will reach around  31 degrees, so ideal pool and gardening weather.