A visitor

This kestrel seems to have set up home on the telephone wire above one of our bedroom windows.  He (we think it's a he but it's a bit hard to tell at this distance!) has been there most evenings after dark when its raining so he is obviously enjoying a bit of shelter under the eaves, and doesn't seem at all bothered by our comings and goings, or even having the camera flash at him.
Unfortunately there is a little bit of unwelcome evidence of his visits directly below his perch on the path at the front of the house as a result !

Another nice day - Saintes

We took a trip to Saintes this morning, delighted with the continuing great weather. Here's the River Charente there basking in the warm December sunshine!

Saintes is getting ready for Christmas and the Christmas market is to open tomorrow (OK we went too early!) next to the Arc de Triomphe, or Arc de Germanicus, in the town centre on the river bank.  This Arch is much more ancient, having been built in the year 19AD, than the rather more famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which only dates from the early 1800s. Here is is surrounded by Christmas trees.

Saintes is our nearest city, where there are lots of public buildings we've had to visit to get our French health service arranged and to re-register our cars so we have French number plates, etc. Our bank is also there, right next to the cathedral which you can see through the left hand arch in the photo. Saintes was the capital of the ancient province of Saintonge, now swallowed up in Charente Maritime.