http://www.bretondiary.com/ My Family and Friends Website about my simple life in Brittany http://www.bretondiary.com/photos/Avatar.jpg Bretondiarycomhttp://feedburner.google.com I've finally realised (perhaps due to all the "Are you still alive?" emails that I've been receiving), that it might be time to post something on BretonDiary.com. http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:00 GMT Tracy Walters - Mobile Hairdresser - 25 years experience. http://www.bretondiary.com/links/010509_tracy_walters.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Fri, 01 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT It's been peeing down with rain today and the car didn't start! http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 28 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT Every Tuesday I like to highlight on of the sites that I read on a regular basis. http://www.bretondiary.com/links/280409_haddock_in_the_kitchen.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 28 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT If you thought that the Girlie's first video was pretty dire and that things couldn't get worse - well, think again! http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT I have recently sold a kidney and bought a cheap video camera. http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT The Girlie and I fancied Fish and Chips for tea. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/260409_fishing.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT Josh has just come back from three weeks in England where he was learning French with my father. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/250409_haircut.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT Saturday night was the Sixties and Seventies Soiree/Disco at La Taverne in Josselin. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/210409_soiree.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT I up early today as I have a big day ahead of me! http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT One of the our favourite places in Josselin is the Bar, Restaurant... La Taverne. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/170409_girlie.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT The Girlie and I bought our fishing permits last week and today we decided to try them out. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/170409_fishing.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT Firstly - a joke that was sent to me from C..... http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT I have decided that, every Tuesday, I shall feature one of the sites that I look at on a daily basis. http://www.bretondiary.com/links/140409_english_rose.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT The highlight of Easter Monday was my little girlie, Cindy, catching her first mousie at Rue St. Nicolas! http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/140409_easter_monday.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT One of the lovely things about Josselin is that it has lots of special places. http://www.bretondiary.com/places/130409_easter_sunday.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT Because I've been a good boy recently, the Girlie offered to cook dinner last night. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/120409_roast_lamb.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT Having had a wonderful night's sleep (I think the doctor has finally got it right with my medication), it was off to the market this morning. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/110409_josselin_market.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT When there is no more room in the garden centres, the gnomes will walk the Earth! http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/110409_they_live.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT The nice thing about cooking scallops and salmon is that they are so easy to cook and, the less you do to them, the better they taste! http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/100409_scallops_and_salmon.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT A date for your Diaries - there's going to be another great night out at La Taverne! http://www.bretondiary.com/restaurants/090409_la_taverne.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Thur, 9 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT After a period of illness, I'm back! http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Thur, 9 Apr 2009 12:00:00 GMT French Bank Holidays - Jours Feries http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT St Patricks Day celebrations at La Taverne, Josselin http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/150309_st_patricks_day.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT French Swear Words - You'll need them one day! http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT French Music Friday - Johnny Hallyday http://www.bretondiary.com/music_friday/130309_johnny_hallyday.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT I'm so, so sorry! http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Thurs, 12 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT Told you so! http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT The Girlie and I popped out for a quick drink this afternoon. We'd both been working hard; me on the computer on a new website (watch this space - exciting things about to happen), and the Girlie in the garden (I'd love to say that she knows her placebut, I'm way too scared to do that!) http://www.bretondiary.com/general/110309_wednesday.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT I have decided that, every Tuesday, I shall feature one of the sites that I look at on a daily basis. http://www.bretondiary.com/links/100309_blucamels.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT On Sunday morning I cooked Pot au Feu, or should I say, I started cooking Pot au Feu. http://www.bretondiary.com/kitchen/090309_pot_au_feu.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Mon, 9 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT One of my favourite special places (of which I have many), in Josselin is the Bar La Taverne. http://www.bretondiary.com/restaurants/080309_la_taverne.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sun, 8 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT I'm sure I've something before about how wonderful an experience the Saturday Market at Josselin is but.... well, it is! http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/070309_josselin_market.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sat, 7 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT French Music Friday - Edith Piaf. http://www.bretondiary.com/music_friday/060309_edith_piaf.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Fri, 6 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT It's been a wet and cold day today and I haven't been able to get out and take the photos that I'd wanted to. http://www.bretondiary.com/general/050309_thursday.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Thur, 5 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT Looking back through some of my recent entries I realise that it might seem that, to a casual obsever, this is the online diary of a raving alky! http://www.bretondiary.com/restaurants/040309_petit_bar.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT The Creperie La Sarrazine is to be found at 51 Rue Glatinier (phone number 0297 22 37 80) and, as the name suggests, specialises in Crepes and Gallettes. http://www.bretondiary.com/restaurants/030309_sarrazine.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 3 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT Of all the special places around me, the one that I enjoy going back to, time and time again, is the house in the river by the lock at Josselin. http://www.bretondiary.com/places/020309_the_house_in_the_river.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Mon, 2 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT Since I moved to France, my Father has been over to visit me three times. On each occasion, he has stayed at the Hotel Pelican (now, sadly, closed). He's not getting any younger and, I have to say, neither am I! http://www.bretondiary.com/places/010309_my_fathers_bench.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sun, 1 Mar 2009 12:00:00 GMT I thought that it was about time that I shared some of the blogs that I read and follow. They mainly concern Brittany, France and/or Food. http://www.bretondiary.com/links/280209_blogs_I_read.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT I have recently been listening to more and more French music. This is possibly because every Thursday evening the Girlie insists on dragging me to Le Thy at Ploermel for the Karaoke night. http://www.bretondiary.com/music_friday/270209_parole_parole.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT Just to the south of the Chateau in Josselin is the public Lavoire. A Lavoir is a public place in France set aside for the washing of clothes. The one in Josselin has a roof to provide shelter and is fed by a stream that runs down through the Jardin de Bois d'Amour. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/260209_le_lavoir.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Thur, 26 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT This morning I decided to go for a little walk along the canal. I had actually just popped out to get a paper and a baguette but.... the weather was so nice that I ended up taking a little stroll. I walked South from the Chateau and ended up by the Hippodrome - there was nobody about. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/250209_walk_along_the_canal.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT Having had a bad night's sleep, I decided to go for a little walk in the Jardin de Bois d'Amour to clear my head. It certainly did the trick because, no matter how grumpy I was feeling when I started, the world seemed a happier place by the time I had finished. That might be due partly to the flowers that are struggling to appear. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/240209_spring_is_here.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 24 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT I had promised the Girlie that I would cook Veal Milanaise for Saturday night but, I was tired and the cost of Veal in the local supermarket caused me to think twice. So, instead, I offered to take her out for a meal at the Pizzeria du Chateau (details... Pizzeria du Chateau - 6, rue des Trente - 02 97 75 66 40.) http://www.bretondiary.com/restaurants/230209_pizzeria_du_chateau.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 23 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT Although I have lived in, or near, Josselin for over five years, I am contantly discovering new places to visit - Josselin is that sort of town. It was that way with the Jardin de Bois d'Amour. I had sort of known that it was there but had never bothered to explore. I'm glad that I finally got round to doing so. http://www.bretondiary.com/places/170209_hidden_garden.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 17 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT As it was Valentine's Night, I took the Girlie out for a meal last Saturday. We went to the Hotel Restuarant du Chateau. It was a lovely romantic night; we ate well and the Girlie even managed to get me onto the dance floor - wonders will never cease! http://www.bretondiary.com/places/170209_valentines_night.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 17 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT I have updated the list of Market Days in Brittany and have created a downloadable PDF file that you can print out and carry with you. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 17 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT Although the Girlie's house is up for sale, she is also taking Gite bookings for the coming year. If you are interested in booking a holiday in one of the Girlie's Gites or, should you be (or know anyone who might be) interested in buying a fully restored farmhouse near the pretty town of La Gacilly (with an adjoining cottage and a small appartment), the price is 230,000 euros. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 17 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT The short break in postings on this site was due to an unexpected visit to hospital. I went in for a checkup and ended up staying for a month! However, I am back home now and, hopefully, am finished with doctors and nurses sticking needles in me and doing other unforgivable things - at least for the time being! http://www.bretondiary.com/diary.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Tues, 17 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT It's that time of the year where, I think, it pays to take a quick look back over the previous 12 months and try to identify the highlights (and lowlights, if any.) I started the year feeling rather poorly and sorry for myself; I am ending it feeling somewhat less poorly and far more confident for whatever the coming year may bring. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/311208_end_of_year_report.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT As the Girlie has moved to Josselin, she has put her house up for sale. Should you be (or know anyone who might be) interested in buying a fully restored farmhouse near the pretty town of La Gacilly (with an adjoining cottage and a small appartment), the price is 230,000 euros. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/311208_house_for_sale.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT When I first started Breton Diary (way back in 2006), I also started a website dedicate to some of my thoughts about IT. Unfortunately, I didn't do much with that other site but am now bringing it back online and up to date. The site www.kmeckstein.com details my ideas about keeping IT simple. http://www.bretondiary.com/diary/311208_kmeckstein.com.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT I took a few photos of the Christmas celebrations at 59 Rue St. Nicholas. These can be found on the Gallery Page (not for the squeamish!) - remember to click on the photos to see them full size. http://www.bretondiary.com/gallery.html#xmas keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Thur, 25 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT I would just like to take this opportunity to wish all the readers of BretonDiary a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope that you all continue to enjoy my little wafflings here and thank all of you who have contacted me about this site for your valued input. http://www.bretondiary.com/index.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Thur, 25 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT Although any town that boasts both a chateau and a Wizard's Road must be a very special place, for me Josselin becomes even more special in the run up to Christmas. It's something to do with the decorations and the sense of expectation (after all, Father Christmas is on his way) - a very special place becomes, for me, somewhere that could be part of a Harry Potter film set. http://www.bretondiary.com/places/171208_josselin.html keith@bretondiary.com - Keith Eckstein Thur, 25 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT