A birthday weekend to remember.

I had my birthday on Sunday and the weather forecast for the whole of the weekend couldn't have been better.

We decided to take advantage of that and also we wanted to do something different that we'd both enjoy.

So on Saturday, with a tasty picnic in the car , we went of to Vannes which is about an hour's drive from here.

Vannes is just such a beautiful town with a large medieval part which is right next to the port full of yachts. Especially so in full sun with a blue sky and over 28 degrees that we had on Saturday.

Market day in Vannes is a delight with so much life and so many different things to see, smell

and taste.

Wonderful flowers stalls, delicious foods and everywhere photographic opportunities.

At lunchtime we sat by the marina eating melon, Bayonne ham, salmon, fresh goat's cheese and crusty fresh bread, drinking water and Breton bio cider.

Whilst we were sat in the sunshine the winner of an extraordinary race around the Golfe du Morbihan arrived after running 177 kms, starting at 5 pm on the Friday and taking just under 19 hours to cover that distance. The run includes taking little ferries to be able to cross the sea from islands to coast.

Later in the afternoon we went onto Auray, another beautiful little town with a medieval part

right next to a little port.

Auray is very much a centre for artists and there are lots of small studios to visit.

We visited a few and spoke at length to some of the artists, most enjoyable.

The evening finished very late as we came home and watched Coldplay at Glastonbury, they were just excellent. I went to sleep with my head singing " Yellow" and woke up with the song still there.

After opening presents and cards, there were phone calls from friends.

Then it was off for lunch with friends who live near St Brieuc.

Gerard was celebrating his 60th birthday and and they'd included my birthday in the party so there were candles to blow out, champagne to drink and a magical garden to sit out in the amazing sunshine.

I had a wonderful weekend for my birthday and it will stay in my memory for a long time.