I'll try to keep it brief(ish), when I last left you we were about to host Slocombe and Genevieve at our wee Breton hideaway. Here are the pair arriving at Carhaix station.
Soon after arrival we threw our good friends into the frenzy that is life in and around Trebrivan, with a short stroll around the moorlands near to Locarn - taking in the Gorge du Corong. En-route, His Rustiness in his usual good-natured way tried to make friends with any passing creature we stumbled upon.
Moving swiftly on to day two of having visitors, we did what we nearly always do with first-timers to central Brittany and headed to Huelgoat to try our luck at moving the famed Roche Tremblante. For the first time in all the years we've been going there, it did actually move! All it needed was that little bit of Slocombe magic.
Huelgoat's a friendly place - Rusty always wants to make friends, and he wasn't to be disappointed.
All too soon, Slocombe and Genevieve had to leave us to continue their holiday elsewhere. We bade them farewell and a minor quantity of half decent Bordeaux might have been quaffed while Rusty explored Slocombe's nether regions.
No sooner had Slocombe and Genevieve left than Mrs the Millbrooker and I headed off to Roscoff to pick up Betty Slobb and MinorEarthQwake.
Only a single night with the young people in Trebrivan, and off we headed to Angers on the River Maine, to meet with Maryvonne.
This was not simply a tourist visit; some of you might remember the news back in April that a young French photo-journalist had been killed in the Central African Republic. Camille was one of Betty's very close friends from her university days and we all travelled south to pay our respects. Maryvonne is Camille's mum. She very kindly allowed Mrs the MIllbrooker and me to stay in her lovely 16th century town centre house, almost next door to the impressive chateau. Here are a few shots of our short time in Angers.
Rusty had to work in Angers - he was on his best behaviour as we trogged around the chateau and enjoyed the magnificent 14th century tapestry of the Apocalypse.
After Angers, our holiday returned to the normal routine of countryside walking and evening time wining; I'll not bore you here with all that - too much time has passed, so I'll try and do a quick update of what's happened since our return.
Not long after we got back, our old friend the HIgh Lord of Southwick came to visit. It was a busy weekend - Mrs the Millbrooker and I had two gigs in one day on the Saturday and we all went to Kingsand to see some other old friends - the marvellous Gigspanner boys doing their thing on the Friday.
Our first gig (in the guise of Tyler's Smile) was at Cremyll Quay - a fund raiser in memory of Tom McMahon, thanks to the efforts of many more people than us over a £1000 was raised on the day. Rusty was suitably impressed and spent the entire time ignoring proceedings in the way that only he can.
Immediately after that performance, Mrs the Millbrooker and I packed up the kit and headed off to Wilcove to play as two thirds of The Hamoaze Band at the Wilcove Inn Beer Festival.
After the glamour (it says here) of living the rock'n'roll dream, we had to return to reality and the everyday chores, like hosing down the patio which is used as Rusty's spending area. Rusty likes the hosing bit.
Right, I've wittered on for quite long enough - there will be more another time. I'll leave you with a video of Rusty having enormous fun by (and in) the Corong in Brittany.
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All photos by Mrs the Millbrooker or me
except: Tapestry - shamelessly nicked from en.wikipedia.org
And Gigspanner - shamelessly nicked from Gigspanner.com
Tyler's Smile, Hamoaze Band and Rusty with Hose - the High Lord of Southwick
