The Ice Age

Snow is something we are not used to, where we live in Grimaud!!!

Last night after a heavy downpour of rain it turned to heavy snow. This has happened several times since I moved here 10 years ago, however it has never stayed on the ground more than half an hour, because it melts.

Today is different. The temperature this morning was -3c and the snow stuck, though as I write this it is beginning to melt.

The forecast for the next few nights is -6c!!! I think I had better get the fire prepared and the central heating turned up.

Mind you we do enjoy the snow for a short time but not if it effects my golf!!!

Next week we are off to Auron, a small ski village above Nice for a couple of nights so that we can get some apres ski and let our dog play in the deep snow!

Looks like a cold February!!

Mr.L. 01/02/2012

The Floods

As previously mentioned we had terrific floods the other week but the bad effect was purely on the low ground where the overflowing rivers covered the flat plains.

Above the two top pictures are of the road to St Tropez just before the Geant Casino. Here the road was completely covered and the mini golf and inflatable castles were all under water and even the fire trucks had problems getting through!

The bottom picture is of the Marine de Cogolin beach where water, trying to reach the sea, cut a large valley between two of our favourite restaurants, Belucia and Azzora and even left their water and drain pipes suspended in the air! It also took away the concrete foundations of the Life Guard station.

Since the storm all has returned to normal with mid day temperatures of around 20c and blue skies.

Best news of all is that the golf course has dried out!!!

The Floods

For those who have fond memories of long hot sunny days in the South of France remember that the residents have to pay for it during parts of the winter!
For the last week we have had continuous torrential rainfall that lasted day after day and was accompanied by thunder and lightning all day and all night!
The outcome of this was that the Pompiers ( firemen) had to set up a command post outside the local Cave with their boats and were aided by the army!
Many people, on the plain between Grimaud and Cogolin, were evacuated and put up by the Marie. They even had a helicopter hovering overhead as the rivers overflowed and the vineyards and roads were covered in water and turned into lakes.
At one point the road between St Maxime and Grimaud was covered and people had to take a long diversion.
The only upside for some was when the sun came out we found the beaches covered with trees and branches. Above you will see Mark with a chainsaw stocking up firewood for the winter.


Mr. L. 09/11/2011

Spring arrives

Well at last Spring is with us with the temperature now getting to the mid 20s at mid-day! The vines are sprouting and I have seen the first poppies and this always lifts my spirit. Once again this winter has been pretty severe, by South of France standards, and I will certainly have to rethink our plans on staying here all of next winter.
The other day I had coffee with Mark in St Maxime and we sat in the port and watched the yachts making their first outing of the season under blue skies. It was wonderful.
Golf is now being played earlier in the day to stay away from the hotter temperatures around noon and the pool temperature is now climbing gradually so that we can soon swim. Truly a sign that summer is not far away.
The first guests of the season will start arriving next month so we are busy touching up the house and garden. Busy Busy!!

Mr. L. 29/04/10

Winters in St Maxime Area

Mild winters in the Gulf of St Tropez were one of the reasons I initially came to live in the area. Year after year we were able to enjoy a mild winter and tell our friends and family in the UK about lunching on the beach in January. How things have changed over the last two winters!!
For two years now we have experienced very cold and wet winters with gales. This is not to say that it has been like that all the time but we have seen cars and caravans floating away as the area around rivers have been deluged and sites near the coast damaged by very high winds and waves.
Even now, at the beginning of March, the regions around us have snow and last week I even noticed a thin layer of ice on my pool, something I have not seen during my 6 years here. Is this Global Warming ( or freezing??). Let’s hope that the weather now improves and we can get back to business as usual!

Mr. L. 11/03/10

Heavy Rain

For people who enjoy the summer in the South of France and who have fond memories of basking in the sun on a lounger with a drink next to them please remember that it has another side!
For the last week or two we have had a series of storms where the rain can only be described as tropically heavy and with thunder and lightning! The roads have been flooded and the roads are like rivers.
This has not been every day but it has certainly been for days on end! At the moment we have the last of our visitors for the summer and what, exactly, do you do with two children when you cannot even get out of the front door! Catastrophic!
This weather is certainly not normal; however we are forecast for sun for the next 5 days to make up for it. I cannot wait!
We managed 9 holes of golf this morning before the rain started again so must not complain, except about my golf! I only seem to be able to play half decently when the sun shines which probably explains why my golf clubs in the UK have only been used once since I bought them 3 years ago!
Some of my friends were in St Tropez when the rain started and by the time they wanted to return to St Maxime they found the coast road was flooded and had to take a very long detour, and in deed wondered if they would get home at all.

Mr.L. 25/10/09