How Nothing Lasts, Nothing Is Perfect, and How We Viewed 5 Properties In One Afternoon.

Well, it would be nice to say ‘so we’ve spent nearly a week now, enjoying the sunshine and the views, and we’re spoilt for choice with affordable properties’ …… BUT, Camp Salagou turned out to be less than perfect regarding the facilities and the sunshine lasted only one day! (Seems to be our ration!) Sunday (Nov. 14th) was WET, so that although we had pretty well decided to move on we stayed put on Monday because even the things we had put out (not the tent) were too wet to pack up. So we shopped and visited a couple of estate agents.

We weren’t quite sure about moving on, it’s a hitty-missy might-get-lucky / might-not sort of thing, unless you have recommendation to a different place. And when you open the van door in bright sunshine next morning to this view:

  You begin to wonder whether you’re doing the right thing! But move we did – not far, just 60 kms to a site near Montpellier where we had read that 1) they take ‘Camping Cheques’ (giving us pre-paid, fixed price overnights), 2) they’re open, and 3) they have total wee-fee cover (for a fee!). Well, it all worked out. After waiting at the barrier for over an hour (reception closed 12 – 2 , quite normal!) we came onto this site where we have OUR OWN facilities! These are super pitches which cost 50e a night in summer, but in winter the main toilet blocks are closed and everyone gets on of these! (Presumably it saves on fuel and cleaning) You’re given (on deposit) the key to a corner of a block of four, each containing shower, basin, and WC, with another sink on the outside. Your own private bathroom, in fact.                                                                           

We had plenty of time, so we put the tent (awning) up – first time since Poitiers – and managed to get the positioning better than ever, so that the ‘tunnel’ is trapped round the roll-out blind’s housing at both ends, which we’ve never managed before. The wi-fi signal is good, and I’m trying to convince myself – and Carol – that compared with the frequent visits to McDonald’s, the 24e for the week is worth it!

Yesterday (Wed. 17th) we went back to Clermont to meet one of those estate agents who showed us five houses between 2pm and 6pm! All interesting, most ‘possible’, but none ‘must have’. Details would be boring. A few pictures:

                          The fifth was a town house which I knew at once we weren’t interested in, and it was getting dark, so I took no pictures.

This morning – slight problem with that nice private bathroom … the loo was blocked! However, after a quick phone call to reception (I’d love to know  how those with no French and inadequate English – see below – would have managed that one! The mime would have been fascinating! – the nice young lady from reception came running to our aid! Well, I exaggerate just a bit, uncharacteristically. Anyway, the ‘technicien’ (plumber) being off till Saturday, she brought us the key to a second bathroom, having checked that all was well therein. It is, of course, adjacent to our own, so no big deal. Today’s been very sunny, lunch outside, lots of organising and washing, then some shopping. I found a pack of small red fish fillets (possibly mullet), so we came ‘home’ to a supper of ‘Filets de rougets au vin blanc et a la creme’ or ‘Pan fried red fish fillets with garlic and shallots, served with a white wine and cream sauce’. I’ll send anyone who wants it the recipe, which I made up.

Footnote: Everyone Speaks English …. 1) Dead on two o’clock on Tuesday another van arrived and the couple popped in to reception just ahead of us – not deliberately, we were parked at the side finishing lunch. When I went into reception, the young receptionist was struggling bravely with visitors who evidently had no French, so they were using English as the ‘International Language’. Hers was fine. His was below basic. ‘What time do you want to leave tomorrow?’ …. ‘Tomorrow, yes’ …. ‘Yes, you want to leave tomorrow, Wednesday, –‘  ‘Wednesday, yes’ …. ‘Yes’, I need to know WHAT TIME (pointing to wrist) you are going to leave.’ …. ‘Leave, yes’ I couldn’t see their van’s number plate clearly, I think they may have been Finnish, so I wondered whether to offer help in German – or take a long shot in Esperanto, but anyway, English (which everybody speaks) wasn’t working! She gave up.

                                                               2) There’s a notice in the bathrooms in three languages (anyone want to guess the third after French and English (sort of)?) Carol asked me if I’d spotted it, in a rather amused, cheeky sort of way. I hadn’t. The ‘English’ version ran ‘Please keep clean your sanitary. Thanks for the other.’

Hmmm ….