Oui, c’est moi, toute seule. Just me ( and M’sieur) ; no big Harry butting in with his interruptions in German. It’s my blog now, so let’s make the most of it. 

Friday 5^th October: we left Harry at M. Antoine’s who will look after him and make him look nice again, just like he did 2 years ago. Then we went brm-brm full steam ahead – MY speed, not Harry’s, through Tours and on towards Rouen.

We stopped at a nice rest place where M’sieur et M’dame had some lunch at a picnic table and we got to Rouen in good time – their friend was not actually at his house when we arrived so M’sieur had to phone him to say we were there. 

But he wasn’t far away and we had a very nice evening with old friends Martine and Jeanot invited to dinner to talk over old times and set the present world to rights, then after a good night’s sleep – 

After breakfast that nice Frenchman said he would lead us through Rouen to where we could join the fast road above the tunnel, because the approach to the tunnel was closed. C’était magnifique! It was like ‘Bullet’ – a car chase round the back streets of Rouen! M’sieur was like Steve McQueen and M’dame was hanging on for dear life with her eyes shut! But it worked – a quick ‘au revoir’ in front of a petrol station and we were away vroom, vroom, no problem, except the weather which was appalling! But as we got near Calais it got better and by the time we were getting on the ferry the sun was shining and the sea was as smooth as you could wish. We were very cheeky – lots of other cars were on before us, but when we got on this man waived us round the other side and all the way to the front of the ship, so that at Dover we were first off the ferry, through the port and away! Driving on the left! …. Bizarre! 

We spent the first 5 nights at Chrys & Jan’s. As it happens, the DVD of our ‘Place in the Sun’ programme had arrived that morning so we had our first viewing of that.

During the days that followed Carol got a haircut, I got a broken crown fixed, we had some lovely meals, and visted the gardens at Forty Hall and Myddleton House with Kathy (Horton). Chrys & Jan left for Wales on Wednesday and we went to meet Philip & Christine in London. We had lunch in the park in Russell Square (Wot? No photos?) and then went to the British Musem where there was an outdoor exhibition of North American Landscapes, and we all took an interest in different stuff inside – or the shops opposite. After a nice early-evening meal at ‘Spaghetti House’  we went to see ‘Blood Brothers’. Stunning! 

Ça alors! I had to sit outside Potters Bar railway station during all that …. Got a bit of a giggle when they came back, though – they couldn’t open the door to Chrys & Jan’s house! M’dame tried, then M’sieur tried, but neither of them could turn the key at all. It was not quite midnight, so they knocked up the people over the road who had another key which worked OK so they didn’t have to sleep on the drive – in ME! 

Thursday 11^th October: They got up and left the house with NO BREAKFAST! But we only went as far as Sainsbury’s at London Colney where they checked my tyre pressures and things and then had a brunch. M’dame bought a dress to wear at the wedding disco, too …. 

The weather was horrible on the way to Wales, and there was a long very slow section on the M6, north of the toll. But I buzzed along whenever I could and got them to Deganwy by 6 o’clock.  

Time to go green! In other words, we were making use of Esperanto hospitality again. Hilary Chapman was the first person who spoke to me in Esperanto on the phone when I was learning it in about 1979. He was also responsible for my going to Loughborough to teach Esperanto on the Summer Programme, for they’d asked him first, but he couldn’t do it and recommended me. No Loughborough, no Carol – you’d think she’d have learnt Esperanto by now, wouldn’t you?! Anyway, when we needed somewhere to stay in North Wales, Hilary and Pat were an obvious first couple to turn to and we were delighted with our visit. On Thursday evening we took them out for a meal and on Friday we first visited Conwy’s Town Hall, where we were able to view the Council Chamber as Hilary is a Councillor:

Then we walked along the town’s walls, with some excellent views of the castle:

Llandudno’s Great Orme:

And the Vardre, overlooking Deganwy, where the original Castle stood: 

There was also a view of what may be the smallest house in Britain: (though those acquainted with the Bridge House in Ambleside may dispute that!): 

After a luch of Hilary’s home-made leek and potato soup, we were out again to go up to the gap between the two tops of the Vardre. Unfortunately, the weather changed and we had to find what shelter we could from a very heavy shower. Splendid rainbow, though! (Camera battery low and replacements not to hand!) 

So I had a day’s rest and then on Saturday morning, 13^th October, it was off along the coast and up the valley beyond Llanberis to Nant Peris at the foot of Snowdon. It should have been a beautiful drive, but the weather was nasty and there was a long section of roadworks which made everyone late for the wedding – including the bride! On the way we picked Daniel up, impossible as that may have seemed in view of the amount of their STUFF I’ve been carrying around since we left Harry. (Hope he’s OK, over there on his own ….. Mais naturellement, il est content – of course he is happy; there are lots of other motorhomes there!) 

The wedding of Nick (M’dame’s nephew) and Ceri was in a beautiful setting! Unfortunately it was raining when we arrived, but during the service – 

Bilingual 

What? 

In two languages. 

 

Sacré bleu! During the service, the rain stopped and there was a bit of sunshine, so everyone was taking photographs.

Bride and groom pause in the Churchyard, just for me!

 A Chimney Sweep in attendance.

The Bride preparing to leave the Church. 

Then there was another drive to Criccieth for the reception. Between the big photo call and the meal, we went on to Portmadoc where M’sieur and M’dame were booked in to the Travel Lodge. M’dame was going to change into that dress she had bought on Thursday, BUT the assistant had left the security tag attached so she couldn’t wear it!

 

We really shouldn’t have been able to leave the shop with it, but somehow we did. Back at Criccieth we were just a few moments late, but we enjoyed one of the best wedding ‘breakfasts’ we’ve ever had, and let’s say that the bride was one of the loveliest ever – apart from the one on November 19^th last year, of course.

 Afternoon merged into evening which passed with plenty of wine and things and music which was only a bit too loud. Shortly before midnight Carol drove us back  to Portmadoc and we had a quiet night’s sleep. Thanks to all concerned for a lovely day.