We leave Sally in Lincoln and head for home, via Potters Bar, Surbiton and Rouen.

Here are the two missing photos from the last entry. First, Carol and Rachel in the garden with Baby and the jealous cat:Then Mother and Baby:So, wo ist meine Freundin?
Ah, where’s your little friend, yes ….. First things first – lets write about you. We got on the road in good time on Friday morning, 23rd, and made good progress to Hitchin, only to discover within minutes that the replacement skylight they had for us was the WRONG ONE! Much too big. Nothing for it but to ask them to check and strengthen the temporary repair and hope to get home with that. We did some shopping and went on to Welwyn.

So, wo ist die Sally?

I’m coming to that! It rained quite a lot overnight Friday- Saturday, and was still drizzling a bit when we got up early and hooked up the vehicles. Carol put her anorak on and was stung on the neck by a wasp lurking inside the hood! This is bad news – she’s allergic to wasp stings! I treated her with anthisan, solpadeine and piriteze, so that by the time we got to where we were going, near Lincoln, she was more or less blotto! Still, the nice lady made us a coffee and the rain had stopped. There was a new motorhome for Sally to travel with and, believe it or not, a dog called Harry! A very friendly dog who wanted us to play ball with him. The ball was a squeaky ball, and the lady explained that the dog was blind!

But to serious business; husband being away a male friend had been drafted in to check the car out. He and the lady took Sally for a run. We played ball with Harry – not you!

I don’t play ball.

No, you don’t, do you? Man, lady and Car returned. Lady always wanted a red car! Deal done. Money handed over in brown envelope. Stephen, Carol and Harry, the Motorhome, left. Sally stayed with the Lady and Harry, the blind dog.

So, die Sally ist nicht mehr bei uns?

You catch on quick, Harry! No, she’s not with us anymore.

That’s a bit sad!

It’s a lot sad, but there we are.

We stopped for lunch in a layby, and drove off without securing the thermos ….. it rolled and smashed!

It was a long day. Bad weather, the wasp, the flask, and much more driving than I had realised. Not to mention the other matter. We were very grateful for a nice meal and a bed in Potters Bar.

Next day was a short run round the M25 to Surbiton, where family gathered for ‘apéro’ at Porton Court and then for dinner at Café Rouge:A good time – and a good meal – was had by all, then there was more drinking, photos and music back at Porton Court.

A DAY ON THE RIVER : With his birthday coming up later in the week, Philip and Christine had decided to invite us and other friends, Fiona, Max and Dominic for a day out on the Thames, followed by dinner (our invitation) at Harts, the riverside pub. With excellent weather throughout, this day was a delight, and choosing just a few photos is very difficult. I shall share many others on SkyDrive, unless someone suggests a better hosting site.

Taken by one of the lock keepers, this photo shows the whole party:

I have to confess that previously I didn’t know there were locks on this section of the Thames, but we went through three, both up and down. Sometimes we were first in:

At other times there was congestion:

We picnicked regally with contributions from everyone, and a (more than) ample supply of wines and cider!Throughout the day, our mascot, Max’s (nameless) parrot, drew amused / admiring glances from other boats and folk on the banks:As we got near Surbiton on the return leg, a birthday cake was produced from somewhere, and Philip did the biz with the knife while we sang Hippo Birdie for him. (Actually, after the wine and cider, I’m not sure what we sang!)

At Harts, the boatyard with the pub, some of us disembarked and others went back to the point of hire to return the boat and transfer all the stuff to the cars. Once reassembled the party enjoyed a meal overlooking the river:

And although Fiona, Max and Judi left us after that, the rest repaired to Porton Court for some more chat and music – maybe a nightcap, too. What a great day! Thank you.

Next morning, there was a mist over the river:

and even a hint of fog, but it soon cleared and we made good progress to Dover. Another smooth crossing, and so to visit Daniel (French colleague and friend, not Carol’s son) at Ymare, near Rouen. We enjoyed a meal of salade de tomates – homegrown by Daniel’s Mother, who was there with him, nursing a broken wrist – and roast chicken. We showed photos of grandchildren and Sunejo and retired to Harry for the night, parked on Daniel’s drive.

The rest of the journey home was uneventful. We know the route now and the weather was fine, getting steadily hotter as we came south. We spent the second night parked in the same space at Porte de Corrèze as on the way north almost a month ago. We ate paupiette de saumon (stuffed salmon fillets) provided by Carrefour supermarket and fresh blackberries picked from the hedgrow beside Harry!

As in England, late summer is not the most attractive of seasons; autumn has yet to enliven the tired green of the trees,

and harvested fields are dull brown where once they were golden; maize fields are brown-topped, and heavy-headed sunflowers droop in the heat, as if waiting for the chop which can’t be long in coming now.

We stopped at a motorhome dealer’s in Pamiers and ordered a replacement skylight for Harry, and shopped in Mirepoix. And so to Sunejo, nicely cared for by Nick & Carolyn for almost a whole month, and with hedge trimmed and grass cut by Ian, whom we had employed to attend to such things.

1,145 kms (716miles) from Surbiton and a round trip of 4,191kms (2,619miles). Plus additional miles in Sally. We’re sorry to have parted from our cheeky little friend, but plans are in hand for a replacement – a sort of big sister, but more of that next time. Thanks again for hospitality and friendship; we’ve had a great month. And thanks for reading all about it – if you have!

THE SHARLSTON DAYS

Moi, I took the baby to go shopping! Mummy came too, of course, and there were a couple of other people as well, but we wont talk about THEM. Baby was very good all the time and sat quietly or sleeping in her little seat. When we got back, M’sieur took some photos including, HE thinks, the first one of Shannon smiling:

M’sieur likes to be called ‘Grandad’ now, but I will still call him M’sieur as long as I’m around to call him anything.
Well, please yourself. Cats are fascinating. Rachel has two, and this one (below) has always been timid and inclined to avoid company; but recently he’s become more interested in being stroked and in sitting on a lap. But the other day he quite deliberately came and placed himself in the ‘baby’ position, wanting to be ‘nursed’ over my left shoulder. Is that new baby jealousy, or what?! DSCN0676 Carol is brilliant with Shannon, as she is with the toddlers at Golcar. Yesterday Rachel was resting and we were on baby-watch. Shannon couldn’t settle and was troubled with quite violent hiccoughs. I had a go at cuddling, rocking, rubbing and patting (substitute baby for cat in the previous photo!) but no help at all. Carol took over and within 5 minutes the hiccoughs had stopped and Baby was asleep! (Apologies to the readers of this diary who’ve already seen that anecdote and photo on Facebook.) DSCN0677 Of course, it’s perfectly possible that Grandad had done all the work and Carol just happened to be holding Shannon as she fell asleep, but I’m happy to give credit where I think it’s due. She’s not bad with Harry, either! (Carol, that is, not Shannon!) She’s been up on his roof again, strengthening the temporary repair with the Duct Tape (Duck Tape?) we bought during the shopping trip which apparently we musn’t say we took part in, and cleaning the whole area. Danke schön! That was kind. You don’t deserve it, you big, time-wasting, money-eating, trouble maker. Meanwhile, M’sieur tried to hide a scratch on my driver’s door (for some reason) with some touch-up paint. HE probably made it worse, the bodger. Sally, is there anyone you’re going to be nice to? I like the Baby – she smiled at me. She didn’t smile at you, she smiled at me! Tu parles! That is your opinion. Another day I took Baby and Mummy (and maybe some other people) to the garden centre where they had lunch. I believe the Baby was very good and quiet all the time. I doubt if HE was, or HER. No comment. Back home after lunch the weather was good enough for a little outdoor relaxation, with the jealous cat (Jasper) keeping watch: * Careful readers with memory will remember that I said there would be a picture of Mother and Baby this week, as last week’s was not good enough. Here it is: *

[ * I’ve tried to add these two photos in four different locations now, but they just won’t appear. Probably something to do with the strength of the wi-fi signal. I’ll put them at the top of the next post, if I can.] We’ve had another wonderful week and we hope we’ve been useful. Now we must head south (Fri 23rd Aug), hoping to get a new skylight for Harry, and to see what happens tomorrow when we take Mademoiselle to someone who might like to look after her.

There is no need to write in code! I know what you’re doing. …….

Golcar to Sharlston, with complications!

Let’s begin this post with thanks to Chris & Michelle for their hospitality last week. We remember the regal roast beef, the stunning stir-fry, the licious chicken pie, the succulent salmon and the chumptious chilli. Then, of course there was the brilliant breakfast on Saturday morning.

We left the family after lunch at the Garden Centre on Saturday afternoon. Then – Harry?

Ja?

What happened next?

We went to Wakefield.

He does not want to tell you, because he’s being a nuisance again. He keeps letting you down and costing money. I don’t do that; je sius très sage, moi.

Yes, you are, very good.

So you’re selling the wrong one!?

We’d love to keep you both, but we have explained why we think we can’t.

I will tell the story; we set off from Golgar with Harry pulling me –

Dass war schwer – hard work up that hill!

Then we joined the motorway and went over to Yorkshire. Suddenly – bang! Big Harry had blown his top!

Well, our first thought was that the main skylight had blown off. We pulled onto the hard shoulder and and called the highways agency. Fortunately there had been no sign of damage to other vehicles or accident caused by swerving, so the nice man on the phone said he’d treat it as debris on the carriageway and a crew would come along and try to retrieve the skylight if possible. The fact that no other driver had reacted to the incident should have been a clue as to what had really happened, but for now we waited till the patrol vehicle turned up and said they hadn’t seen it.

We re-joined the carriageway, with the internal blind drawn across the space – that was silly! – then another bang, knocking and the blind was shredded! But the skylight was still on the roof – it hadn’t blown off, it had ‘flipped’. Damaged beyond repair, it was retrievable from inside, with only a little bit still attached, which quickly gave way.

Now the main thing was to get to Oakleigh Close and see what could be done before the rain set in. Rachel and Sean weren’t there, but we let ourselves in as planned and found a ladder in the garage. It was starting to rain.

Now, I’m a bit of a wimp where ladders are concerned, and kneeling on Harry’s roof in a heavy shower trying to secure the remnant of the skylight and a bin bag with tape that wouldn’t stick to the wet surface. I did both as much and as little as I could, then tried to get down ….. well, I did get down, but not without some difficulty.

Rachel, Sean and Shannon arrived as the rain eased off; equipped with towels to dry the roof and some stronger bags, Carol went up the ladder (she’s tougher than I am – and doesn’t have a dodgy hip) and did a more thorough job on fixing the skylight.

Sean took a picture from his office window:

Not quite the easy transfer from Golgar to Sharlston we had anticipated

Sunday morning and Shannon joined us for breakfast:

Later on, a lively service at Destiny Church was to have been followed by a ‘family sports day’ and picnic. Everyone had set up their picnic furniture in the nearby park and was watching the games, when we were treated to another of these April showers (?) and a mass retreat took us back into the church building (a converted theatre) for the picnic. I thought it was time to take a picture of the proud parents instead of The Baby:

But that didn’t last!

THE GOLCAR DAYS

Leaving Welwyn on Sunday (11th) we travelled north via M1 / M6, en route for Stockport. THEY’d found a small caravan park in Poynton, and the way to it took us past Jodrell Bank which THEY’d never seen close up.

We uncoupled the vehicles at Poynton, then, once parked up and hooked up (electrics) –

Me, I took them to find Daniel at the hospital where he works. –

Oh, you’re joining in – that’s nice!

Huh – now who’s being ‘sarcy’? And then we went first one way, then the other to find a restaurant where THEY could have dinner. Apparently, there would have been a half hour wait at the first one. So THEY ended up at the same Chinese place THEY went to last time.

And it was very good – again.

We dropped Daniel back at the hospital and went back to Harry on the caravan park, where THEY had quite a quiet night.

On our arrival at Golcar next day (Monday) S & N were eager to help uncouple the vehicles, park Harry round the back of the Manse, and hook up the electrics. Then they had a play in Harry, apparently driving to France and back between them. There followed a session of rough and tumble which involved Grandad trying to tie the children in knots. This ended with S taking a flying dive onto the sofa and delivering Grandad a head butt to the cheekbone! They both like taking pictures and are actually quite good at it, once we persuade them to keep their fingers off and away from the lens. This may be one of N’s:

Tuesday (Carol’s Birthday): Three travelled in Harry, and three in the family’s Honda for a picnic at Shebden Park – a nice spot but the facilities need upgrading! We took Harry as there was a hint of drizzle so we had everything we needed without sheltering under trees and wearing waterproofs for picnicking! But the drizzle held off and after lunch we had a ride on the little train:

Then Daddy rowed us round the lake a couple of times. (It’s a pity I can’t pair this pic with one of him learning to row at Matlock Bath, aged about eight, but that was in pre-digital days and it isn’t to hand to scan in.)

We left the family after that to go to Wakefield to visit Rachel with Shannon, while Vik and Scout were there. The ‘parcel’ got passed accordingly; from Grandad:

To Carol:

to Scout:

(Unfortunately, the photo I took of MOTHER and Baby is out of focus – there’ll be better ones next week.)

Back at Golcar, after supper, and children’s bedtime, we had the first rubber of bridge, which was easily won by the home side.

Wednesday: Chris & Michelle had to go to an appointment early in the morning, and took the brave step of leaving S & N with Grandad & Carol. We finished breakfast, but hadn’t done much else before C & M were back. Then there was more play in and around Harry:

and in the afternoon we took S & N to the park – well, Carol did –

M’sieur cheated and drove up while M’dame walked up with the little ones. We met them at the park.

I didn’t cheat! It’s severely uphill and I’m now under specific Doctor’s orders not to do strenuous walking. Severely uphill, of course would have meant a severe downhill return. Anyway, Grandad was useful in the park as a spinner and swing pusher:

We are both a bit useful, then!

Back at base, after supper and bedtime, we succeeded in reversing the bridge result and levelling the score. Just a pity we didn’t call the little slam with which we won the second game.

Thursday 15th: another outing with the little ones, on the same pattern – Carol walking, SKT driving to meet them at the destination, this time the garden centre. Arriving first, I was able to give Sally a wash at the garage next door –

Merci. I needed that.

At the garden centre, there was a playground, some hens and pigs and goats, and a sandpit:

Later on, the bridge was decided. A rash ‘double’ by SKT gave the home side the chance to redouble and win 3NT redoubled, vulnerable. Oops! A loss by 1,750 points. Ah well, there’s always next time! Will that be in Sonnac?

HARRY GETS REPAIRED AND SERVICED, SALLY SULKS, AND WE RELAX A BIT.

This is the notice that has upset Sally so much:

Sunday (4th) was uneventful, really. THEY had café-croissant at Baie de Somme services and we travelled on through very fine weather – which is unusual for us in Picardie – stopping for fuel at a Centre Commercial just off the motorway before Calais and for lunch at Epitre, where, on other occasions, we’ve spent the night.

We’ve never seen Calais’ beach looking so inviting!

The Channel Crossing was ‘millpond’ smooth – in fact, I’ve seen choppier millponds, and seemed to go quite quickly; well, it was only half an hour (!).

Leaving Dover was slow, but we weren’t stopped, unlike others around us – we can’t look guilty however hard we try!

Then we motored on to Bransgore, near Christchurch. Christchurch is in Dorset, but Bransgore is in Hampshire. That day we’d done 468kms, making 1,369kms from Sunejo. That’s about 855 miles. I need a rest!

We parked up on the pitch which had been reserved for us, with a notice in the window to tell us where it was although the office was closed, and had a ‘3 tin’ meal for supper.

Monday 5th August: up fairly early to take Harry to see Ben, who did the major repair last year. An oil leak needed sorting, but it was nothing to do with the previous repair. The weather was wet so we spent the rest of the morning at the garden centre where they have a café with free wi-fi. –

And how did you get from Ben’s workshop to the garden centre? Was I there or was I not there? Was I any use at all? And what would you have done if Harry had not been fixed on that day? Would you have gone anywhere or just been stuck?

We wouldn’t have slept in you, that’s for sure. But of course, you were very useful, and have been all the time – do you want to write a bit of the diary?

Non.

Right. (I wish she’d stop sulking – we’re probably not going to sell her anyway; the people from the Isle of Wight who were going to meet us because they wanted a car already equipped to be towed have made other arrangements.) We’d been there so long that we thought we should have lunch at the garden centre, then we browsed and bought some stuff, like birdfood and citronella flares which were on BOGOF. Meanwhile we had contacted Martyn (Carol’s Brother) and agreed to meet him and Jasmine at the pub in Bransgore later that evening.

Tuesday 6th: I had an appointment with the Chiropractor in the morning. We do know now what’s been wrong with THAT leg for the last year. My French Doctor finally sent me to have it x-rayed, and we can see that all the cartilage has gone from the hip joint. So it’s just a matter of time until I say ‘let’s have a replacement’. Meanwhile, no serious walking; swimming OK, also cycling.

Wednesday 7th: a lazy day. We called on Martyn & Jasmine in the evening and we also went looking for Trevor and Pam. (Trevor is the Esperanto speaker whom we stayed with last year while Harry was being repaired and we went to his wedding with Pam in January.) However, for the second time when we’ve been in Mudeford since the wedding, they were away.

Thursday 8th: Another session with the Chiropractor, then back to the caravan park to collect Carol AND SALLY –

Huh!

And we got on the road for Welwyn. Once parked up there, Sally, what happened next?

I took you into Potters Bar to Carol’s Brother’s house.

You did. And there we met the first of the babies, not to mention Arnie, the dog:

This is Sophie (the Baby, that is), the daughter of Nick and Ceri whose wedding we went to in Wales in October.

Ah, oui! I did that. Harry was not present. You see, I can be very useful.

No-one ever said otherwise.

Friday 9th: took Harry to Hitchin to have his hab. service, and a couple of other jobs. But one job couldn’t be done because parts are needed, so we’re going to come back in two weeks. Sally?

Oui?

Do you want to say what we did while Harry was being worked on?

Ummm …… si tu veux. I took you to Baldock to see Hilde.

Where we had elevenses, or ‘zweites Fruhstück’. Very welcome, thanks, Hilde!

Then I took you back to get Harry.

And after browsing motorhomes and the accessory shop, buying a table and a solar battery charger, we travelled in convoy via Tescos back to the Caravan Club site at Welwyn.

Hailstorms, busy motorways and ROUEN!

…… what should have been a quiet night ! Ha!

Soon after we settled down a terrific thunderstorm kicked off. At first, it seemed like it was going to be thunder and lightning only, like one we’d had at home a few days earlier, but then the rain started, followed by the hail. (This would NOT have been a good time to have had to change the gas bottle, so thank fortune that we had had to do it at home!) The battering was horrendous – we couldn’t see the hailstones, but they must have been a fair size. Also, we seemed to be pretty near the centre of the storm, not only because of the almost continuous flashing and crashing, but because the rain and hail came round three times! So it went on till about 3.30 in the morning.

By 7 o’clock you’d think nothing had happened! Warm sunshine had dried everything up and there was no visible sign of damage to either vehicle.

You haven’t seen my roof!

That’s true.

I’m OK; I’m still sellable, so you do not need to worry about that.

Don’t be sarcy!

Sarcy! Moi? You have to ask where I got that from.

….… Our little parking circle was full of cars and people having breakfast from the boot; there were other motorhomes, too. I went to get some croissants and so on for breakfast – the main car park was heaving! People were circling looking for spaces, then giving up and parking on kerbs, against hedges, anywhere. The restaurant was busier than it had been the previous evening (when it had been busy enough) and the staff were working very hard. But I was served with a smile and the usual courtesies, and set off back to Harry and Carol. It was a comparatively long walk and that leg didn’t like it, but we enjoyed our breakfast.

‘back to Harry and Carol’ – I wasn’t there, then.

The breakfast was for Carol, and we sat in Harry to eat it – that’s what I meant.

Tu parles.

The busy-ness, of course, was due to the fact that it was the first Saturday in August, and the start of the great French getaway.

Ja, but fortunately for us the French were all heading south. During the day we saw lots of slow-moving traffic on the other side of the motorway, but our side was flowing well. Of the people who overtook us, many were Brits, Belgians and Dutch returning from a very hot holiday in the south, or in Spain.

This was a long day; we did 549kms, stopping for fuel at Limoges, of course – THEY’ve learnt their lesson about that and eventually finding parking spaces for elevenses (about 12 o’clock) and lunch; at every service area the spaces marked for Motorhomes and Caravans were occupied by cars, so in the end we just stopped for lunch at the side of the exit road from the service area; others were doing the same. As we went along we occasionally saw some MEN with GUNS (boys in blue in UK terms) and wondered whether they would stop us because of the towing, but they took no notice.

(Sexist remark alert! : I don’t like seeing armed police as routine, but if there’s one thing that worries me more than MEN with GUNS, it’s WOMEN with GUNS! What a dreadful thing to say!)

And as for being stopped, we couldn’t count the number of illegal bike racks we saw, all travelling freely with unreadable number plates.

At Rouen THEY were hoping to find the route THEY took going the other way last time in Sally –

Between the white cliffs and the river, I remember! Nice of you to mention me; Merci, Harry!

Kein Problem! BUT, although SATNAV was set for Darnétal, THEY didn’t find the correct river crossing and by trying to avoid the long diversion as signed, we ended up in that dreadful crawl which is the centre of Rouen.

And this time there weren’t even any Christmas lights to cheer THEM up as we inched forward at between 0 and 3 miles an hour for about twenty minutes.

‘Inched forward’ – as a European, shouldn’t you say ‘centimetered forward’ ?

Dass ist aber Blödsinn! Napoleonic nonsense!

Once over the river we began to move more freely and, as always, after the tunnel, vrrooommm! So we got to the Bosc Mesnil service Area at about 7.45pm and parked up. This is where we spent New Year’s Eve.

Parking wasn’t easy, because of cars in the caravan bays, but we managed and shunted to a better spot once someone else had moved. The weather was better than Dec 31^st, complete with sunset:

But the lorry park was busy and some wagons had fridges going all night, so it wasn’t quiet! However, we indulged in our classic ‘Lapin Au Van’, prepared at home last week and brought along as a ‘square’ meal (i.e. frozen in a block).

The building work which was going on at Bosc Mesnil in December / January seems to be complete, but we weren’t impressed. You might expect a new building to have automatic doors, not push-pull-collide-with-folk-coming-the-other-way doors. You would expect a new motorway restaurant to offer wi-fi and to stay open well into the evening. We know it had been a busy day, but the loos weren’t as clean as we expected, nor were they at seven in the morning. And I expected the enquiry about wi-fi to be treated to some sort of expression of regret, not ‘pas du tout, Monsieur’. We won’t make a point of going there again, but it is in a good place so we may give it another chance.

A TRIP TO ANDORRA AND SALLY GETS WIND OF SOME BAD NEWS …..

C’était le 31 juillet, M’sieur and M’dame decided to go up to Andorra and buy some stuff, in bottles. –

It wasn’t all in bottles; we bought some other stuff as well.

C’est possible. There were a lot of bottles. After driving over the hill from Pas De La Case, THEY decided to take a ride on a cable car, which THEY have been talking about every time we go up there, but they haven’t done it before.

Yes, we thought it was time to find out what it was like. There was a large multistorey car park as part of the base station, and there was no queue; it would probably be rather different during the winter months.

Though in spite of the 3-week heat wave, there were still patches of snow to be seen near the summits. This particular cable car ride keeps going all year by exploiting other possibilities than skiing. Some of the cabins are equipped with external bike racks – see second photo – so the mountain bikers go up in the cable car and then ride down:

Then at the top there’s a golf course:

After that we did some more shopping and headed for home, arriving in time for a sunset swim.

It was a nice drive, as always, in spite of the extra weight to bring back, but I was a bit worried about something …. I kept hearing remarks about ‘if we sell her’ or ‘what if we don’t sell her?’ … Ils ne parlent pas de moi, sûrement? THEY wouldn’t do that …. would they?

We really did work hard to try to be ready for an early start on Friday morning, packing up everything except the contents of the fridge and hooking the vehicles up just inside the gate, as we did once before, but in spite of getting up before seven o’clock on Friday, it was still after midday before we got away. One issue was that as a first job I put Harry’s fridge on using the gas and during the morning the gas bottle reached empty! It was probably better to have to change it at home than later in the dark and a hailstorm, but it took time. Another thing was that there was far too much stuff in the big house fridge then Harry’s little one could take – bad planning! – and then at the last minute we couldn’t find Carol’s car key. She’d slipped it into a pocket of the apron she put on to help change the gas bottle, then completely forgotten it. We spent about half an hour searching …..

Ja, und es war heiss beim warten! It was hot, waiting for THEM in the sun. But endlich we did get away and drove past the fields of sunflowers:

on the way to fill up with diesel at Pamiers.

But now I know! They said ‘say goodbye to your abri’ before we left and they put a notice in my back window about this little car being for sale! …….. So it’s true; THEY don’t love me any more!

Yes, we do!

Then why are you trying to get rid of me?

Sally, it isn’t like that; but we really need a French car now –

But I am French!

Well, you’re a French make, but you’re made to be used in Britain – your steering wheel is on the right hand side, and anyway rules about towing are different in France and the A Frame is illegal. Not only that; but I’ve change my licence for a French one, and it doesn’t include towing, unless I have a medical. I didn’t know that when I changed it – I thought these things were standard across the European Union.

Well, that’s not fair …

Whoever said life was going to be fair, even for a car, was lying.

So what ARE you going to do if no-one buys me?

Hmmm ….. we haven’t decided yet. But anyway, here’s a picture of the first lunch stop on the way north, with you and Harry taking a break in the shade:

MOONRISE AND A MAGNIFICENT MANIFESTATION.

Monday 22nd July, a magnificent full moon rises above the hillside beyond the farm:

The field which surrounds Sunejo , supposedly barley, but there was a lot of oats in it and other stuff, has been harvested, and the straw bailed and taken away. Other fields in the area have ripening wheat, maize, sown late but growing very fast, and sunflowers just coming into bloom.

I responded to an item on ‘Any Questions’ on Friday evening with an e-mail to ‘Any Answers’. They contacted me, but in the end the didn’t revisit that question (Europe) in the programme. Anyway, I posted the e-mail in my parallel blog “Daddy Says”, which is public, and suddenly I have a ‘like’ from one total stranger and another is ‘following’ me. You can find the blog, if you want, by clicking ‘stephenkeith0804’ at the top right of this screen and going to ‘Daddy Says” – but remember, you’ll be signed in as me, so no edits or comments, please, unless you find another way in as yourself.

Now, Wednesday, 24th July. A year ago, while living in Harry at Puivert, we promised ourselves a return visit for their annual festival and firework display. We booked a pitch for Harry, knowing that after the meal, and what goes with, neither of us would be likely to be able to drive home legally, and we encouraged our friends Nick & Carolyn, who run a guest house in the village, to come and join us, with their guests. We parked up mid-afternoon and had a dip in the lake, for old time’s sake (at 25° the water was chillier than in our pool, which is now over 30°, with poolside temperatures in the mid 40s. Who wants to house sit for us next year while we’re away – or even next month? )

After apéro (drinks and nibbles) the 200 folk who’d booked the meal at the campsite found their places at the three rows of trestle tables beside the lake – are Carol and Carolyn laughing at me? I’ve forgotten, but probably ………

As last year the French people beside us were friendly and sociable, as we would expect.

First course: assiette de charcuteries:

Second course – it’s difficult to make a beef stew look good on a photograph, but it was! And the jugs of red and rosé wine just kept getting refilled as soon as they were any where near empty!

Third course: fromage de chèvre (goats cheese) / salade. Actually, it’s now getting dark and the photo used flash – I didn’t realise till I saw the picture that the salad had dressing on it!

Fourth course: tarte aux pommes. (That’s not my personal jug of rosé, you know!)

A reminder of the setting: very soon now, the bank on the far side of the lake will be ablaze with fireworks and lasers, all reflected in the lake:

Here we go:

I took about 100 photos of this display, which lasted 20 minutes

Whereas last year we had a more or less clear view of the lake, this year an overhanging tree was a bit too close.

I think the tree enhances some pictures and spoils others.

I also switched to video for about 2 minutes – the result is on FACEBOOK!!

And finally:

It’s over! One man seems worried about his taxi, but most are joining in the applause and cheering.

We could have followed on by going to the disco and the marché nocturne just outside the campsite, but we settled for coffee and digestif with our friends, chez Harry, where the music was quite adequate for our liking; in fact, just happening to have a guitar handy, we competed with it. (No photo! Shame!)

Another amazing evening provided by a small community ……

FOREVER FAMILY

Unfortunately, although this post is mainly about Sean and Nina Thompson, whose adoption by Chris and Michelle is now finalised, we are advised to continue to exercise caution in the matter of posting photos where they might be discovered. So although this is a private blog, I shall heed the warning and not put up any of the (very nice) pictures of the main event and the little star players. That’s till we get to the end and a new star is born ……

So, this was our first experience of a ‘flying’ visit to England. Out from Carcassonne on Thursday 11th July and back on Saturday 13th. Reason: to attend the final court hearing for the adoption, including the issuing of replacement birth certificates with the Thompson name, and the celebrations which followed. The hearing was in Manchester, but there are no flights C’sonne to M’chester, nor to Liverpool either on the days we wanted them, so we came in to Stanstead and picked up the pre-booked hire car, this one:

Nothing was said about unusual features on this Seat Mii and we drove away without difficulty. There were one or two moments after stops on the way up to Yorkshire when it didn’t respond to the key, but then it did, so I didn’t pay much attention ….. ooops! Maybe I should av. Anyway, at Golgar, Chris and Michelle explained that in order to expedite proceedings in the morning (four adults, two children, one bathroom) they had taken the decision to farm us out to the Christian Conference Centre in the converted church just up the hill. Fine; – how often do you get to sleep in a room with THIS for a window?

Or this for a view in the morning?

We drove in convoy over the notorious Saddleworth Moor, following Michelle and ahead of other friends in an open-topped sports car. Nearing Manchester, at a traffic light, the car’s engine stopped. It didn’t stall, it just died quietly. Turned the key, no response. Dan, in the sports car did a nifty manoeuvre round us and into a bus stop and was about to push us to the side of the road when it started again! Next was on Deansgate, just off the box of a busy junction. This was dangerous; traffic passing on both sides, some getting cross, not necessarily with us, but with people driving round us. Time was getting short, too; Chris’s plan for everyone to meet outside the courthouse, linking up with other folk from Wakefield and Wales wasn’t going to work, if we got there at all. Dan went off to find somewhere to park and let Chris know what was happening. I’m trying to phone HERTZ, then Carol spots Rachel and Sean on the pavement:

Sean and a passer-by start to push us round the corner (Rachel was in no condition for car-pushing!). To help I put the clutch down and turned the key again – it started. [By now at least one reader has probably worked out what was going on, but I still had no idea!] There was some roadside parking just there, behind Rachel’s litle Smartie, so we abandoned the car there and got to the court house in the nick of time.

After all, this piece is supposed to be about THE CHILDREN, not the car. After a short wait, the Judge came through in wig and robes, but he was in no way intimidating. ‘Who’s come to see me today?’ he said, sitting at the front, but not ‘up high’. Chris did introductions and the Judge had a little chat with Sean and Nina. Then he gave them, and the parents, certificates and said ‘What shall we do now? – perhaps Sean would like to sit in the big chair and wear the judge’s hat?’ He, the judge, was great; had toys for the children in his pockets, one of which responded to a push-button with a voice saying ‘That was easy!’ which punctuated the rest of the session. Sean sat in the big chair with the Judge’s wig on, and we all gathered round for photographs, taken by the Clerk on our cameras.

Well, that WAS easy! And fun, after the formalities. It was a roasting hot day, of course, so the plan was to fill in the time before lunch by playing in the fountains in the park. But we had THAT CAR to sort out! Almost every number we could discover for HERTZ drew no reply, though we did speak to one person at Stanstead who had no idea what was going on and couldn’t find her supervisor. Even a local SEAT dealer didn’t recognise the symptoms, which is surprising. In the end the AA man came, and said, rather apologetically ‘Are you putting your foot on the clutch when you turn the key? – You need to or it won’t fire.’ !!@*µ!! WHY hadn’t they told us that at Stanstead? Actually, that wasn’t all – the car had eco-drive (Rachel recognised it; the Smart has a variation of it,) It’s MADE to stop the engine at traffic lights, and all you have to do to restart is put the clutch down, you don’t even need to turn the key! We should have been told …..

We’d missed the fun time in the fountains, but we were now free to link up with the party for the lunch at the ‘Red Hot World Buffet’ – all you wanted from a selection of world cuisines. Thanks to Chris & Michelle for that. Chris made a little speech in which he referred to his ‘forever family’, and right on cue the staff produced the pre-ordered cake:

After the meal, Sean decided he wanted to ride on a tram (they don’t live with them), so we went with Michelle and the children to do one-stop and back ride. It sort of made up for missing the fun earlier on. Then we said goodbye till next month and made our way back to THAT car. No further problems now we knew how to manage it, but it was a long drive to Baldock where Hilde had a lovely supper ready for us. After a good night we were on the road in good time and back to Stanstead. The HERTZ man who received the car back from us was very sympathetic, agreeing that we should have been briefed on the eco-drive thing before collecting the car in the first place. He undertook to send a priority note to head office, so we wait and see how they react.

Back at Carcassonne, we had lunch at the airport restaurant, which we quite like, then went to find the little car. Out on the car park in full sun!

Oui il a fait chaud, mais CHAUD! Has it been hot in England also?

Yes, it has, but we’ll soon get you home and under your shelter. And what about Harry? How has it been for you?

Es war normal. –

Hey, don’t forget you’re French again now!

Yes, we completed the business of importing Harry to France just before we went away; The all-important carte grise arrived in the post and we had his new plates made up; instead of WA 09 OSW he is now CW 079 PT – a curious combination of Philip and Christine’s initials!

But, as Sally says, that day was HOT, so it was a delight to find the pool in good condition, and get in there!

“Come on in; The water’s lovely!”

The French Fête Nationale passed by unnoticed, so we come to Monday July 15th, and news from a proud father –

…… that Shannon Victoria had been safely delivered that morning, weighing 7lbs 8oz.. That afternoon, returning from a clinic appointment on another very hot day, we cebrelated in the only way we could, as a couple of Audois:

That bottle would have been too much for us, so we were very pleased when our friends from the Maison Bleue in the village agreed to come round after dinner and help out! But, as we said earlier, this post should have been about families and children, so the toast is “To Sean and Nina; and Shannon Victoria!!”

AAHHH ………… !

SPLASH!

Tuesday evening, July 2nd, 2013: It seems to have been a long time coming, but we’re ready to go:

And we’re in! But what comes up …..

….. must go down!

Why should HE have all the fun? (Or the embarrassment?!)

And how better to end the day as the sun goes down …

than with some al fresco cooking and eating?

BON APPETIT!

Friends from Puivert Return – A Day Out – and POOL PROGRESS

Remember this?Probably not, but this is the couple from Berlin with whom we played boules at Puivert last summer. We were delighted when they got in touch and said they were in the area again and would like to call. We opened a bottle of Blanquette (though Thomas drinks only beer), played pétanque on our gravel patch, and enjoyed a meal on the terrace, pulling the table well in towards the french window to be out of the wind, and they spent the night in their van, parked next to Harry.

Can’t think why HE’s looking so sceptical – perhaps because HE couldn’t win at pétanque, except when partnered by Thomas, who won every game.

‘After much debate internal’ (a bottle of blanquette for the person who attributes the quote in a comment below), or rather ‘quiet, calm consideration’ (another bottle for saying what that achieves), we have decided to avoid further hassle over insurance, MoT and road tax by importing Harry –

Wie? I’m going to be FRENCH?

Well, you were originally – before you went to Germany.

Anyway, as a first step we had to have the work on the rear lights which we had done last year in England reversed! Then we needed the ‘Contrôle Technique’, the French equivalent of the MoT (repeated every two years). So we took both vehicles to the Ford dealer in Lavelanet one day last week, and left Harry there for the day. After a bit of a delay at the ‘Orange’ shop – we’re going to have to change my mobile phone number – we went exploring in Sally.

Mais oui, c’était magnifique! First we went up to the col at the foot of Montségur. (Google that – it’s an amazing site, and the scene of one of the worst atrocities of the ‘crusade’ against the Cathars.)

Ensuite, we went up to the ski station at Les Monts d’Holmes. No snow now, and practically deserted, it was all a bit moche. Actually THEY were looking for a viewpoint shown on the map, where pique-nique might have been possible, but we could not find it. Never mind, we ended up at the village of Roquefixade, with another château on top of a cliff:And at the foot of the cliff, there was a parking area with a magnificent panorama:

where we picnicked in the company of a very friendly native:

Though maybe her friendliness was due in part to mendacity, and the wisdom gained from past experience; either way, I’m sure she had as good a late lunch as we did, though hers would not have been the first of the day!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the work we’ve put in – or mainly Carol has put in – to beautify the immediate surroundings is beginning to show, with tubs on the terrace:

baskets above the patio, and where the unsafe awning was removed, we’ve invested in a large parasol with a heavy, but moveable base, and a choice of seating, reclining or lounging:

The water feature which was a wedding present from Marjorie and Norman can be seen under the window, looking after the lettuces, and in case you’re wondering why there’s a hosepipe trailing across the terrace, here’s the news we’re most excited about, apart from Rachel’s Baby and Chris’s Children (include Sean and Michelle, of course!) – a new liner has been fitted in the pool and it is being filled! We expect to jump in it one day this week. With the weather as it is (80° in the shade at 10am), it shouldn’t take long to warm up!

O – oh! Showers are forecast for Wednesday! But temperatures over 30°C are likely by Saturday ……

A CANAL TRIP, AND THE SUN SHINES ON THE LATEST VISITORS.

The Canal Du Midi is a remarkable piece of engineering, now used exclusively by leisure craft. It links the Atlantic to the Med and much information and many pictures can be found by googling Canal Du Midi.

I had an appointment at a Clinic in Colombiers the week after Philip and family were here and we decided to take a short cruise on the canal afterwards from the nearby marina (above), the weather being ideal on this occasion (our third visit).

Our cruise took us through the Malpas Tunnel, with its fascinating, but natural, honeycomb pattern which has grown along the walls:

And, as usual, the natives were friendly, if a little camera shy:

C’est à moi, maintenant! My turn now! It was Monday 10 June when we went to Carcassonne to meet the next guests, Florence and Hilde. The weather was not wonderful that day, but after that there was sunshine for almost ten days until the day they left. And very hot, too.

Sorry, Family!

One day, they did the excursion on the Red Train, and on the way they had the pique-nique at the usual lay-by beside the Aude:

Then the ladies did the train ride while M’sieur and I went by road. Here we are – Little Red Car and Big Red Engine:

The first part of the train ride was along the part of the line we haven’t done before – from Axat through the tunnels and over the bridges of the Aude Gorge to the gravel factory at St. Martin, then back to Axat. Somehow I got taken along for free for this bit!

I wondered why you were away so long, leaving me alone with the wild beasts!

Tu exagères encore! You weren’t “alone” and they were hardly wild. But it’s true there was a circus occupying most of the car park at Axat station and there were some lions in a cage quite close to Sally.

Eh bien, voilà! That is what I said. Anyway, here is the train on the viaduc at Lapradelle, where they stop for people to take photos of the Château, and for the guide to say a lot about it.

And if you look carefully at the next picture – or enlarge it, you will see that the little figure on the bridge is M’sieur taking pictures of the train:

I also took one of the castle (Puylaurens):

It was so hot that day, that we did not go on to Galamus as planned after regrouping at Caudiès, but came straight home. However, we did do Galamus and Bugarach another day. Here’s yet another picture of Galamus:

And on the way back we stopped for them to have tea / iced tea or shandy on the square at Rennes Les Bains:

I did get to join in! The day they went to Carcassonne:

The weather was a bit dull to begin with, though it brightened up for the main visit, so they took me in order to have lunch indoors:

Das können vier Leute in Sally nicht! Four folk just can’t eat like that in a little car!

Big show-off! At least I’m allowed up Galamus –

Stop it! You’re both very useful in different ways. I dropped the Ladies off close to the Citadel and a very nice young man in uniform let me drive through the bus lane to get more easily to the motorhome park, where I left Harry (with lots of company!) and walked back to rejoin the party to do the little train ride, as recommended by the previous visitors:

All ready to roll!

So away we go:

Yes, a good one to do, especially for the less agile or in poor weather. But on a hot day, this was very welcome afterwards:

And back at Sunejo, we used the built-in barbecue to prepare supper and provide atmosphere – and a little extra warmth – afterwards:

Wednesday 19th June, another Harry-based lunch on the way to the airport, well, over the road from the airport in fact, then we entrusted the visitors to the staff and to RyanAir (they had booked wheelchair assistance).

We’ll close this entry with a photo of our star guest:

Miss Florence Kirkby (92) MBE

SUNEJO’S FIRST FULL HOUSE

Regular readers will remember that we had our first visitor (Mark) the day the furniture arrived, then another single (Daniel) at Christmas. Rachel and Sean came in February, and now we’ve had a ‘full house’ with the visit of Philip, Christine, Carol & Judi. However, there’s still the room above the garage, Harry wasn’t used as a spare room, and no tents were put up in the garden, so there’s still plenty of space!

The first step in receiving four visitors arriving with luggage at an airport is to hire a car big enough! Harry and Sally can seat only four people each including the driver, so the alternative is to go in convoy. Here in France most of the big supermarket chains do car and van hire so we chose our regular Super U in Mirepoix and booked a 7-seater Qashqai which we picked up on Saturday evening May 18th, ready to head for Toulouse on Sunday morning.

Toulouse welcomed our visitors with a torrential thunderstorm before they even got into the car – fortunately we were all under cover. But Toulouse is two counties away and as we came through Arriège skies cleared and snow-capped Pyrenees were in sight.

The improving weather meant that by the time we reached Camon, the little village just over the county boundary from here, there was sunshine. This was fortunate, both for us and for the village, where this was their biggest day of the year. Camon’s ‘Fête Des Roses’ is an annual event which draws visitors from miles around. You can find information and pictures by entering ‘Fête Des Roses, Camon’ in your search engine, and I’m spoilt for choice as to which of our photos to show here. We were very lucky to park that big car right opposite the little snack van, ‘La Camonette’ where we had lunch. (It’s a French pun, which is very unusual; a Camionette is a van.)

Furniture is organised, drinks are in hand, now all we need is FOOD! (The big black car is centre left, behind Philip’s hat – how do you tag a car?)

Roses grow round almost every door in Camon and most were in full bloom, obligingly:

Local crafts and produce were on sale beside every street and up and down every alley, as were plants, herbs, and lots of rose bushes.

We bought olives and garlic and ginger, as well as a couple of patio plants.

Eventually tearing ourselves away from ‘one of the prettiest villages in France’ we drove the remaining five minutes over the county boundary to Sunejo, which, for that day at least, was living up to its name.

Once settled, people decided that a walk down to the river might be a good idea. Last time we took photos down there, there was a big log jam against the bridge; that has now been cleared:

Back at home, a leg of lamb had been in the slow cooker since 8am and, although this was no ‘perfect’ summer’s evening, dinner was served on the terrace. An unusually good sunset followed.

A priority on Monday morning was to go to Mirepoix and add Philip, Carol and Judi to the paperwork at Super U so that they could drive the car if needed. This didn’t add to the cost but the shop needed to see and photocopy their licences – cards and counterparts. That done, we went into the town to see the special Whit Monday market. (Some readers will remember when England had Whit Monday!) The market was a special ‘Brocante et Foire aux Plantes’ – Second hand goods and plant fair, so some of the same garden stalls were there as at Camon the day before. Again, spoilt for choice as to photos:

One of the cafés under the arcades is entirely vegetarian so that provided a suitable light lunch for everyone, then we went to look at the Eglise Rupestre, or Church in the Rock, at Vals:

A very unusual spot which we’ve been meaning to look at since we first saw the signs to it and Mark told us about it. You go in through a crack in the rock:

Then make your way up three levels:

Stopping to admire the Frescos on level two, or even taking time to study them:

Before emerging onto a balcony, with panoramic views towards the (snow-capped) Pyrenees.

Passing back through Mirepoix on the way home, the Nieces decided to investigate the ‘Voie Verte’, the long distance footpath, formerly the railway line which links Mirepoix, Camon, Sonnac and Chalabre, then on to Lavelanet.

They reported on a pleasant walk:

with excellent scenery, including views of the mountains:

But at Camon it was time to call in and say they had contact with the road and should perhaps be picked up or be late for dinner.

Dinner which, for the meat-eaters, was that now well-known specialité de la maison –

–Du Camping-Car!

Er, sorry, OK, Harry, secialité du camping-car, Lapin au Van.

Increasingly uncertain weather did allow Tuesday morning’s breakfast to be taken outside, but that was the last of al fresco eating till the final morning. Most of the rest of the week was spent dodging showers during trips or weather-watching from inside the ‘french’ windows!

Nevertheless, the under 40s did manage to get in one or two more walks and a bike ride without getting TOO wet

(I’m sure there’s an over-40 in that photo!)

And these occasions gave the over-65s the chance to play several rubbers of quite evenly-matched bridge.

On Wednesday, and in spite of the weather, which did at least dry up for the afternoon / evening, the visitors chose to ride ‘Le Train Rouge’ from Axat to St. Paul. We did this on Carol’s birthday last year, so we have shown photos of it before, but this time we ‘stalked’ the train in the big black car, which gave us the chance to take pictures OF the train, not FROM it:

From St. Paul we drove up the Galamus Gorge, which we have done several times before, and shown you pictures of it. Actually, this time we drove UP it, down it, and back up again! Many, many photos were taken, though it’s difficult to capture new views, but here are a couple from that day:

That evening we were treated – many thanks – to dinner at the Café du Fleuve in Quillan (Mike & Vincent’s), where we were very well received, of course, and the Irish Coffees which the Thompson Brothers indulged in at the end were served with particular flair:

On Friday I had an appointment in Carcassonne, so – again, in spite of the weather – everyone decided to DO Carcassonne that day. April showers in May is the best way to describe it, and no sooner had I dropped them off at the gates of the Citadel, than the heavens opened and they scurried into the first café they found and had, in fact, quite a nice lunch. Then they chose to ride in the little tourist road train, rather than visit the Castle as Carol and I had done, and they say it ‘validates the blow’.

They also visited the Cathedral:

And after I picked them up again we drove to Castelnaudary to look at the big harbour on the Canal du Midi. The Brothers played safe and sampled the wine at the ‘Cave du Bassin’ but the Ladies walked around. Maybe they just failed to keep an eye on the weather, or perhaps it was the excitement of spotting a coypu in the water:

but they got caught in another terrific downpour, and they were off-road so ‘rescue’ was difficult!

After dinner that evening there was a musical (sort of) interlude:

[Philip made a video of one the songs from this session; a bilingual, semi-toothless version of ‘Down By The Riverside / Apud La Riverbord’. Those who can’t resist it, or who are just curious, might find it here: http://youtu.be/NnH7dY2wQCo ]

On Saturday there was a horse display in Quillan and some wanted to go and see it.

So I got to do my bit for the week! Only four people wanted to go down the squiggles, so I took them, instead of Big Black Bertie, or comment il s’appelle.

You did! Did you see any horses?

Erm, non, but M’dame and the others did.

Outdoor eating was still not an option, but we tried to put on a last evening special, including steak-frites with sauce aux champignons.

(And a cloth on the table!)

And so came Sunday morning; with the party having nothing to do but pack and have an early lunch, the weather finally turned sunny again, so as on day one, lunch was served on the terrace, as it should be at this time of year – or any time of year, really.

Two happy diners – and an uninvited guest??

Whose pet dragon is that?

Lunch over, we were on the road to get to Toulouse – no thunderstorms – with comfortable time to check in, and plenty of opportunity on the way to take pictures of those snow-capped Pyrenees:

With a last one after take-off:

Footnote: We (the remaining residents) had to get up early on Monday (27th) to return the big black car to Mirepoix at start of business. That done, we went into the town for café-croissants and to see the regular market. (There’s always a market on Monday, but last week’s was different for Pentecost) It was just as busy as a week ago, but with more foodstuff, crafts and clothes.

In the café, we found ourselves sitting next to some people from Exeter who were part of a choir (unaccompanied, close-harmony) who were giving a concert that evening in the Cathedral. They were just going out to sing a few numbers around the market as publicity, so we followed them:

They were so good that we went back to Mirepoix in the evening and heard the concert, which we enjoyed. Not only that, but we’d never set foot inside Mirepoix cathedral before, which is well worth a look. Sometimes it’s good to get up early!

STEPHEN GETS LEAVE OF ABSENCE AND TAKES HARRY AWAY ….

We got back from England to find the big pear tree in full bloom and the grass knee-high and gone to seed. The blossom didn’t last because the wind got up almost at once and blew it all off and the rain made us wait several days before tackling the grass.

The challenge was too great and the little ‘tracteur’ gave up before the job was done ….

Looks like you’re giving up, too!

Hey, Harry, who asked you? I didn’t give up – I coaxed little Terrence back to life!

Terrence?

Got a better name for him?

And that’s not “Get me a drink”; it’s TOAD doing a ‘POOP-POOP’!

A disappointment: the swimming pool – behind me in the picture – has so far been unuseable, and we don’t know what to do about it. It’s a long story and we don’t want to go on about it, but the water remains green in spite of several treatments and we can’t get the ph right. It also needs cleaning and maybe the liner is ‘past it’.

A delight: Sunday May 5th – for the first time, we ate all three meals out of doors.

An amusement: one (or more) of ‘our’ great tits has taken to perching on Harry’s exterior mirror and then gets very …… excited about his own reflections in the window and the mirror. So far we’ve been unable to photograph this as he always sees us approaching –

and you should see the mess he makes! You could photograph that.

Hmmm ….. maybe not. More bird life – swallows have arrived and wheel and swoop at varying heights over the field which surrounds the house. The crop in the field is now recognisable as barley and in spite of being waterlogged for some of the time it has survived the winter and looks promising.

Now, ‘after much debate internal’ – and some with Carol – I eventually and belatedly decided to enrol for the French Esperanto Congress, which has just taken place in Bordeaux. Go on, Harry …..

Ja – Mittwoch den achten –

English!

Oops! Wednesday 8th, about midday HE and I left HER and Sally to look after each other and Sunejo and set off for this combination of new experiences. (Just the two of us and a French Congress) First event was that HE realised that although HE had taken quite a bit of food, which HE didn’t need, HE’d forgotten the chicken leg for his lunch, which he did need. We had to stop at Mirepoix and buy a sandwich.

We made good progress then for the rest of the 350 kms and easily found the ‘kongresejo’, which was very close to the motorway in Antigues-Près-Bordeaux. As we approached the main building a lady on the steps gestured to us to go left and all the way round the building. HE’d been told in advance that not only was there parking available but that we could stay there during the Congress (but without electricity), so the gesture seemed to make sense, and anyway we could see at least one other motorhome already parked up (there were others). The way round the building was narrow, but OK, but then we saw the final approach to the parking area was down a steep tarmac ramp and there was probably no way I could do it without grounding at the back as the front levelled off. Backing off didn’t seem to be an option, though, so we carefully went down the ramp; a nasty scraping noise began as the front wheels got to level ground and continued for several seconds! Once we’d parked HE had a look at the back, but couldn’t see any obvious damage; there was a fresh white stripe on the tarmac, though, about 65cms long. Any thought of going to look for a camp site was abandoned; there we were and there we were stopping. How we would get off again was another matter …

That evening was the Congress’s formal dinner. I was lucky in where I chose to sit; French ‘Esperantists’ have a reputation for speaking French among themselves (that’s called ‘krokodili’) but I found a table where all five of my fellow diners were keen to use Esperanto and pleased to have a ‘foreigner’ to provide a reason to do so. (Though my Congress badge said ‘Francio’ – but I soon put that right!)

Two companions of the round table – a very nice couple, and quite a nice seafoody starter, too.

I am, of course, pouring wine for one of the nice people – that’s not MY glass, you understand ……

Nothing much of really general interest to report from Thursday, except that it rained most of the day, and maybe that’s not interesting, either.

But fortunately Friday was fine. Fortunately because I had booked an excursion to see Bordeaux by panoramic bus. I didn’t realise that meant open-sided! I’d have worn an extra garment if I’d known. But it was a good trip, with a well-delivered commentary in clear Esperanto from a man with good microphone technique.

Here are a few pictures: An impressive square with statue / fountain.

One of Bordeaux’ surviving gates from when it was a walled city.

Fascinating lamps on the Stone Bridge.

During the dinner on Wednesday evening one of the organisers had come round asking for contributions to the final concert on Friday evening. I said ‘I’ll sing if you want – and play the guitar’. She said ‘You’ve got a guitar?’ – ‘Yes’ – ‘Really?’ -‘Yes, really’ – ‘Here at the Congress?’ – ‘Yes’ – ‘A real guitar?’ – ‘A real guitar’. And I added ‘Don’t worry; I have some experience’. She still didn’t actually believe in this guitar, but took a risk and said I could do three songs.

Wow! I don’t think anyone there (about 250 people) had ever seen or heard me before, and they loved it! The Esperanto versions of ‘If I Had a Hammer’, The Whistling Gipsy’ and ‘Down By The Riverside’ were as well received as ever by an audience who just didn’t know what to expect! There’s no photo (that I’ve seen) of that event, so here’s one taken on a previous occasion:

Saturday morning was COLD in Harry –

That was your fault for going to bed with the skylight open! So anyway, HE tried to use the diesel heater, but could get it to run; he tried to get some hot water to wash and shave with, but that wouldn’t work; he tried to fill the kettle from the tap, THAT didn’t work! Finally he had a look at the control panel, and worked out that the leisure battery was flat. Sorry, M’sieur, (as our little friend calls you), but THREE NIGHTS using the water, the fridge, the heaters and the lights with no movement during the day and no hook-up is TOO MUCH.

OK – I get it. Having brought some hard boiled eggs, as well as raw ones, from home, I thought I’d have a Dutch or German style breakfast, with egg and cheese. So I made coffee (with mineral water from a bottle) and got one of the eggs out of the fridge. Only after tapping it on my plate did I realise it was one of the UNCOOKED ones! Still, I hadn’t made a total mess of it, and I was able to change the plan and scramble it.

So then we had to get off that parking area. HE went up to the reception of the centre and came back with a very nice young lady who said ‘drive round on the grass’. It looked a bit so-so, but she said it was firm enough and the groundsman wouldn’t mind …. We drove off the tarmac onto the grass, well, more buttercups and daisies, really, then tried to turn up the hill towards the driveway above the ramp. Skid, skid skid. ‘Reverse back to the level’ said the nice lady and try between these two trees’. We reversed. We tried between those two trees. Skid, skid, skid. ‘Back off again’ said the nice lady, ‘and stay on the level to the corner, then come up to that concrete stand where the bench is then back to the driveway.’ We did that! And it worked; a bit of manoeuvering to get between two posts onto the tarmac and then to face the right way and we were FREE! We said goodbye to the nice lady and went to buy some milk ……

We stopped at Pamiers for fuel and Mirepoix for a bit of shopping and just after 5pm, we pulled into Sunejo, where Carol was beautifying the terrace with tubs and hanging baskets and Sally was sleeping under her shelter.

Mais non! I was not sleeping, just standing by till I was needed again.

That’s what I do most of the time.

Alors, voilà. I’m very wide awake, tu sais ….

SALLY GOES SOLO (6): Home again!

We think we packed it all up –

Including the extras! Their bottles and stuff.

Yes, but we could have got more in. Actually, we did after the Channel Crossing. And although Carol had gone to work – or to swim on the way to work – she had set out what we needed for breakfast (thanks again!).

So THEY said ‘au revoir’ to Christine and finally put themselves inside as well as everything else and we set off for Dover at about 10.30. After we had stopped at Maidstone for a quick coffee (for THEM) there was a short section of queueing traffic on the motorway, but fortunately it was only short and we got to Dover Harbour in good time, that is 45 minutes before sailing, not the ‘required’ hour. But it did not matter.

No, indeed. We’ve never seen such a sparsely occupied car ferry! We had lunch with an excellent view of leaving the harbour and the White Cliffs:

Bye-bye, England!

We did a puzzle from the paper – the ‘i‘, the last we’ll see for now; we can get various English papers of assorted sizes, weights, and quality, but the Fro** haven’t discovered the i yet – and some (essential?) shopping, and with watches moved on one hour we seemed to be docking at 15.45.

By 4pm we were off the ship and, with plenty of fuel already on board, heading out of Calais for the motorway. First stop was Baie de Somme, their favourite service area in the North:

Back in the Land of the Frog!!

Welcome to the land of the Frog!

Brew-break at Baie de Somme.

Nice cuppa tea! (Well spotted – that’s coffee on the table, but Carol had tea.) And where in England could you see fish like this at a motorway service area?

… except that they were taken at a motorway service area!

Nothing special about these photos …..

Now, maybe this isn’t the right place for a bleat or a rant – I have another blogsite for that – but I’m going to mention something that I was really glad to get away from on leaving England: litter. Yes, there is litter in France, of course there is, the human race has elements in it that are just stupid, and perhaps litter is one of the less serious manifestations of that, but once clear of Calais (now why should that be?) we saw much less of it. English roadsides, hedgerows and verges are simply a disgrace, with the main culprits seeming to be consumers of takeaway food, drinkers of fizzy drinks, including cola and beer, and smokers. If you haven’t noticed it, just look around; look around and be ashamed ….

Calm down, M’sieur! But you are right, of course. We moved on, avoiding Paris and heading for Rouen, where we managed – using only experience and signposts, not TomTom – to find the quickest and easiest way through. Stopping alongside the River Seine to change drivers – M’dame had negotiated Rouen –

The Seine at Rouen.

we were able to admire the White Cliffs of Rouen:

The White Cliffs of Rouen.

A Church in the rock:

A Chapel in the Cliff.

and a Chateau on the hillside:

And a Chateau on the hillside.

Which we must have driven past before, but usually in hurry and / or in the dark, and in the other direction, so not noticed them!

It was getting late; we moved on, but only as far as Evreux, where after enquiring first at a Kyriad Hotel, which was full, we were directed (sort of – it was hard to find!) to a Campanile Hotel, which had a room.

Campanile did better this time that in Orléans on the way north, but not so well that we shall make a point of looking for them in future; we won’t avoid them, but we’ll try others. One criticism is that breakfast does seem rather expensive at €9.50 each in addition to the room. (It’s buffet style, but only cold fare, French / German / Dutch style, and then not even a hard boiled egg) so this time we eschewed breakfast intending to find a less expensive café-croissant en route.

THAT turned out to be a bit unfortunate… HE drove blithely past the only service area on the non-motorway part of the route, so ‘breakfast’ got later and later; at Dreux THEY found a supermarket where they bought the pastries, but it was some time after that before there was a suitable place to stop to make coffee and enjoy them. Breakfast was at about 11.30.

Still, the weather was fine and warm and we drove on through the centre of France in the full flush of springtime; green verges dotted with cowslips, swathes of white blossom, one section of central reservation ablaze with forsythia (no photo!), fields of buttercups, and picnic sites carpeted with daisies:

Like breakfast, lunch was quite late, too, but even with the fuel stop at Limoges we remained on target for arrival at Sunejo between 8.30 and 9pm. There was one more break at Aire Jardin des Causses du Lot, but as daylight faded we came round the bend from Camplimoux and spotted Harry waiting beside the house.

So, as we used to say when the diary was spoken into a little hand-held recorder “after a round trip of 2,769 miles, A6 SKT has come home”.

But what a sight! The big pear tree is in bloom, OK, but the grass is knee-high and gone to seed; it’s going to take some time to sort that out! Still, “Well done, Little Car!”

Merci! C’était un plaisir; a few too many bottles in the boot, both coming and going, but un plaisir, quand même.

Now you can tell Harry all about it.

That’ll be nice …

SALLY GOES SOLO (5). Back to Surbiton – via Mudeford.

Ils sont fous, ces Thompson! THEY are crazy! Look how they overload me: there’s even a ‘travel cot’ in there for the baby!

You’re not overloaded! There’s still lots of space – and anyway, we haven’t finished yet – there’s no sherry, no sausages, no bacon ….

Ah mais non! Ca, c’est trop! That’s too much! I think we must bring Harry next time. But then, if Harry come here, where will he stand?:

Il n’y a pas de place, voyons – there is no space, is there?

We’ll find a way, don’t worry.

I worry about getting you two home with all this and your sherry and your sausages ….

Diary, Sally!

Oh yes, excusez-moi. Well, before leaving Oakleigh Court (Close!) (Monday 15th) M’sieur went out to take pictures of Rachel’s purpose-built office in the garden –

And Rachel at work:

Now, I remember this garden swing / seat! I assembled it one soggy Sunday in Whitefield when Rachel hadn’t got any other man around! This time Sean did the honours while we were in Huddersfield two days ago – and he didn’t even get wet!

(2025 – This photo has disappeared and can’t be found anywhere!)

Then we got on the road at about 11.30 for the journey south through England. Relatively easy, trouble-free travelling, to arrive in Mudeford at Martyn & Jasmine’s just before 6pm. How’s this for a view from your upstairs lounge window?

Before dinner we all went for a walk along the beach:

The beach just below the house.

It was only a short walk, but I was limping before we got back, so it’s just as well that I have an appointment with the Chiropractor in the morning.

Dinner was that excellent French classic, Coq Au Vin, “to make us feel at home”. Very good, too; thank you.

Tuesday 16th: While I went to get prodded and pummelled and have needles stuck in my bum (acupuncture), Carol and Jasmine walked and climbed up to Highcliffe Castle:

Jasmine at Highcliffe Castle.

Once reunited we went and bought some more stuff for Sally to carry home!

!*#~@^!*!

Just a planter for herbs from B & Q and the other stuff from the supermarket. Then guess where we had lunch? At the Garden Centre, of course!

And finally we got going at 3.10pm for the 90 miles back to Surbiton and Porton Court. Carol Jnr was still at work and Philip is away on a canal trip, but Christine let us in and helped THEM carry a ridiculous amount of that STUFF into the flat – ridiculous for one night, that is; I hope they leave some of it behind …

Don’t be silly! Carol arrived soon after us and produced a nice Bolognaise supper – “evermore thanks, the exchequer of the poor” (as the Bard said). There was also some stuff in bottles, provided by Philip, some of which we were encouraged (say it quietly or Little Car might have another hissy fit) to take away with us!

SALLY GOES SOLO (4): Wakefield / Huddersfield / Newcastle

Thursday 11th: Pack up and away in fairly good time; stop at London Colney for fuel and a bit of shopping; some discussion as to the route to take: Rachel had recommended M1 and Woodhead to get to the first destination Stockport, avoiding M6, but others including M’dame said take M6 and M’sieur gave in. Perhaps we would take the toll; not worth it, SHE said. After lunch SHE was driving and decided the M6 Toll might be a good idea after all!

Hmmm….

After that M6 was s l o w; crawl, stop, crawl, move a bit, crawl … Maybe Rachel was right, but it didn’t matter, we had plenty of time. Only on meeting Daniel to take him out for ‘tea’ did THEY realise THEY had no back seat! M’dame pushed things around a bit and squeezed in amongst the baggage.

Hmmmm …..

THEY enjoyed an excellent Chinese meal and after taking Daniel back to the hospital – DON’T PANIC! He works and lives there! – We set off ‘over the hill’ to Wakefield. A section of M62 was closed and SATNAV did some weird stuff after we left the motorway to get to Sharlston Common, so the journey took a bit longer than expected, but we made it by 10.30.

There was a warm welcome from ALL the residents:

Oi! Scratch MY head, not yours!

Friday 12th: Rachel and Sean left early for their meeting in Darlington, and we were with Megan for most of the day. We had lunch at the nearby garden centre then made our way to ‘Xscape’ where the chosen activity was to be bowling (10-pin, not crown green!). There was going to be a bit of a wait for a lane so we walked (an uncomplaining) Megan across to B & Q where Carol bought some paint and I would have bought a shelving unit for the kitchen at Sunejo, if it had been in stock –

I’m glad it wasn’t!

We might still get it at another branch.

M*rde alors!

I’ll ignore that …. By now Rachel and Sean were back from Darlington, and it was agreed that Sean would join in the bowling while Rachel went shopping. Well, we were out of practice at first and the middle and young generations won the first game convincingly, but those who grew up in the sixties found form and Carol set a good scoring rate for the second game; however, she faltered towards the end and with a ‘strike’ at the 9th frame SKT came through to win. The pictures are hopeless, but here’s a sample:

Feb 2025: The photo that was here has vanished, and I can’t find any pics of bowling at all!

The day was rounded off with a Pizza supper at Oakleigh Court*.

Saturday 13th: We went round by the motorway to get to Golcar where, by coincidence, a Garden Centre was the proposed venu for lunch. This was a garden centre with a playground and some animals to look at, so Sean and Nina were well catered for.

I heard that M’dame and Michelle walked back up the hill, but the old man with (he says) the dodgy leg took the bus with Dad and the children.

I do have a dodgy leg! After tea and bedtime, it was cards-out time and we were pleased to level the score following the defeat at bridge that C & M inflicted on us last time.

I believe there was some discussion as to who was going to drive back to Wakefield. M’sieur had taken a bit more of the ‘bubbles’ during the card game than M’dame, but he was saying he would be OK, and if necessary he would use one of the alco-tests which I carry all the time, as required by French law. Then his son handed him a mug of ‘something’ and said ‘Dad, have some of this and let her drive’. M’sieur thought it was water or cold tea or something; it turned out to be whisky! That settled it – M’dame drove back. M’sieur sulked.

I did not.

Tu en avais l’air: you gave a good impression.

Sunday 14th: En route again soon after breakfast (café-croissants, yummy!) , heading for Newcastle to visit Florence. THEY were able to admire the recently presented MBE medal:

And Florence enjoyed the latest photos of Sunejo and the families. So it was soon back on the road to get to Oakleigh Court* in time for evening Sunday roast.

To come: South to Mudeford, treatment for the leg and back to Surbiton before crossing the Channel ….

*Someone (or sometwo) have got their Courts and Closes muddled up, and others who might have commented either didn’t read the post or didn’t notice! It is, of course, Porton Court, in Surbiton, and Oakleigh Close, in Wakefield!

SALLY GOES SOLO (3): The Potters Bar Stay

Enfin! At last HE lets me write a little bit!

You can’t write up what you didn’t take part in – you weren’t with us on the river trip, were you?

Of course not, but I took you and that nice lady and the little girl through all that traffic to the other side of London; and I could hear your music from outside –

I bet! And it wasn’t the other side of London; it was just round the south. But get on and write up Monday.

8th of April, of course! THEY packed up all their stuff – they hope – and retrieved some more of it from Philip’s garage, and left Porton Court at about 11.30. Travelling round the M25 past Heathrow wasn’t too difficult and THEY stopped at the big supermarket at London Colney for fuel – thank you – and to have lunch. Then we went on to Potters Bar where we were to spend the next three nights with Chrys and Jan.

That evening they went to celebrate M’sieur’s birthday at the ‘Cock of the North’;

Chrys had to leave early, but it happened to be quiz night so the other three stayed on to take part – with disastrous results, so I heard.

Tuesday: M’dame had an appointment to have her hair cut, then we went back to get M’sieur and up the A1 to visit Hilde. M’sieur keeps getting birthday dinners and lunches …. no wonder he doesn’t weigh any less!

Don’t get personal! It was a lovely lunch, – thanks, Hilde!

On the way back we called on some more old friends, Geoff and Avril, in Letchworth then in the evening I took THEM and Jan to another pub to hear Chrys sing with his friends in their ‘Barber’s Shop’ quartet.

That was really good!

That’s nice – I couldn’t hear them; they can’t have been as noisy as you.

Wednesday: Carol’s 2nd brother, Martyn called and said he was going to meet Auntie Gwen with Chris and Steve, so we went along as well. M’sieur took the computer out of the car so I suppose he showed people some pictures of ‘Sunejo’ etc. Another visit in the afternoon, to see Kathy in Barnet, then back to Potters Bar, where Jan had prepared a delicious (so I heard) dinner of roast leg of lamb with all the traditional accompaniments.

Pub food, home cooked lunches and dinners, tea and cakes, and music. What more could we want? Thanks, everyone.

Next: we travel north, calling on Daniel on the way to Wakefield, where we’ll stay till Monday. But it’s Huddersfield (Golcar) on Saturday and Newcastle on Sunday. Keep going, Little Car!

Dis donc! On exagère un peu, hein?

SALLY GOES SOLO (2)

Much of Friday (5th April) was taken up with issues concerning our little friend.

Moi?

Oui, toi.

J’ai presque pas bougé – I hardly moved!

YOU didn’t, but we did a lot of running around for you.

Oh, how kind!

Hmm …. Anyone who believes in European co-operation / standardisation should try taxing a British car insured in France. It can’t be done! Anyway, we took her over the road to a nearby service and MoT centre and by 3pm that was all sorted. So now we needed the tax which was nearly a week overdue. Armed with the renewal notice, a perfectly valid, but French, insurance certificate, and the newly-acquired MoT we set off, chauffeured by Philip, to a Post Office not too far away, but not the nearest, where the garage man had told us they might not be as nit-picky as some other places. But no! The man behind the glass explained that by law the car must be taxed and insured in the same country.

(Why haven’t we imported her to France by now? Well, we understood we couldn’t do that till we had evidence of permanent residence in France for 6 months. That target has only just been reached.)

So how to get insurance, including the certificate at 4pm on a Friday afternoon? We heard there was a branch of Swinton in Kinsgton. We rang up and were told they were open till 5.30, and they would be able to insure the car. We put the postcode into Philip’s satnav and thought we had plenty of time…

Goodness knows why, but the crazy gadget took us through very slow moving traffic to the WRONG SIDE OF THE RIVER! Returning at the same speed seemed unwise, so on Kingston Bridge we got out and walked, eventually finding Swinton’s place (hiding under scaffolding) about half an hour after we had first driven straight past it!

Basic insurance turned out to be more expensive than comprehensive! But the nice lady worked beyond closing time to get the job done and we came away with only one or two fewer sheets of A4 than when we opened a French bank account; but it included a BRITISH insurance certificate!

That evening we were to have an early birthday dinner; there was a rich choice of restaurants, so because it was unusual, I chose German. There were lots of beers in huge tankards and stone jars, but wine as well, and the menu seemed to be ‘echt Deutsch’ A good time was had by all:

Brother'sBirthday Bash 5.4.13

except, perhaps by Philip, who really wasn’t well and left early.

Saturday (6th): Philip wasn’t well enough to go to his conference as planned, and Christine showed signs of having caught the same bug. However, Carol Jnr was still fit and came with me to the nearest Post Office where the car tax was handed over with no problems.

Then we heard that there had been a bit of a DIY disaster at Vik’s house, where we were going to go that afternoon, and Roger felt there was too much dust, or soot, everywhere to receive visitors. So it was decided that Vik and Scout should come to Surbiton, where at Scout’s request, we got an Indian takeaway and enjoyed it in Carol’s flat. Time passed quickly, looking at photos and chatting. We said we would drive Vik and Scout home to Plumstead, and Roger had tidied up so that there was no evident sign of the earlier event, and we were treated to a lovely pasta supper.

Then came the music! The fact that there wasn’t room for my guitar as well as four people in the car didn’t matter, because Roger had two, and a four-stringed bass guitar as well:

(Left to right: Vik, Scout, SKT, Rhiannon, Roger)

And, of course, we mustn’t leave Rosie out! But unfortunately all the pictures of Rosie are out of focus, probably because I didn’t put the flash on. This may be the least bad:

Sunday 7th: The invalids in the ‘other’ flat were disinclined to do much more than get up to say hello then go back to bed! Carol Jnr was out walking for the day, so we did our own thing. We had a light lunch at the Riverside Café in Kingston, watching the boats go by:

Then we hopped on board one ourselves and went down to Hampton Court.

An impressive approach!

Anyone seen my dragon?

Oh, there you are!

Back at Porton Court, Christine went out to do duty for the Samaritans, in spite of still being under the weather, but Philip had recovered enough to get dinner for us, and Carol was back from her day’s walking. So the first phase of this visit drew to a close; thanks to everyone at Porton Court and Plumstead for the hospitality, and we hope that the discomfort of the flu-type affliction will be short lived – and that we’re not taking it away with us!

SALLY GOES SOLO; APRIL 2013

THEY keep filling me up with stuff in bottles and expecting me to carry it for thousands of miles!

Tu exagères, Petite, it will be one thousand at most; and you carry it very well. It’s only right that we take a bottle of bubbles from Limoux to everyone we’re going to visit.

Comme tu veux … Lots of packing and jobs still to do on the morning of Wednesday April 3rd, but at 10.30am we said ‘Au revoir’ to big Harry and locked him in the parking space at Sunejo.

(The remote control on the gates has stopped working on one side, so we’ve removed the gadget on that side but even with the working gate closed onto it, the wind can blow them open just enough for the ‘loose’ gate to get free. So we’ve put a cycle lock round the two so Sally is correct to say we’ve locked him in.)

Of course I am! I know what you did … I don’t suppose anybody else does, after reading that …

Someone was asking where Harry lives; he lives here:

So we set off to follow the usual route northwards. Fine weather came with us and it was warm enough for THEM to have lunch outdoors at a picnic table. However, owing to a misunderstanding back at Sunejo as to who was going to put the wine into the coolbag, it turned out that nobody had done and M’sieur went into a mega-sulk which lasted all lunch time:

During the afternoon Madame did some driving, including crossing the Dordogne,which you can just see on this picture, if you look carefully enough:

(Picture disappeared)

After nine hours, including stops – one for fuel at Limoges; some people do learn from experience! – and 410 miles, we had reached the Loire Valley at Orléans and THEY decided to find an hotel.

In that matter previous experience let us down! We had once before stayed in a Campanile hotel and been very pleased with it, so we happily chose that when we found it among the cluster of hotels on the edge of the town. Not the same! Nothing was seriously wrong, but the service in the restaurant was not as expected – our apéritif didn’t arrive till after the food and the wine (we sent it back) and one of the dishes was not what was ordered! But we slept well and woke up to find there had been a bit of a frost overnight – the evening had been very fine with clear skies – but Sally’s windscreen cleared easily and we were back on the road at 8.50.

I can do it now! Laissez-moi faire! So you sulked all through dinner as well, M’sieur, did you?

No, I did not! I enjoyed it – and it cost less without the apéro.

Tant mieux! On we went to the north; there was a diversion in Rouen which seemed to send us in the wrong direction but overall we did not lose time by it. THEY had lunch at Baie De Somme services, but they didn’t get out to eat …

We got to Calais at 3.45 for the 4.30 sailing, which was OK. 283 miles from Orléans, 7 hours – there was a fuel stop as well as lunch, but lunch was a bit long …

Once over the water, we stopped at Maidstone for THEM to have a meal; HE had breakfast! –

Only because there were no pasties left!

Then as THEY came out there were slight snow flurries in the air, and snow was lying in some of the fields as we drove on. So, 790 miles from Sunejo, the journey finished in Surbiton where at Porton Court Philip & Christine have one flat and Carol (Jnr) has another on the same floor.

This is Porton Court as seen from the river:

P & C were out for the evening, but we were warmly welcomed by Carol. We’re sleeping in her flat, anyway. We sampled the content of one or two of the bottles left for us by the others, and then some more when they came home …

Next time: A terrible time trying to tax little Sally; a German birthday dinner; a strum-and-singalong in Plumstead and a River trip to Hampton Court. Don’t miss!

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