Playing Ping Pong

18.6.14:

André had said that he would call and see Christian today but with all his commitments he didn't make it. I went into the local clinic to see Annette, then whizzed around the supermarket before getting a lift back to the village with Maggie who'd been to the physio.

Christian finally got hold of the cardio and if the GP wants him to see him before the 27 July, he needs to phone him and explain why! Apérobio this evening but I was too distracted by Christian's miserable situation to fully enjoy it.

Weather:

25°, rain in afternoon 

17.6.14: 

Went for a coffee in the morning.  

Christian telephoned the Cardio this afternoon for an appointment but his surgery was closed until the next day. 

Accident no3 happened; this time it was Nany who ended up in the clinic but was unscathed apart from some bruising.  

There was an Association meeting this evening to discuss the language workshops and found that there was another one afterwards to discuss the way that things were going. Apparently, I was expected to contribute but no one had invited me! A Freudian slip maybe? Anyway, Jean-Jacques and Michel were expected for an apéritif after their meeting at the Mairie. So, no need to feel guilty about leaving the committee to it.

Weather:

27°

16.6.14:  

Christian's GP  was clearly worried by his state of health and couldn't understand why the cardio wasn't doing anything.  He tried to phone but there was no reply so said he'd try again tomorrow. In the meantime he gave Christian a letter to give the cardio when he sees him. Feels like being in the middle of a game of ping pong.

Weather:

27°

15.6.14:

Stayed at home all day and worked on the blog. Coughing a lot and with badly swollen feet, Christian just rested.

Weather:

24°

Difficult Times

12.6.14:

Went to the language exchange this morning while Christian went back to bed after breakfast. Did some supermarket shopping with Maggie then came back to the bar for an omelette. Five of our visitors have gone.
Weather:
32°, cloud in the evening, thunder but no rain








11.6.14:
We both went to Dylan's funeral in the church which was overflowing. I don't think that the priest will have ever had so many young people in his congregation.
Weather:
30°, not a breath of wind to make it more bearable

Headlines:

• Isis, a Sunni Muslim group making serious inroads into Iraq
• Demonstrations in Brasil against the cost of hosting the World Cup

10.6.14:
The other five visitors arrived last night but we don't actually see anything of them. Today's carrot to get Christian to walk was a glass of rosé at the bar. Sadly, I don't think that he really enjoyed it.
Weather:
28°, sunny

Headlines:

• With minute by minute tv coverage, The Blues arrived in Brasil. Fans heard how they entertained themselves on the flight; now that really is of great import. More telling though was their lack of acknowledgement of the waiting fans. Some were not best pleased, others made allowances as they must be tired after the flight! Can't have heard the report about them listening to music, watching films and playing cards? I hope for France they don't behave as shamefully as the 2010 team did in South Africa. Don't worry, you're not going to get a footie blow by blow account.

9.6.14:
Woke up to find that two of our visitors had let themselves in last night after we'd gone to bed! They didn't stay for breakfast, prefering to join family which we found quite understandable. Christian managed to walk over to the bar for a coffee but it was easy to see that it was a real effort.
Today there was another accident as Gereldine who had organised the Bluegrass weekend, hit a wall on her way home. Car was a write off but fortunately her injuries weren't too serious.
It was Whit Monday and with no Mairie to go to, we knew that it would be a long day for Jean-Jacques so we invited him around for an apéritif in the evening. No need to worry; he lives within walking distance.
Weather:
27° but it seemed hotter
Headlines:
With minute to minute tv coverage, the French football team, flew off to Brazil for the World Cup 

Out of the Blue

The day didn't start well as our neighbours came around to tell us that their 19 year old grandson had been killed in a car crash and could we put up his father and other members of his family.  Of course we wanted to help and offered 7 beds. Things could only get better, couldn't they?
At lunch time we were invited to a paella with SW France Bluegrass musicians who were in the village for their bi-annual get-together. The meal was good which was lucky as we were practically force fed a second helping!
In the evening they came down to the bar for a jam session. I went along but didn't say as Christian was exhausted and had stayed home.
Weather:
27°, sunny

In the Name of Jesus

16.4.14:

On the road again for 9h and we had a long but enjoyable drive via Limoges. Stopped at "Les Jardins de Corrèze", which has services with splendid views, for a sandwich lunch and for Christian, a wee snooze on the grass. Arrived home in the early evening feeling weary but pleased that the journey back was without mishap.
Weather:
9° when we left, 23° en route in the afternoon, 23° at home. Sun all the way



15.04.14:

Left to head south at 9h and drove to Vire, a detour from our usual route, to see Christian's 93 year old godmother. She coped with the surprise as if it wasn't one and she seemed pleased to see her wee boy. By the time we said our goodbyes with an obligatory photo (we always wonder if it will be the last), we were ready to find somewhere to eat. Went as far as Flers and found a rather chic place called "Les Veilles Pierres" just on the outskirts. The food was good but the service impersonal. http://www.aubergedesvieillespierres.fr/
We spent the night in Dangé St Romain (obviously that was a saint who got around) in a simple Logis. The bedroom was small but clean and the meal was simple but good, especially the foie gras. Sadly, Christian is somewhat off his food.
Weather:
6° in the morning, 17° farther south in the afternoon

14.4.14:

You'll be scratching your heads wondering if I've gone all religious but worry not ..... this is actually the name of the hotel where we ate with Christophe for lunch. We should have eaten at a "Chinese" but it was "fermé exceptionellement" and rather late on we went to this place in St Romain du Colbosc which is on the way to Valérie's where we were to go for coffee. The staff were were pleasant and the food honest. On arriving, Valérie and family, her Mum, Stéphane and Yohann were in the garden enjoying the sunshine. We stayed for the afternoon and then went home for another quiet night in. Well, we're off tomorrow and it's a long drive.
Bah oui, I forgot ..... there was another "au nom de Jésus!!!" This time when we found that someone had dragged a key down the side of our car ..... the first time that this has happened since we've been together. What a sad sight.
Weather:
13.5° sun and blue skies

Patched but Roadworthy

12.4.14:

Had a quiet day so that Christian could recuperate before tomorrow's festivities. Only went out for a coffee at the local bar and were even able to sit out in the sun. Once again, the father-in-law of the cheese seller that we use at the market was there and apparently he's heading down here for a couple of months next week. Have I told you before that his son played football in the same club as Christophe when they were teenagers? And, the ex-owner of the bar who we'd also met there before, will be helping at tomorrow's do (in another town) as she's friends with the people who bought the establishment from her parents. Small world, eh?
Weather:
13°, sunny


11.4.14:

At breakfast this morning we found ourselves next to a couple who have a house in Il sur Tet, the other side of Perpignan and that the woman had worked with our friend Michel in the N. of France. after that, it was of course, off to the garage to secure the front wing. Would you believe it? There was a nicer looking hotel with off road parking opposite! while we were there the lorry owner phoned and said that his driver was 71 (and driving a cattle wagon! Am I being ageist?)and wouldn't have driven off if he'd realised but if there was evidence of the bump, they'd take responsibility. The Gendarmerie also phoned to say that their colleauges in the other town had visited and now it's over to the insurance to sort out.
Had lunch in Artenay, a regular stop for us and arrived chez Christophe at 17h45 for a quiet evening in with the family.
Weather:
18°, Sunny

Normandy, Here We Come

Managed to get organised and leave at 9h30 and we made good progress, stopping at the "Pont de Millau for a picnic lunch in the sunshine. We took our time and visited the exhibition to watch a short video about it's construction and then while Christian had a siesta, I walked up to the viewpoint to take some photos. We both did this a several years ago with Andy and Maureen and I was pleased to still be able to do it without a problem.
Big mistake; we hadn't booked anywhere for the night as we weren't sure how far we'd get. Stopped in Cosne d'Allier and saw there was accomodation at a château that's now been turned into a conference centre. They had space but with a meal of radish for starters and spag bol for the main course we headed into town. The hotel on the main road, which we'd been directed to,  was a family affair and if you've travelled in France you'll have come across these old, tired establishments. Still, we were tired too and fed up, the owner was pleasant, the room was clean and adequate and there didn't seem to be any other villages for quite a distance, so we booked in.
Went for a stroll and had a beer in what really was a bit of a one horse town and came back to find that our car had been bashed on the wing. Fortunately, someone had taken the cattle lorry's number so off we went to the Gendarmerie. They were very pleasant and helpful and found the company but there was no reply when they phoned. Christian tried to phone later too but with no luck.
Had dinner at the hotel which was simple but good enough feeling that disappointed with the end of what had started ourt as a lovely day but realising that it could have been worse.
Weather:
Temperature ranged 16°-20° as we travelled, sunny