The Patmail Website - France. July 2013

I was supposed to be on the 4pm Fastcraft to Cherbourg on Sunday the 7th July. However, the world and his wife was out on the road on what was one of the hottest days of the year, coupled with roadworks at the Stoke interchange, Guildford.

After twice through Ripley, witnessing the aftermath of 4 accidents ( there were 21 incidents in the Guildford area ) and solid three lane traffic for about 8 miles ( crawling ), making way for 3 fire engines, and the police closing roads as I arrived on the outskirts of Guildford, I gave up.

I had spent two and a half hours, going nearly thirty miles, in blistering heat ! No way was I going to make the ferry. I returned home and rebooked for the Monday. Sadly it was on the 6 hour ferry to Caen.

The only good thing was that I was home in time to see Andy Murray make tennis history in winning Wimbledon. I also saw the German Grand Prix.

Determined not to be caught out again, I left at 3 a.m. the following morning ( not being able to sleep ) to find the local slip roads onto the A3 were closed. Eventually I went to Portsmouth via the M25, eastbound on the M27 and eventually to the ferry on the M275, for a couple of weeks in France. At least I picked a good two weeks.

Jackie, Tone's cousin was over for a few days and I went over to La Petite Reigniere for a pizza from the pizza oven. Sadly the swimming pool was out of action after cleaning. It needed filling - not a small job in the extreme heat.

Generally it was too hot to work during the day except in the garden, although one evening I managed to get another undercoat on the back door. But the paint was drying quickly on the warm wood, and the bristles were sticking to the paint and coming out in handfuls.

Kris and Heather were also over for a few days and they rang on the first Thursday night just as I was finishing in the garden, inviting me to a BBQ.

On the Saturday I went for a Big Breakfast at Le Chat Noir and in the evening went to the Gorron music and fireworks in the Colmont Park, with Sara and Carys.

I decided not to go to the fireworks in Mayenne for Sunday celebrations for the 14th July. But a visit was made to the vide grenier in Domfront during the day.

On the final Wednesday evening I went to the Parc des Loisirs de Vaux, just outside Ambrieres, to listen to Emma Mory. I shall post various video extracts to patrickclips as time permits. There are already three or four clips of Emma Mory ( at the Hotel de la Varenne, Ambrieres) posted a few years back.

On the Friday I went over to see Chris and Julie in Domfront, Juvigny for lunch.

On the last Sunday there was a local produce sale and swap. The weather was still very hot but at least the " staff " found some shade !

Afterwards, the swimming pool at La Petite Reigniere was at last full again - and it made for a very refreshing dip before a meal .

Later in the evening there was a thunderstorm on account of the heat.

The very hot days had eventually sparked off thunderstorms in the evening. On Monday night, there was a very dramatic one - taking out Sara and Tone's power, telephone, TV, wi fi etc..

They were still hunting for another SFR box when I left on the Tuesday. But at least it was cooler travelling.