France - July 2015

I arrived back in France on Tuesday 7th July, for three weeks, and fed at L'Imprevu where Carys was playing/singing at the following weekend of the Tour de France ( Friday 10th ). As usual I shopped in Gorron on the Wednesday, calling in on Sara and Tony.

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Well named 'Village Fleurie', Ambrieres les Vallees was, as usual, quite a picture.....

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The Tour passed the Church and turned left over the Varenne bridge, before turning right up the hill on the way to Brecé and Gorron

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...... The Tourist Office at Ambrieres .................................................................... Flowers on the bridge

.................................................................................................... and along the way

There will be a video on patrickclips in due course. ( Link on menu page ).

The Tour de France, Stage 7 of which passed through Ambrieres les Vallées on Friday 10th, was the highlight of the weekend. This was evidenced by the many parked cars, caravans and campers down below and along the way.

I went over to Sara and Tony, who had repositioned the camper and awning at the bottom of the road ( already occupied by others !) leading to their house, to watch the Tour de France pass by. The Tour was featured on TV - showing the bridge at Ambrieres and the row of cottages opposite the Marie in this stage 7, on the way to Brecé, Gorron and beyond.

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........ Part of the " Caravan " ...................................................................................... The stage leaders - ( Photo Sara )

I was also watching the Wimbledon tennis - but the Satellite receiver decided to play up. Ultimately I was able to borrow one from Sara and Tony until able to bring a spare one from the UK on my next visit. What with Eastenders, Holby City etc., I would be lost without TV. Although there were fireworks at Gorron on the 13th July, and at many other places to celebrate the 14th July, in the end I did not go to any of them. I went for a meal at L'Imprevu on 13th, and a vide grenier at Lassay on the 14th.

On the 16th, which was very hot, I went for a swim at Brecé ( Sara and Tony were at the boat ) - later returning for a BBQ in the evening.

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Chris was due to play at the L'Imprevu on the Friday 17th with Peter, and was due over for a meal, but in the end he returned to the UK. Peter played and sang on his own.

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Sara and Tony went on a special Brittany Ferries trip to the Eden project over the weekend of the 18th/19th.

Work continued next door - though generally quieter now the main rock excavation has been done ... and the front wall rebuilt.

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During the last week - disaster - L'Imprevu ran out of steak ! ..... I had to settle for a pizza on the Monday ( Piz & Pat camion ).

Mal and Paul arrived on Thursday evening and a drink and catch up evening was had on the Friday, after I had eaten at L'Imprevu - they had bought a bottle holder prezzy !

The Saturday before departure was spent preparing a meal for the next few days before watching the Hungarian Grand Prix practice and qualifying sessions. I couldn't contact anyone on my tablet - I had run out of credit - so I went over to Brecé to check on things.

Sunday I went to Sara and Tony for a meal with two of their neighbours - and Bethany and Yannick, and Carys - quite a gathering. Later I watched the finish of the Tour de France and highlights of the Hungarian Grand Prix, at home. The Monday before leaving was spent tidying up and writing this diary, to save time when home.

Only the Milk producer protests to contend with ... happy days ! Another stress free and restful break - not ... especially as two very large lorries ( one tar, the other grit ) came at 08.30 a.m. on the last day, together with six men complete with brushes ( to sweep up the fill a heavy rain shower had displaced ), mechanical tampers and rollers to level and resurface the lane to the top. I was surprised the lorries managed to get up the lane, although the tar lorry had difficulty turning round in front of Emma and Richard's house, ... ( Emma's parents, Jan and David, had just arrived ).

At least there were no Milk producer protests on the way to Cherbourg.

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