FRANCE
..... Sept - Oct 2013
| The fastcraft was almost
deserted - certainly quieter than the last trip. A
pleasant surprise on the ferry was an invite to tea at La
Petite Reigniere on the first Sunday with Heather and
Kris, who were also over. Not arriving until 8.00 p.m.
meant I had to hot foot it to ensure I arrived before the
fireworks for the fete weekend at Ambrières. I just made it, although everywhere
was in darkness and I had to get to my place by back
roads and tracks. I met Sara, Heather and Kris on the
bridge to watch the fireworks.
The first weekend was
quite fine, then patchy sun and drizzle. Near neighbours
arrived on the Tuesday, while Sara and Tone were on the
boat. Fish and chips at Le Chat Noir on the Wednesday,
and up to Domfront on the Thursday for the open mic
evening at Le Barius ( It is now on a Thursday at 8.00 -
not a Tuesday. )
One of the first jobs was
to fix a key plate to the freshly painted back door. The
original was missing and the handle was ill fitting.
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On the Friday I met
Heather and Kris in Lassay les Chateaux for lunch - ( revisited
the following Monday with Sara and Tone ) The Auberge du Lassay
is a good eating place, recently under new management, and is now
advertised on the adverts page. Also on the Friday neighbours had
a get together in the evening before leaving, for their new
neighbours next door, and friends from down below.
Despite the weekend
being the Cigné fete, fireworks and vide grenier, I did not go -
but went to a large vide grenier at Context, near Mayenne, with
Sara and Tone on the Sunday..... altogether a busy first week.
... 
During this visit I
spent most of my time in the garden, de-ivying, and rebuilding
the rest of the lower wall, ready for jointing with lime when
Chris comes over. Pears and some blackberries were picked.
... 
... 
On the Thursday I
went over to Domfront again, to Le Barius. Despite two regulars
not being there it was a very good and more varied evening. In
addition to Chris, Rob and Doug turned up and played and sang -
later Real and John also turned up. Sara and Tone came over to
listen and lend support - they also came over the following week,
with Viv and Graham, when Pete and Walter and others played and
sang - some eight or nine musicians in all by the time I left. (
pics taken by Sara - and blackberries above ).
... 
... 
The Thursday and
Friday of the second week was patchy weather - but the things
changed again from the weekend on and I was able to paint the
windows, and to prune the trees. The usual visits were made to Le
Chat Noir for their Big Breakfast, and for fish and chips. On the
Sunday I went to the Juvigny s/Andaine vide grenier with Sara and
Tone.
... 
There was thunder on
the last Friday after another still and humid day, with some
drizzle on the Saturday morning. Sunday I went for lunch at La
Petite Reigniere. The grape juice Sara had made went down very
well with a touch of elderflower cordial. I brought back samples
of the Blythin Bee honey, and some of the grape jelly Sara had
made.
| On the Monday Sara and
Tone came over for lunch. I picked my grapes to take back
on the Tuesday, 1 October 2013, when I stopped off for
while at Julie and Chris in Domfront. I eventually got home at twenty
past midnight, having been almost the last off the slow
ferry back to Poole ( the Portsmouth Fastcraft finished
in September ), and having to drive through very wet
conditions for half the journey.
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