Thunder bolts and lightening

Back at our hotel in Mosnes where we had had a pleasant dinner earlier in the week we had a rather Fawlty Towers experience and although we had a laugh we probably wont stay there again. Still we had a wonderful thunderstorm in the evening.

au revoir à bientôt

Sadly it was time to say goodbye to Kay Robin and Liam and to make our way back to Mosnes and our hotel. The road lay along the Loire valley & river for much of the way and we stopped at Amboise for lunch. Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit the chateau but I am sure we will be back.

Cognac

After another good evening and a late morning Kay took us to Cognac. Its a pretty town and is one of only three officially demarcated brandy regions in Europe. We had a cold drink in the town square and then choose to visit the Hennesy distillery. We didn't purchase any believe it or not but we did stop at a little cave on the way home.......

Ile De Re

After a wonderful meal and a good nights sleep it was decided we should go to Ile De Re. Having never been to this part of France we didn't know what a treat we were in for. It was absolutely beautiful. Having chosen our favourite yacht we had a delicious lunch on the quay, followed by a wander through the town and a visit to the beach for a quick paddle.

Frites in a field

After leaving Oradour we set off once again. I spied a friterie in a field of Gladioli and thought we should stop for a snack. Soon after we found ourselves deep in a forest. LOST. The gps thing was of no use the voice was just getting more and more hysterical, just when we were getting a little worried we found our way back on to the motorway. We were very relieved when we eventually found Robin sitting in the garden of the cottage awaiting our arrival.

Ouradour-Sur-Glane.Click here for more information

Malcolm had long wanted to visit Oradour, so we made a slight detour so that we could stop for a couple of hours. The village was the scene of a massacre on the 10th of June 1944 by the German SS. 642 men women and children were killed. The remains of Oradour are a memorial to those who died.

Viva la France

We set off on our epic journey to visit our friends nr La Rochelle in the Charente-Maritime area of France. We set off about 8.30am and got to Rhiems for an early lunch. Due to a misunderstanding I ended up with two crepes but hey who's complaining. Rhems 13th century cathedral where the kings of France were crowned was magnificent.We spent a couple of hours wandering around but it was extremely hot. Just before we reached our hotel we found our first field of sunflowers. After dinner Malcolm ordered coffee and due to another misunderstanding we ended up with four cups.......

Schools out

Its the first week of the school holidays and Emilie has been going to the play scheme every afternoon which has given her something to do. She stayed the night with us and we took her to the hairdressers in the morning. I took Frank and Lillie to to park where Lillie is now big enough to go on the swings much to her delight. Frankie has been helping grandad to clean the car and wants to know how we will manage without him when he goes to big school.

Camping

Emilie went to Scout camp up north for a couple of days so Frankie thought he would sleep at our apartment as it was the holidays now. We took him to the hairdressers which he thought was a great treat. Lilie has fallen in love with a singing camel. Emilie bought it when she went to see Joseph and guess what it sings...........The weather is so changeable one day hot the next freezing cold and wet, at least its worse in England. Amelia and Martin are in Spain and its too hot to go out shame.

End of term

Frank and Emilie finished school today for the 8 week summer holiday. Frank will go to Big school in September and come home on the bus with Emilie so there will be no more Granny racing. Emilie will be in the 3rd year. You have never seen such a happy smiley girl............

Pam & Richard

Thursday night Pam & Richard arrived for the weekend. Luckily the sun was shinning and we managed to have drinks on the terrace. Friday was wet and windy so we did some indoor shopping. In the evening we met Amelia and Martin for dinner in the city. Saturday was warmer and dryer so back to the city for the flea market which brought back memories of the Asda boot fairs we used to do together. Then it was off to the Mullerthal area or Little Switzerland as its known, for lunch. Malcolm then persuaded us that there was a magnificent waterfall to see. So after risking life and limb we found the waterfall and Pam said she had seen more impressive drains.......Then it was back home via coffee at Clemency for a curry.

Chilly Chilly

The weather has turned chilly and wet so Malcolm has been doing a jigsaw Pam gave him last year. Dads Army of course. Its a passion of theirs........don't ask. We have also now got our own wii Malcolm thought it would help him to keep fit we shall see.