I had an enquiry from Ian E about leaving comments. Spoke to my mum and she has left instructions on the blog. You need to go to her two comments that are posted at the bottom of the 'Hola' blog which I did in February. Hopefully that will be enough for you all to follow and leave some cheeky chat for me and the boys!
Come on...I am waiting...xxx
Friday, 26 February 2010
Alsace
What a busy schedule we have! Moved east from Dijon past Besançon and towards Mulhouse on the French, German and Swiss border. At another aire, this time in Thann, and taking the boys to the Schlumpf motor museum either tomorrow or Sunday. Apparently there is a market in the car park in front of the aire tomorrow, so I might drag everyone around that and then buy them cakes for payment. The things you have to do to get what you want!
The rest of the journey should then be; Colmar, Strasbourg, Stuttgart and then probably back to France to Nancy and towards Paris so that I can drag some unwilling people around more galleries and museums...how we laughed!
The rest of the journey should then be; Colmar, Strasbourg, Stuttgart and then probably back to France to Nancy and towards Paris so that I can drag some unwilling people around more galleries and museums...how we laughed!
Bourgogne & Cote d'Or
Decided to bypass Lyon and ended up insted at an aire in St-Etienne-le-Velay. Quite beautiful. We are parked between a field full of vines and a 13th century church on a hilltop overlooking a patchwork of field and vine covered valleys. The village is tiny and clinging to the skirts of the church. The only drawback is the rather loud pealing of bells well into the night...
Needing more sleep we moved on again, this time to Marsennay-la-cote, just south of Dijon. Apparently Marsennay is the only village in the appellation that produces rosé wine. We took the bus into Dijon the next day and went to the Musée de Beaux Arts which had an amazing selection of styles and periods. I thought the mummified cat in the egyptian section would draw the boys [Bill & Joshua] in, but no, Euan and I were having the most fun!
There are free buses that go through the centre of the town passing all the major tourist attractions, so we hopped on to one of them and had a little tour of our own. After that we headed for the covered market to drool over the wonderful array of meats, cheeses and produce on offer. The rain started to get really heavy so we took the bus back to the village in time for tea. I had fotgotten how tiring being a tourist is!
Needing more sleep we moved on again, this time to Marsennay-la-cote, just south of Dijon. Apparently Marsennay is the only village in the appellation that produces rosé wine. We took the bus into Dijon the next day and went to the Musée de Beaux Arts which had an amazing selection of styles and periods. I thought the mummified cat in the egyptian section would draw the boys [Bill & Joshua] in, but no, Euan and I were having the most fun!
There are free buses that go through the centre of the town passing all the major tourist attractions, so we hopped on to one of them and had a little tour of our own. After that we headed for the covered market to drool over the wonderful array of meats, cheeses and produce on offer. The rain started to get really heavy so we took the bus back to the village in time for tea. I had fotgotten how tiring being a tourist is!
A language lesson...what fun!
Oh, I love the French. They are just to sure of what they expect and make no excuses for it.
We found a fab little aire just outside Clermont Ferrand. We were between the petanque field and the maries offices. To get services from the 'post' you needed tokens. We were too late to buy them from the shop so the next morning Bill went to the office to make some enquiries. Bill didnt do french at school, but he is very polite in english. The lady pointed him in the right direction, in french, and back he came with the tokens.
Later on I went to enquire about transport into Clermont, and as usual started off with 'pardon, mais je ne parle pas français' but am always prepared to inflict my bad french on people. The lady was very friendly and helped me out in english. Hell, the mayor even came out and shook my hand and said hello! It turns out that the lady with the good english is the same one who didn't speak english when Bill went in! Fabulous.
We found a fab little aire just outside Clermont Ferrand. We were between the petanque field and the maries offices. To get services from the 'post' you needed tokens. We were too late to buy them from the shop so the next morning Bill went to the office to make some enquiries. Bill didnt do french at school, but he is very polite in english. The lady pointed him in the right direction, in french, and back he came with the tokens.
Later on I went to enquire about transport into Clermont, and as usual started off with 'pardon, mais je ne parle pas français' but am always prepared to inflict my bad french on people. The lady was very friendly and helped me out in english. Hell, the mayor even came out and shook my hand and said hello! It turns out that the lady with the good english is the same one who didn't speak english when Bill went in! Fabulous.
Millau, upholstery shop & dog poo.
We are having a bit of a bridges project for the boys through the trip. So far we have seen the underside of the forth bridges, the Oresund bridge, the bridges linking all the Danish Islands, some very old bridges in Venice and finally Norman Fosters delightful piece of sculpture that spans the Gorge du Tarn just south of Millau. Wow.
As for Millau, quite an interesting place. Previously glovemaking capital of France and before that home to lots of Roman potters. The museum was brilliant. It had everything from fossils to human skulls encrusted with minerals that had dripped onto them in the caves where they were interred. The gallo-roman pottery was abundant as were the stone age tools. Upstairs there was a film on the process of tanning leather and hundreds of pairs of 'gants' of every style, but far too small for modern hands!
Found myself an upholstery shop...much drooling...tried to speak to the man inside in halting french. When I say halting I think the reference applies more accurately to the way in which it stopped him in his tracks rather than the mode of speaking!!!!
As per the title, rather a lot of dog poo on the streets which makes walking around looking up a dangerous occupation!
As for Millau, quite an interesting place. Previously glovemaking capital of France and before that home to lots of Roman potters. The museum was brilliant. It had everything from fossils to human skulls encrusted with minerals that had dripped onto them in the caves where they were interred. The gallo-roman pottery was abundant as were the stone age tools. Upstairs there was a film on the process of tanning leather and hundreds of pairs of 'gants' of every style, but far too small for modern hands!
Found myself an upholstery shop...much drooling...tried to speak to the man inside in halting french. When I say halting I think the reference applies more accurately to the way in which it stopped him in his tracks rather than the mode of speaking!!!!
As per the title, rather a lot of dog poo on the streets which makes walking around looking up a dangerous occupation!
France...wild and windy.
Well and truly into the depths of winter. We headed for an aire at Leucate Plage between Perpignan and Narbonne. I am sure that it would be wonderful in the summer, mais en hiver...brrr. Managed a beauty treatment as we walked along the beach...the combination of wind and sand took a few layers of skin off...who needs clinique?!
Our next adventure had us looking for another aire at Valras Plage, on the coast north of Narbonne. Unfortunately we got shunted by a far sighted motorist that didn't spot the 8.5m long beast in front of him...thankfully we were undamaged due to the under-run bar that Bill fitted to the back. After that we went back to Narbonne Plage aire for some r&r. Josh kept out of the trees this time! Preferring the safety of rugby on the beach...
Damn the sat nav...we went north again, heading for the centre of France. I had hoped to have an easy drive up the motorway, but the technology had other ideas! I got sent up incredibly narrow and twisty roads, with snow piled up the verges and freezing mist in the valleys. I may have been pooping myself, but rest assured, Bill was worse!
We ended up in another aire this time really in the sticks just west of Lozère.
Our next adventure had us looking for another aire at Valras Plage, on the coast north of Narbonne. Unfortunately we got shunted by a far sighted motorist that didn't spot the 8.5m long beast in front of him...thankfully we were undamaged due to the under-run bar that Bill fitted to the back. After that we went back to Narbonne Plage aire for some r&r. Josh kept out of the trees this time! Preferring the safety of rugby on the beach...
Damn the sat nav...we went north again, heading for the centre of France. I had hoped to have an easy drive up the motorway, but the technology had other ideas! I got sent up incredibly narrow and twisty roads, with snow piled up the verges and freezing mist in the valleys. I may have been pooping myself, but rest assured, Bill was worse!
We ended up in another aire this time really in the sticks just west of Lozère.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Hola!
After our extended bout of relaxation in Cabo we thought it was time to submit to the real world, so here we are, close to Barcelona, with the jumpers and heating on. The sun still shines, but by God it's cold! The only compensation is that the site has a lovely swimming pool with jacuzzi which we enjoyed today. We are heading for France tomorrow, and then ever northwards, the relentless march towards the cold.
On a lighter note I invested in some reading material today. These long termers make extra cash by flogging allsorts, mostly books and copied dvd's. I managed to read one of the six already ('Pomegranate Soup' by Marsha Mehran) which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The other news is that I am finally on facebook, although with intermittant internet access I'm not sure how often I will be looking at it! Big love to you all xxx.
On a lighter note I invested in some reading material today. These long termers make extra cash by flogging allsorts, mostly books and copied dvd's. I managed to read one of the six already ('Pomegranate Soup' by Marsha Mehran) which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The other news is that I am finally on facebook, although with intermittant internet access I'm not sure how often I will be looking at it! Big love to you all xxx.
Monday, 8 February 2010
Sharing the good luck...
Well todayI have been doing my good Samaritan after obviously jinxing the lovely couple (Brian & Sonia) who 'live' next door. Brian twisted his ankle while at the gold mine the other day. It was getting worse, so I offered to drive him to the hospital at el Toyo.
We were all impressed at the marble floors and the quick service of the staff. It took one hour to get signed in, be assessed, get an x-ray and see the doctor for a diagnosis. I was particularly pleased when he reached into a bowl, grabbed a handful of pain-killers/anti inflammatories and advised Brian to take two a day. No lollies though!
We are finally moving on from Cabo, back up the coast towards France. Back to cold weather...not too enthusiastic, can you tell?
However, needs must. Got to be thinking about finishing the proper trip as opposed to me sitting on my bum drinking wine and soaking up the rays! Bliss.
We were all impressed at the marble floors and the quick service of the staff. It took one hour to get signed in, be assessed, get an x-ray and see the doctor for a diagnosis. I was particularly pleased when he reached into a bowl, grabbed a handful of pain-killers/anti inflammatories and advised Brian to take two a day. No lollies though!
We are finally moving on from Cabo, back up the coast towards France. Back to cold weather...not too enthusiastic, can you tell?
However, needs must. Got to be thinking about finishing the proper trip as opposed to me sitting on my bum drinking wine and soaking up the rays! Bliss.
Sunday, 7 February 2010
Silly mummy...
Ok, latest news, be prepared for a giggle. I had a craft inspired injury the other day. Sitting in the sunshine, I caught a glimpse of a piece of driftwood that we had collected. I know, thought I, that would be the perfect bit of wood to carve into a fish...out came the craft knife, and the whittling began.
The boys collected all the little bits of wood and made mini-bonfires that lasted for a minute. Great fun.
At this point I cut my hand at the top of my thumb. Nothing too bad, just a nick, bleeding stopped almost immediately. In retrospect I should have quit when i was ahead...but no, those of you who know me well will understand, on I went regardless.
Then, don't know how, all a bit of a blur, I cut through the end of my middle finger, through the nail to the nail bed and out the other side, and managed to slice through the knuckle of my ring finger and towards the nail. Blood everywhere, running down my arm...grabbed the kitchen roll and bound everything, squeezed everything and held hand above head until I felt calm enough to let Bill look at it. Yuck.
We used paper stitches on the ring finger, but nothing could be done with the sliced nail, so that got bound up and left. All of this after recovering from a nasty sickness bug the previous week.
On a lighter note, I made stovies the other night (meat and potato stew, for the uninitiated). I know, thought I, I will wear a rubber glove to protect my bandages from wet potato and raw meat. It was a good idea, the bandage was protected. However, rather than use a knife to cut up the meat (don't like knives anymore...wonder why?!) I got the kitchen scissors. The boys were playing in their room a couple of feet away, so when I exclaimed "Oh crap!" they were the first on the scene. I told them that I had managed to snip the end of the thumb of the rubber glove in to the pan. There then followed fully five minutes of hysterical laughter. Nice to know that I can still keep the boys entertained! Of course I should have left it in the pan for a bit of revenge, but knowing my luck I would have got it!
The boys collected all the little bits of wood and made mini-bonfires that lasted for a minute. Great fun.
At this point I cut my hand at the top of my thumb. Nothing too bad, just a nick, bleeding stopped almost immediately. In retrospect I should have quit when i was ahead...but no, those of you who know me well will understand, on I went regardless.
Then, don't know how, all a bit of a blur, I cut through the end of my middle finger, through the nail to the nail bed and out the other side, and managed to slice through the knuckle of my ring finger and towards the nail. Blood everywhere, running down my arm...grabbed the kitchen roll and bound everything, squeezed everything and held hand above head until I felt calm enough to let Bill look at it. Yuck.
We used paper stitches on the ring finger, but nothing could be done with the sliced nail, so that got bound up and left. All of this after recovering from a nasty sickness bug the previous week.
On a lighter note, I made stovies the other night (meat and potato stew, for the uninitiated). I know, thought I, I will wear a rubber glove to protect my bandages from wet potato and raw meat. It was a good idea, the bandage was protected. However, rather than use a knife to cut up the meat (don't like knives anymore...wonder why?!) I got the kitchen scissors. The boys were playing in their room a couple of feet away, so when I exclaimed "Oh crap!" they were the first on the scene. I told them that I had managed to snip the end of the thumb of the rubber glove in to the pan. There then followed fully five minutes of hysterical laughter. Nice to know that I can still keep the boys entertained! Of course I should have left it in the pan for a bit of revenge, but knowing my luck I would have got it!
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