A day out with the UNRPA

On Monday, we joined a day trip out with the UNRPA: the local union of the retired on the village. Our bus left at 7.15 and we drove north, along the motorway in the direction of Millau. Our first stop was the town of Nant where a local guide showed us around.

The village square with the Mairie on the right.

The 11th century church of St Pierre surrounded by House Martins.

A water source outside the church with cat looking for fish.

 

Some of our group outside the church listening to the guide

Inside the church, which is dark and austere. The back of the altar is a semi-circle.

Our next stop was a chocolate shop where they made their own chocolates, biscuits and sweets. We were given a talk on the flavourings that they use and the iniquities of some bakers who using aromas from a can to enhance their products. Then we were free to taste and buy chocolate.

So now it was time for lunch, usually the most important part of any tour. We drove to the Domaine de Gaillac for lunch,

 

where pork was roasting on the fire.

After a good lunch, we drove on to Sainte Eulalie de Cernon, a beautiful and unspoilt walled Templar village

 

 

Our last visit was a train trip through the countryside. The weather was not at its best, but nevertheless, we were able to see the villages of Lapanouse de Cernon, la bastide de Pradines and the gorges de Cernon.

 

 

The station provided a backdrop for the group photo which will be published in the local newspaper.

 

So then it was time for the drive home and a quick dash to the local shops for some bread for the evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The local vendange as in days gone by

One of the small, local wine domains decided to have an event to show how the grape harvest (vendange) was done in days gone by - this was not a spectator event. We were encouraged to dress appropriately and so we did. The event was scheduled to start at 08.30, so we turned up at 9 (we were caught out before when we went to an olive picking day).

When we arrived, there wasn't much going on, but we wandered around looking at the animals

Preparations where being made for our lunch, was this a friend of the above?

We were almost at the point of going home for a coffee, when people started wandering off to the paddock. Here, horses were being attached to carts and carts assigned to people.

Priority was given to the young and the old, plus those in fancy dress - we were assigned a cart.

Then the procession headed off for the fields. Those who were not lucky enough to get a place in a cart walked along beside the carts. The cart in front of us here has all the crates ready for us to fill.

Our cart was near the front of the procession and behind us we had a horse with a mind of its own. It seemed to want to overtake us and had to be accompanied by his handler at all times.

We were accompanied by men on bikes, who were ready to stop the traffic for us until we reached the side roads. When we reached the vines, the crates were unloaded the horses had a rest.

 

Now it was our turn to work and pick the grapes

After about an hour, we were finished

The barrels were loaded onto the lead cart and we set off for the centre of the village.

Now, we re boarded the carts

and went to pay our respects to Marianne, the symbol of France, in the centre of the village where we paused for the photo opportunity and a trip home to the loo!.

When we got back to the domain, lunch was being prepared.

We enjoyed the rest of the afternoon, eating, drinking and chatting with a group of French and Australians.

So we enjoyed a great day out in the sun and the fields.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Broadstairs

We arrived in Broadstairs at Helen, Nick and Ernie's new home on Tuesday 29th July. We spent around 2 weeks with them, helping by looking after Ernie and with various jobs around the house.

Fortunately, the weather was very good and were able to go to the beach with Ernie most days. The beach is only a few minutes walk from the house and not far from the shops. Broadstairs has several bays, with Louisa beach the closest.

We had only visited Broadstairs once before and that was brief, but we soon found our way around. Helen and Nick have visited many times, usually for a weekend, so can feel quite at home.

This is the larger, Viking beach with its playground. Ernie likes the roundabout and the swings.

Ernie was 2 on the 30th, and we were lucky enough to spend a lot of time with him that day. In the morning we went to Louisa Bay where he likes to throw stones into rock pools, but is not too keen on seaweed (wee weed).

In the afternoon, the tide was in and the rock pools were not to be seen so we went to Viking Bay and the roundabout.

The swings

And the old swimming pool in the sea where older children were out with their fishing nets. At this stage, Ernie did NOT like wee weed.

Ernie can easily spend an hour on the beach throwing stones. John rushes around collecting stones in a bucket and Pat, keeping close to Ernie, admires each stone before it is thrown and discusses whether it will make a splish, splash or splosh!

He got over his fear of waves very quickly and after a few days, didn't worry about the seaweed either.

By the port, Ernie is warming up in a towel after falling into the sea.

In between trips to the sea, we have been out in the garden and making ourselves useful: there's lots to do! Ernie had a number of outdoor toys for his birthday but he particularly likes hiding in the garden shed, waiting to be found. He hasn't yet got the full picture of hide and seek yet.

We got out to a couple of pubs to sample the beer and to a couple of restaurants. There is plenty of excellent fish around.

One dull day, we when to a soft play centre (Quex), where Ernie raced away even before we could take his shoes off. Here he is with Helen on the slide.

We also walked around the gardens hoping to persuade Ernie to have a nap, but he wasn't interested. This is an enormous Sophora Japonica

The kitchen garden

 

On our way home, we spent a most enjoyable evening with Jim in Hackney before taking the plane back to France.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chartres

We are on our way to Broadstairs. Helen, Nick and Ernie moved from Crouch End to Broadstairs a week ago and we are going to lend a hand. The weather was overcast, but we had a good journey up the A 75, with little rain - this was a great improvement on our May trip to by car the UK when we had heavy rain for most of the journey.

We went out for a walk before eating at L'Escalier, a small restaurant that we discovered in May. On our way, we passed the Maison du Saumon.

At the end of July, Chartres is busy with tourists and there is a Son et Lumineire each evening. This starts at 10pm and a petit train was waiting

Here are some of the best images

 

 

Now we are driving through Rouan on our way to the Chanel tunnel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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