Still busy

Still busy.   But then we are always busy.   Nothing changes.  But jobs need to be done, in order to travel again.   The dust does not have time to settle under our feet, before we move off again.   Actually it does settle, in large amounts, due to the dust coming in through the open windows, from the gravel road in front of the house.  The joys of living in a semi rural area.

During the past week, I have painted lots of small parts of woodwork, that look decidedly tatty, after a major painting session in a house.  This appears to be a never ending job in this house.    

The windows have been cleaned, inside and outside.   We have just told the window cleaning company that we no longer need their services, after using them for twenty years.  The business was sold to a group of men, who appeared now and again, and did such a woeful job.   Not worth the money we paid them.  Well it was not a great amount of money really, but all they did was move the dirt around the window. I could regret this decision of course.  There was certainly a novelty appeal in washing the windows last week.   It may not last.

The cupboard under the front stairs has been seriously cleaned out of dirt and spiders, even the curtains in the side cupboard have been washed.   Wow.

The plum jam has been made.   We have two Victoria plum trees, which have been infested with pink worms. They find their way into the plums before they ripen.   Plum worms.    They live, very cosily, in the plums, eating the flesh, and leaving their poo, until the plum goes rotten, and then shrivels up.  Then the worms become moths.  Last year we could not eat any of the plums, as the infestation was so bad.   This year I rescued a small portion of the plums, cut out the worms and their poo, washed the remaining flesh thoroughly and Walter made jam.   Four jars only.   After looking for information on the internet, it would appear that 2013 and 2014 have been especially bad years for worm infestation.   I have a few tricks up my sleeve for next year, but no spraying with insecticide.  This is an organic garden.

I also sold Walter's amplifier and speakers on Ebay.  So easy.  They were auctioned, and very exciting it was too, hearing the cash register ring on my tablet, and checking the bids.     Immediately the auction finished, I was informed, and the successful buyer paid his money, and then collected the amplifier and speakers that evening.   Walter was pleased to see that it had gone to someone who was going to use it, as this was a very reluctant parting with the sound system.  But there was no place for five speakers in our new lounge room makeover.    We now have a discreet sound bar.   

At the weekend the grandchildren came to stay, Lucy, Jackson and Isabel.   Plus Jeff the lizard too.  He is very large now, and eats gigantic locusts.   Not for the fainthearted, the dispensing of these locusts into his cage.   He also eats lots of lettuce too.   The lizard equivalent of rare steak and salad.

Jeff particularly enjoyed climbing up our vertical blinds. 

Lucy, Jackson and Isabel spent most of their time making items with their loom bands.   Like all children, they love them.   Amazing products came out of their activities, but no clothes.   There are plenty of small rubber bands around the house now.  Amazing craze.

We travelled into Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park, for a picnic lunch, plus an opportunity for the children to get wet in the fountain there.   It was very hot so we ventured across the road to the Westfield Shopping Centre, to find it was absolutely packed with people.   The airconditioning could not cope with the crowds, so no respite there.

Lucy and Jackson paused for a photograph in the hot sun.   It would appear that there will be an office building on one side of the walkway.  So many changes in the few months since the park opened for the public to use.

The Aquatic Centre, and the line up of three hot children.   A very impressive swimming pool, and very tempting to see whether it was open.   But reason got in the way, and we decided to travel home again, for a meal of sausages from the local butcher, and vegetables.   It was lovely having the grandchildren for the weekend, and Jeff too, and we were sad to see them go home again.

Today, a few of us gathered together for a reunion.    We have all worked together, in days gone by.  Lots of memories and laughs, looking at photographs and talking.    It was lovely to see everyone again, and the time passed too quickly.

Margaret and Jane, our very talented musical and acting duo.

A view from the opposite end of the table.   A really great group of people.  

Tomorrow we are off to the south of France.   Again.   Once we pack everything into the car, our clothes plus electric coolbox, picnic set, all the spices from the cupboard, cookbook and dried food.   Plus the new electric table top cooker and the new waste water container, which is flat and on wheels, and will slide under the caravan easily.   Not like the last one.  I had to get down on my hands and knees to retrieve it from under the caravan, and it usually resulted in me spilling some of the dirty liquid on the way out..

And not to forget our huge caravan cover, which should extend the life of the caravan, we hope, as it will no longer be exposed to the strong sunshine, winds and torrential rain.   And no more worrying about water getting into the caravan through the top vents.  First we need to fit the cover on the caravan.   Should be an interesting activity in marital harmony.   Similar to putting up the awning.    

Expensive Motorhome Repairs

Motorhome repairs = £14,000. Thank goodness it is covered by insurance.  But there will certainly be an increase in premiums next year.

So much damage, due to swinging out into another lane from a stopped position and hitting a stationary truck.  I must have had my foot right down on the accelerator, no doubt about that.

The damaged luton.   My bedroom.

The corner of the cab.  I missed the side mirror though, luckily, as we have had to replace two of those at £250 pounds each.  Hit by passing trucks going too fast on narrow winding French roads.

Yesterday we visited the motorhome repair place, in order to retrieve the chairs, needed for our next holiday.  And there was our motorhome stripped down, and looking a bit dilapidated, to say the least.  We are currently waiting on the parts to arrive from Italy.  A country not known for its rapid dispatch of goods.

Of course the van looked worse once it had been pulled apart, but unfortunately with motorhomes, what appears to be surface damage, often requires a complete rebuild of the area.

The thickness of the wall of the luton is amazing, with wood blocks plus about 25cm of foam. No wonder it is always cosy in the van.  A new fiberglass sheet, which runs from the top of the front windscreen to the back of the van, has to be replaced, as it is one continuous sheet.

The interior of the luton has to be renewed, that is the ceiling board and wallboard.  Plus rewired, as there is a light there.

And not forgetting new badges.  The 'Miller', 'Lakes', 'Winnipeg' badges cost £235.44. Unbelievable.

The front of the cab has to be repaired, and strengthened, due to the weight of the luton above, and there will be new panels and a new headlight.

The rounded foam in the front of the luton is visible in the photo below.

Hopefully by September we will have our van back again, and it will once again look like this.

But better, because we will have a spotlessly clean and brand new roof and no bug marks on the front of the luton.  This will save Walter many hours of cleaning this Autumn. Dead bug marks are very hard to remove. And climbing up onto the roof to get rid of the dust and dirt is no easy task.   I am sure he will appreciate my efforts to relieve him of these tasks.

The new look

The renovations are nearly there.   Finally.   Just the study ceiling, and the inside of the study door to paint. How did the door remain blue?   An oversight there.  It is a reminder of how carefully I painted all the doors blue with white inserts, 23 years ago.  But now all gone except for that door.  An autumn job for sure.   

We lifted the blue carpet, still in very good order and with a perfect underlay beneath it.   As Walter used the Stanley knife to cut it into stips, I felt a slight pang of wastefulness, but only a slight pang.   Then we found a beautiful pine floor underneath, which had once been stained.   I had forgotten about this floor.   But we had decided on carpet, so too late to change our minds at this stage.  

 The bathroom  cupboard received a makeover after 23 years of using it with scruffy and very old paint on the walls.  And to think many guests have used this cupboard in order to get towels out, and no comment was made about the deplorable state of the walls.   Too polite.   But now it is sparkling clean and white, and a new laundry basket at the bottom too.   The last one was a cast off from Aaron and Kylie.  Also very scruffy after many years of use.   The man who lay the lino in the bathroom very kindly used the left over scraps of lino to line the floor of the cupboard.

 Our new lino.  Clean.   Walter, with the help of Patrick, now needs to put a new front on the bath, to keep the spiders out of the room, and new white skirting boards around the edge, and all will be completed.   Patrick also installed a new shower as well as putting a new ceiling in, plus sparkling lights.   Now we have an even water temperature coming out of the shower nozzle instead of the hot/cold effect which had been our shower experience for a number of years.   The intense light does show up the imperfections of one's complexion, but this is a small price to pay for a bright and sparkling bathroom.

The entrance to the house is certainly much improved, once I finish painting the outside eaves.  It is amazing how new jobs keep appearing.   Will we ever really finish.   

No blue porch, which is now the same colour as the inside walls, and with white woodwork.   

The carpet went down on Friday, after a four day delay, due to the lounge carpet having a tear on one side, and the hall carpet, too small as result of the store misreading Walter's measurements.   But all resolved now, and I arrived home on Friday to see a light coloured carpet on the floor.   The carpet layer, same man who put the lino down, very kindly put left over carpet into the hall cupboard.   No photos here, as this cupboard still has the original paint on it, a very dark and gloomy cupboard with a ceiling somewhere in the heights above.  It holds the vacuum cleaner, suitcases, power board and numerous spiders too, no doubt.  Guests do not generally use this cupboard!

 The carpet really lightens the room.  But can we keep this carpet clean?   Good question.  At the moment there is no eating food in the lounge room, but as the lounge room is between the kitchen and the conservatory, where our table is, it will be only a matter of time before the first food spillage occurs.  Who will it be?

 Of course we cannot resist a small amount of blue, with the chair cover, cushions, and blue tablecloth.   But it is only a small amount, as we have restrained ourselves.   Patrick has put a new roof on our conservatory, after the storm at Christmas dislodged most of the roof, and rain poured in.   It is so strong now, nothing will move the roof, or guttering.   He also put in a new floor, which now matches the carpet very well.

The new look in the lounge room, cupboards still the same, but with newly painted walls, ceiling and woodwork, completed by Patrick during one weekend in May.  Plus new furniture and carpet.  Airy, clean and restful.  A lot less cluttered, and a determination to not fill it with magazines and books, as before.   Good intentions.

We are not after perfection though, and there are still many, many defects and oddities around the house, which is an old house afterall.   But we are really happy with our new look, we just need to spend some time enjoying it all.  

And taking bets on who will be the first person to spill something on the carpet.

Busy, always busy.

The life of a retiree.  Always busy.  

When we arrived home we found that the weeds had not grown, just a few dandelions in the lawn, and a shrub that needed trimming.  Very little rain apparently, although the skies opened up last week and we experienced a couple of days of very miserable weather, wet and leaden skies. 

No moles in the garden either, no doubt they are buried deep down in the soil.  But there were piles of fox poo, and tunnels through the hedge.  When I looked into the garden behind us I saw a healthy fox cub running around on the lawn.  Very cute. They must have a den there.  Luckily I managed to not step in the poo when I cleaned the garden up.  No photos of fox poo.

But I do have a photo of some spiders in the bathroom.   I know one is only a daddy long legs, and the black one is small, but spiders get larger during the next few months and they seem to be breeding in our house.  I have been killing them.  My apologies to the spider lovers.  Normally I make Walter carry them outside, but I have no patience with the current ones in the house.  I check under my pillow every night just to make sure there are no spiders there.   One cannot be too sure. 

I have a new electronic toy.  I do love gadgets.  This one is a heart rate monitor, with associated fitness data.  And can be used when swimming.  The idea is to increase my fitness levels, rather than play around with it, but it is fascinating and I guess it keeps the mind active.  Good exerecise in itself.

And this brings me onto the next subject.  Keeping the mind active.  I finished off the course on the European Union, a very difficult subject to understand, but I added my marks up and it looks like another distinction is on the way.  The lecturer had fascinating eyebrows, which was slightly distracting, but I managed to get through the course, and the workings of the EU are less of a mystery.  And most importantly I take an interest in what is happening in the EU.

And now I have started another course, through a university in Amsterdam, called Introduction to Communication Science.  Very interesting.  The courses, all run by universities, are free.  The address is www.coursera.org if anyone is interested in studying one.

As a bit of light relief and a desperate attempt to improve my very poor French I have been practising the language through an app called Duolingo.  A fun course.

Some jam has been made, thanks to the kind donation of rhubarb, from Emma and Steve, ours being so woeful this year.   So we now have jars of strawberry, rhubarb and blackcurrant jam.  The blackcurrants were picked on the day we left to go to the south of France in June, and then stored in the freezer.   No apricot jam of course.  But the stewed apricots were delicious.

At the moment we are waiting on the carpet.  We have the underlay down.  Monday morning did not start well.  First the man turned up to lay the lino, without the hardboard to go underneath it.  He maintained the hardboard was not ordered by us, which was not true of course.  He came back yesterday with the hardboard and lino. Full of apologies. The carpet for the lounge room had a tear in the corner and the carpet for the hallway was not long enough.  We were not impressed.  Come on Carpetright, you can do better than that.

Today I touched up some of the new white paint, slightly damaged in the removal of carpet and laminate boards, painted all the white edging in the conservatory, painted the woodwork in the front entrance and painted the inside of the cupboard in the bathroom.   We have been using the cupboard for twenty three years, and never painted it.  Now I feel embarrassed as our guests have seen how bad it looked when they got their bath towels out.   Why do these jobs take so long to complete?

We nearly bought a jaguar, one of the really good ones, an automatic diesel.  Perfect for cruising down the motorway to the campsite.  We thought longingly about it, but reason got in the way of needing a luxury car.  We require a practical car to load the garden rubbish into, fill with granchildren, and our assortment of bits and pieces, including two cushions.  Plus the parcel tray at the back is very useful as a table to make our lunches enroute to and from the south of France.   But mostly, the bicycle rack would look silly on the back of a jag.  

But we are serious about buying a new motor home. One without a luton.  And something a little narrower too. We do not need the living space anymore, and most of the granchildren are old enough to sleep in a tent.  We have been looking at panel van conversions and found someone today that would do the job for us, once we purchased a long wheel base panel van.

In the meantime our damaged van is waiting on the assessor to make a decision.  Damage has amounted to £14,000 or more.  The luton needs to be reconstructed. I must have really had my foot down hard on the accelerator.  Scott was right when he said that we no longer need to wash the bugs off the front of the van.   It certainly was an expensive way to get rid of them.

On a brighter note, our hydrangea bush has a mass of flowers.  I pruned it so hard in 2012 that it did not flower last year but certainly has made up for it this season.

And so life goes on.  Looking forward to catching up with friends during the next two weeks, then it is off to the south of France again.   The life of a retiree.

Home

An amazing photograph.   The coach appears to be floating.  What was I doing?   

The photo is of the line up of cars and trucks waiting on the road, in readiness to be let through a few at a time, into the port of Calais.   Not sure why, could have been the high number of vehicles, as a result of yesterdays problem with the channel tunnel, or it could have been the thorough checking of all trucks entering the port. 

 There would have been about 80 or more 'refugees' standing in groups on the side of the road, waiting for an opportunity to board a truck.   And one did, in the truck in front of the truck on the right.   His friends helped him open the back of the truck, and in he went, and then his friends closed the door.   Someone must have told the driver of the truck, from Romania, and he got out, looked at the truck, and shrugged his shoulders.   We have noticed that the problem of people, mostly men, waiting in Calais to get into Great Britain has become worse, with ever tightening security and an every increasing number of people camping out.  Desperate people.  And what is the European Union doing about it, I wonder?   

But back to our trip from Amboise.   The pain au raisin this morning was a little too sweet for an early morning breakfast, so perhaps we were better off with our stale wholemeal baguette.  We set forth at 8 a.m. on the A28 motorway towards Le Mans, and then turned off just before the city, and travelled along a minor road.   It took ages to get through Le Mans, but we had a good look at the race track, which we drove on.  Very exciting.   Once we stayed in a camping ground, not far from the track, and could hear the sound of the race all night.   Of course we did not understand about the 24 hour race then.   The camping ground was full of bikies.   We also stopped for coffee in Le Mans and bought a lovely fresh baguette for lunch, and a loaf of bread to take home.

We continued driving on the minor road for the rest of the morning, very pleasant, except for the high number of trucks on the road, until we came to the free motorway south of Rouen.   We did not know this of course, but there are obviously major works being carried out on the motorways around Rouen, so were directed into Rouen centre.   All badly signed of course.  But luckily we had some idea of direction, and had driven in Rouen previously, also in the rain.   Yes it was raining, just in Rouen too.   We eventually came out onto the motorway north, and without any further problems, drove to Calais.

And now we are home.    The first task was to rescue some of the apricots, and stew them, to be used with our cereal in the mornings.   Sadly no jam.   Of course I had bought ripe apricots, forgetting that they would have to sit in the car for three days.   It did not do them any good at all, and except for the ones we ate, most of them ended up in the bin.   Oh well, the thought was there.  

Amboise

We are currently in Amboise, in the Loire Valley.  A favourite place, having been here on a number of occasions.  Amboise is situated between Tours and Blois, and home to one of the chateaux of the Loire Valley.   It is also the resting place of Leonardo da Vinci, who spent the last years of his life in Amboise.   He is buried in the chapel in the chateau.  Cave dwellings amass in this area, and were once inhabited by people of a 'modest background'.   Now I think many are used to store wine.  

We are not certain how we ended up in Amboise, because we certainly did not plan to be here.  It sort of just happened.  

After we slowly chewed our very stale wholemeal baguette, we set off on the free motorway, the A20, towards Limoges.  We had thought at that stage we might stay in Orleans.  Or maybe even Chartres, having sped past both places on a few occasions. 

We stopped at the services after Limoges in order to make a decision about our destination, but the coffee was so good, we forgot about looking at the map.  We also indulged in a pain au raisin, half each as there was only one, to make up for the meagre breakfast.

As we came near Chateauroux we decided to take the next exit, and drive to Blois, in order to drive along the Loire River and take in the atmosphere of the lovely towns and villages, plus the distant views of the various chateaux.  But once we arrived in Blois we realised that the stretch of river we wanted to see was before Blois.  So we drove along the flood bank until we arrived in Amboise.  

Amboise has an Ibis Budget hotel, which did sway our decision somewhat late in the afternoon.  And a bit more expensive at €56 per night.  We are very taken with these hotels; large rooms, separate shower and toilet cubicles, comfortable beds, and excellent wifi.   Much better than Premiere Classe, our usual budget hotel.

The main shopping street in the photo below, with mostly closed shops as it was a Monday.

A view of the side of the chateau, on Victor Hugo Street.  Leonardo da Vinci lived in the Castle of the "Clos-Luce" which is at the end of this street.

The restaurant, in the photo below, where we ate yet another delicious meal.  The last visit was two years ago, when we were here with Brian and Susanne.  My birthday dinner.  On that occasion and when we were here with Jackie, we stayed at the local camping ground.  In our motorhome.  Which of course is currently out of action.

Now what is this, a replica of the Tour de France, in Amboise.  Yes a local event, a small circuit, but quite a long race all the same.  There were quite a few people who dropped out of the race, through sheer exhaustion.

Rodez to Brive-la-Gaillarde

We spent quite a lot of time in the car today, but did not cover a great distance, due to the narrow winding roads.   I also had a perfect opportunity to practise hill starts, and was pleased to note that I did not roll back once.  Plenty of sharp turns and long drops added to the excitement of the day.

The countryside was spectacular, with deep ravines, rolling countryside and plenty of forest, interspersed with fields.  There were some vineyards, usually at the top of hills were there was consistent sunshine.

This morning I walked past McDonalds to a local patisserie where I bought whole meal baguettes, a healthy option, as against the popular white baguettes.  We certainly had to chew them carefully.  Good exercise for the jaw.  

We then set off, in the direction of Cahors, with the intent of turning off this road, in order to visit Chateau de Belcastel.  The road in was very narrow, in fact we expected at any minute to finish up at a farm house.  Then the chateau came into view.  And what a view.  A stone fortress clinging to the side of the cliffs at the bottom of a deep gorge. 

After driving down a very steep, narrow and twisty road, we found that there was a one way route around the chateau and village, in order to reach the car park.  This required very tight corners and hill starts, quite challenging.

But all so worth it in the end.

Walter posing on the old and narrow bridge.  We watched someone carefully drive across the bridge, and made a mental note not to take this route back to the main road.

The Church of St Mary Magdalen, built in 1438 in an attempt to unify waring tribes, who lived on opposite sides of the river.

The humpback bridge, built at the same time as the church, and is typical of the medieval period.

The chateau high above, with the village houses below it.  It was built about 1040 by Willian de Belcastel, as a chateau-fort.  It is now privately owned and is being restored.

Coffee time.  So welcome after the car journey here.   A very pleasant cafe, set beside the camping ground with one large motor home in it.  I would not fancy driving a motorhome on those roads.   Lovely camping ground.

We then drove back up the steep hill again, and across the rolling hills, and through picuresque villages to another gorge, where we drove on yet another narrow road beside the River Ouche.  The water in this river was reddish brown due to the red sandstone.  Most unusual.  Our destination was another village that clung to the cliffs.  Conques, built in the year 1000.  It felt as if we were stepping back in time when we entered this village.

The road that we travelled up over the hill behind the village to get to the carpark was again a driving feat, and not made for cars.  A very popular village for tourists to visit, and for people wanting to explore the surrounding forests or ride bicycles along the gorge.  The views over the valley were impressive, my apologies as I forgot to include a photograph.

We found a delightful restaurant, and sat in the cool shade of a wisteria vine, on the balcony, in order to eat an assortment of food on a plate, namely salad, local ham and cheese and a small plate of potatoes with cheese on top, lardons and an unidentified meat.  Delicious.  Best not to think of the origins of the meat though. I drink some Perrier water, more expensive than the wine, and Walter had a small beer. A perfect lunch on a Sunday.

The village circles the church, St Foy, and the Benedictine monastery.  This is a Romanesque abbey, visited by thousands of Santiago de Compostela's pilgrims since the 11th century.

When we walked inside we were taken aback by the narrowness, and height of the nave.  A church built to impress but lacking in space on the ground on the narrow edge of the cliff face.

After the village we meandered along the road in the gorge, before the road climbed out, and up into the rolling hills above.   Walter took over driving at that point, as I felt the need to have a little nap, which was not a good idea whilst at the steering wheel.  Walter drove along a scenic road to the town of Aurillac, and then on to a very ugly place, with commercial areas, and other assortments of ugly development.  This is where we are staying in a slightly run down Ibis Budget hotel.  

The map of Brive-la-Gaillarde, shows a very historical town, and pretty, but as interesting as it may be, we decided instead to stay put, and eat left over wholemeal baguette, with a little cheese. It was even chewier than this morning.  It definitely must be good for us.  There is one left and we are contemplating eating it for breakfast. One must not waste food.  We may have to dip it in our tea, in order to soften it.

Perhaps we may have apricots for breakfast.   Surely we do not need so many for jam.  

Camping Manjastre to Rodez.

We packed up the caravan so efficiently yesterday, that we were on the road at 8.30 am this morning, after a quick petit dejeneur at the campsite restaurant.  Fantastic.

The drive through Hyeres and Toulon, was an absolute breeze, and then onto the motorway to Marseilles.  Still feeling very pleased with ourselves, we travelled under Marseilles, via the very long tunnel, and did not get lost when we emerged at the other end.

And so it contunued all the way to Rodez, mostly on minor roads too.  And no sat nav either.  I drove and Walter navigated using the map, just like in times gone past.  Mind you the few times we ventured onto a motorway it was very busy due to changeover Saturday.  

We stopped for coffee at a fairly grubby town called St Gilles, near Nimes.  A town where the Saturday morning routine is to drink pastis in the many bars in the centre square.  Or just to sit and wait, for a bus?  None came along while we were there.

Still the coffee was good, and it was a pleasant place to sit and people watch, or car watch. No pastis for us though.  Too early in the morning.

After St Gilles we stopped at an orchard to buy some apricots.   It was either pick them yourself for €1 per kilo, or pay €1.50 a kilo for apricots that had already been picked.  We chose the latter option, due to being short of time and being lazy.

Now we have 5 kilos of apricots, all ready to make into jam when we get home.  Well we started with 5 kilos but a few have gone already.  They are so juicy and full of flavour.  Just too tempting.

Finally we arrived at the Millau Viaduct,  a marvellous sight. I am always amazed at the mountain range here, as the gorges are very deep.  Yet it would appear that the top of the moutains have been cut off, as there are plateaus along the top.   No doubt the peaks have been eroded over time.  A long time.

Then we turned off the motorway, onto a minor road, direction Rodez.  Very picturesque and very little traffic.

The Cathedral, the largest in southern France, can be seen, towering above the surrounding buildings from outside the town.  But nearly impossible to photograph close up.  The start date for building the cathedral was the 13th century but in fact it took 300 years to build.  A very imposing building.

Rodez is a town and commune in the Aveyron department.   The town was settled by Celts (5th century), then Romans, then Visigoths, then Franks, then the Dukes of Aquitane and Toulouse.  English troops occupied the town during the 100 years war. Finally the last Duke became King Henry IV of France and the town settled down as Rodez, during the medieval period.

Now it is a very pleasant town with excellent museums, plenty of art, and very old buildings, beautifully restored.  And sadly a vehicle problem, cars everywhere and some very old and lovely squares converted into car parks.  Some of the streets are for pedestrians only but mostly there are cars trying to whizz past.

A photo of me, blending in with the flowers on the wall.  There are barriers on the other side of the narrow street, which offer pedestrians a bit of protection from the cars.

The very old and the very new.  A 15th century building shelters a modern motorbike.

After a dinner of salads, very healthy, we drove back down the hill to our hotel, an Ibis Budget hotel.  At €35 a night it is excellent value.  It must be booked on line though, and you lose your money if you cancel.

The tower of the cathedral standing high above the houses.

Tomorrow there will be more to see in the area.   Looking forward to it.   Map to the ready, with me driving and Walter navigating, just like old times.  

Off home

Tomorrow we leave this lovely campsite, and meander home.   However I do not need to remind people again that we are without our motor home, so will have to stay in budget hotels rather than in nice little aires.   I would like to add that the cost of repairs is adding up, as parts have to come from Italy.   Hopefully we will have it back in time for Christmas.  The joys.  One little mishap.

Today we packed up our caravan, and managed to get the awning down in between gusts of wind, plus a few showers.  The wind by the way has stropped, suddenly, as predicted.  However as it came from the south east, it also brought dessert sand with it, so everything was covered in a layer of dust.  An added bonus!  

Tonight we went out for dinner, fish for me and mussels for Walter.  We sat on the balcony overlooking the bay, and listened to the people below shouting when France performed well.   All the bars were full of people watching the football, France v Germany.  Sadly France lost to Germany 0-1.  It became very quiet after the game so we knew the news was not good.   And the faces of fellow diners confirmed the bad news.

I thought I would include a few photos of the swimming pool, taken during our first week here.  So beautiful and clean, and cold.  But very empty of people.  Just us in the pool.  So peaceful.

Patrick, Donna and Lucy lined up in the water.

Plenty of unoccupied sun loungers too.  It will not be the same situation next week as 40 families are due to arrive, and the holiday season will start in earnest.

So the finish of a lovely holiday, but happily we will be back again in less than four weeks time.  Looking forward to it.