A quiet life

Not much happening here.  All very quiet.  No gossip.  Well there may be, but we are not aware of it, due to not being able to speak French well enough to pick up any news from the French campers around us.

So we have nothing exciting to report, not like last year when an English couple complained about our choice of 'soap', namely an original clip of Mrs Brown's Boys. That occurred after a few mishaps on their part, such as reversing the van into a tree, and having difficulty keeping the awning cover in place during a strong wind.  They left the site in a huff, no doubt a camping trip gone wrong.  We can only surmise that it was a case of 'lets buy an old van and try camping in it'.

Our French neighbour's car broke down this morning, or rather it would not start.  This is about the most exciting news to date.  It was very unpleasant for the family concerned.  I felt so sorry for them.   The whole family, grandparents,  son, daughter, partner, and baby, were in the car ready to go out for the day, and the car would not start.  So they had to get out, and go back onto their site.  They were a very unhappy group of people.  It took all morning to get the car fixed.  Too late then for an outing.

The camping ground is starting to fill up with families, as children start their school holidays.  The Belgium schools must have started their holidays, as there are quite a few Belgium families here now.  This weekend 40 families are due to arrive as the northern schools in the Netherlands start their holidays, and I daresay some French schools too, plus any English families, who have children that have started their holidays.

The retirees and people without responsibilities for children have mostly left the campsite, to return again for the last flush of good weather in September.  But for the next six weeks it will be extremely busy here, and plenty of noise.  And fighting for a sun lounger at the pool.

So for the last few days we have settled down into a routine, being two retirees. Our family and friends have gone back to the UK, and although we have missed them all, we are keeping ourselves busy; reading, walking, swimming, and eating delicious food, washed down with some good wine of course.

And we have made a few alterations to our kitchen.  Even on holiday we cannot resist making changes or improvements.  Well we hope they are improvements.

So yesterday we visited a super store, Carrefour, and Decathlon and of course, Ikea.  Our caravan is kitted out with Ikea bits and pieces.  A great store.  This time we bought a blue throw for the bed, pillowcases, handtowels and three trays for cooking utensils.  But our main purchase, from Decathlon, was a camping larder with tray on top.  After visiting many camping stores in quite a few countries we finally decided to purchase one.  For people who can usually make instant decisions, we have taken a long time committing ourselves to this one.

In the larder cupboard I have placed pots, bowls, chopping boards, and cooking utensils.  As we mostly cook outside, I will now have all I need, at my finger tips.

When we go back to the UK we will buy a two burner electric plate, to put on the cupboard top. As we pay for electricity it makes sense rather than the cookers which use gas cannisters.  Our current arrangement.

Then I think we have plenty of appliances to use, so as to prepare all our lovely food.   Life is looking good.  The black jug on the small fridge below is actually a milk frother for our lattes.  Excellent gadget.  Not to be immersed in water though.  Unlike the previous frother, which I immersed in water, and then cut off the power in our part of the campsite when I plugged it back in again.

Walter is busy sorting out all his new leads, so that he can attach the appliances, without have lots of junction boxes balancing against cupboards, as seen against the blue plastic drawers in the photo above.   We must have a neat and tidy annex.

And so it goes on.