The Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden

This trip had originally been scheduled for the end of the summer holidays, when The Boy was to have his first full day at secondary school, and was to have been Boy Two's birthday present from his grandfather.  However, the boys both came down with Covid-19 (fortunately not badly - Boy Two was almost asymptomatic) so the trip had to be cancelled - and both the museum and Chiltern Railways were very good about refunding tickets.

So the trip was postponed until half-term, and The Boy honoured us with his company, too.  The Daughter is now working in Marylebone Road, so the Swan Whisperer and I went up to Baker Street Station to meet them at her offices.  We then found a bus would take us back along the road to Marylebone Station, which was nice of it, and were in good time for our train to Great Missenden with Chiltern Railways. 

Unfortunately, it was not a pleasant journey.  The lights had not been switched on in our carriage, and a lot of the first part of the run is in a tunnel!  And when I went to the loo, I can't begin to tell you how indescribably filthy it was.  Not a pleasant experience, and I warned the others off it!

We arrived at Great Missenden at last, and it was only a short walk to the museum.  Which was lovely if you like Roald Dahl, which the boys do.  A lot of information about his life and, towards the end, a creative sort of room where you could make up sentences with fridge magnets, and various other crafts.

Then it was nearly lunchtime and, at The Boy's request we went back to a café called "Matilda's" nearer the station - he said he had been attracted by a picture of the "freakshake"-type milkshake outside, but when push came to shove, they were "off" as the ice-cream machine had broken.  The café was extremely busy and it took a good half hour for our food to arrive.  At first we sat outside, but the boys got very cold so when a table came free inside, we took it.  I had chosen poached egg on avocado toast, which was lovely but very filling (two of them!), and with feta cheese underneath.  The Swan Whisperer had an All Day Breakfast; Boy Two had a burger he couldn't quite finish, and the Boy had a "mixed shish", with chicken and lamb, which came on a bed of rice, with salad.  He managed most of it - pre-teen boys appear to have hollow legs!  

After this, there was a bit over an hour before our train back, so the menfolk went on the nearby "countryside trail", which was about an hour's walk.  I wasn't up for that, so I decided to finish the "village trail" which was mostly along the village street, but then a diversion up to the church, which was a lot father than I thought it was going to be!

  But worth the walk.  I didn't go and find Dahl's grave, but spent a while looking round the church and sitting quietly, and then I walked back into the village and got a cup of tea I didn't really want at the museum café where I'd arranged to meet the others.  They finished my tea between them on the walk back to the station.

The train for London was much better than the one out, as the lights were working!  I didn't try the loo, though. I felt rather sorry for Boy Two, though, as he is not considered old enough to have a phone, and at one stage on the journey, the Swan Whisperer, The Boy and I were all engrossed on ours!  I said as much, but he just laughed.

And then a bus two stops along Marylebone Road, and we returned the boys to their mother before heading home ourselves.  I have been asleep more or less ever since, having done >10k steps today!

From Saleilles, 16 October 2021

The Swan Whisperer did the Bois de Boulogne parkrun this morning, 23'26", which he is quite pleased with.  I, meanwhile, had been to the campsite shop and bought croissants and a baguette.  They wouldn't sell me a demi-baguette, and insisted on being paid in cash - only about the 3rd time I've used cash since this pandemic began!

And after breakfast it was time to leave and to head back to Sangatte for our final night in France.  I did a final shopping, including tea and coffee for us and some nice bits for my mother and sister.  And that's about it, really.  I didn't take any photos today so here is one from earlier in the holiday. 

When we get back I must go through these post and add in the bits I'd forgotten, like the road cut into the rocks in the Pyrenees, very like the Gorges de la Bourne, and the fact that so many shops in Mehun were closed down...  And add locations, too.  It has been a lovely holiday, and the "new" motorhome at last feels like home.  I do hope it won't be too long before we can get away again - assuming we are not locked down or locked in to our own borders, hopefully at the end of November. 

From Saleilles, 15 October 2021

This morningthe Swan Whisperer got croissants, and after breakfast we went for a lovely walk around Mehun-sur-Yèvre, which was as lovely as I had thought it was going to be. 

There are loads of photos on my Facebook page if you want to see them.  After our walk, we had coffee - even I had a second cup - and after emptying the grey and the loo we headed on up to Paris.  

We stopped at a rather nice service area for a leisurely lunch, and came off the motorway a little early to get diesel in an Auchan, but that near Paris it wasn't very cheap. 

We are at the campsite we used before, for our 40th wedding anniversary in 2019, which is very crowded, but not unpleasant.  The idea is for the Swan Whisperer to do the Bois de Boulogne parkrun, which will, I think, be the fifth out of the 8 parkrun in France!  They are not wildly popular.... 

From Saleilles, 14 October 2021

A much better day today.  We were not moved on during the night, nor in the morning, either! It was a very cold night and there was a sharp frost, I had to pull my rug over me and a hot-water bottle at my feet!  Bt the heating is incredibly efficient in the bedroom and bathroom area, so it soon warmed up this morning. 

The Swan Whisperer went and bought croissants from the local boulangerie, and after breakfast we drove the few minutes to the daytime motorhome park at the Panoramic du Puy de Dome. 

This is a little train that takes you up the Puy de Dome, almost to the top, and you can walk up from there. 

It was seriously lovely - wonderful views, my photos can't possibly do it justice. 

But bitterly cold; the top of the Dome is 1,450 above sea level and een at the bottom railway station it's over 900 metres. 

Sadly, my silly lungs went back on me as I tried to go up the steps to the top, and apart from being out of breath I started to feel really sick, so stopped 3/4 of the way to the top and went back down, leaving the SW to go the rest of the way.  When he got down, we wandered around a bit, but there was a silly amount of time before the next train down - not enough time to get a coffee, but too much to just go and sit on the platform.

But eventually it was time to get the train back down the mountain, by which time I was feeling a lot better, but still very aware that I'd been badly out of breath, and we had a coffee before we went back to the motor home.

We drove about 20 km to a supermarket en route, which was the anchor for an enormous shopping mall.  I did a small shopping, and then we had lunch before heading up the motorway to this little town called Mehun-sur-Yèvre (I slept all the way) where we are parked up by a disused canal, which is absolutely lovely,

and the trees are suddenly all autumnal.  The SW has gone for a walk (he is just on his way back, I can see him) and I hope to do the same in the morning. 

From Saleilles, 13 October 2021

This has been a seriously frustrating day!  It started off all right, with getting up and using the services, etc.  It was very cold overnight, and when the heating came on in the morning it suddenly stopped, which meant the gas had run out, so the Swan Whisperer had to change the cylinder  before we could have any hot water.  But not really a problem.  So after breakfast we went into the village to go the Super U where cylinders could be exchanged, which the SW did while I had been going to do a shopping, but the place absolutely stank, as though something had died in there.  I really wasn't about to buy any food in there, so just got water, some cleaner for the sink, which is very stained, and some citric acid, which I know my mother wants for making lemonade, and more frustration, it's not letting me link!  

So far, so not very good, but then we thought of things we might like to do and to see in the area.  Our first idea was the "Vélotrain" in St-Eulalie-de-Cernon, but the map showed that there was no motorhome access there, so that was a bust.  Then we thought we would look at one of the cheese factories, but the ones we saw on the roundabout, easily accessible, did not keep their visitor centres there, so we had to come away.  We did find a boulangerie which did us some very nice sandwiches for lunch, which we ended up eating in the car park of an E Leclerc just outside Millau - we had, by that stage, driven under the eponymous viaduct, as spectacular as ever.  

We hoped, then, to use the little tourist train which runs around Millau, but the address given us on Google Maps was totally wrong, and we ended up in a residential/light industrial area.  

By this time it was getting on, so we thought we would make tracks to where we had hoped to spend the night.  It is a lovely drive up the A75.  We stopped at the Garabit service area to see the eponymous railway bridge which is beautiful,

but it was a lot further from Millau than either of us remembered - about 100 km further north.  So a good place to have a cup of tea and to look at the information panels about the construction of the bridge.  

Then we drove on, hoping to find the France Passion farm where we had planned to spend the night, but when we got there, we think we found the right place, but no sign of any France Passion badges, and nobody was around.  So we came away and tried and tried to find other places to spend the night, but ended up driving round and round the same tiny roads as though we had got into an infinite loop.  We did get out in the end, but the place Park4Night said was nice firmly said no camping between 10:00 pm and 07:00.  Fortunately there is a large car-park across the road for the tourist centre, and we have parked up; I just hope it will be okay and they won't try to move us on at 2:00 am!  We hope not!

And the the fridge decided to play silly buggers, like it did last July, but I noticed on the inside of the door that it said how to reset it, so I did and it behaved itself again.  So that's all right.  But oh, what a frustrating day!  I have had a large whisky, which has helped.  

From Saleilles, 12 October 2021

The Swan Whisperer went for a run this morning, as he always does at Mas Alart, reappearing just as I was getting up.  So I got breakfast, for once while he got civilised, and after saying goodbye we headed off. 

First port of call was Lidl in Saleilles, which is new since we were last here in March 2018.  It was rather awkward to get into because the obvious roundabout was closed due to road works, so we had to go round the houses, but we got there in the end and I was able to use my Lidl Plus card, which pleased me, and got 25% off some ham. 

Then it was time to leave the Pyrenees.  Today we went on the motorway all the way, as the SW said he was sick of roundabouts.  And anyway, much of it was the A75, which is both free and spectacular. 

We stopped in a random aire for lunch which had a regional products area  - in hindsight, I should have bought some Roquefort at the regional products shop there, as by the time we got to Roquefort itself, I was exhausted and a bit wheezy for some reason.  The SW went on an explore and we decided, on balance, not to buy any this time.  We do both like it, but you can even get it in Lidl at home!

By this time we had gone past our planned stopping-place at Sainte-Eulalie-en-Cernon, so we decided not to retrace our steps but to go a little further to Saint-Affrique, where we knew there was a Camping-Car Park aire, in a former campsite, so we are installed here with electricity and full services.  The SW went for an explore and said it is a very pedestrian-unfriendly town, so we may end up taking the van to Super U in the morning, should we decide we need shopping done.  I am not sure that we will, though.  We shall see. 

At Saleilles, 11 October 2021

I had planned, this morning, to get up while the Swan Whisperer was having his run, and go to the nearby bakery for croissants.  Only he completely foiled me by not going for a run, and announced that "he was getting up now".  So I had to send him for croissants, instead. 

We left Limoux at about 10:00 a.m., having told the satnav to take us across country.  We were so very glad we did - it was a really, really lovely drive!  The roads were (mostly) excellent, and very scenic.  We did stop on the outskirts of Limoux for diesel and shopping, and then again for a bit because we could, but when we began to think of stopping somewhere for lunch, there was a lovely picnic area just outside Maury. 

The "train rouge" ran alongside the car park, and we were rather startled to see a train as we thought they did not run on Mondays. 

This, of course, reminded me of "Le train jaune" which runs up to La Carol-Latour, but, alas, it is out of service this month and I really don't fancy a replacement bus service!  Maybe next time.

We were going to be far too early at Mas Alart - it sells lovely wine, and is beautifully remote, but there is nothing to do when you get there except buy wine!  So we bypassed it and went to the Mediterranean where we watched - I don't quite know what you would call them; they were not conventional kite-surfers (there were some of those), and not conventional sailboarders, either (there was at least one of those, too), but standing on boards that had a sort of keel underneath that they rose up on to cut through the water, and carrying sails that had two halves, to enable them to steer.  The idea seems to be to do jumps and so on, but only one of the people we watched tried, and not very successfully. 

So we went back to the van and had a cup of tea, and then drove to Mas Alart - which is packed out.  Always before when we have been here, we have either been the only van, or at most one other, but there are five or six others here tonight.  We have bought a lot of their delicious rosé, and some of their white, although right now I'm drinking white from Juigné-sur-Loire. 

Meanwhile the SW's results from Saturday are in, and he had a time of 23'16", but not, alas, first in his age grade.  And I had a phone call from King's College Hospital confirming that I do not have cancer, but must have another colonoscopy in three  years time.  So all good stuff..... 

To Saleilles, 10 October 2021

This morning we got up bedtimes and when I had showered and dressed, I went to the boulangerie across the road to buy a croissant for me and a pain au chocolate for the Swan Whisperer which we enjoyed after our boiled eggs. 

Then it was time to go back into Pau, to go to church.  They are still at the stage of asking you to reserve seats if you wish to attend public worship, so I had emailed them the previous day to do so.  We were warmly welcomed, and I think both of us enjoyed the service.  However, there was one awkward moment during the giving of Communion (Bread only, as is usual nowadays).  The chancel had been closed off by the rood screen (although there was a small door left open by the organ) and the actual organ console moved to the middle. 

The organist and the soloist were behind the screen, and when it came to receiving, they both pushed their hands through the railing, like beggars - appropriate, I suppose, but it made both the SW and me laugh. 

They can't, of course, serve coffee after church just now, so we set off fairly soon for what is, I think, the 2nd-longest drive of the holiday, to a town called Limoux.  We went via motorway, but it was a fairly scenic one, and every now and then we caught glimpses of the Pyrenees on the horizon!  We stopped fairly soon for coffee, hoping to be able to empty the grey, but he W, who went to investigate, found that the drain was blocked and unusable.  So we went on, and half an hour later stopped for lunch in a rest area, and then we did not stop again until we got here.  

Here is a very nice little aire, with full services (which we have used) and a piece of ground in front of the Aube

where either boules or pétanque, I don't know the difference, was being played. 

The SW went for a walk and I had planned to go on a short one to reconnoitre the local boulangerie, but somehow that didn't happen.  So I flopped on the bed and reread "Emergency in the Pyrenees" (Well, I had to, didn't I? ) until it was time to get supper.  Which was cod loin with (packet) lemon butter sauce, mashed potato, cabbage and leeks, so we drank some of the white wine we bought from Juigné-sur-Loire, and very good it was, too!  Saleilles tomorrow!

To Saleilles, 9 October 2021

Well, we are now in the Pyrenees, but won't arrive in Saleilles for another two days.  But to begin at the beginning:

We were parked up for the night at a little park near Cubzenais so that the Swan Whisperer could do a parkrun. 

This duly happened - we don't have an actual time as something went wrong with the official time-keeping, but his Strava says it was a little oer 23 minutes, and he came in 3rd.   As is so often the case here, many of the runners were British, including one couple who said they had spent the night in a very nice aire near a chateau, with all amenities laid on!  I had half thought of walking a lap, but when push came to shove I wasn't up for it, so showered, dressed and had my own breakfast while he was out. 

By the time he came back, showered and had breakfast, etc, time was getting on.  First port of call was a Super U where he got diesel and I did a shopping, and then on to the motorway where one of the Aires advertised that it had motorhome services so we went there to empty the grey and the loo.  We didn't take on any water, though, as we have plenty for tonight and tomorrow. 

After that, I don't know what the Satnav thought it was playing at, but it took us off the motorway and all round the rocade around Bordeax, horrible traffic jams all the way!  We had thought we would stay on the motorway all the way!  Anyway, we eventually did arrive on the motorway to Pau which was very quiet.  We stopped twice, once for lunch and once for the SW to make himself some coffee.  I still do not know why coffee wakes him up in the afternoon, but doesn't keep him awake at night. 

When we arrived in Pau, we discovered that the one and only motorhome aire was absolutely jam-packed solid with cars (and one or two motorhomes), so we had to come away.  We tried another place recommended by Park4Night, but it wasn't obvious where to go.  Eventually, we found this rather nice place in a suburb of Pau called Gan, which is much nicer than the original place! 

I think you are supposed to have a wine tasting, but we didn't.  Anyway, only about half an hour from the centre of Pau.  Abd best of all, there is a bakery just across the road which will be open tomorrow so we can have croissants for breakfast!  First time this holiday. 

To Saleilles, 8 October 2021

We did not hurry this morning, and it was not far off noon before we got away, having used the services and made sure we had plenty of water, etc, as we will be without for the next two nights.

Our drive today was enlivened by the Swan Whisperer's desire to see the sea (why, when he could take a train to Brighton any day at home, I do not know), so after calling in at a Carrefour Market (why was my Carrefour card valid, but not my coupon? ) to shop, we drove to Châtelaillon Plage where there was a very useful camping-car park that charged during July and August, but not the rest of the year.  So we parked up there and had lunch, and then went for a wander down to the beach and back. 

French seaside resorts give off a very different vibe to British ones, but, like them, are unmistakable.  This one would have been nicer had the tide been in, but it was as out as it could be, although I think it had started coming in by the time we left. 

Then it was time to set off again and once we got past Saintes we decided to remove the Satnav's prohibition on toll roads and came down the motorway the rest of the way to Cubnezais, which we are visiting because there is a parkrun here tomorrow morning.  The Swan Whisperer has walked the course (it is 3 and a bit laps, but he only did one lap) and soon I shall get supper.  

To Saleilles, 7 October 2021

Somehow I haven't done very much today.  Our friend J came round for coffee; it was lovely to see her and catch up on her news.  

After that it was time to move on.  Our first port of call was an E Leclerc - I was not very impressed, as I queued for ages at customer service to enquire about using their scan'n'shop devices, only to be told they were no longer in use.  Then it was totally not obvious where, or even whether, you should weigh your loose produce before taking it to the checkout - fortunately a very kind woman took my apples and figs and weighed them for me.  Someone else said you had to know where they were as it was not at all obvious, which made me feel better!

The Swan Whisperer said we should go to Fontévraut for lunch, as it wasn't very far out of our way.  I didn't feel like going up to the chateau so he went by himself, and then we drove on to this place.  He said it was a long old drive - I had a nap - but that is his fault for wanting to go cross-country rather than on the motorway (I do agree, it is nicer!).  

"Here" is a little village called Damvix,  which I thought was such a lovely name.  We are in a Camping-car Park aire; I joined the network a while ago and this was the first time I had used the card. 

You preload it with some money (you can refill online or at the sites) and then scan it at the entrance and exit to the aire.  Full services and electricity provided, but no sanitary block. Also Wi-Fi, but it is very slow and I can't stream my YouTube videos.  Cheaper than a conventional camp site, but not as many facilities.  This holiday is a mix of free Aires, France Passion, campsites and these places. 

To Saleilles, 6 October

Tonight we are staying in the exact same place we stayed 6 year ago tonight, on our very first motorhome tour. 

However.  The day started well with a run (for the Swan Whisperer) and a walk (for me) around the lakes where we had parked up. 

But after that it all went a bit pear-shaped.  First of all our friend messaged us to cancel, although we have arranged to have coffee with her tomorrow, so that will be all right.  But I haven't cooked for anybody for so long.... 

Then we had trouble finding a supermarket where we could actually take the van - they all seemed to have !height barriers.  Eventually we found a Lidl and two cars were just leaving as we arrived, so that was all right except I didn't work out how to use my Lidl Plus card in French until too late!  Plus their coupons are a bit pants this week!  

Then we headed on towards somewhere the Swan Whisperer wanted to visit and on the way found an E Leclerc which had  open parking and also a petrol station - we wanted diesel, and I could have done my shopping there!  Ah well, Lidl in France is a bit different to the English version (although very similar in many ways), and there will be other days. 

I don't know what the Swan Whisperer was thinking when he chose this particular aire to stop for a cup of tea, but it was nothing special (although it did have working services which we used) and meant we ended up driving through Angers in the rush hour.  But we got here at the same time as another English couple, and shared a wine tasting, which was very good, but we were in urgent need of blotting-paper by the time it was over.  We bought some nice wine  2 of white, 2 plain rosé and two sparkling rosé.  

It was too late to cook the chicken casserole I had planned, so we had an omelette with onion, tomato, mushroom and cheese, and very good it was, too. And they are also a greengrocer, and had a lovely display of autumn squash!

To Saleilles, 5 October

After breakfast this morning, we  walked into Villedieu-les-Poêles, which was not far - the town is not large, and the campsite is just on the edge of it.  It is a good job I did book us into the camp, as the municipal aire is closed while they renovate the car park in which it is sited.  

Our first port of call was the regular Tuesday street market, which was nice but not very big.  I bought some fresh tagliatelle, which we have just had for supper with a jar of sauce - yummy.  Anyway, that was all we bought at that stage, as what I really wanted to visit, and the main reason we came back here, was the bell foundry.  

They were kind and put on an English-speaking guide for us, although she had a strong accent and was not always easy to follow.  But she showed us how they cast the bells, using the lost wax technique.  And how they pour the molten bronze - I forget the exact ratio of copper to tin, but she did tell us  - into the mould in a huge pit.  Some of the bells were huge, nearly as big as the Swan Whisperer.  

We looked round the gift shop afterwards, which not only sold tiny bells (not that you need them these days; you just text your children to call them to a meal) but also some of the copper pots and pans made at another factory in the town.  Eye-watering expensive!

We came back via the local wool shop as I'd neglected to pack any contrast yarn to hold the stitches of the sweater I'm making for Boy 2, and a boulangerie where I bought half a baguette for lunch. 

It was then time to move on, so we drove to a Super U where I did a small shopping, including the aforementioned pasta sauce, and we ate in the supermarket car park.  The Swan Whisperer wanted to go and at least look at St Michael's Mount, which was not too far out of our way, but I slept most of the way, and when we got there, the car park was horrendously expensive if you weren't going to make an afternoon of it. 

So we came away and drove down here to Cesson-Sevigné, a suburb of Rennes, where we have been twice before.  Its USP is some lovely lakes to walk or run round - I plan to walk round in the morning, before we head on. 

To Saleilles, 4 October

The farm we stayed at is a traditional Normandy farm. They have a dairy herd of about 100 head of Normande cows. I am not sure of these are considered a rare breed or not. They rear their own heifer calves; the bull calves are sold at 2 weeks old to be reared for beef elsewhere. 

The farm retains the traditional Normandy layoit with the buildings widely separated around a large square. Most of them date back to the early 19th century. One, built of flint in a way which reminded me vividly of Sussex (which, after all, is not so very far away as the crow flies) contained an old bresd oven. I should have asked if it was still in use, because I believe it is used on special occasions.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable farm tour, and after it we got everything tidied away, used the services and drove down to Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny, where wr are in a campsite. I hope he foundry museum, which was closed last time we were here because Monday, will be open. 

To Saleilles, 3 October 2021

I slept badly because it was really stormy all night which can be quite fun, but can also be scary when the van rocks and rocks.  This morning, the wind had dropped, although it has continued to rain on and off all day.  

We started slowly, our body clocks not yet being on French time.  Our first port of call was Auchan where I did a shopping, but the Swan Whisperer was hassled by asylum seekers trying to get in and had to lock himself in.  

Next stop was the Baie de Somme, where we had lunch; after which I was incredibly sleepy and slept on and off for the next two hours while we drove down to Normandy.  We had been going to park up by the Seine, but the aire - a car-park, really - was full and rather noisy, as just beside the road.  We found somewhere to pull in while we had a cup of tea and a rethink, and discovered this lovely farm site.  It's not France Passion, so not free, but not expensive either, and does have electricity and services.  And very quiet, except for cows mooing.  

Or money was taken by a teenage boy, a little older than our grandson, but typically monosyllabic and resentful at being dragged away from his iPad to answer the door to a couple of elderly tourists!  Never mind, although we would love a farm tour if it is possible.  He wasn't going to escort us!

The Swan Whisperer has gone for a walk, and soon I am going to get supper.  Meanwhile I am sitting here with the door open airing out the van!

To Saleilles, 2 October 2021

I have to admit that we have had better starts to our holidays!  We wet down to get the motorhome on Friday and brought it back to London, something we don't normally do these days, but we were going straight on from a Church training event.  Just as well, really, because the Swan Whisperer discovered that the leisure batteries were totally dead and not holding a charge at all. So we went to Halfords and arranged to get it fitted there.  So the fitter put it in - and still nothing happened!  He had the sense to consult a colleague, who took one look and said that he had just removed the car battery, not the leisure battery!  

We eventually found where the leisure batteries lived and exchanged them for new ones, and the fitter found a loose connection, which eventually wants soldered, but he crimped it together as best he could.  This may have been what caused the problem. 

So we went, rather late, to the Circuit training day, which was good, but not as good as sometimes as it was in our ha Church so less sociable than at the convent place in Bellingham that we usually go to. The day finished at 15:00 and we set off to Folkestone. 

With all the alarms and excursions about ham sandwiches being confiscated, we took a minimal amount of perishable food with us and gave all our vegetables to my mother and sister.  In fact, the only thing that was different was that they stamped our passports - and barely glanced at our sworn statements which I goodly handed over with them.  

We got a Shuttle an hour earlier than booked, which turned out to be Just As Well, as half-way across we discovered that the main crate, with all the dried food, etc, had been left behind!  And I had left it in an obvious place, too!  

We had always been going to go straight to Carrefour to buy eggs and butter and so on, but I made the Swan Whisperer come too to pay for the rice, risotto rice, quinoa, couscous, tinned tomatoes, tinned sweetcorn, squash, soya sauce, etc that he had left behind!  As well as the butter, eggs, etc, that I had been going to buy anyway.  Then we drove up to Sangatte and parked up for a very wet and stormy night!  The holiday can only improve from  here on in!