In search of spring, 1 March 2022

Murviel-lès-Béziers, Shrove Tuesday and St David's day. 

Not such a lovely day today, as it has been cloudy and windy all day. No rain, though. 

We had a nice lazy morning as the wine merchants doesn't open until 10, so there was no rush. We bought quite a lot of wine - not more than our allowance, though. It is horrible having to think about the amount one can buy to bring home. Apparently there is a strike at - I'm not sure whether she meant the bottling plant or the bottle factory, so we had to buy a 3 litre wine box of the rosé I love. But the Swan Whisperer bought two bottles of red for himself, and four of white for me (two dry and two sweet) as well as the 3 litres of rosé and a bottle of red wine vinegar, as I wanted to make a vinaigrette for our leeks tonight. 

First port of call was Lidl, and then we drove up here, to this village north of Béziers, which is a fortified village with quite a steep walk up to the church, Mairie and chateau (now a guest house) at the top of the hill. We enjoyed it, although it was not just as glorious as we had hoped. 

We are parked up in another Camping-Car Park; the Swan Whisperer loves them, but I have serious reservations. They are talking over a great many municipal campsites, as well as formerly free aires, and although yo are guaranteed water and services all year round, and there is electricity, caravans and tents are no longer allowed, any sanitary facilities that used to be provided (showers, loos, etc) are no longer in use, there is no reception and no little shop. Okay, so they are cheaper than a campsite, but quite dear if they have taken over a formerly free aire. 

Anyway, we are here now, and may well use others, especially when we need services. But there are alternatives - they haven't yet taken over quite all of France! 

In search of spring, 28 February 2022

Mas Alart, Saleilles, France.

Well, you knew we would end up here didn't you? Got to buy some of the nicest wine in France! 

However, we started off by needing services, so we drove to what we thought was the Intermarche in Latour-bas-Elne, which had them. However, although it had all the other things it was supposed to have, no services. On enquiry, we discovered we were, in fact, at the Intermarché in Elne, not in Latour-bas-Elne. 

So a few minutes drive rectified that problem, and I shopped while the Swan Whisperer did the necessary, and then we headed on to St-Cyprien-Plage for lunch, and a look at the Med - as wonderful as ever, and as blue as ever!

After which, the SW suggested going to a "Village des Pecheurs" on the Etang du Canet Saint-Nazaire

that he had seen on the map, and which intrigued him. I wasn't too sure, when we arrived, that it wasn't a holiday let, but quite the reverse, as it turned out to be a collection of former fishermen's cottages built of reeds, and a nature reserve. 

We didn't see many birds except seagulls, which were beginning to pair off and courting rituals going full blast. There was a tiny museum, but it was obviously closed on a Monday. 

After a short walk, we realised the rather small car park was getting very full indeed, so we decided to head on more-or-less straight to Mas Alart, where we are parked up with windows and skylights open and enjoying not having to be wrapped up warm. As last time, the place is crowded, but we will be able to buy wine in the morning when the shop opens at 10.

In search of spring, 27 February 2022

What a lovely day! We didn't hurry out of bed, although the Swan Whisperer went for a short run - he has had an injury and this was his first run for a few weeks. After breakfast, he went on an explore, and then came back for coffee, during which he looked at the habitation door again, and appears to have fixed the lock, at any rate for the time being. It seems to have been a to matter of a spring that had got stuck, or something. 

At noon, it was time for church, and we logged on to the livestream from Brixton Hill; unlike other times, we could actually hear what was going on. Then a quick lunch, and then the main reason we hurried to get here - the Yellow Train!

This goes from Villefranche Vernet-les-Bains right up to La Carol Latour high in the Pyrenees. We only took it half way, though, as far as Font-Remeu. 

It was not the most comfortable of trains,

but certainly one of the most scenic, cutting through the mountains in tunnels and over bridges and viaducts and finally coming out on a wide plateau. The train stopped for several minutes at many of the stations, and and for half an hour at Fort-Romeu before starting its downward journey again. 

This train has been on my bucket list for awhile now, and I'm so glad we did it. Today was the last day of service for a couple of months as they are going to do track works, and it was also the last day of the winter fares - €5 per person each way (although nobody checked our return tickets; we could have got away without buying them!). 

Once back in the motor home, I got supper ready and then it was time for Bible Study (our church hosts a Zoom study each month). After that, supper, and now I am catching up and will then go and watch videos in bed! We don't think our leisure batteries would really like us to cast them to the TV when we don't have external electricity. 

There are (rather too many) more photos on Facebook. 

In search of spring, 26 February 2022

Another bitterly cold morning - this photo shows the frost clearing away from the bedroom skylight while I was getting up. 

Our first port of call was to the supermarket for diesel and groceries, and and then we drove down to the Garabit viaduct. I have posted pictures of it before, taken from the aire on the A75, but this was the first time I had seen it from the other side. It is really rather spectacular! 

More photos on Facebook. We continued down the A75 and stopped for lunch before Millau (we had hoped to stop there, but time was getting on). The habitation door lock now seems completely buggered, so matter how often we clean the contacts, but the Swan Whisperer had a brain-waggle and has used the steering lock to keep it closed from the inside! Easily removed when I need to get in or out, and we can get the lock fixed in Sussex when we go home. 

We went over the Millau viaduct. It is more spectacular seen from below, but we wanted to get to our overnight stop before dark so the SW could have a walk. And it is pretty good seen from on it, although you can't see over the restraining walls (just as well, perhaps). 

And on, and on, and on, down the A75 and the A9, past Perpignan and Prades to Villefranche-de-Conflent where we will be spending two nights for reasons which will be revealed tomorrow. The SW has had his walk and will be cooking our Saturday sausage and mash - only the mash will be Aligot, which I rather extravagantly treated us to - we were in the area; it would have been rude not to, really! 

We are definitely seeing signs of spring here - there were speedwells in the aire where we stopped for lunch, crocuses in the one where we stopped for tea, and many of the trees are showing green. This seems to be a fruit-growing area, and many of the trees were in blossom. 

In search of spring, 25 February 2022

St Flour, France. 

Another long drive today, but much nicer than yesterday! However, first thing in the morning it was bitterly cold - and the Swan Whisperer said it was only 6°C inside the van! So, of course, the gas ran out before it was warm enough to shower, so the poor SW had to go out and change the cylinder before we could get up properly. 

So our first port of call after breakfast was an Intermarché, where he got gas and I went shopping. Was very pleased to find snail grippers and forks - something that had been singularly lacking when we fed the boys snails last week - they had to use skewers and we were reduced to the tails of mustard spoons! Which, I may say, I did the job but it is good to have the proper equipment for next time! 

Next, we drove about 20 kilometers to Saran, and used the services there, which Park4Night told us were open all year. The only reason we didn't go there last night was because it also said it was apt to be full, and indeed it was! But we drained, flushed and refilled, and so set off properly down the A71. I was delighted to see the old Aerotrain test track, and a TGV line (which superseded it) both parallel to the road. 

We stopped for lunch in an aire somewhere, near Bourges, we think, and again about an hour later as there was supposed to be a great view of the Auvergne volcanoes.

To our horror, we discovered that the hab door wasn't locking, and had to wait while the SW queried the wisdom of the Internet, which soon solved the problem - dirty contacts, apparently. Once we had solved that, we found we needed a cup of tea so had that, and then headed off again, this time down the A75. The SW decided he would rather stop at a Camping-Car Park (all right for him, but do you see him giving me the money to refill my card?) so we did another very quick stop to reprogramme the satnav, and now we are here, plugged into electricity and we can use the services again this morning, which is good as we won't have them again until Monday. 

It is going to be another very cold night, but we will programme the heating to come on at 07:00!

In search of Spring, 24 February 2022

Well, we may have set off in search of the spring but it most certainly wasn't in France today! It rained. It rained. And it rained. 

We had a very long drive today; the satnav said that the quickest way would be via Paris, but the Swan Whisperer decided not to do that, but and we came via Rouen instead, which was about two hours longer. 

Our first port of call was at a Lidl, where I bought one or two bits - blood oranges here are a lot cheaper than at home. I have a lovely But the Swan Whisperer texted me to say he needed milk and the one thing Lidl France appears not to sell is fresh milk! So we went across the road to an Intermarché or E Leclerc, I forget which where I got milk, drinking water, and beer and cider. And a Paris-Brest each for lunch pudding as they were on such a special offer it would have been rude not to, really! 

And so we went on, stopping for lunch in an aire somewhere, and again for diesel, off-motorway (it took some finding, but we got there in the end). And on and on and on, passing Chartres Cathedral, of which I singularly failed to take a photo. And there was a rainbow, a which was lovely. 

And so to this aire at Artenay, which is the car park of a public swimming pool; as this is open-air, it is not open at this time of year. There are no services, but we can get them tomorrow. Which will be another long drive, as will Saturday. 

In search of spring, 23 February 2022

Merlimont, France. 

So another adventure begins; we are heading back to the South of France to see if it is beginning to be spring there! 

Normally, we would be parked up at Sangatte for the first night, but our batteries were a bit flat, so we thought we would go to a Camping-Car Park place just south of Le Touquet where there would be electricity.

Unfortunately, I misunderstood what the ap was telling me and it was full when we got there, so we are parked up with no electricity in the station car park.  At least we are an hour down the road for tomorrow's trip! 

We will be going to bed very soon to save the battery; if we have to drive for 20 miles tomorrow morning before we can have a shower, so be it! 

I have just given myself a fright because I couldn't find my medications for the morning, but they were there, just not where I thught they were!  Phew!

A Valentine's Day Excursion

 Actually,  Valentine's Day had really nothing to do with it - I just couldn't think what to call it.

Over the past few days, I'd read posts from Ian Visits and Londonist about a new electric bus that is being introduced on to route 63, with various experimental features that may or may not be included if and when they get funds to renew their fleet.  So I wanted to go on it, of course, and the Swan Whisperer was, if not keen, willing to accompany me.

The sensible thing was to go to King's Cross by Tube and catch it at the start of its route.  Getting to King's Cross was fine,

but we took a long time to find the correct bus stop, crossing the Euston Road several times and eventually ending up almost beside the Tube exit we'd come out of!  Then, of course, the next two 63s that came were the old buses - I gather the entire fleet will have been replaced by "spring", but at the moment less than half has.  However, eventually a new bus came along, and we got on.

I didn't really get a chance to look round the inside, but upstairs was very grand!  

There is a skylight, which I gather is tinted to stop it being too hot in summer, and, as you can see, there are windows that can be opened, although the bus is air-conditioned.  

We started off sitting right in the front, but then the Swan Whisperer's phone needed charged, so we moved back a seat to get access to the charging points and phone holders: 

The actual route was new to us, too - from King's Cross the bus goes down Clerkenwell Road, past Farringdon Station and under Holborn Viaduct (such lovely lamp-standards):

We crossed over Blackfriars Bridge, and so on to St George's Circus and the Elephant.  I suggested leaving the bus there, and getting a 35 home, but the Swan Whisperer said that we would stay on until the end.  However, after it stopped for about 15 minutes in the middle of nowhere (somewhere near Burgess Park) "to regulate the service", and then again at Peckham Bus Garage to change drivers, I firmly said I had had enough and would go to Morrison's and then get a 37 home.  So that's what we did - I wanted fresh pasta for supper.  

It was a fun outing, covering a large triangle of London.  Rather pointless, really, but I'm glad to have experienced these new buses.  We both liked the "wooden" flooring but I regret to say I didn't notice the modern passenger information screens - I have a feeling that our one wasn't working.  They have them on the P5, though - as, indeed, they have power sockets - so I have seen them.  I do hope TfL gets proper funding so it can roll out these buses, or very similar ones, over the whole network.  

In search of Sevilles

I have spent the past few days looking for the Seville oranges that are in season at this time of year and bring brightness to dull January days.  However, Lidl never sells them, Sainsbury's in Clapham didn't have any and nor did Tesco in Brixton or in Streatham (the Swan Whisperer very kindly looked after skating).  I had thought of going to Tulse Hill Sainsbury's, but they probably wouldn't have had them.  

I thought that, if anywhere would have them, it would be the massive Sainsbury's in Nine Elms, but it is a serious trek to get there.  However, one could make a proper Expotition of it.  I thought at first I'd go up there on the 196, then take the Tube from Nine Elms Station to Battersea Power Station Station and the P5 home, but it is rather minor roads between Battersea Power Station Station and the P5 terminus, and it would be dark by the time I got there (I'd been watching the Men's Short at the Europeans, so hadn't been out earlier).  So I thought I'd postpone the excursion to tomorrow, and just pop out to Lidl for today's necessities.  But just as I got to the bus stop, there was a P5, so I thought I'd do the trip the other way round.  

So first I got the P5 to Thessaly Road, and walked under the eponymous bridge (which calls itself Thessaly Road Bridge, but as it is patently a railway bridge, that is a bit of a misnomer) to Battersea Power Station Station.

The trains aren't very frequent from there, so I had to wait 6 minutes, but of course the train was in the station so I could sit down, very comfortable.  It is only a couple of minutes to Nine Elms, which I'd been through before, but never got in or out at.  I love the inside-out "Underground" logo that you see as you approach the exit:

Sainsbury's is just next door

and I was delighted to find they did have the Sevilles in stock, so from that point of view it was a most successful Expotition.  

On the way back, I decided to change buses at Stockwell Bus Garage, catching a 196 from opposite Sainsbury's and changing to a P5.  Big mistake - normally, when I do that, both buses arrive at the stop within seconds of each other, but this time I must have just missed the P5 and had to wait for a quarter of an hour for the next one - which was just in front of the next 196!  Ah well, I got home at last, in time for a much-needed cup of tea - as I hadn't expected to be out for more than a few minutes, I hadn't bothered to bring my water with me, and missed it rather badly!

Early Winter, Saturday 4 December 2021

Because Sangatte is so near the UK, but an hour ahead, it didn't even begin to try to get light until nearly 08:30, at which point the Swan Whisperer decided to go for a run.  No sooner had he set foot out of doors than it began to rain, and by the time he got back, he was soaked to the skin.  Nothing that a hot shower couldn't help, but unfortunately one of the seat cushions has got very wet from where he put his wet clothes, and I am sure that it will be covered in sooty mould when next we see it.  He says it will dry, and so it will, but will it dry before the sooty mould sets in?

Meanwhile, I'd done a bit of packing and got breakfast ready, and after breakfast we drove over to Cité Europe where I did a final last shopping in Carrefour (I didn't take any photos today, so this is the second photo of the display of dried fruits - which I bought one of - that I took ten days ago). 

I also bought marrons glacés and chocolate orange peel for Christmas.  And one or two other things, like a chicken for tomorrow and some liver (the Swan Whisperer adores it, and it is so much more easily bought in France than here) for later in the week.

Then it was time to head for the Eurotunnel terminal, so we went through - again, they wanted the card I had booked the crossing with, despite my having cancelled it with them.  The very nice man who came to rescue us said it was a known bug in their programming, and he had had to help several people in the exact same situation.  But I had succeeded (with much swearing) in uploading all our documentation this time, so we didn't have to drone round the houses, and, apart from a minor contretemps with French passport control because their counterparts at Folkestone hadn't stamped our passports with the date of entry into France, we got through very quickly and ended up on the noon crossing, rather than the 12:20 on which we were booked.

But setting our watches to UK time didn't mean resetting our stomachs, so we stopped at Clackett Lane Services to eat our lunch (thus taking the final meal of the holiday in the same place as we had the first one), and arrived in our village just as the wedding party was leaving - we had been uninvited, or should I say disinvited, when the new restrictions came in.  So we had a brief word with our daughter and family, and then stopped again to greet the bride and groom and congratulate them in passing.  And, indeed, for a brief word with my mother and sister, and with my other nephew and his partner, who were staying.  My sister had kindly brought our unwanted wedding garments downstairs so we could load them on top of everything else.  I am quite sure that dress is jinxed - every time I want to wear it to a wedding, something happens and I can't go!

They all went off to the reception, and we transferred everything to the car, and made sure we had everything from the motor home.  And the Swan Whisperer washed it, and we turned off the fridge and the electricity (and he had to run back to turn off the gas) and emptied the loo and what was left of the grey water and the clean water..... and so back to London and mammoth unpacking and much swearing when there was no room in the cupboards for things!  Some of my purchases have had to stay in their crate.  I must go and finish unpacking the clothes I didn't wear, and the washing kit, etc..... am very tired tonight, but as we now have to isolate until we can get our PCR tests back, I won't need to do anything much tomorrow.

We're now planning to hibernate, more or less, until the end of February or the beginning of March; we will check up on the motor home when we go down at Christmas, though, and there may be one or two Expotitions between now and then.  Which will be reported on!

Early Winter, Friday 3 December 2021

The last full day of the holiday, so of course I have to feel rotten - aching, exhausted, and really not up to par. And still coughing nicely, although less than before. As I said, if I were at home, I'd take a test, and probably will when I get home tomorrow, although as I have to self-isolate anyway until the results of our day 2 PCR tests come through, not much point, really.

The Swan Whisperer went for a walk in the morning, having been out first thing to find a boulangerie for croissants, while I read and dozed and researched a new smartphone (mine is giving notice to quit). Then I finally got dressed and we had lunch, and then drove up to Sangatte in the rain. We stopped at Auchan and I did about half of the necessary shopping, and then I made us a mushroom omelette for supper. And now I am snuggled up in bed with a hot water bottle! I feel quite a lot better this evening, so hope it was only a 24-hour bug. 

Early winter, Thursday 2 December 2021

The Swan Whisperer went for a run this morning, and came back not only with croissants for breakfast (yum), but also with the information that the tram stop into Reims was only a few metres away. 

So, after a hiatus when we couldn't find my woolly hat (it had been put away, but its matching scarf had not, hence the confusion), we set off. Tram tickets, like bus tickets in the UK, are valid for an hour, and we made full use of our hour, as when we got to the Cathedral, we found there was a Christmas Market.  One of the best ones we have been to, actually.  We had to wear a mask and show our vaccine certificates to get in (I accidentally showed the photo I had taken of my Bratwurst supper, which made us all laugh - I had opened the right picture, but must have clicked on "next" or something.  Oh well, no harm done! 

The market was much bigger than we first thought, and it was a great pity that we were neither hungry enough to make the most of the proffered samples of all kinds of goodies, from cheese to prunes and boiled sweets and everything in between, nor was it the right sort of time of day for glühwein (and the SW was driving, anyway), but we bought gingerbread for the boys (a Father Christmas and a St Nicholas, which will, of course, be for Boy 2), and ended up with a mug of mulled orange juice, which had slightly too  much cinnamon for my taste, but was otherwise very good. 

We got back on the tram with about 2 minutes to spare on our tickets and, once back at the motor home, used the services and then headed off. 

We stopped for lunch at a lovely aire in a village called Corbeny, which was by an artificial lake or pond of some kind.

It would have been a lovely place to spend the night, but there were no services of any kind, and anyway, it was only lunch time.  So we drove on to this aire, taking our time and going cross-country. This is the municipal aire of Marcoing, just outside Cambrai.  It is okay; the fresh water is out of use for the winter, and there is nowhere to empty the loo, but they provide free electricity while the street lamps are on.  I gather they go off at midnight, but I expect they come on again in the morning.  It is not particularly attractive; it is by a canal lock, but you can't see it.  Still, once  you are indoors with all the shutters closed you can't see out anyway! 

Early winter, Wednesday 1 December 2021

Another horribly wet day, and I have developed a really bad cough, which is annoying and tiring. If I were at home I'd do a test, but not sure how to get them here.

We went to a Lidl this morning, which was a bust as they didn't have any fresh milk, and I got loo paper instead of kitchen paper by mistake, but they changed it for me. So we then programmed an E Leclerc in St Dizier into the SatNav, but when we got there there were barriers all round the car park, so we went to Intermarché instead, which didn't, and I got milk and a couple of other things, including "rognons sauce madère", which we both love, but haven't seen for ages - I thought they had stopped making them. We then had lunch, and then it rained and rained

while we drove to Reims to use the services there, and there was space in the motor home park here. It's ok, but a lot of traffic noise. We nearly went back to Chaméry, but didn't. 

We didn't eat the rognons, either, but i made a big vegetable stew, which I hoped would do twice, but it didn't! Oh well. And the rain has stopped, for now, at least. 

Early Winter, Tuesday 30 November 2021

It is raining. It has rained. It will rain. It will have been raining. It is also cold, wet and generally miserable.

We drove up the hill this morning into Homberg Haut Old Town, which would have been nicer in nicer weather. As it was, I stayed put while the Swan Whisperer took a couple of photographs for me.

We drove on a bit, and I got my only exercise of the day plodging round a Super U - I think almost my favourite of the French chains. I got some nice shower gel, too, both for me and for MrsRev.

We stopped at Pont-au-Mousson for lunch, and then drove to Toul, but the water was out of use for repairs, so we drove oa couple of miles to this aire at Bruley. There is a lot of disagreement on Park4Night as to which is better - here or Toul. They seem much of a muchness to me, although there is no electricity here. But thete are services!

Early winter, 29 November 2021

It was a beautiful, bright early winter orning; blue skies and sunshine, although not exactly warm.  I gather the Swan Whisperer went for a run, but as I had fallen asleep again, I wasn't aware of it until he came back! 

Once we had had breakfast, it was time to catch the bus into the centre of Kehl,

where I visited Müller and got some 4711 shower gel, and then DM where I got moisturiser and miniature shower gels.  Finally I parked the Swan Whisperer at a coffee shop and did a shopping in Edeka, and then joined him for coffee, and we walked back to the bus stop in good time for the bus back to the camp site. 

Lunch was the next order of the day, although I found I wasn't actually hungry.  Then we used the services, and got ready to leave Germany.  By this time, it had clouded over, and was beginning to snow!  

On our drive over here (a town called Hoburg Haut in Lorraine), the weather varied between rain, sleety rain, sleety snow and snow, depending on the altitude.  But just as we arrived at our parking place (free, but electricity is very expensive so we are doing without), the sun came out again, thus proving me right when I told the SW that we would arrive before it was quite dark! 

Early winter, Advent Sunday 28 November 2021

When I woke in the night, I was aware that the temperature gradient between the inside and the outside of my duvet was extremely sharp, and, indeed, when the Swan Whisperer got up to make tea, he said it was 8° inside and only 3° outside! Fortunately, the heating is very efficient, so that state of affairs didn't last long!

We were away by 10, and drive over to Kehl. The idea had been to visit the Christmas Market in Strasbourg, but when push came to shove it was raining and rather miserable and I decided I really didn't want to walk round in a mask with my glasses so fogged up I can't see - unlike the SW, I am even worse off without them! So I stayed in the van while he went to explore, and had a peaceful afternoon knitting and reading, and there might have been a nap...

But I still got my bratwurst, as that is what we had for supper! 

Early Winter, Saturday 27 November 2021.

The parkrun duly happened, but wet and slippery paths led to the SW posting a time of >26 minutes, which he is not pleased with. And he left his phone in the van so the run won't have registered on Strava.

While he was running, I was delighted to see a red squirrel out of the window! 

The camp site had put its running water out of use for the winter, so we had to top up with a bucket, and it seemed to have nowhere to empty the grey at any time of year, so that had to be done a crateful at a time. Not impressed. 

Once we were finally ready we drove south towards Eberbach, stopping once for diesel and milk. We were visiting our niece, her husband avd very new (8 week) baby daughter. Her husband cooked us up a Persian feast, which was delicious, and we have a doggy bag!

Now we are parked up by the Necker and wondering what on earth to do now that we are supposed to get a PCR test and isolate until the results come. None of the providers have updated their websites yet, so I can't order tests, even if we do come home early, and last time my test went astray but nobody checked up! You have to have bought the tests to enter the country, but taking them seems to be another matter! 

Early winter, Friday 26 November 2021

So today was the long-awaited visit to the Christmas markets.  The camp site is about 850 metres from the railway station, which is very basic - single-track, one platform and just a ticket machine.  It is also not a very nice walk as for most of the way there is no pavement and the verge, at this time of year, is leafy and muddy.  However, the camp site does h Ave the merit of being only about 250 metres from the parkrun, just right for tomorrow morning! 

We caught the 10:35, as we had hoped to do, and it was not long before we were in the city and looking for the metro lines that would take us to the start of the markets.  We eventually found them (Frankfurt is not very good at telling you where the various stations are, nor where the relevant lines are once you are there!) and took the metro 2 stops to Dom/Roemer, where the market was supposed to start.  Of ourse, there was no sign of it, and the various maps provided bore absolutely no relation to real life, but we found it in the end.  And it was as enjoyable, and as tiring, as these things always are.  

The worst thing was that you had to wear a mask while you were there, which is, of course, fair enough, but out of doors, even with a mask that pinches your nose, your glasses steam up and stay that way - indoors, they eventually clear, and it is not a problem, but I was walking pretty much blind by the end and the Swan Whisperer, who can see a bit without his, had to guide me. 

Just as I had had enough, we found where the tourist buses went from, and enquired about taking the tour, but it was not until 13:00 and it was only about 12:15, so the SW suggested we had an early lunch and then took the bus.  I was desperate to sit down by then, so we dived into the nearest café, which turned out to be a Vietnamese place, specialising in noodles with your choice of vegan, beef or shrimp.  I had the vegan, with rice noodles, and the SW had the beef with ramen noodles and very good they were too!  I could only manage about half of mine!  To drink we had something called apfelwein which it turns out is a local speciality, but neither of us liked it much, and we didn't finish our glasses.  Not the bratwurst and glühwein one expects of a Christmas Market, but still a lovely lunch! 

Then it was time for the City tour, which was not quite as good as it could have been as the commentary didn't sync with the scenery!   All the same, a good overview of the city. 

Then we found (eventually) a ReWe to do our shopping, and I left the SW sitting on the husband bench while I did it, although I think we probably will need to find more milk tomorrow.  But after that, I don't know what we did wrong but we had to walk miles and miles to the S-Bahn, which was not at all where I thought it was (turned out that was a different station).  Once we found it, we then had to find the right line and direction, which also took forever - some decent signposts would be a plan, Frankfurt!  But we found it in the end. 

We would have missed our train had we changed at the Hauptbahnhof, but we could stay on a further 2 or 3 stops and change there, and then had 3-4 minutes to wait for our train.  And then the long, dreary and by now very wet walk to the campsite, and a much-needed cp of tea!  I changed into pyjamas as I was all wet round the feet and ankles - my trainers are fine on wet pavements, but on puddly verges?  Not so much!  

Early winter, Thursday 25 November

Despite the very long nap yesterday I slept pretty well last night.  Woke up at 05:45 and misread my watch - could have sworn it said 06:45, so took my pill and then realised when I opened my tablet!  So went back to sleep until about 07:15.

When we had finished breakfast, we went out for a walk - down to the river and along it,

and then up and back along the main shopping drag.  We stopped to buy bread and rolls - the only things we needed for today - and then after coffee we headed on. 

We stopped at a wonderful parking space with a glorious view over the Rhine to have lunch,

and then drove on, arriving at this campsite in Offenthal at about 15:30.  Unfortunately the owner was out and we hung around in the cold for what felt like ages before he arrived, but he was very nice when he did arrive.  The only thing is that the water has been turned off for the winter except in the sanitary block, so we have to fill our tank with a bucket, but that is not really a problem. Other than that, we are within walking distance of the station for tomorrow and of the parkrun for Saturday. 

Early winter, Wednesday 24 November 2021

I really haven't done much today.  The insomnia and stress of the past few days finally caught up with me. 

The Swan Whisperer went for a run this morning, as he usually does in Düren, and after breakfast we used the services and set off.  Our first port of call was a ReWe where I did some shopping and then we set sail for Königswinter, stopping en route to buy beer and return the crate of empties that has been sitting in the back of the motor home for the past two years or so!  

We arrived in Königswinter in time for a very late lunch and after it the Swan Whisperer went on his favourite walk over the top of the Drachenfels, down the other side and back along the river.  I went to have a nap, intending to wake after half an hour or so and go for a walk, but in fact I slept all afternoon and kept dowsing off again when I was trying to wake up.  

So supper was quite the wrong nationality, as it was Italian - tortellini and tomato sauce, bought with last week's Lidl Plus coupons!  

Early winter, 22-23 November 2021

Our niece who lives in Germany has a new baby, and (some of) the Christmas markets are on. We are double vaccinated, boostered and flu jabbed.  So we decided to have a last trip before winter really sets in.  

We did all the paperwork for France, Belgium and Germany but so far all we have been asked to show was our vaccination certificates.   I did take a lateral flow test yesterday, and the Swan Whisperer did on Saturday - both negative, of course.  

So, anyway, I was on grandmother duty yesterday (not that this is onerous, these days - I pick up Boy 2 from school, and really that's about it!  Both boys go off on their own concerns and I only see them again when it is time for Boy 2 to get changed for football training!), and meanwhile the Swan Whisperer loaded up the car and went to Sussex to pick up the motor home.  I got a Thameslink from St Pancras to Redhill and we arrived in the station at about the same time.  We had thought to eat in the car park there, but it was pick up/drop off only so we ended up eating our supper at Clackett Lane services. 

The journey went smoothly, although I had trouble checking in as I hadn't noted the booking number (since rectified) and I no longer use the debit card I originally booked the Frequent Traveller tickets on.  Last time, they recognised the number plate and didn't ask for confirmation. However, it got sorted out and we got on our booked crossing, at 20:16.  We parked up at Sangatte for the night, although I didn't sleep very well. 

First port of all this morning was, of course, Carrefour, where I did a shopping and enjoyed looking at the Christmas stuff that the French are so good at.  I loved the traysful of dried fruit and similar dessert options, and will definitely buy one on the way home.   

We had done all the paperwork to cross Belgium and enter Germany, but didn't need it.  We did have to upload our sworn statements to Eurotunnel, but French passport control only wanted to see our vaccination certificates as well as our passports.   Still, I'd rather have the paperwork down and not need it than not have it when wanted. 

It was a long and dreary drive across Belgium in the rain.   We stopped at some random services for lunch and again to fix the wing mirror which had gone off station and not really safe to adjust it when moving.  

Eventually we arrived in Düren, where we have stayed several times before.  The SW needed milk, so when we had had a cup of tea we went to the Lidl which I discovered last time is just round the corner.  I switched my Lidl Plus to Germany and got some coupons (pause to show vaccination certificates to site owner, who was impressed that we'd been boostered).  We were bemused by the variety of Advent calendars on offer - one, I nearly bought, was jams and one very intriguing one was a breakfast one!  

Now back at the motor home for a quiet evening.  We have the heating on and the place is sealed tight, so I think I will open a skylight in the bathroom soon, as it is getting a bit stuffy! 

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.