Early spring holiday 2024, 22-23 February

Saint-Quentin

Our holiday actually started yesterday, when we packed, loaded up the car and drove to Sussex in the pouring rain. We then unloaded the car (well, the Swan Whisperer did; I was watching my sister beat my mother at Scrabble), unpacked everything into the motor home, and got everything ready except the beds were only half made. Then we gathered up overnight things and went back into No 6 to have a delicious supper of trout and vegetables, and to spend the night

We went to bed early as we needed o get up at 6:00 - of course, I didn't sleep that well during the latter part of the night, and was reading from about 05:30. We dressed, stripped our beds, filled a thermos, grabbed a banana each to keep us going, and were away just after 7 - my mother and sister still fast asleep

We should have arrived at Folkestone just after 9, and perhaps got on an earlier train, but there was an accident which closed the motorway, so we had to go all round the houses and only just arrived in time to check in for our booked crossing. However, we did have time to grab a breakfast roll and a coffee at the terminal before heading through passport control, etc, and so to France. 

It had been horrendously wet yesterday - a really nasty drive! This morning was much brighter; I could even hear the dawn chorus while we were getting ready to leave (I know it's about sex and turf wars, but still lovely), and the sun was out; but when we got to Calais we could see it was raining very heavily. And not just rain - sleety snow! So much for the spring! 

We went to Auchan where I shopped (stupidly forgetting that I didn't need a trolley when it was scan'n'shop!) and the SW got diesel. We then drove to the local motorhome place as we need a new bin, but it was closed until two, so we had lunch (including first-day patisseries, which had been reduced for quick sale, so rude not to, really!) and then had a look, but they didn't have the kind of bin we needed. 

So we set off, and drove to Saint-Quentin through very variable weather. I slept a lot of the way - I seem to be carrying a great deal of tension in my shoulders, and they are very achey. It is a very nice aire, only €8.80 including electricity and tourist tax, by the river. The Swan Whisperer went for a walk, and I hope to in the morning if the weather is not too ghastly. 

The Blessing of the River Thames

 You would think, wouldn't you, that a ceremony like the blessing of the River Thames would be practically as old as Christianity in England?  In fact, this ceremony is only about 18 years old!  Each year, the clergy and congregations of Southwark Cathedral and St Magnus the Martyr meet in the middle of London Bridge and hold a short service and throw a wooden cross into the river.

This year, I went, too.  I had been preaching at Stockwell, so it was easy to walk up to Stockwell Tube Station and catch a Northern Line train to London Bridge.  It was less easy, though, to find the entrance to the Cathedral - you can't go down the steps from London Bridge any longer, but have to walk all the way through Borough Market and right round the back.  In fact there is a set of steps up to the bridge from that side, which are very steep (but I managed them almost without stopping, which pleased me).  I got into the Cathedral just in time for the last hymn of their service, and watched the clergy process out, followed by the choir, with the choirboys remembering when to turn, and doing so, rather enchantingly, with military precision.

There was still awhile to wait before the service, but I went up to the bridge (as I said, not really having to stop going up all the steps, but I did have to stop when I got to the top and get my breath back), enjoying the view over St Paul's Cathedral in one direction

and London Bridge in the other.  I realised the service would probably be on the downstream side of the bridge, otherwise everybody would rush across playing Poohsticks once the cross had been thrown in.

12:30 came and went, and I was getting cold, but eventually the clergy procession from Southwark turned up, as did a great many other people, and eventually the contingent from St Magnus the Martyr arrived and the service began.  .  

It wasn't just about blessing the actual river, although that was part of it, but all who make their living on and from it, and those who die in it, whether by accident on or purpose, and their families, and so on.  It was quite difficult to hear what was going on, what with the crowd, and not everybody was good at holding the microphone near their mouths.  I was fortunate to be able to follow the liturgy over someone's shoulder (thank you, whoever you were). 

And the cross was duly thrown into the water ("when," said the rubric, "it is safe to do so" - they don't want it hitting an Uber boat on the way down!), and the service ended with a blessing.  

It is really completely bonkers, but really rather lovely, and it was great to see so many people not only watching, but joining in.

"There is a river that makes glad the City of God."

Christmas Markets, 16 December 2023

Yesterday at lunchtime we had a minor disaster, which I didn't mention at the time as it wasn't worth it. When the Swan Whisperer opened the cupboard to get the butter down, a butternut squash had obviously been loose in the cupboard,and crashed down on the table,knocking over both our cups of soup! We cleared up and thought no more of the matter, but, alas, the soup must have got into my tablet, as this morning it simply wouldn't turn on! Big disaster. I ordered another one which has arrived, but it seems to be going round in circles setting itself up - I hope it won't take too long.

Anyway, that didn't hold us back for too long this morning, and we were away by 09:30, stopping briefly to get diesel before heading to the terminal, where we were gratified to get on a shuttle an hour earlier than booked, and arrived at my mother's by noon, so we got most of the sorting-out done by lunchtime.

We were away by 15:30, but had to stop en route when we realised the car's tyres were on very low pressure, but that was easily and quickly dealt with and we were home before 18:00. Then a marathon unpacking session ensued, and I was very disciplined and made myself finish all my unpacking before I tackled the parcels that were waiting for me!

And so ends another holiday.  I expect the next one will be around the middle of February, we shall see.

Christmas Markets, 15 December 2023

Calais

Really, I suppose, we should have gone home today, and we would have done except that it is the Swan Whisperer's 73rd birthday and it seemed a shame not to stay one last night and eat out! 

We started the day (after breakfast) with a leg-stretch along the canal and back, but we didn't have far to drive, only about 2 hours, so we didn't stop en route, except to buy birthday patisseries and half a baguette. 

We parked up at the Cité Europe and had lunch, only I forgot that I'd bought the French equivalent of gala pie slices, which is annoying, but they will keep until Sunday, I hope. Then after a rest, we both went to Carrefour to do a Last Shop in France. I was annoyed - I could see that I hadn't spent quite €50, which is the contactless limit in France, so I thought I'd call it a shop, even though I hadn't got tinned peas or Comté cheese (which one can get at home) but I discovered, as soon as the shopping had all loaded on to the computer, that I had forgotten something vitally important. The woman who was checking my shopping was so nice - she told me to run and get it, and she'd add it to my bill when I got back. So I did, but, of course, it tipped it just over the €50 limit! I could have got other things while I was at it, but there won't be time in the morning. 

We drove round Calais, enjoying their Christmas lights, which, okay, are not Strasbourg standard (but then, what is?), but are extremely enjoyable in their own right, and then headed up to the motorhome aire for the night, and then out to the nearby restaurant, which was really well reviewed. But, alas, although it is supposed to open on a Friday evening, there were no signs of life anywhere, and they didn't answer their phone. I suppose they've gone bust.... 

So, anyway, we went a little further to see if a nearby hotel-restaurant was open and would do us a meal and it was and it did and it was delicious. Including champagne (because it was his birthday), foie gras (I know, but once a year!), steak for him and "ris de veau" (calf sweetbreads) for me. Delicious, but rather too much and rather too rich! Himself had a glass of wine, too, and we shared a bottle of fizzy water. 

And so back to the WoMo for the last night this year. I was so cross when I put my coat back on - I realised it did have an inside pocket, after all, where our passports and my credit cards could have lived, so I have been carrying my handbag round quite unnecessarily all holiday! Grrrmph! Oh well... I don't have to carry it once I'm home.