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French Frolics

September 2022 - May 2024
Jumping off the hampster wheel, taking a breath and hopefully enjoying our lives to the full. Champagne, wine and plenty of cheese. Read more
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  • French Frolics
    Day 9

    25.09 - Day 09 . . . Sunday Sights

    September 25, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    As it was Sunday we needed to get up and crack on as normally on our previous trips we have found France closes at midday on a Sunday. Not a bad thing as it seems to be like old time UK where family time is important and the need for shopping 7 days a week isn’t that necessary.
    So off we toddled to Sauzé-Vaussais which is about 10 minutes west from us. After collecting a few top up provisions, Tre suggested we go to the small bar across the street for coffee. As we entered Tre going first, I noted a pause in her step and a slight reluctance to push further forward. It was at that point I noticed an all male filled bar, who had all stopped talking to watch us enter.
    After a slight shove from me we entered, ordered coffee and sat. We really didn’t think 1015am was unreasonable to ask for coffee, but we quickly noticed the guys were already on the beer and small chasers and so we obviously seemed a bit boring! Wasn’t long before a few acknowledged smiles and nods were given to us together with words of welcome. So not so bad after all.
    We left Sauzé and decided to take a scenic drive home to take in a few villages we’d not visited before.
    It wasn’t long until we entered Montjean where we stopped at a local boulangerie and bought a couple of cakes. One particular cake has been noted a couple of times by both of us in literally every boulangerie we have been in - still not got to the bottom of the reason for the design! Anyhow every time we spot one we immediately think of Mr Hollywood - not the real intelligent one, but our nutcase of a friend lookalikey! So Mr H the photo is for you to titter at 😂. The lady in the boulangerie needed up giving us an impromptu French lesson which was welcome, so we have booked once a week visits with her.
    We then drove on through the never ending fields and countryside through to Chef-Boutonne where we have visited before. We stopped in the market square and had a walk around the (closed) shops. The Boutonne is a 98.8 km (61.4 mi) long river in the Deux-Sèvres and Charente-Maritime departments in western France. Its source is in the village of Chef-Boutonne which translated means Head of the Boutonne.
    We departed Chef-Boutonne and drove finally to Gournay where we saw signs for a Brocante (Tre calls it a Vide-Grenier), I call a jumble sale. The brocante was actually quite large compared to a lot we have seen but as usual had a large marquee to sit with friends and family to eat, with associated food and drink stalls. Tre and I always feel that these events bring out the whole community it seems and are a real social gathering, just to catch up and enjoy time together. This one was no exception, really well attended and not a single person sitting twiddling on a mobile phone to be seen.
    We wandered the stalls and for once actually didn’t buy anything - not sure how that happened. Tre even prevented me buying a candy floss 🙁
    We drove back to our gite and exuded to unpack a few more bags from Roxvanne - so another job ticked off the list at least.
    Food was a new one for us which we have named
    ‘Poirier Smashed Pots’ with lardons - with a home made tomato, cornichons, olive and garlic salad. Was bloody scrummy.
    Bit of TV before bedtime and another day was wrapped up nicely . . . Oh forgot about the rose wine 😋    Read more

  • French Frolics
    Day 10

    26.09 - Day 10 . . . Boring!

    September 26, 2022 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Today was always going to be a bad day. In the time we have here before a short return to Blighty, we still had some admin to sort re our new life.
    So today consisted of contacting agencies in the UK - chasing up about things we’d already cancelled but we’re still being hassled about.
    Also it was a very grey overcast day and it rained on and off all day.
    So not a lot to tell and no photos - maybe a better update tomorrow.    Read more

  • French Frolics
    Day 11

    27.09 - Day 11 . . Revisiting Old Haunts

    September 27, 2022 in France ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    I was woken fairly early from my slumbers by a strange noise in the dark. It stays dark here until about 8am which has thrown my time clock a little. This noise however was close, very close and sounded a little how i would imaging water torture to sound. I took a video in the dark just to prove this strange noise that had woken me. I’ll let you judge the noise on the attached video and guess where it was coming from.
    Both awake we remembered it was Mr Hollywoods birthday and so sent appropriate messages on Facebook etc. We had forgotten about the card we had sent before leaving the UK, but we received a photo of it from Mr Hollywood once he’d opened it.
    Up and about we had already decided to pop back to Civray - Tre sporting her new not to be noticed in jumper. We knew it was market day so just wanted to see how it faites against Lezay which is also on a Tuesday and we’d visited last week. Half hour later we were parked in Civray and immediately found our way back to the market square where we found the ‘Victorious Hairy’ still holding centre stage. The market was ok but nothing special - we remembered as well that market day is twice a week in Civray so maybe Friday would have been a better day.
    We popped into a local bar to grab a coffee and found ourselves surrounded by Brits. It was fair to say we hardly heard a word of French spoken. Much as it was nice to hear a UK voice, it did seem a little like going into an Asda cafe in the UK and listening to everyone moaning about their lot.
    We didn’t stay long and we’re soon in Roxvanne heading to the nearby Intermarché to get bits for our evening meal and then onto Chateau Garnier, across country - using all the back roads we could find.
    At Chateau Garnier we popped in on the property we almost bought in July. This had been our main reason for visiting CG. It looked exactly the same as the last time we had been there - by that I mean it still looked unoccupied and locked up. Neither Tre nor I were sure we should have visited as it brought up a few old feelings and set our minds racing again.
    Anyhow we didn’t stop and pushed onto Jousse. As per our normal bad timing we found everything shut for lunch and so Tre suggested a trip to Savigne to a cafe she had seen on FB posts.
    We arrived at the cafe and entered. Immediately we both looked at one another and I knew Teresa was thinking the same as me. This wasn’t what we were expecting and maybe we shouldn’t stay long. However we were peckish and so ordered a couple of toasted sandwiches. I should have known it was time to leave when I was asked if I wanted cheese in the cheese and tomato sandwich. We hung it out and had possibly the poorest toastie I’ve ever had. Shortly after finishing our offerings we hurriedly paid up and scooted off. We won’t be going back.
    From Savigne we headed back - again across country on the backroads, Tre spotted at least six Golden Eagles on the way home. Note to self - bird spotting book on Teresa’s Christmas list.
    Back at our gite we chilled for a while before making a massive bowl of chilli con carne. Enough to feed us both about four times I would think.
    Stuffed with chilli and French bread we called it a night and went to bed still chatting about Chateau Garnier.    Read more

  • French Frolics
    Day 12

    28.09 - Day 12 . . . Not The Best

    September 28, 2022 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    This was the third day that it had been a bit grey and again it had rained overnight and was still drizzling a little when waking up.
    Having lazed a bit reading rubbish on our phones and also our books we finally got up and I decided to crack some more of the admin stuff while the weather wasn’t great. Easier said than done - the wifi here is not good on a good day and particularly pants on a bad day. Today was obviously a bad day to the point of wanting to hurl a laptop out of the window.
    So shortly after lunch we decided to abandon the idea and we went out for a drive and explore. We drove to Melle first just to grab a coffee and a wander on a non market day.
    Not long after we were back in Roxvanne driving generally towards and into Lezay again this time not market day. After a short drive around (as still intermittently raining) we drove out of Lezay and then coming off the main roads through most of the small villages that are situated north of where we are staying - north of the D948. The weather had brightened and as a consequence the bird life increased - Tre spotted a handful more Golden Eagles 🙄 . . . One that flew alongside the car for a while was definitely a common buzzard . . . Definitely!
    Back at home we sat by the pool for the ten minutes of sunshine that remained before calling it a day, evening food and later bed.
    We had made some calls about Roxvanne during the day regarding registering her in France, so tomorrow holds a trip to see the Douane in Niort!!    Read more

  • French Frolics
    2
    Day 13

    29.09 - Day 13 . . . Niort & The Douane

    September 29, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We wanted to get to the Douane early this morning, we hadn’t made an appointment and so we’re working on the theory if we got there fairly early we may be lucky and find someone working.
    We collected our ever enlarging folder of paperwork, ensuring we had everything we could think of regarding our entry into France, stamped Douane paperwork from Calais and Roxvanne papers.
    It was a lovely bright sunny and warm morning and so the drive to Niort was fab. Just before Niort the sat nav took us off to the east around the outskirts of the town and finally to the Douane office. Parked up we went to the very smart office to find the door locked. Whilst checking the signs on the door a man appeared, opened the door and ushered us inside. We explained our reason for visiting and we’re very soon sitting in an office with him - he being the douane officer we needed to see fortunately. To say he was helpful was an understatement, and everything was explained perfectly to us (although it will cost us financially - but then he is a customs/tax man) - and he spoke enough English that it made life a lot more simple. On seeing the stamped certificates sheet we had obtained from Calais, he showed us a cupboard full of files he was dealing with and exclaimed we were the first ‘Ever’ to have brought him a stamped certified document. So I have to take my hat off to Teresa, who I had moaned at for making me drive around Calais on day 1 to find the Calais Douane! I will never live it down.
    All sorted with the very nice man at the Douane and aware of what we now needed to do - and pay . . . We drove into Niort.
    We headed generally into the town centre and finally parked up in a little side street Rue Barbeziere. From here walked to the first coffee shop we could find where we sat to quickly discuss the visit to the Douane.
    We then walked through the town, which was lovely - with main shopping types streets mixed together with narrow sides streets and thoroughfares. We then stumbled into Place des Halles and straight into market day! The market here is set up in a raised area which also holds a large indoor market area. The food on offer here was as normal fresh and appetising, and within the inside market were small restaurant areas which were busy.
    Overlooking the side of the market area is Niort Castle.
    The Donjon de Niort or Château de Niort (the former is most often used today) is a medieval castle in Niort. It consists of two square towers, linked by a 15th-century building and dominates the Sèvre Niortaise valley.
    The two donjons are the only remaining part of the castle. The castle was started by Henry II Plantagenet and completed by Richard the Lionheart. It was defended by a rectangular curtain wall and was damaged during the Wars of Religion. In the 18th century, the castle served as a prison.
    Whilst admiring the castle we heard what appeared to be a group singing and so we walked down towards the river. As we approached the singing stopped, but more music started . . . We hadn’t stumbled across an impromptu concert - just a full on demonstration 😂. It was the most well orderly protest I think I’ve ever seen.
    After the demo had passed we walked down to the river which passes through the town on its north west corner. The Sèvre Niortaise is a 158.4 km long river in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Pays de la Loire regions, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. Its source is in the Deux-Sèvres department, near Sepvret, north of Melle.
    From here we walked back through the backstreets ack to Place des Halles looking for a lunch spot. Fortunately before lunch I found a vinyl record shop with hundreds of albums for me to flick through. Tre realised that to let me purchase something quickly would get me out of the shop a lot faster. Album securely bagged and under my arm we left to find a place for lunch, not before I promised the guy in the shop that I would be back for a longer visit soon.
    After a light lunch we headed back to Roxvanne and then began the drive home. Tre had another spell driving some of the way until stopping at SuperU in Melle for fuel.
    Home not long after we sat out in the sunshine again until about 7pm.
    Dinner was one or my favourites - Merguez sausages, which Tre had jazzed up with some oven roasted onions and a little from a special jar of crispy chilli I’d hidden from the UK to here - but been found out.
    We almost made to 11pm before bed - not sure what happened there!    Read more

  • French Frolics
    Day 14

    30.09 - Day 14 . . . Gournay House

    September 30, 2022 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We had today arranged to meet an estate agent at 10am in Chef Boutonne to view a house. I had woken at about 6.30am and started to read my daily quantity of rubbish on the phone and also write up the Penguins for the day before. When Tre eventually woke and asked what the time was I obediently checked and replied ‘9.30am - it bloody can’t be!!’. Duvet thrown back with force and a whirlwind of two people from bedroom to bathroom to downstairs and finally to Roxvanne then ensued. Sticking strictly to the speed limits we arrived outside the Mairies office with three minutes to spare and waited for the estate agent. Charlotta (whose name I failed to remember during the entire time I was with her - who puts an A at the end of Charlotte?) finally arrived about 10.10am so no need to rush then!
    After a quick chat we followed her to a property outside of Chef Boutonne - Gournay, which we had visited last Sunday for the Brocante.
    I think both Tre and I initially upon arrival thought - not for us, village/hamlet house with neighbours each side and close to the road. We have a sort of idea of semi rural if we are honest.
    However we entered and were pleasantly surprised, although as we were aware the property would need quite a bit of work. Bad points - needs a re-wire and quite a bit of work, plus a bit of a box as it was a longere effectively. Good points - the work required was not excessive and it was a blank canvas. Able to be re configured room wise and extend into a large loft area. Attached barn which was large, side access from front of the property to the rear . . . . and a large garden with out buildings to die for!!
    So, a bit of a mixed bag - but we came away definitely more positive than negative. Lots to think about.
    After our goodbyes to Charlotta we drove around the area a little, we found the bread machine in the village, the church and nearby school - for little ones thankfully and some of the area we had seen on Sunday.
    Then back into Chef Boutonne to grab a coffee or two and some food for our last night before heading to the UK tomorrow.
    Then back to the gite where we sat in the very hot sunshine for the entire afternoon.
    A quick sort of Roxvanne for her trip tomorrow and then we settled in for the evening.
    Tomorrow we drive part way back to Calais as I’ve got some work still to complete. We will stay in Roxvanne somewhere tomorrow evening and then to Calais and the tunnel on Sunday.
    Really not wanting to return tomorrow - really really not wanting to.
    Hey Ho - it’s only for a short spell and then we will be back . . . We’ve left wine in the fridge chilling!! 😎    Read more

  • French Frolics
    Day 15

    01.10 - Day 15 . . . Heading Back

    October 1, 2022 in France ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    So today was the day we really weren’t looking forward to - me having to pop back to the UK for some work, Tre also had a few bits to sort out while over.
    To make things worse it was grey and raining as we threw some bags into Roxvanne. Sat Nav set we headed off.
    We had decided to take the shortest route including the toll roads - firstly to see if the time 6.45hrs was correct to Calais and also how much the tolls were.
    We headed generally north towards Tours with the weather improving, lovely sunny spells interspersed with showers which were quite light.
    We stuck some tunes on and cracked on. Both of us a little quiet at first - probably the thought of heading back and the drive.
    We then decided to sort a little thing Tre had thought of a few days ago which was to complete a video out of Roxvanne as we travelled, with a song playing that specifically reminded us of one person. So each video had its own little soundtrack. Sounds easy - other than when the sat nav decided to squawk halfway through any given recording. Any how we did a few and decided to look at them later in the evening.
    We continued up and past Le Man and on towards Rouen. We only stopped a couple of times before skirting around the north of Paris on the A28 Route des Estuaires generally eastward.
    We decided to call it enough and parked up at the Bosc Mesnil services along the A28.
    Whilst here I did find some useful footwear for Zbig and Andy back at M&Y.
    Roxvanne looked a little out of place amongst the many many HGV’s parked up for the night.
    We grabbed food in the services and a couple of drinks before bedding down in Roxvanne.
    Hardly any distance to cover tomorrow, so we may do a little exploring before getting to Calais.    Read more

  • French Frolics
    Day 16

    02.10 - Day 16 . . . Last Bit & Crossing

    October 2, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    So after being woken at 5am by an HGV parking up near to Roxvanne, I certainly couldn’t get back to sleep. When both of us were finally awake and out of bed we decided to have breakfast at the services before hitting the road for the last leg to Calais.
    On exiting Roxvanne we found out she had been joined by some big brothers overnight. No wonder we had been woken.
    The weather was foul, fine mist like rain in the wind - so we got a wiggle on to get into the services.
    We sat for a while and hoped the weather might lift a little whilst we had brekkie. No let up with the rain we returned to Roxvanne and started the final drive.
    We decided to drive to Boulogne-Sur-Mer and then take the coast road through to Calais.
    It was still raining as we hit Boulogne and so we grabbed a couple of photos at the port and decided not to stop any longer.
    As we left Boulogne and hit the coast road the weather started to brighten, which allowed us to at least enjoy the coastline.
    Immediately on seeing the coastline our minds and conversation turned to history and the battles that possible raged in these areas - and the loss of life as a result. We drove down passing sand dunes and land undoubtedly with stories to tell.
    We finally stopped at Ambleteuse and decided to stretch our legs along the front and grab some photos.
    Taking centre stage along the front is Fort d’Ambleteuse which has more recently undergone some additional building and restoration.
    Work to build Fort Ambleteuse at the mouth of the Slack was completed in 1680. Vauban sited the fortification at a point at which access can only be made at low tide. Its defences consisted of a five-piece coastal artillery battery situated within a stone-lined bastion (or casemate) with seaward facing embrasures set in walls up to 3 m (9.8 ft) thick. An outer sea wall provided further protection for the inner scarp's gun terrace. To the landward side, Vauban built a small parade ground and living quarters for the fort's garrison. The landward walls had embrasures for muskets and small cannons.
    The gun platform within the bastion was once was a large open space but this was cut in half by a concrete partition that was added by German forces during the Second World War. A pillbox was also added to the inner side of the fort to strengthen its landward defences.
    During the German occupation of France, the fort was used to imprison foreign forced labourers.
    In 1945, two sea mines exploded, destroying the outer defences. The wall has been restored in its original form with battlements.
    Whilst here we also bumped into a couple with a young long haired german shepherd - which took up at least 15 minutes of our time discussing the pros and cons of the breed. Both of us left hankering for an identical pooch!
    We continued north along the coast road and finally to Calais where we stopped for food.
    Strangely the footy was on the TV within the restaurant and I managed to watch City destroy Utd - always good to see 😂.
    After a very stressful attempt to find our way onto the shuttle at eurotunnel (we ended up at the freight terminal . . . again, had Roxvanne sniffer dog checked and finally escorted out by a pilot vehicle from the compound to public roads again) we joined the queue to enter and found out we had an hour plus delay for our crossing.
    Whilst sitting in the departure area we heard from Lou and Vince who were due to travel also, a little later than us. We met up for one more French coffee and waited for our boarding to be notified.
    Finally it was time to board and we joined another queue to get to the entry lane. Again we got side lined and asked to go for an additional vehicle search of Roxvanne - I’m not sure who she has upset.
    Finally the all clear and we briefly joined the lane before boarding. A little less than an hour later we popped out at Ashford and headed to the hotel in Ramsgate, work for the next four days!
    So - back in the UK, but not for too long and we will be back to France. 🇫🇷    Read more

  • French Frolics
    Day 17

    03.10 - 18.10 Day 17 - 32 . . Not France

    October 3, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    03.10.22-06.10.22 Days 17-20 . . . Work!!
    07.10.22-12.10.22 Days 21-26 . . . Friends & Family Visits!!
    13.10.22-18.10.22 Days 27-32 . . . Work!!

  • French Frolics
    Day 33

    19.10 Day 33 . . . We Are Off . . Again!

    October 19, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    So, up bright and early and off to work for me, whilst Tre has a leisurely morning and then some packing up of our bits ready for our departure.
    Managed to get away at a good time so back to the hotel, Roxvanne loaded up and off we go - we hope for an earlier option on Eurotunnel to the time we have actually booked for.
    The auto check-in machine at Eurotunnel offers us a payment option to grab the next shuttle in 40 minutes time, so we pay the extra and dash to the terminal building quickly (boys and girls room required) - then straight to the departures. Ten minutes later we are rolling into the shuttle - couldn’t have worked out better.
    We decided during the crossing to take the shortest route back to our place, using the toll roads and hoped to be indoors by half past midnight French time. I also set up a camera to try and create a Hyperlapse video - we will see how that turns out once I’ve had time to edit it together over the next few days.
    Straight out of Calais we headed generally south west and north of Paris towards Rouen, then towards Le Mans. We were treated to a lovely sunset during the last hour of the day with distant views reminding us of why we wanted to be here.
    The toll roads were basically empty for the majority of the drive and after a brief stop for a drink and another loo break we continued in the dark (very dark unlit toll roads) now south east towards Tours and then south towards Potier. As we drove from Tours towards Potier there was a stunning lightning storm ahead of us which kept us entertained for a good hour or so.
    Tre had another session driving through the dark which was fab, apart from one moment when I was convinced she had fallen asleep at the wheel, which scared the **** out of me!! In truth the music in Roxvanne, the noise of the road and the mass of hair covering Tre’s ears had probably prevented her from hearing me tell her something twice. After I shouted at her thinking I needed to wake her up, there was to be fair, a ten minute tense period where neither of us said very much. I did apologise and shortly after was back driving 🙁
    Not long after Tours we left the main roads and were back on the single track roads and lanes towards home.
    After all the traffic works we had seen on the toll roads all night, coned of lanes and speed restriction, France couldn’t help herself and gave us one more road closure and detour ten minutes from home! It was at this point that the heavens opened and we drove the last ten minutes in pouring rain, knowing we were going to get soaked when we parked up and walked to the front door.
    True enough we parked up, walked to the front door and entered like drowned rats! But we were back!
    No time for nattering and a bedtime drink, we were far too knackered and fell into our bed at just gone 1am.
    When we open our eyes next, we will be in our favourite little place!    Read more

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