A MESSARGE FROM FRESNE CAUVERVILLE

FROM WHERE? You may well ask.

It is not on any touring road map. Nor is the next sized villarge, Cauverville, nor the next sized one, Lievrey. It does however, pop up readily on google’s list of “Chambers et tables d’hotes” (B&B’s hidden down obscure French country lanes.) Undaunted, this experienced rally team drove on the right hand side of the road, avoiding with Yorkshire parsimony, every toll road in Normandy, and arrived unscathed, though slightly chastened, at the now to be famous, Jasmine Bleu B&B. A quick spin down the road to the Aux Diables Verts (The Green Devil) in Cormeilles for Magret de canard was followed by a rather slower spin back in the dark to Jasmine Bleu.

Jasmine Bleu

Yesterday evening - Wednesday 19th September we had dinner with Sister-in-Law Chris at her home in Clements Road, Ramsgate. She gave us a book which had been produced on the history of INVICTA Airlines where my brother, Alan, had worked. It includes a photograph of Alan and Chris. An even more impressive gift was a newspaper cutting of the opening of a new Wing at the School in Margate where Chris had worked for 37 years. The wing had been named the Martin Wing in recognition of her contribution to the school. En-route to Ramsgate we detoured through Ipswich to drop off winter cloths and check on Emily May. Emily May gave us a helping hand to leave, courtersy of Helen.

A Push from Emily May





Thursday morning 21st September saw us following the footsteps of all those famous British spies, down the road to Dover and an escape on the Calais Ferry. As conscientious, continental motorists, we purchased a hazard triangle, a spare set of car light bulbs, two day-glow vests, "whats-its" to stick on the headlights to stop them shining across the road, and a canard in a pear tree. Not to mention the GB sticker which incorrectly advertises the country of origin of these lousy, lost antipodean drivers. "sacre bleu"

British spy escaping in Mazda 626

Friday 21st September
Toll roads and more toll roads - hang the cost, we needed to head South more quickly. And so we did, to Amboise on the Loire River. Weather - fine, temperatures - highest yet, and chateaus that would chateau on the best in the world. French bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner - Tres bon, and so is Kerry’s French. She is "s’il vous plait-ing" with the best.

Colin negotiating house exchange in France

A View Down The Loire River