Day Seven in France - the Market

Today we went after breakfast to Issigeac, where there was a market being held.  It was different to the market in Sainte-Foy-la-Grande opposite the river from where we were staying and in some ways better.  We did spend more money there, including spending some Euro's on a game of Chinese Chequers.  After this, it was lunch in the town, which I loved (the choice of my wife meant her meal was not as good as mine), and then on the way home we bumped into a place where we could taste some wine.  As I was driving, I did not sample any of the wares, but we did buy.  It was a great place with great service and had catered for children to be entertained allowing adults to spend time appreciating wine!

Once home, the kids were knackered and although I had intended to take them onto the river bank beach, they were not really up to it, and instead we relaxed watching the Simpsons.  After dinner, playing another game of Chinese Chequers (my wife won the game today) it was a trip to the river back with my daughter to feed the fish the bread that we were not going to be able to eat.  Anyway, it is time for me to read to them.

Day six in France - Pistashoberry

Well it has been interesting today.  We went to the market in the morning in town and bought fruit and vegetables for the next few days.  After returning home and having breakfast, it was a trip out, initially, we were thinking of travelling a while, but in the end instead went to Bergerac.  However, once there, my iPhone died.  It had been out for repairs before we came to France, but it may have developed a new fault, or it was not fixed properly.  But, other than that, the day in the town was great.  Lunch was good where my daughter made Pistashoberry ice-cream, a mixture of pistachio and strawberry which I was not allowed to eat.  Following this, it was a walk down to the riverfront and a trip on the Dordogne River with a lesson on some of the history of the river and town.  An ice-cream again and then it was a trip home.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to fix my iPhone, but we did have a great dinner made by my wife and played Chinese Chequers.

Day five in France - All that Jazz

As we start to get ready for bed, we listen to the sounds of Jazz on the quay outside.

Today my daughter and I went to get breakfast only to find the food we had been sent out to get had sold out and I had forgotten to order the giant pan-au-chocolat that they also sell. Before this we had been watching a film together while her mother and brother caught up on much needed sleep.

Later it was a trip to the river beach where my wife and I watched the kids playing in the river and later make a sort of sandcastle. It was altered later when a boy found it unattended and destroyed part of it, but that is another tale.

Come dinner time I attempted to use the barbecue but failed miserably, the charcoal heating up for a short period of time before cooling. Fortunately my wife had food that mostly did not need to be cooked on the BBQ and instead we used the cooker in the cottage.

But, while we did not do much, the kids loved today.

Day four in France - films

Today has been one travelling about in the area.  We had a trip into town to find one of the least helpful Tourist Information centres that we have found and then after that, it was a journey to find another. Luckily our hosts had told us where they could be found and we then found one of the most helpful Tourist information centres ever.  The good thing about the tourist information centre was the museum above it, which while sparse was free and offered information on the basics of the Stone and Bronze Age, which I presume included local finds.

We were fortunate enough to be told more information to augment that which our hosts had given us both today and yesterday.  And armed with this information, due to the day being one with weather reminiscent of England (the stereotyped version) we traveled. We visited a chateau and tried some wine. The kids were great but we felt it would be too unfair on them to take them round looking at furniture when they were hungry so instead we went to a nearby restaurant were we had good food. I always love the idea of fried cheese but the Camembert with breadcrumbs today accompanied by a salad with raspberry vinegar was amazing.

Once back near our temporary home, it was a trip to a local patisserie to reward the children for their patience with a treat for them and a Cafe au lait for us.  At home while my wife slept, the children watched the end of Transformers 2 (as bad as all the other sequels) and then we watched Batman vs Superman which was a far better film.  Anyway they are in bed now, no doubt sleeping about superheroes and the argument we had over dinner as to if Buffy The Vampire Slayer is a superhero (or heroine) or not. For the record, she is one, and an awesome one at that.

And the picture is of a snail is one that we picked up somewhere along our travels today.

Day three in France - civilised

Today has been more relaxed.  Breakfast was relaxed and great. My wife is far better at French than I am and is speaking less Italian now when speaking French.  I am not one to judge however as I am terrible with both, only speaking a few words despite having lessons in both languages in the past.

Lunch occurred after a trip to the local supermarket and then, for the children and I, a walk down the river bank to a beach on the river. I do not think the kids were too happy with this, but they came along anyway but when there, loved it.  There is a park as well as two areas, one to swim in, the other to wade in. We didn't take the appropriate clothes so were not able to stay for as long as we would have liked.

Dinner today was outside our cottage to the sound of music, a delight we were never going to have in Italy.

Day two in France - La Batellerie

Not the best photo but one I intend to improve on. We are at our destination and it is great. The couple that run La Batellerie are as lovely as the place itself. My wife booked it and as with the holiday last year, the place is amazing. Unlike last year it is in the town which makes it much better for exercise. Anyway we are watching Iron Man. Good night all!

Day one of our holiday in France

Knackered, that is the way to describe all of us.

My amazing wife has arranged a holiday for us in France and we are now enjoying the effort she put into this.  The last two days have been busy as I have been finishing off what work I can do before the holiday. Some of this will require me to catch up on e-mails when on holiday but otherwise we will be spending much needed and valued time together.  The big downside of this was when I was late for a lunch invite with some good friends yesterday. I owe them lots for this and will have to find a way to make it up to them.

As for today, the trip down to the Tunnel was essentially uneventful and though there were a lot more security checks than before the journey under the Channel went well. And then it was the long drive.  But the roads in France are great, as are the service areas.  My wife just kept saying how civilised things are in France.  Service areas in the UK are improving but have some way to go to catch up with the standard set in France.

Anyway, we are how resting in our hotel before setting off again tomorrow.  And I hope to be able to update the blog then.