Days 16 and 17

Day 16

15 October 2022

Happy Birthday Ella Rose Hardman….9 today.

We struggled out of bed after last nights excesses at 8am to video call Ella for her birthday. She had spent the day at the zoo, with Kate and her friend Hanna along to assist wrangle the kids. Ella had a special treat, with her cousin from New Zealand, Hazel, also coming along. Hazel is 4 months older than Ella.

Not to forget, Sloane, was also in attendance, so Kate and Hanna had their hands full. We received a photo from Kate with Sloane asleep on the ferry back from the zoo. Clearly, a big day.

Hazel and Ella were in great form on our chat. Neither of them is what you would call “shy”. I do hope Kate can get some sleep !!

After the chat Kirsty was straight back to bed. I stayed up and helped Ker tidy up a bit. When eventually KT and Kirsty emerged we had a very late breakfast, which was simple and light.

Ker was starting to make bread, which needed his attention every half hour or so for a few hours, so KT took us touring to another Chateau, this time at Langeais. A truly medieval one, with even a draw bridge ! The village is very pretty and the Chateau has a good interior with plenty of information

After a bit of cruise around the area, and a stop at the supermarket, it was back home at about 4pm. As we came down the driveway we spotted a Gendarme (Police) car parked on the lawn. KT immediately threw the car into a lefthand hand brake turn, just missed the large oak tree, floored the accelerator and shot back out the entry gate, collecting one of the posts on the way, which tumbled over the car and onto the road which effectively blocked the now pursuing Gendarmes, sirens howling.

We actually pulled up in the garage as usual. The Gendarmes were there to follow upon Ker and KT’s application for citizenship. It is a requirement that they make a surprise visit to check that what they say they do for a living is in fact true.

No dramas, and after much laughter and a French conversation we had no idea about, they left apparently satisfied that Ker and KT were genuine applicants. An easy meal and an early night methinks.

Day 17

16 October 2022

Well, it was an easy meal last night, but not as early as we envisaged. Out came the cards which we all used to play a lot, but these days it is hard to find people who play very much or who can remember the games. We had a few cracking hands of 500, and probably made it to bed by 11ish.

Breakfast was very light, as we are all still full from 2 days ago. The highlight was Ker’s home baked sourdough, straight from the oven. Even better than baguette, and that’s saying something !

Today we had plans to head to Chinon for the antique markets that are lined up along the river bank on Sundays. We agreed last night to a 10am departure, so getting away by 11.30am wasn’t too bad at all !

Ker plotted a different route to Chinon that took us through some lovely wine country, and past the winery of their friend from whom they source a lot of wine, a Mr. Gasnier. Ker calls him “Reg”, and has explained the reason to him.

The markets were very extensive, although the wares were not so great. It was nonetheless fun to wander about listening to Ker moan about “these bastards that trade in the detritus of other peoples lives”. Ah, sure Ker, but it is fun to look. Nothing was bought.

Home again for a late lunch and an easy afternoon. Chatting, washing, walking the dogs, inspecting the grounds (no rain today) and just hanging out. A bottle of Rose on the patio as the sun sank in the west, just idyllic.

Leg of lamb tonight for our last night, and the bottle of red from Talbot in the Medoc, a 2009, which we brought up with us, so fingers crossed it is as we remembered.