THURSDAY 8-5-25

We treated ourselves to a lovely hot shower this morning with no limitation on how much water we used. Firstly because we were next to a dump station to refill and secondly I wanted to drain the fresh water tank anyway as we've been topping it up for about eleven days now I felt we should drain it completely and give ourselves a full tank of fresh.

We have binned a few potential destinations on the way here including Montpellier because the Aire there is on a marina complex which of course is near the sea rather than the city, and I couldn't really find anywhere else suitable to stop and Nimes because there is absolutely nowhere to park there and the plan was to visit it by train from Montpellier. This means we're jogging along a little quicker than I had in mind. To this end I suggested to The Chef that we stay here another day and take a look around the village.

On the way out we took our recycling rubbish and a few other bits intending to put them in the dumpsters we could see in the winery next door. Unfortunately as we passed by the gates were all locked up as was their wine selling shop across the road. Clearly the busy period for wine production has passed and they're in no hurry to sell it. Not to worry, the 'U' Express supermarket had rubbish bins outside so that's where it all went.

I suppose when you've seen one small French village you've seen most of them, but it was nice to wander around and get a feel for how the locals live. Clearly the opening of the  supermarket has had an impact on the local shops as the small Carrefour min-market had shut as had the greengrocers, and the Boulangerie didn't have much for sale either.

Once we'd had a walk round we popped in to the 'U' Express for a baguette. Although it wasn't a big shop I was most impressed by how much stock they'd managed to squeeze in to it offering a good range almost everything folk would need. As well as the baguette for lunch The Chef bought a couple of small Quiche Lorraine's for this evenings meal.

Upon our return, out came the chairs and we enjoyed the rest of the day sat out in the sunshine reading, and while the sun was out I took advantage by deploying the folding solar panel which looks to have fully charged the new habitation battery. Our next door neighbours have a few chickens and I can confirm that French chickens do like crumbled Weetabix.

This evening will be spent watching another episode of 'Endeavour' which I'm introducing The Chef to.

Tomorrow we will indeed be leaving after a quick pop to the supermarket heading for a campsite we've used before in Orange where we'll spend three nights to see us through the weekend. I've suggested to The Chef that while we're in town we should treat ourselves to lunch out. I thoroughly spoil her.

Back home we have the national celebrations of the 80th anniversary of VE Day. We owe the generation that fought and suffered through WWII so much, a debt we can never repay, and having stopped the winter fuel allowance for those few survivors, this government didn't really try to.

WEDNESDAY 7-5-25

Sadly things don't always turn out as we would wish.

After a peaceful night parked right beside the River Lot, grateful that there wasn't a flash flood during the night and we ended up floating  further down the river.

We were away at 10:00 allowing a Belgian couple to slip straight in to our vacant spot. They'd spent the night parked sideways across from us having asked if we minded, on the understanding they got out of our way this morning when we were ready to go. They asked so nicely I didn't like to say no.

First stop was the Carrefour supermarket on the way out of town where we  topped up with fuel and a few bits and pieces. We tend to spoil the vehicle back home with fuel from BP or Shell as my theory is what you save by buying cheap fuel you spend further down the line on engine repairs. To counter the cheapo supermarket fuel I carry engine additive which I add at each tank refill. This adds what the supermarkets leave out of their fuel.

The journey started with a bit of a wrestling match with 'It' until it got the message that we would be using the toll roads and motorways to Chusclan. Once it got the message it was fine and even bought us off the motorway towards the end at our intended exit  number.

Sadly on arriving at the intended Aire (N44.145448° E4.677239°)owned by the wine growers co-operative across the road, we found it closed. This was not well received as we'd been motoring pretty hard for about six hours which included a lunch break.

The Chef popped in to the shop www.sinnae.fr/boutique  which has got a lot more poncey and expensive over the years. When we first came locals would bring their own containers in and get them filled from a large barrel in the shop. She was told the Aire was closed temporarily for refurbishment, but looking at the length of the grass around the edge of it I don't think they're in any hurry to reopen, if ever.

Despite our disappointment, as we were hoping to spend a couple of nights here to look around the village and play a game of Petanque on the village pitch, I bought some wine, four boxes, sixteen litres for a price which leaves me hoping it's a good drop of glug.

The staff told us they had another facility about fifteen minutes drive away which also had an Aire and it was open. So off we went. It's in the nearby village of Laudun (N44.103735° E4.663820°) On arrival we weren't too impressed. It's small and there are one or two permanent 'residents' in their trash unroadworthy vehicles. I think this is where travellers can buy wine, wooden pegs and lucky heather all at one location. We'll be on the move again tomorrow.

Checking the news it seems Labour's much trumpeted small-change trade deal with India is being well received by some businesses. Nobby Crutch, the Managing Director of the British Rickshaw Manufacturing Company said they are ready to expand dramatically in the Indian market. "Our latest model comes with extra thick tyres and a pair of sandals for the driver with soles cut  from Landrover tyres. We feel  this all-terrain model will sell very well in the northern part of the country" he said.

Meanwhile descendants of the famous beach footwear inventor, Phillipe Fillope, are poised to sell their latest models to India in a 'Coals to Newcastle' situation. A spokesman said their newest model is designed to help those millions of Indians who all turn up regularly to religious festivals served by just four Portaloo's. The latest style has a thick sole modelled on the tread of a winter 4X4 tyre pattern. After exhaustive testing, the design has demonstrated how well any pooh that is trodden in is efficiently squished out to the sides of the flipflop. The deluxe model has a clear plastic cover over the front, rather like a 'toetector', to avoid any  brownie getting between the toes. They come in any colour the customer wishes, as long as it's brown."We have one other new design", he said. "It's a brown and green camouflage design which will be very useful for the Indian Army. "All we need now is a war with Pakistan and our sales will go through the roof. Better still, we can offer the Indians a truly genuine article because thanks to the idiots that negotiated this trade deal we can bring over Indian labour to make them, which we can employ more cheaply because they won't have to pay any National Insurance. That way the workshy, benefit claiming bone idle Brits, most of whom seem to have mental health issues, can continue staying at home".

I wonder why Reform UK did so well at the local council elections?

All being well we'll pop down the road to Orange tomorrow. Somewhere we like to visit, and for us, it will be the last time.

Patients who request Colonic Irrigation treatment get home visits.

TUESDAY 6-5-25

I endured another couple of glasses of my bottle of Chateau la Rotgut 2024 but no more. The rest was shared with mother nature behind the motorhome. It's a shame really, I had expected better  as it had been awarded the gold medal at the French Drain Cleaning Awards only last month.

It was another quiet night though we did get the pitter-patter of light rain on the roof from about 07:00.

Today we were on the move. Had the weather been nicer we would have stopped for another day and chilled, but we have to work with what we've got and the time was better used as a travelling day. As it was a wet day Nigel and Belinda had yet to surface by the time we hit the road at 10:00

On leaving the village we were pleased to see that just beyond the car park where motorhomes are banned they have created a new Aire (N44.823714° E1.187274°) and it's quite large which is good for motorhomers but bad news for the campsite owner. Perhaps that could explain why the campsite was much quieter than we had expected.

The journey to Cahors was pretty dire. The route we were taken was mostly along narrow twisting roads requiring a lot of concentration. I was rather hoping 'It' would take us further eastwards along the River Dordogne before dropping us on to the toll road heading south. I'm beginning to think Russia bought a job lot of these satnavs three years ago and fitted them to their missiles for guidance which would explain why Putin's missiles keep landing on innocent civilian targets rather than legitimate military ones.

We finally arrived on the outskirts of Cahors where The Chef popped in to the local Lidl store for a few bits and pieces before we set off for one of two Aires. We chose to try our luck at the smaller one right beside the River Lot (N44.440188° E1.440979°). We were in luck. Although it is much smaller than the other down the road (N44.438747° E1.441061°) with only three spaces there was one left, so in we went.

After lunch we went for a wander in to town. The bit we read online painted Cahors in a shining light. Maybe it's historical but we didn't see much evidence of it. Certainly no house with one of those blue plaques on the wall saying 'Joan of Arc Lived Here'. We expected a much more medieval look to the place.

As we are only days away from celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day, I was impressed to see the town celebrating local citizens who had fought in WWII by hanging banners from street lighting all the way down the main street on both sides of the road.

Although the sky looked very threatening and we had foolishly gone without macs or a brolly we only got a bit damp from a couple of showers. Luckily we managed to shelter from the worst of it. After picking up a street map from the Tourist Information Office we were able to navigate to the Pont Valentre Bridge which these days is pedestrian only. It was worthy of a few pictures before we made our way home following the side of the river.

In the morning we shall leave town heading for Provence, first stop Chusclan where we'll pick up some drinkable wine from the growers cooperative, before making our way to Orange. So it's a busy day at the office tomorrow.

Taking a look at the news I see that Smarmer Starmer and Rachel from Accounts have pulled off a trade deal with India which means they can buy cheaper cars and whisky and in return we get cheaper flip flops.