Lucky bugger. By the way Dave - no manager yet Hope you dipped your breakfast in your coffee... frenchie style.
Am in pig heaven. Never have goodies in my house any more, because I have no self control, but today I have a guest. You have to treat guests, don't you? Bought chocolate madeleines, fruit slices, sausage rolls, and lemon shortbread. Just testing a sample of each in case they are stale.
Dave - I am going there in August, so looking for some good tips on restaurants/places to visit. I am driving via the tunnel (only been delayed once the last 4 times I did this), do you think it is worth avoiding toll roads or not? NOTE I will have two young teenagers with me, so if you see anything suitable for them too let me know. Enjoy your holiday and please ignore this request if you are having too much fun. Stu
If you DON'T like snakes , do NOT watch .! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/36594222
The grandparents had the care of Ellie for years and they told the judge who handed her back to her parents that Ellie's blood would be on her hands. As the father was cleared after being originally found guilty of injuring Ellie as a baby, the judge probably thought she had no reason not to hand her over, but he also had a violent history. There was no social services follow up because he had been cleared. The only reason the father wanted her back was because he was a control freak. A psychiatric report would have presumably shown that up. Very sad...not the first...and sadly won't be the last.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-36577871 I'm not all about negatives today !
Here's a favourite subject of mine, back in the news: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36589106 Yes, modern diesel engines are even more polluting than they thought, yet again. So when they took the lead out of petrol, that was a good move. When they developed lean-burn petrol engines that was a good move. When they developed the catalytic converter that was a good addition to lean-burn petrol engines. In the early 1990s, when they decided to find a market for diesel fuel again, because every non-coal power station was going to be either nuclear or natural gas we stepped backwards 20 years. It was a bad move.
http://www.thegolfpaper.co.uk/golf-news/2103/mcilroy-rules-out-rio-due-to-risk-zika-virus-poses/ McIlroy has pulled out of Olympics because of the Zika virus. There have been reports that men can carry it for years and threaten the health of future children. Can't remember who, but a British athlete has said that he has had sperm stored so that he can father children if there is doubt over his health.
Are you staying in one place or driving around? I'm being initiated into the joys of the "camping van" (as the French call it) and am currently in a charming village called "Bauge" (great camper van site) which, amongst its claims to fame (it has an interesting chateau) is where Samuel Pepys' wife came from. First day (spent lazing around and sampling local produce) today (it's about 27 degrees and thundery - incredibly humid) and then we're heading off tomorrow past Saumur to a Chateau at Azay-le-Rideau where a friend has told me there's a great wine estate and excellent sparkling whites (not really my style but I'll try them) then probably on towards Bordeaux depending on weather - follow the sun!
Chateau at Azay-le-Rideau is a great choice; beautiful. If you head towards Bordeaux, consider hopping over on the ferry to Medoc. On honeymoon, we had a week of un-booked nights* and just drove where we fancied. We were heading down towards Bordeaux, from La Rochelle direction when I saw a sign for a car ferry. Quick look at the map showed it went over to Medoc and we thought "what the heck" We stumbled across a little estate called Chateau Moulin Rouge and we stopped, just because of the name. We pulled up a gravel drive with nobody around. We pressed a bell on the side of a building and a little French lady came out, looked at our GB plates and declared "non English speak"... that's ok I said in broken franglais, "je sais parlais francais, mange tout, mange tout." She then took just my wife and I on a little tour and we bought a case of pretty good red. If you do head that way Dave and find a bottle of Chateau Moulin Rouge, I'd cross your palm with some golden coins (or notes) *the last night of the un-booked part of the honeymoon is a long story; one to tell the grandkids... people are amazed I came home from honeymoon still married - what's wrong with sleeping in a car on honeymoon? *
