Sunday, 11th June, 2023
Had the best sleep last night for a while even though it was very warm all night. The temperature didn’t drop below 20C/68F over night and today has almost been impossible with 29C/84F and very high humidity to the point of suffocation. I’ve been struggling to do my exercise. I even asked my friends, Kevin, Julie & JohnR if they would do the last hour for me but they weren’t very keen. In fact one of them just said, “No chance!”, which I thought was a bit brusque.
Suddenly, this afternoon, while out walking, rain started to splash on the pavement. It felt delightful in the furnace of humidity. We rushed home and put the covers back on all the furniture. It is so long since we saw rain that this is delightful.
Another delightful thing to report is: I’ve got a daughter. Of course, Rebecca-Jane, she is not but lovely all the same. I have been helping all the neighbours out with their lawns this Spring and have got to know some people for the first time in the 7 years we’ve lived here. I’m quite shy and retiring – insular even – so I haven’t talked to many until recently. Michelle ( a Proof Reader) across the road has gone out of her way to offer help to ‘the old people’ – well we are 72. Dee (a Lecturer in English) has tried to coax me into talking just as Jill (a former B.A. Air Hostess) has.
But Sharon (Finance & Loans) has recently taken every opportunity to enlist my help. Calling from the bedroom window, stopping me as I walk by, stopping in her car while I am out walking. In the end I gave in and I’ve been helping her with her lawn. Today, we walked past as she was watering and she told us that she was informing everyone I am her Dad. Nearest thing I’ll get to it now.
Monday, 12th June, 2023
Another lovely, hot and sunny day. Had lots of messages from people across the country wishing me a good time in France. What they don’t realise is that they will accompany me as I will carry them around in my head throughout the trip. No doubt, Kevin will want to know where I am and if I’m enjoying it. Jason says he will check-in. JohnR and Julie expect reports. I’m only away until Sunday but we wrinklies must stick together. Just hope M&K manage Wordle in French.
The weather really does seem set to be fantastic. I can’t remember a June trip quite as good as this. To be fair, even wet Wales seems to be good this year.
I’ve been spending the day, cleaning the car, watering the garden and making sure that everything is ready. Going through the Tunnel, means turning up an hour before departure nowadays and we allow 2 hours to get there from home so we set off 3 hours before departure – almost as bad as flying. Still, going in the car means we just throw in anything we need – sorry, we can neatly pack any perfectly washed and ironed clothes that the Laundry Lady sees fit. But I can also take iPads, Kindles, Laptops, multi-sockets, extension leads – in fact, anything which makes life worth living.
Tuesday, 13th June, 2023
Awake at 5.00 am and up at 6.00 am. on a gloriously warm morning. The air conditioning in the bedroom made life worth living last night which was very humid but have still not had any significant rain. Dave Roberts in Norden said they’d had a storm on Sunday but nothing yesterday. The Man.City. celebration featured pouring rain.
Dave Weatherly in Bolton reported heavy rain. Kevin contacted me in the middle of the night to report a violent storm in Yorkshire. I spent hours watering the garden in preparations for going away. There is no rain in our forecast until late next week.
The great thing about driving rather than flying is that we can take what we want. Amongst every electronic gadget imaginable, the back of the car will feature a huge fridge. You can’t go to France without bringing back mountains of fresh produce much of which will need keeing chilled. In fact room for clothes is fairly minimal. After all, who needs clothes?
Of course, when you’re 72 – as all little wrinkly people will tell you – the first thing you need is the toilet. For all, old girls, this is the Mens’ Toilet at the EuroTunnel.
We only got there with a few minutes to spare before boarding. On some occasions, we are queuing for ages. Today, traffic was very light and we were soon driving down to gate. The sun was so hot that getting out and stretching was important. A cup of coffee and driving down to the train. Aboard, I opened the windows to suffocating heat, tried to snooze and dream but was driving off before I knew it. Just over 5 minutes later, we were off and soon parking in our hotel grounds along with strutting cockerels.
Wednesday, 14th June, 2023
Last night was hot, humid and sweaty. Of course, having been up and out early in the morning, I still had to complete my exercise before midnight (ET). I did it but the humidity was exhausting.
The evening was beautiful to look at and walk through. At least it gave me an excuse to stop and rest just to drink in in the views.
A gloriously hot morning that saw us reach an uncomfortable 29C/84F during the morning. I ate Breakfast because it comes in the price of our Suite. I instantly regretted it even though I enjoyed it. Back to our Suite for coffee and to listen to BBC Radio 4 ‘Today’. Out for a long walk in the sun.
The fields of Flax – the basic constituent of Linen – were in full flower this morning and looked beautiful. Heat takes it out of me more as I get older. There are some real disadvantages to being wrinkly! It maybe my cancer treatment as well but, Dear Reader, I am struggling at the moment. Really having to fight hard to complete my fitness routines. I am tired all the time.
Maybe, I am dying and don’t realise it yet but it is really getting to me. I just can’t do what I used to be able to. It is embarrassing. Jason, Dee, John Morris, Christine, Kevin & Julie all contacted this morning as I walked which really made me feel better. I’m glad I have them in my life. It really makes me feel better.
Doing an 8 mile walk this morning after Breakfast. It takes me through huge swathes of prime agricultural land. This morning, I was shocked to find a large tract of land was being developed for a new, Medical Centre. The building site was dominated by this great crane which was essential in the process.
Back to the hotel to watch Prime ministers Questions in which Sunak rather died on his feet and then went out to do some shopping. Pauline bought her third pair of shoes in two days and we sourced cold fish & meat for a snack Dinner with wine in our Suite this evening. It gives me the chance to catch up on correspondence, my Blog and the News.
Thursday, 15th June, 2023
Well, on this beautiful morning, I’ve done wrong again. I’ve eaten Breakfast. I regretted it immediately and I’m not even sure that I enjoyed it at the time. Have I no self-control? I will never eat ever again when I get home.
Over Breakfast this morning, I chatted with my cousin, Sue, who lives in Salles–Lavalette in the Charente Department in southwestern France. I also talked to Martin, a friend from my time on Sifnos and to my brother, Bob in Maidenhead who was instructing me in photography.
In baking sun, we drove down to Wissant (en Franglais – White Sand) for a walk. The Promenade is wonderfully flat and open. As you can see, the beach was packed but we weren’t sunbathing.
I let Pauline look in the local Fish Restaurant window, read the menu and smell the cooking. It was packed at Lunchtime which is a good sign. We booked a table for tomorrow.
On the drive back, I treated my bag carrier to a shopping experience – well a couple of pairs of shoes. It will balance out my wine purchase on the way back. Drove home having walked a hot 10 miles today to watch the hot news of Johnson’s execution. Couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Someone once said, Well, he’s doing his best. Of course, they were absolutely right. He was doing his best for himself and even that wasn’t good enough.
So tired this evening, going to spend it in our Suite, writing my Blog, talking to friends and following the political news. Some wine, might watch a film on Netflix and have an early night. I think I need it. Well, I’m doing my best!
Friday, 16th June, 2023
Another gloriously hot morning. We were so tired after yesterday that we were up late and didn’t get down to Breakfast until 8.30 am when the temperature outside was HOT and we chose to eat in the shade of the pergola.
We were obviously some of the last through Breakfast and it was very quiet. In fact, after 3 days, I can hardly look at food at all and we have unanimously decided to cancel our restaurant Lunch reservation in favour of abstinence.
After a very hot – 26C/79F – 16 km walk in the countryside had coffee and a chat with friends in England. Julie was watching her granddaughter, a student at Oxford University, who was rowing for her college in the Henley Regatta. It was on YouTube.
She was also preparing to listen to The Test Match (Ashes) commentary on the radio. I watched a bit on my Sky app. Julie hasn’t got Sky which must be hard for someone who loves sport. Talked to Kevin who sent me a video of his perfectly striped lawn. He was very proud.
My friend and neighbour, Dee, contacted me to say that our County had declared a hosepipe ban. Fortunately, she hadn’t seen the caveat published by our council leader who assured us it didn’t apply to our area. Phew! We spent a while teasing each other in French which was fun.
We went out for a drive to Peuplingues and parked up for a walk. Isn’t retired life enjoyable! John Morris, a friend from College, has been waiting for 2 years for a hip replacement and left hospital last night. I must admit, I couldn’t have waited that long at his age but we are all different.
We went on to Carrefour to buy things for home. We leave at midday tomorrow. While we were there, we were nearly run over by the robot cleaner. I was pleased to see it. There should be more around. Those little, wrinkly old people who can’t be bothered to clean can rely on a robotic friend. By 12.30 pm today, my friend, Jason, was celebrating that Friday Feeling – something I haven’t known for almost 15 years.
Saturday, 17th June, 2023
Every leaving day is uncomfortable. We are leaving today. Out early for a 2hr walk. Back for a shower and a change of clothes. Down to the Tunnel. It is incredibly empty. We are one of six cars on the train. We spoke to a worker who told us that traffic was all one way. Bookings out were solid but back very light.
We just turned up and went an hour earlier than booked. There were 4 cars before us and 2 behind. We were supposed to travel at 12.50 but we actually crossed at 12.20 arriving at 12.50 (ET) / 11.50 (UKT). We had lovely, light travel home and arrived at 14.00. There were some heavy rain spots on the way home but nothing that amounted to much. I unpacked and then watered the garden. We will be picking French Beans and Courgettes in the next couple of weeks.
The drive back from Nord–Pas de Calais to West Sussex coincided with a significant anniversary for us. I know I acknowledge it every year but I could have missed 43 years of life and that is worth celebrating. On this day in 1980, a man driving out of Oldham to work lost control of his car on a bend and drove straight into our car completely writing it off. Pauline & I both were taken to hospital by ambulance and, initially, it was thought that I was dead. You would have missed me if I was, Dear Reader. Can you imagine: No Blog. How on earth would you get to sleep?