So I’ve changed my ferry crossing- and I now leave Tours tomorrow.

I spoke to Cath and to Will and then set off into Tours for a last look around. The weather today is absolutely beautiful! I just couldn’t stop taking photos! As you can see……….

A lady asked if I would take a photo of her and her friend in front of the ENORMOUS Christmas tree outside the Town Hall and then asked if I wanted her to take one of me- how kind 🙂

I bought LOTS of wine to bring home and some brioche from the lovely shop by the station. I replenished my TUC biscuit stock too, then headed back home to pack.

You may be wondering what happened to today’s French lesson with Manu? Well, I cancelled it. I could tell you that I did that because I hadn’t enough time to do it as I was leaving France the next day. That’s what I told him. But, it was actually because I didn’t want him in my apartment again. When we got back here after the Tours tour on Saturday, he became a different person. I was really shocked. He was so different to how he had been on the other occasions that I had been in his company- and he seemed to grow an extra pair of hands too!!! I think he thought that that was what I had invited him back for. He even tried to persuade me by saying that, afterwards, I could write about it in my blog!!! Which is what I’m doing now- but without the outcome and content that he had hoped for!

I’m not denying that I liked him- ok, yes, fancied him- and that, yes, possibly, there was a chance “that” might have happened at some point. Who knows? But after that? No way! He wasn’t interested in me at all. To be blunt, he just wanted sex and obviously thought that I was going to oblige. He even quoted the “voulez vous couchez avec moi ce soir” line at me! Oh dear! Those words are best reserved for that great 1974 hit “Lady Marmalade”. I’ll also always remember the phrase from Coronation Street when Ken Barlow was trying to teach Raquel, the barmaid (played brilliantly by Sarah Lancashire), to speak French- fabulous! Otherwise- it’s a big, fat, clichéd no!

To be fair to him, he did apologise for coming on a bit strong- but then kept on trying right up until I closed the door!!! When he’d gone I was a bit shell shocked I think but ok- and I could see the funny side of it. But during the night it didn’t feel quite so amusing. I was cross with myself that I’d probably been a bit naive and had made myself vulnerable. I questioned my own behaviours. Am I too friendly? Or too open, honest, trusting? But this is me- and I can only be who I am, which, by the way, is someone I’ve recently realised I rather like 🙂 It’s only taken 55 years!!!

At the time I dealt with the situation with humour, as I often do if I’m nervous or worried, which I think made him think he might still have a chance! I worried therefore that, when he came back next time, he might try again and and might be less understanding that I was refusing him a second time. I couldn’t take that risk so I needed to get out of the arrangement. A real shame because he is a very good teacher and I had been looking forward to another lesson. Heyhoe!

Overnight I also questioned where I, personally, stood on the whole one night stand thing. I am very broad minded, and believe that people should be free to live and behave how they want to- but, of course, only if it is safe and causes harm to no-one. But I now know that I couldn’t just sleep with someone as a one off and move on. This point was actually raised in S****ed, Married, Annoyed the day after my “encounter”. Rosie (thank you, Rosie) came down on my side and made me feel better, because I was feeling a bit rubbish about the whole thing. I can’t separate heart and head (and other bits I guess!!!) So that’s that.

I sent him a text saying that I needed to cancel my lesson as I had to return to England at short notice. He just replied “ok”, which speaks volumes doesn’t it?

And so I leave France, as I arrived, a célibataire!!!! And with my scruples (not a euphemism!) intact!

Bonne nuit 🙂

I was awake most of last night but more of that later.

Strictly Sunday breakfast round up……..

How GORGEOUS, darling, was Craig as Dolly Levi?! He was loving it, wasn’t he? A 40 for Karim and Amy- hurrah! Shouldn’t Kelvin and Oti have got 40 too? I was surprised that Emma and Anton got as much as 39 for their dance, although it was good. And I thought Alex and Neil, and Chris and Karen, deserved more than they got too. On the subject of Chris Ramsey, the podcast he does with his wife Rosie- Sh***ed, Married, Annoyed- is brilliant! Thank you, Alison 🙂

I had a FaceTime chat with Charlotte and also with Rob and Amy.

Then I failed my first TEFL online assessment!!! 🙂 It’s not as bad as it sounds! You have to do a test assessment but it’s on the information that you have to read, including the terms and conditions, before you are allowed to proceed to the first module! Who reads T’s and C’s?! Well, everyone who does the TEFL course, that’s who! Because you have to get 70% to pass go! I only got 50% and so I had to retake it! I got 85% second time around. Still room for improvement- but I’m in 🙂

I set off at 2pm to go to Chantal’s house. We had coffee and then Philippe drove us to the Christmas market in Ballan-Miré. Their neighbour Sylvie came too. I’d never been in a left hand drive car before- except in a taxi once or twice. It’s fascinating isn’t it how we have a fixed way in our head that things are. Chantal got in the right hand front seat and I thought “oh she must be driving” then, somewhere down the road, I realised that, of course, Philippe was at the wheel! Bizarre 🙂

The market was lovely. Ballan-Miré is a really pretty little town and it seemed like everyone was there and having fun. A friend of Chantal’s had a stall and, before I knew what was happening, I had a Santa hat on my head and was “modelling” her wares! She and her son both want English lessons and she’s asked me if I will teach them when I go back to France in the New Year. Fantastic! Bien sûr! 🙂

I’ve decided to go home earlier than planned. Various reasons but, in the main, because I am worried that I might end up not being able to get back for my op, for Christmas and for my Dad’s op. The places I still want to visit here are a distance away and if I use up my petrol and can’t get enough to fill up to get me home then I’ll be in a real pickle.

Of course I have a half finished hat project here with Chantal. So the plan is that, initially, I will come back to the Tours area for a couple of weeks to do that and to do some English lessons for Chantal’s friend and then I’ll move on. Chantal and Philippe have a close family friend (he calls Philippe uncle) who has an Airbnb apartment close by and they showed it to me on the way to the market today. It’s looks fab. It’s near a lovely park where I could run- and it has parking!!! Cedric, the owner, has a sex shop in Blois and, if the business is successful, then he will eventually sell the Tours property. But for now it’s available to rent. Philippe spoke to him when we got back from the market and he said that I could stay there “mates rates”which is very kind. Chantal forwarded his contact details to me and I had to smile because he is saved in their phones as “Cedric….Sexy Shop” Brilliant 🙂

As I was leaving, Sylvie also made me a very kind alternative offer of staying with her when I come back to France. Her daughter is moving out soon and so I could have her room for a couple of weeks. She lives almost opposite Chantal so I could make hats to my hearts content! I’m spoilt for choice! Staying in this area also means that I can visit the places I didn’t get to see this time, namely the châteaux Chenonceau and Villandry.

I’ve had a lovely day. I woke up (after the very limited sleep I had had!) feeling a bit sad and down- but now I feel happy and very blessed to have met these delightful people who, like Pascale, have welcomed me so warmly and who I now consider to be my friends.

Merci beaucoup à vous 🙂

Bonne nuit 🙂

The pain in my ear has gone- hurrah! 🙂

I’ve still not heard back from Manu so I decided to go to Place Plumereau where I knew he was starting his Tours tour at 12.30 today. I just wanted to know if we were still having a lesson on Monday. He was there and said that he hadn’t got my messages but yes the message about having a drink was for me and that yes we were still on for our lesson on Monday too.

He asked if I was coming on the tour and I said no but then I thought “why not?”, paid my money and off we went. The only other people on the tour were a lovely French couple who were very loved up and there was lots of kissing and cuddling and picture taking going on. Sweet 🙂

The tour was in French but Manu, from time to time, explained things in English to me. It was really good. We walked around Tours for nearly 3 hours. It’s a beautiful city and Manu is very knowledgable and enthusiastic about both it and it’s architecture. I was freezing by the end of it though! The young lovers were ok because they’d kept snuggled up to each other 🙂

The origins of the city of Tours date back to the 1st century AD, when the Turons urban centre was called Caesarodunum (Caesar’s Hill)

We ended the tour at the Cathedral and then Manu and I set off walking back towards our end of the town. I just wanted a hot drink and to get warm and I thought he might suggest a coffee somewhere. But he didn’t. We got to my house and I said did he want to come in for a drink. He said yes………

Richard FaceTimed me tonight to see if I’d heard about the upcoming strikes in France. He told me too that there had begun to be a shortage of fuel in his area (Brittany) How kind and thoughtful to do that- thank you. I did know about the strikes. In Paris this coming Thursday there will be no metro and no buses- and the strike from then on is “indefinite”. I didn’t know though about the petrol shortages. It’s a little concerning really. I need to think about what I should do- but first, sleep.

Bonne nuit 🙂

I’m getting some pain in my ear and praying it’s not a precursor to more problems so I’m having a chilling day. I’ve written loads of my blog and done tons of my Duolingo learning and………..

……..I’ve registered with TEFL to do their Level 5 online course so I can teach English over here! 🙂

I learnt something today too. I thought the name of the shop Bon Marché meant, roughly translated, something like Good Market or Good Step? Nope! It means “cheap” 🙂

Bonne nuit 🙂

I’ve got to pay to do my blog now! Seemingly I’ve reached the limit of it being free and so I’ve just had to pay £36 pounds for the pleasure!

It’s more expensive to do your washing here too! 4euros 50 for a wash and 1euro for 10 minutes of drying time! The machines are cleaner here than in Vendôme though- so swings and roundabouts I guess.

I went to get some clean bedding today from Hervé. He has a shop just around the corner from the apartment which is full of beautiful handcrafted things- from light fittings to jewellery. Next door there is also what he described as a school for architects but the sign outside says it’s an interior design school. Whatever it is, it’s all very lovely 🙂 The family dog goes to work with him. A cute little black toy poodle (I can’t remember it’s name) that sports a very jaunty neck scarf. Spends the day lounging on a sofa- of course 🙂

Something I’ve noticed about Tours is that there are a lot of dogs about. All manner of breeds- and some really big ones. In the city centre too. People shopping with their doggies. Not something you generally see in England I don’t think? Very chic. Very French 🙂

When I’d finished all my chores I set off for a little walk and took some pictures of the places Manu had shown me the other day. I couldn’t find the brothel though!

Bonne nuit 🙂

Mmmm….Brioche for breakfast 🙂 I love it!

I had a lovely chat with Cath and then a relatively brief FaceTime with Julia because she was supposed to be working and not gossiping with me!

Hat making again! I’m starting to make a felt hat today- a 2 stage process, so I’ll be going back again to complete it before I leave France for Christmas.

On the way to Chantal’s I saw a billboard advertisement for “Les Rabeats”. It’s their 20 year anniversary tour and they’ll be in Tours next April. The Rabeats are a Beatles tribute band. I’ve had a look at them online and they’re good. I love the Beatles. In my teens I was totally obsessed with them- John Lennon and George Harrison being my favourites. I remember being devastated when John Lennon was killed. All their music is wonderful but, if I had to choose one album as a favourite, and that’s a really difficult thing to do, I think it would be “Beatles for Sale”- closely followed by “With the Beatles”. It reminds me of being a teenager and listening to it over and over on the record player on my Dad’s original vinyl 🙂

What a fabulous afternoon. We started, as always with coffee. Then we headed to Chantal’s workshop and got started. First of all today, Chantal showed me how the base is made for a hat like I have already made- like a pillbox style (photos at the bottom of the page!) It’s hard work but very satisfying. I haven’t any photos, unfortunately but, basically, you have to stretch and pin hessian, that’s been soaked in a gluey kind of substance, over a wooden hat mould. Big work aprons are a must. The hessian is obviously quite tough and not very malleable, and the hat mould is completely round. So to get the two to marry up with no creases at all takes a long time, skill and patience. To keep the hessian taught and correctly positioned lots of pins are hammered into place all around the hat mould and, of course, Chantal made the whole thing look really easy! I should have cut my nails before I went too because afterwards they were wrecked!

Once fully pinned the hessian is left to dry thoroughly so that when it is removed from the mould it retains the required hat shape. When I made my first hat Chantal had already done this bit for me, as drying takes more time than we had. But she wanted me to have a go at doing it so that I knew the whole process. Loved it!

Then we started to make my felt hat. I’m using a lovely dark purple and then we’re going to decorate it with bright colours- oranges and greens I think. It’s really physical work. The felt comes in a kind of basic, floppy, unstructured hat shape and it’s really quite thick. You then have to heat it up with steam and pull and stretch it to fit whatever shape of hat mould you are using. Once that is done you have to secure it to the mould and cut off the bottom bit which will then be used to make whatever shape brim you want- again using a hat mould. The two pieces will then be fastened back together, to form the basic hat, and decorated. Unfortunately, Chantal had had problems with her suppliers so the new purple felt that she had ordered hadn’t come and the one she had in stock turned out to be just a little too small to form the brim for my hat- however much we steamed and coaxed it. So, a bit of a shame, but it should arrive in the next few days and Chantal will mould the brim of my hat ready for when I go back on the 9th December. We can still use the top bit that I stretched though so that’s good.

Our work today was interspersed by looking at Amazon, and Chantal’s vast array of shoes! She’s introduced me to some very individual, and very colourful, designers of shoes and fabrics. I left the piece of paper that she wrote their names on in the workshop and I can’t for the life of me remember them off the top of my head. Watch this space…..

So, the big reveal of my first attempt at millinery………

What do you think? I’m really pleased with it. But I couldn’t have made it look anywhere near as good as it does without Chantal. I just want to make lots more now!

Chantal has invited me to go with her and Philippe to a local Christmas market on Sunday. I’m going to theirs for coffee at 2.30pm and then we’ll go to the market. Lovely 🙂

I had a very brief FaceTime chat with a very busy Jane this evening and then a longer, and very informative, one with Alison and James. I’m looking at doing the TEFL course and chatting with James was really helpful because up until very recently that was his line of work. Thank you very much 🙂

Bonne nuit 🙂

I hardly slept at all last night! I was watching Coronation Street on catch up at 3am! Ridiculous! 😦

I’ve been putting off sorting out what I’d done wrong with my hat but, as I’m going back to Chantal’s tomorrow, I needed to do it. I’d sewn the hand band on incorrectly so I had to unpick all the teeny, tiny stitches and then do some more teeny, tiny stitches. It took forever!!!

In the afternoon I walked to the post office to post some cards and things and then went into town for a bit of a wander. I bought a couple of Christmas presents- and a lovely longue brioche from my favourite little shop 🙂

The Christmas market by the station is open now so I had a browse there but it was one of those days when nothing seemed like fun on my own. I’m a sucker for a craft fair and there was one on in the Town Hall but, I think because I was tired and naggy (a Shropshire word for grumpy), I didn’t have the courage to go and investigate any further than reading the poster outside. My courage ebbs and flows I think- and today was a definite ebb!!!

I bought this wine on the way home. If you can’t dance it- drink it 🙂 Fab isn’t it?

I was in my pjs by 5pm! Then pasta and a glass of the red stuff. No parking ticket from Monday thus far by the way so I might have been lucky and got away with it.

Searching again for something to watch tonight, I found a new documentary that’s just started on ITV. It’s called “A Very Yorkshire Brothel” and it was fascinating. It had a serious element to it. They talked about the decriminalisation of brothels and looked at the success or otherwise, in Holbeck, Leeds, of the legalised red light district. The programme is being filmed in a brothel, or sauna, in Sheffield and the owners, who are Mother and Daughter, went to Leeds to talk to some of the women who work in Holbeck, most of whom said they would rather be working indoors. They also went to talk to the WI- yep, the Women’s Institute- and specifically the Hampshire branch who have been campaigning, since 2007, for safe working conditions for sex workers. They painted a caravan pink and took “the WI Brothel” around Hampshire- and they’re campaigning still.

A hilarious part of the programme was when they were trying to programme their newly purchased sexbot (a step up from the old blow up doll and comes with a removable vagina for thorough cleaning) to talk dirty! So funny 🙂 Joking apart though, it is a really frank and fascinating window on people, and a way of life, that I knew nothing about. Thought provoking. I’ll be tuning in next week.

I had a lovely FaceTime chat with Jan tonight- during which is was thundering and lightening outside! I also had a lovely text message from Abby- one half of the Abby and Alex who bought my house 🙂 They are preparing for their first Christmas together this year- and I can’t think of a nicer place to do it than in (what was) my lovely cottage. They are such a lovely couple and I was so pleased that it was them that bought it 🙂

So, on that happy note- bonne nuit 🙂

I had a lovely email from Pascale today. She says she is enjoying reading my blog, which is nice. The house in Cherruiex is nearing completion and it’s almost ready for furniture. I could tell from the “Yesssss” that followed that sentence in her email that Pascale is very happy! 🙂

Pascale had also read that I would like some work in France and she suggested my doing some English lessons. I was initially, a few years back, going to do the TEFL course but I still had my house etc and so it wasn’t possible. But now, things are different, and she’s got me thinking………Merci à toi, Pascale 🙂

I also heard from Richard. He’s been playing doing all sorts in England, including playing in the orchestra for one of my favourite shows “Chicago”, but is now back in France until the 13th December then back to England again- like me 🙂

There’s no television here so I’ve been watching all sorts of stuff on YouTube and Netflix- the latest thing being “100% Hotter”. Deary me, I know! But you just have to keep watching don’t you- to see the transformation. And then the next episode starts without asking if it’s ok- and you’re off again! So many young women in the public eye, from reality shows etc, with everything on show and massive trout pouts! Make up too, an inch thick, and when it’s removed there’s a really pretty girl underneath but with no confidence now because her “suit of armour” has gone. The most shocking one I have seen though was a girl in her twenties, not a celebrity, worked as a beautician, had had so many procedures done- and was now planning on having some of her ribs removed! I mean, I didn’t even know that that is a thing! Terrible. Shocking stuff. But how do we, as a society, stop this? Shocking.

Manu arrived just before 1 o’clock and we embarked on an epic, but fabulous, 3 hour French lesson! Loads of grammar! I loved it!!! We’ve scheduled another lesson for next Monday too.

I needed some cash to pay him so, after the lesson, we left my apartment to go to the bank but went the long way round so he could show me some places of interest, including the last brothel in Tours which closed in 1946! This is a very old city and many of the buildings, including the one I’m staying in, date from around the 15th century. It’s beautiful and Manu knows the place inside out. He’s doing a tours of Tours on Saturday for a French couple and suggested I go along. I can see the sights and improve my French at the same time! I said I will go if the weather is poor but, if it’s a nice day, I have a château, Chenonceau, that I really want to visit- and time is running out before I leave here mid December 😦

The alarm on my phone went off during the lesson today to remind me I needed to pay another 2 hours parking. I paid the parking but didn’t reset my alarm!!! Bugger! So after I left Manu I’d been home for a while and then suddenly I thought about parking- and I should have renewed it almost an hour earlier! Bugger again! Fingers crossed that there wasn’t a warden about and that I don’t get a (genuine this time) fine.

It was about 6 o’clock by this time so I put on my pjs and poured a lovely glass of Beaujolais Nouveau 2019. It’s delicious 🙂

Then I had another one!

Then I got a text message from Manu (8 o’clockish) saying did I want to go for a drink. Nice. Well, yes I really did want to- but I couldn’t because I had had beaucoup de vin (that’s a grammar point we had covered in the afternoon- and I’ve probably still got it wrong!) I text back and said could we do it tomorrow instead. No reply. So, because of the problem with texting the other day, about an a hour later, I sent another text. No reply again.

Will rang me to let me know the plans for Christmas and New Year so we’re all sorted now and I can’t wait to see them. I spoke to Mum too, but still no news there. Dad was busy in his workshop so that’s good 🙂

Still no reply. So, either my messages aren’t getting through- or the message for a drink wasn’t for me. My money is on the latter.

Bonne nuit 🙂

An earlyish night and I slept like a log! I feel like a new woman today! 🙂

Strictly Sunday breakfast report……

I got goosebumps watching Karim and Amy’s dance. I felt quite emotional. They danced beautifully- and got 38! Should have been 40! Surely?! Chris and Karen should have got a higher score, as should Emma and Anton. And Craig gave Alex a 4! Really?! Bruno’s routine was so, so camp but wonderful! I saw too the moon dance that the professionals did at Blackpool. Gorgeous- and those dresses! 🙂

I have some sad news to share- series 5 of My Dad Wrote a Porno ends next week and Off Menu series 2 has just finished too! So I’ve been on the look out for new podcasts to listen to. My friend Alison has recommended Sh***ed, Married, Annoyed with Chris (Strictly) Ramsey and his wife, Rosie. And my friend Jane has recommended Desert Island Discs. So today I listened to David Tennants Desert Island interview from several years ago when he had just handed over the Dr Who sonic screwdriver to Matt Smith. His music choices were great! It made smile at one point because Kirsty Young was asking him if he thought he wanted to have children in the future. He said “yes I think so”- and now he has 5!!! I love David Tennant and remember the first time I ever saw him on television. He was playing Casanova in a show of the same name written (I discovered whilst listening to Desert Island Discs) by Russell T Davies who, of course, went on to write Dr Who! If you get a chance to see it (Casanova that is) you’re in for a treat 🙂

I was supposed to have a French lesson at 1 o’clock today with Manu. By 2 o’clock I kind of guessed he wasn’t coming. I messaged him to see if everything was ok and he said he hadn’t received the message I’d sent him yesterday confirming the lesson and giving him my address. He’d assumed therefore I must have changed my mind. He does a lot of work through Airbnb, including historic city tours, and he’d already told me that people often didn’t let him know if they’d changed their minds etc. So he thought I’d done the same. Not me 🙂

We rescheduled for tomorrow at the same time and I spent a very nice rest of the day writing, reading and listening to Desert Island Discs. They’re only 35 minutes long on the podcast so I listened to Nick Park, Martin Freeman, Gok Wan, Mary Beard and Morrissey. Probably a bit of overload really because, by the end of them all, I couldn’t really remember who’d said and chosen what!!! So interesting though 🙂

A day that didn’t go quite as planned, but a good one anyway.

Bonne nuit 🙂

Well that was a bad night! It sounded like the whole world was partying in the square until the early hours! Someone was having a great time! They finally moved on- and then the music started, but not quite sure where it was coming from. A really deep bass beat that you don’t need to hear because you can feel it. I once watched a really interesting programme on BBC3 actually about deaf people and how they listen to music and are able to enjoy music events. One of the world’s greatest percussionists, Evelyn Glennie, is profoundly deaf and says she taught herself to “feel the music with different parts of her body”. I guess that’s what I was doing for a few hours on Friday night! It just went straight through you. I absolutely love music and, had I been in on the fun with a drink in my hand, I wouldn’t have minded at all! But I wasn’t and it was 3am by this time and I wanted to go to sleep 😦

I slept late and when I got up and looked out of the window I could see that there was a little market going on across the road again. I will get there sometime to have a look- but today was going to be one of those days when I stayed in my pjs until at least noon 🙂

I watched the Junior Bake Off final whilst I had some breakfast- ok brunch 🙂 Nancy and I are disappointed that one of our favourites didn’t win but all four finalists were brilliant.

I spoke to Mum and Dad- no news as yet about Dad’s op.

Ooh and I found out more about Michelle and Giovanni’s dance from last weeks Strictly. It was their couples choice dance and they decided to “Vogue”, knowing that they were taking a risk as it’s not very “dancey”. Voguing is a highly stylised house dance created by the LGBTQ community in the 1980’s- and then, of course, used by Madonna in her video for the song of the same name in 1990. There was an absolutely brilliant series on BBC2 recently called “Pose” about the ballroom scene in the LGBTQ community in New York in the 1980’s, which is where Voguing originated. It’s so good- great costumes, music, characters, everything. Anyway, back to Strictly! Michelle Visage is co-host of RuPaul’s Drag Race and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community. So, she and Giovanni chose to Vogue for that reason- to highlight that community. So hats off to them I say 🙂

Bonne nuit 🙂