3rd November

Another rainy day and another bad night. I just couldn’t sleep. The upshot of which is that I’ve booked tickets to go by train to Paris for the day in December! Yippee!

I watched all the dances from last night’s Strictly whilst I was having breakfast. I thought that Michelle Visage’s outfit was amazing as was the dance she performed with Giovanni. I also thought that the judges were unkind to Emma and Anton- I thought she did a pretty good rhumba. It’s a tough dance to do. But then what do I know?!

And who was back too, standing in for Neil? It was only lovely Kevin! I’ve joked with a few people that I’m only writing this blog in the hope that it will get me onto Strictly! Well it worked for Joe Sugg didn’t it? I can hear it now “Dancing the quickstep/tango/jive/foxtrot/American smooth/paso doble/etc- it’s Jane Warriner and her partner Kevin Clifton”………………….ah well, a girl can dream 🙂

The weather was still rubbish but I decided to set off anyway and see if I could find the Christmas market in Fossé that I’d seen advertised on the roadside a few days earlier.

I got to Fossé and could see where the market was but it looked very small and looked too as if it might not be open. I was feeling very unsure of myself and so was glad when it started to absolutely pour down and I could use this as my excuse for not getting out of the car. I decided I’d wait and see if the rain stopped- which it did after about 5-10 minutes. By this time I’d convinced myself that I couldn’t possibly go and find out if the market was indeed open and that I would turn around and go back home. So I turned the car around and started to drive away but then changed my mind and parked up again in a different spot- nearer the market. It was bright sunshine by this point. No excuses Jane! But I’d lost my courage. Possibly because I was tired? I don’t know. But I was really starting to get on my own nerves now! Finally, I decided I would just go for a walk in the village- which I did. But my curiosity got the better of me, plus the prospect of shopping was too much to resist, and I did finally go into the market, which was open, and I did make a little purchase of a cactus covered in glitter! What a palaver!

There was another little village further on from Fossé that I wanted to have a look at too. It’s called St Sulpice. The road sign said it was 4km away so I decided to try and get myself there without my satnav! I did it! What a pretty place. The sky was a lovely blue, I said “bonjour” to a couple who were out for a stroll and all the silliness of the morning was gone.

My trusty satnav guided me back to Vendôme but, rather than use the main roads, this time it took me through lots of lovely little villages, including two that were particularly nice, Landes and St Lubrin.

Back home for a tea of chicken and pesto pasta and a lovely message from Amy. She and Rob are just back from their honeymoon in Scotland and she was texting to say thank you for the parcel I had sent. Remember I said I’d been making something and was worried about the parcel getting through customs ok? Well I can now reveal that the parcel contained 8 hearts that I had made and filled with confetti I’d kept from the wedding! There’s one each for Amy, 3 Grans, 2 Bridesmaids, Amy’s friend Becci who helped make so many of the beautiful wedding decorations and, of course, one for her Mum. She’s delighted with them and says they smell lovely so I’m a happy girl 🙂

I had a phone call from my friend Marina tonight. Marina and I worked together as practice nurses at Low Moor surgery years ago now and became really good friends. We haven’t been in touch much over the last few years but speaking to her today it was like I’d seen her only yesterday. That’s friendship 🙂

Right, time for sleep. I’m going to château Maintenon tomorrow- the château that Louis XIV gave to his mistress who eventually became his second wife. I’m very excited!!!

Bonne nuit 🙂