10th November

As is now my habit, I watched the Strictly dances this morning on YouTube whilst having my breakfast. I’m not sure I agreed with some of the scores. I thought Karim and Amy deserved more, I thought that Alex and Neil’s jive (no Kevin!) deserved better too. And, for the first time, I didn’t like Michelle and Giovanni’s dance.

I need to do some washing!!! So I set off to the launderette with my big bag and my Persil- and when I got there it was shut!!! Don’t know why- it said online that it was open. Oh bugger!

There were a lot more people about this Sunday morning and all the lampposts had 2 Tricolores attached to them- I’m guessing in preparation for Remembrance Day tomorrow. They’re starting to put the Christmas lights up here too but I would think the switch on will be after I have moved on which is a shame. I’d like to see Vendôme all lit up and twinkling:)

I walked the longer way back from the launderette today and saw this plaque on the wall, on a row of houses, in memory of Philippe Leclerc. He was a General in the Second World War and was became Marshal of France posthumously in 1952. There is also a memorial on the bridge that I crossed to get home which is dedicated to two individuals, Bedu and Deschamps. I found information about them online but was struggling to translate it well and didn’t want to get anything wrong. So, very simply put, they were members of the FFI, the French Forces of the Interior, the formal name given to resistance fighters, and they lost their lives defending the city of Vendôme on the 11th August 1944. One of so many hundred acts of heroism which enabled our freedom today.

So, unable to wash I wrote instead. The appartment is freezing. I’m wearing 4 pairs of socks and 3 jumpers!!! There is a heater but it’s so inefficient that I’ve stopped bothering to use it. Hunched over my keyboard, with a blanket over my knees, I probably look like something from a modern day Dickens novel! 🙂

FaceTime with Barbara, and Elaine, and Mum and Dad too today! Lovely 🙂

Bonne nuit 🙂