I had a really bad nights sleep! Awake at 4am for an hour or so and then nodded off again and slept in until very late! Past 10am! Probably because this bed is very uncomfortable and it’s so chilly here now, particularly at night.

There’s still time to go back to Amboise as planned today though. I’m intending to visit the Château Royal d’Amboise first and then, if there’s enough time, I’ll visit the Château Gaillard too. These two châteaux lie one on either side of the Château du Clos Lucé that I visited a few days back.

The forecast had said it would be a sunny day but it was a bit rainy on the way there. However, just as I was approaching Amboise, the sun came out and it was beautiful! I crossed over the Loir and into the town and found a parking space very easily. But it was going to cost me 35 euros to park there for just a couple of hours (no wonder there were spaces!) so I decided to try and find somewhere else. That’s when the fun started! The road was one of those with a strange layout that only a local could know and I got blasted by two cars for being in the wrong lane! Ooh! They weren’t happy! It really unnerved me and I quickly found somewhere I could pull in at the side of the road and decide what I was going to do. My initial reaction was just to go back to Vendôme. But I’d driven for just under an hour to get here and so told myself that that was stupid. So instead I decided to try and get to Château Gaillard instead- and in one piece!

I hadn’t realised quite how close Gaillard was to Clos Lucé. I ended up in the car park I’d parked in last time and looking at this lady……

But Château Gaillard was shut! Closed Mondays and Tuesdays now because it’s the autumn. What a shame. It wasn’t just me though. Another couple thought it was open too- and I had checked online before I set off. Heyhoe! Silver linings- I spotted some troglodyte dwellings whilst walking back to the car! Bit of an expert now! 🙂

I checked exactly where the Château Royale was, decided to leave my car put (free parking!) and walked there. It took about 15 minutes and it’s nice to walk rather than drive around somewhere- you see so much more that way.

The first trenches of the Château Royale were dug in the 4th century AD and the château continued to develop over the centuries. It became the heart of royal power in the Renaissance and is the last resting place of Leonardo da Vinci. It is a beautiful place to visit and the views from the terraces over the Loire valley are amazing. Preparations were under way to decorate the château and it’s grounds ready for Christmas- beautiful, tall fir trees dotted here and there awaiting lights and baubles.

I started my visit at the St Hubert Chapel. This is where Leonardo da Vinci is buried but it is actually his second burial place. He was originally buried, at his request, in the St Florentin church in Amboise but this church was demolished sometime between 1806 and 1810. Excavations were carried out in 1863, the remains found there were identified as being those of Leonardo da Vinci and he was laid to rest once more in the St Hubert chapel in 1871.

The château itself is spectacular. Huge rooms, beautiful furniture and paintings, the best of which, I feel, is the huge work depicting Leonardo da Vinci on his deathbed with his friend, and King, François I at his side.

The gardens are relatively small but perfectly manicured. I became a bit obsessed with trying to get a good picture of the spherical hedges- and I’m not sure I succeeded! They looked really effective in real life.

I left the château and set off into the centre of Amboise. It’s a lovely place and full of gorgeous little shops. I found one that sold lovely handmade things by lots of independent makers- a bit like the Handmade Hall in Leeds. I spent some money! Not a lot- just a few bits- and all for gifts 🙂

I was a bit peckish by now so I treat myself to coffee and a vanilla macaroon in a little tea shop called Bigot’s- a bit Betty’sesque (I know, not a word!) Gorgeous 🙂 I was having a nice time until a couple came and sat at the table directly in front of me and couldn’t leave each other alone. I’m not even sure why they bothered ordering cakes! I’m a very tactile person myself and I love romance and to see people happy- and he was very handsome too! But this was a bit much I think in anyone’s book. Also, when you’re on your own somewhere and everyone else is “two by two” (which they were) it kind of emphasises that you are indeed on your own. Sometimes I think “well so what- I don’t care” but sometimes I think “oh dear” This was an “oh dear” moment- probably because I was weary. So it was time to go.

It was raining quite heavily when I left the tea shop so a brisk walk back to the car and off home.

My last full day in Vendôme tomorrow.

Bonne nuit 🙂

It’s Remembrance Day and a public holiday in France. There’s an exhibition about the 1914-1918 war in a nearby church today from 2 until 6pm so I’m going to go and have a look later on.

I watched the Graham Norton show whilst I was having breakfast. I think it was shown on the BBC last Friday. The guests included Olivia Coleman, Helena Bonham Carter, Richard Ayoade and Lady Glenconner who was Princess Margaret’s lady in waiting. What a show! Highly recommended. Two books I really want to read too 🙂

I was just about to set off out at 2ish and the heavens opened! Half an hour later though the sun was shining again so off I set.

The exhibition was in the 12th century church that is a 5 minute walk from where I’m staying. It was beautifully done, with so many original artifacts, including uniforms, kit, propaganda and recruitment posters and pieces of trench art. There were also some fabulous pictures on the walls of war veterans, sporting their berets and their medals. The interior of the church was beautiful too. I took some pictures in the foyer of the church and wanted to take some pictures of the actual exhibition- but no-one else was so I thought I’d better not. I spotted a bluet in the lapel of the overcoat of a very smartly dressed gentleman whilst I was there. I put some money in the collection box and went back out into the sunshine for a walk around the town.

I took (more!) photos and had a nice chat with an elderly lady who was out for a stroll too.

I saw again today another kind of vending machine, which I’ve seen several times whilst I’ve been out and about, and which is, in it’s way, equally as essential, and as useful, as the baguette machine. Here it is….

Outside the pharmacy. What a good idea. Generally, in England, they’re just in toilets- and those toilets are more than likely in pubs. These are more accessible to everyone. Twice the price of a baguette but there you go! I was trying to come up with a corny joke to end this with- but failed! 🙂

Bonne nuit 🙂

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 🙂

It was a little foggy when I set out today. I set off in the same direction as that of château de Maintenon but this time the place that I was headed to was only a 30 minute drive away. For a while I drove in and out of patchy fog and then the sun came out and it was a beautiful day- just perfect for showing off the amazing colours of the trees. I drove on roads in between mile upon mile of vineyards and, even though they were no longer bearing fruit, the vines too looked spectacular.

The fields that didn’t contain vines were absolutely full of a kind of bird that I’ve looked up and I think were Northern Lapwings- hundreds of them all, I guess, looking for food. I also saw a bird of prey- I think a buzzard- sitting, waiting and watching, on the top of a telegraph pole. Look at me- the AA Book of British Birds!!!

From the Greek, the word troglodyte means someone who lives in a cave: “trogle- hole, mouse hole” and “dyein- go in, dive in”. A beautiful village, and well known for it’s Troglodytic history, Troo is a wonderful maze of streets, steps and alleyways with houses built into the rocks on several levels. Some houses appeared to be empty but many are still occupied- some being used as cafés and hotels now but, clearly, some still being people’s homes. It’s an amazing place to visit. It’s hard to describe it here really- and the photos only give an idea of how it is. It’s a very peaceful place too and the views from high up in the village are just wonderful.

I walked around for ages, keeping finding another level, another set of steps to go up or down. I went into the lovely (I think 12th century) church and, as I haven’t been able to wear a poppy this year, I lit a candle instead and had a minutes silence on my own.

I love churches and cathedrals and you may have noticed that I take a lot of photographs of the crucifixion and of the stages of the cross. Since I was a little girl I have always loved, and been fascinated by, the stories of the life of Jesus and, in particular, those telling the events of Easter and Christmas. I remember watching Blue Peter years ago (in black and white!) when, just before Christmas, they went to the Holy Land and brought back a little wooden nativity scene that I presume they still bring out now, and I thought “I want to go there”- and hopefully one day I will. I always look at the stations of the cross in churches and it’s interesting to see how the same thing can be done in so many different ways. However, the one in the church in Troo was particularly unlike any I have ever seen before as, apart from one station, it was all represented just by images of hands. Unfortunately I couldn’t get right up close to them- but it’s lovely isn’t it?

Just as a complete aside from everything French, but relating to art and religious images, one of my favourite artists is Michelangelo Caravaggio. He had a short career but influenced many other painters. I went to an exhibition in Edinburgh a couple of years ago called “Beyond Caravaggio” which displayed some of his works alongside those of painters who had adopted his style. One of them made me stop in my tracks. It was called “Christ Displaying His Wounds” and was painted by Giovanni Antonio Galli around 1625-1635. I stood and looked at it for ages. It felt so lifelike and human and as if he was looking right at the viewer, saying “look what they did- why?” I also thought he looked remarkably like Russell Brand!

As I was setting off this morning a lady from across the square called me over. She had a letter that the postman had been struggling to deliver. She’d guessed it was for me and so had been looking out for me. How kind 🙂 It was from Janet! I decided not to open it there and then but planned to find a café in Troo so I could read it over a nice hot chocolate. Sadly the café that is built into the rock isn’t open again now until Spring (very disappointed) so after my exploring was done I went into the only place that was open, close to where I’d parked my car, and asked if I could have a crêpe and a hot chocolate. It did look a bit more like a restaurant than a café but there were lots of tables and only two of them were occupied so I was hopeful. However, the waitress went away to check and came back saying no, sorry, I couldn’t just have my snack- so I left 😦

My tumbly was getting very rumbly but I wasn’t down hearted because………remember the baguette machine I saw on the street a while ago in Brittany? Well there was one in Troo too- and this time I got to use it! It was amazing! I put in 85cents and out came a beautiful, fresh, fragrant baguette! I nibbled at it on the way back to the car and felt a little less hungry and so decided, as it was such a lovely day, that I would visit another Troglodytic village called Lavardin on the way back to Vendôme.

Another beautiful village. Different in lots of ways to Troo- not as many paths and alleyways and levels- but still with the wonderful houses built into the rocks and just a lovely place to visit overall. There is a ruined castle in Lavardin too but it’s closed now until next year. There is going to be a big Christmas fair there very soon- but unfortunately it’s after I leave this part of the Loire 😦

I drove home, went to the Supermarket and then, finally, sat down with a cuppa to read Janet’s letter! It was brilliant- in a hand crafted card too. She’d also sent me a fabulous present- some toaster bags! Genius! Can’t wait to try them out. Thank you, Janet 🙂

Brief FaceTime with Will and Tom this evening- they are on holiday in Berlin and having a fab time 🙂

What a lovely day.

Bonne nuit 🙂

A very chilled day today. I was going to go to the market but didn’t get there!

I did some writing (as per!), read, did some learning on Duolingo and generally lazed about.

I binged watched a 3 part series on Netflix today too. Monty Don’s French Gardens. Fabulous. He visited a couple I have been to already and also a couple I hope to visit whilst I’m here. It’s always exciting to see somewhere you’ve been to on television or in a film, isn’t it? 🙂

I made a nice tea- pasta- then had an earlyish night.

I’m going to go exploring tomorrow. Discovering the Troglodytes. Can’t wait!

Bonne nuit 🙂

Bonjour! So I’ve put Tuesday night behind me, I’ve got my mojo back and I’m off to the Château de Maintenon! This was another place listed in the Daily Telegraph article. Situated in the 28th département, Eure-et-Loire, it is the former home of Madame de Maintenon who eventually became Louis XIV’s second wife. I am obviously a huge fan of all things French but I find the reign of Louis XIV, the sun king through to Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution particularly fascinating. I guess in the same way that, in English history, Henry VIII’s reign is fascinating. Turbulent times and questionable decisions made, but intriguing all the same.

Maintenon is in completely the opposite direction to everywhere else I’ve visited so far so it felt a bit more like an adventure again today and it was nice to see different villages etc on the way. It was a one and three quarter hours drive to get there but it was so worth it. It was still worth it after the girl on the ticket desk told me that most of the rooms were empty as they are preparing for their big Christmas event (I think a bit like they have at Chatsworth). Yes, I was a bit disappointed but heyhoe- and it only cost 3 euros to go in because there was so little on display.

I loved it! One of my favourite television programmes ever was “Versailles”. I used to bang on about it to everyone but it seemed that perhaps there was only me watching it! It was amazing! The costumes and the hairstyles and the jewellery, not to mention the intrigue and passion- and there were a lot of people getting naked too! My favourite character was Philippe I, Duke of Orléans and brother to Louis XIV. Played by the gorgeous Alexander Vlahos 🙂 I could just imagine all those characters at Château de Maintenon. Promenading in the gardens and whispering behind fans in the beautiful salon and gallery.

In a way it was nice that some of the rooms were empty because it allowed you to feel the whole space more, rather than be restricted by a rope barrier. I particularly enjoyed being able to get up close to the wallpapers. I took lots of photos and I’m hoping that I can print the images onto fabric, as I’ve done before, and make some lovely cushions for my next home- where ever that might be. A lovely momento of a fabulous time and place.

Madame de Maintenon had an interesting life. She was born Françoise d’Aubigne in 1635 in Niort prison, her father being a prisoner there at the time. At the age of 17, with no family and no money, and rather than going into a convent, she married a much older man. Her husband, Paul Scarron, died a few years later, leaving her again in financial straits and this is when she met Madame de Montespan who was, at the time, the favourite mistress of Louis XIV and with whom she was to have a total of eight children. Françoise became governess to Madame de Montespan’s illegitimate children in 1669 and she and the King became close. She bought the château de Maintenon in 1674 with monies given to her by the King and became Madame de Maintenon in 1680. She married Louis XIV in a secret ceremony in 1683, the same year that his first wife, Marie-Thérèse of Austria, died. Having no children of her own she bequeathed the château to her niece in 1698 and, after the King’s death in 1715, she retired to the Maison Royale of Saint-Louis in Saint-Cyr, a girls boarding school that she had established in 1685. She died there in 1719 aged 84 years.

The gardens at the château are so beautiful and I was very lucky to see them on such a fabulously sunny (but cold) autumn day. They are perfect. Symmetrical. Immaculate. The parterres are stunning- this, I discovered, being the term (from the French, par terre- on the ground) given to an ornamental garden which is best viewed from above.

I attempted to video the garden as I walked through it so the person watching the video would hopefully feel as if they too were walking the same path. I failed- and this is what I got……..

How awful is that?! Tom once said to me “never take a photo looking down, Jane. Always look up” I see why now. How many chins?! 🙂

I also took this video and, when I looked at it later, I saw this little light darting about on it, which I hadn’t seen at the time. I wonder if this is the spirit of Madame de Maintenon, still present at the château and dancing in the sunshine……..

A little far fetched I guess. But a nice though all the same 🙂

Building of the aqueduct started in 1683. Louis XIV wanted to bring water from the river Eure to the fountains of Versailles. It was never completed as in 1688 war broke out against the League of Augsburg and the King had to stop the build due to lack of resources. Even in it’s incomplete state though it is a beautiful structure. In fact perhaps even more so than had it been completed.

I literally could have stayed there forever just wandering and looking and taking another photograph from yet another angle. But it was getting very chilly so I went across the square from the château to a little café and had a hot chocolate and an apple tarte tatin with crème fraîche. Mm mm, yummy! Then I set off back to Vendôme. A long journey but a nice easy drive made all the better by listening to some lovely music.

Jan FaceTimed me tonight and we had a good old chat and I’ve booked to go to Orléans by train when I move to Tours, so am very excited about that 🙂

I’m missing having a poppy this year. Or “un coquelicot en papier”. In France people wear a “bleuet de France” a cornflower, which grew alongside poppies on the battle fields and is their symbol of commemoration and remembrance. “Les Bleuets” is also the nickname given to the young recruits who wore the new blue uniforms, which replaced the old red ones worn by French soldiers in the First World War, in 1917. The bleuet de France badges are sold on November 11 and May 8 every year so I must try and get one on Monday.

I didn’t sleep well, surprise surprise, and woke up feeling a bit grotty (probably in part due to the larger than normal amount of red wine that I had consumed! Oops!)

I decided a home day was definitely the way to go- and a pj day at that!

I rang Kirklees council and the nice man there checked what I had sent him and realised that, in fact, yes I had filled everything in ok and so nothing else needed to be done. Hurrah! He was very apologetic. He said that they were literally up their eyes in work because of the upcoming election and so wasn’t at all surprised that he’d got it wrong. I said it was absolutely fine, I was just glad it was actually ok, and wished him and his team all the very best for the weeks ahead!

I had a nice chat with Julia via FaceTime, I read, did some language stuff, wrote a bit, had a bath and had an early night.

Tomorrow I’m finally going to the Château de Maintenon and I am very excited!

Bonne nuit 🙂

I slept so much better last night and it’s a lovely morning 🙂

First job this morning was to (finally!) sort out my voting forms. The library was open. Hurrah! But the “discotheque” that I needed wasn’t. It would be though at 1pm! I looked up the word discotheque and it means, of course, a “disco/nightclub” but it also means a “collection of records, CDs etc”

I decided to carry on into town and go to the supermarket and there seemed to be a lot of activity on the bridge over the river where I’d seen a man fishing a few days back. This time there were several people actually in the river, wearing long waders and carrying fishing nets. They were moving very slowly down the river towards the bridge. There were other people too, similarly dressed, on the banks with large buckets and, on the other side of the bridge they had made a dam using a big piece of wood. Lots of people were stopping to look. I stood there for ages watching and also wondering what they were catching and whether this was a regular, or annual, event. I still don’t know now! But everyone was having a jolly good time 🙂

I bought some Christmas presents for little people in a lovely children’s clothes shop today and the packaging is almost as gorgeous as the gifts!

I went back to the library at 1pm and headed for the discotheque! It was indeed full of lendable music- and had some fabulous music posters on the walls. I explained what I needed, ie the forms from the email on my phone printing out for me to then fill in and send back to Kirklees. The man said could I find the forms on the internet instead and luckily I could. We printed them off, I came home and filled them in and emailed to the nice man at Kirklees and thought “job done”.

I’ve seen the signs for the castle in Vendôme every time I’ve left the town to visit somewhere else so, as it was a lovely day, I decided I would go exploring and find it on foot. I’m so glad I did. It’s a beautiful old ruin, with lovely gardens and stunning views over the town. There was a gardener working there and I stopped to comment on how beautiful it was and we had a really nice chat. She told me that she lived in Brittany for a time but is now back in Vendôme. She said she feels her heart is here- and I completely understand why. I love it here. It’s really drawing me in. It’s got everything. Architecture, beautiful parks and buildings and is typically French but, important for me, it also has shops and restaurants and a busyness about it. I stopped off again, on the way home, to look in several estate agent windows!

Oh, Madame la Jardinière also said my French was very good- which was nice and encouraging:)

So Lindy Hop tonight! I was nervous but really looking forward to it. I was feeling confident too as I had managed to have three good conversations in French already that day and not a word of English spoken! And yes, I was hopeful that the guy I met at Chaumont would show up.

I got a reply from the nice man at Kirklees at about 4.30pm saying I hadn’t filled my forms in properly and would I do it again! I checked and checked but couldn’t see what he meant so I rang him but he wasn’t available. It sounds silly but it wasn’t the easiest of conversations that I had at the library, although everyone was very kind and helpful. It’s just that words such as “proxy vote” aren’t (or weren’t) really in my French vocabulary! So to think I might have to do it all again was a bit of a concern. And of course, with the election coming up, I also need to sort this out pronto.

Anyway, I had a lovely soak and got dressed up, really for the first time since I came to France, had tea and then it was time to set off to dance! I’m glad that I had already driven this way several times before and in daylight, because it was very dark and there were few lights and few cars and a lot of the route is really in the middle of nowhere. However, I did feel pretty pleased with myself that I am beginning to recognise places and wasn’t wholly relying on my satnav for at least part of the journey. Almost like a local! 🙂

It was a 40 minute drive and I got there, and parked up on the road that the dance school is on, about 15 minutes before the lesson was due to start at 8:30pm. My satnav said that I was 300 metres away and so I walked down the street to find the place. Quite nervous but so glad I’d come.

I couldn’t find it! I walked all the way down the street, more than 300 metres I’m sure, and then back up again and still I couldn’t find it! It was like looking for the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix in Harry Potter! By this time it was past 8:30 and worse than going somewhere on your own is going into that place late, and I still couldn’t find it anyway, so I decided I’d better just come home. I walked back to the car past bars and restaurants and a cinema too. On the other side of the street there was an event being held in a building that looked like a museum. Having come all that way it seemed ridiculous to be just turning round and going home but the only thing I could have done was go for a drink and, although in England I will allow myself just one single gin and tonic if I’m driving, here I wouldn’t even consider having one at all.

I got in the car and double checked- triple checked even- that I was actually in the right place! I was. Then I set off and the fun started. My satnav and I got completely lost! We went round in circles until finally we were back on familiar roads.

That’s when the tears started and I couldn’t stop them. Not even red wine, TUC biscuits and chocolate could stop them. I felt completely defeated and disappointed and on my own. What had started out as a lovey day had rather gone down hill. And I’d got to ring bloody Kirklees council again in the morning.

Pas une bonne nuit 😦

Another bad night’s sleep and the weather is awful again. On top of that, the library is shut because it’s Monday- and my château is closed too!!!

When I say because it’s Monday that’s because a lot of shops etc are closed here on Mondays- and Sundays too, so that’s a nice long break over the weekend. And of course (almost) everywhere closes at lunchtime every day during the week. Seems to me like they’ve got it right 🙂

Amy has sent me some pictures of their honeymoon. Back to work again for them both today – but with many happy memories made. We’re going to FaceTime on Wednesday so I can hear all about it.

I phoned Mum and Dad- all good with them. Mum has finally managed to get onto my blog! Dad says he’s going to read it and will let me know what he thinks! Be kind, Dad! 🙂

Georgie has sent me lots of links to podcasts etc for learning French. I’ve started listening to one called Coffee break French (also available in lots of other languages). It’s really good and is hosted by a Scottish guy who has a lovely voice. Thanks Georgie 🙂

Alison (and Arabella) FaceTimed me tonight. We were talking about the same sex dance on Strictly yesterday. I thought the dance was wonderful, and a great (if overdue) step forward , but I just wish that they had just let the two guys do the dance rather than having Alijaz and his female partner dancing too. I kind of felt that this was maybe done to “soften the blow” a bit for the people who might not want to see same sex partnerships on the show? I really do hope though that those people are a very small minority and that, having seen last night’s dance, that minority is growing ever smaller.

When Alison, Tina and I used to go to Lindy Hop in Leeds there were two guys in the intermediate class that danced together and they were AMAZING! Also, when you go to classes for salsa, ceroc and Lindy hop, dancers are referred to as leaders and followers rather than men and women. Dance is a wonderful thing and, despite my cynicism, I’m so glad that Strictly has done what it’s done. I wonder, will there be a same sex couple in the competition next year? Let’s hope so.

Janet rang me too tonight. She’s sent me a letter so I will look forward to receiving that 🙂

It’s rained so heavily today and been so windy too! I’m right up in the roof space of this lovely old building. I thought we were going to take off like something out of the Wizard of Oz at one point! But it’s settled now.

Ooh and one more thing. I made a rare foray into the world that is FaceBook today and saw this. One each for my boys I think! 🙂

Bonne nuit 🙂

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 🙂