Writing all day today for my talk in school on Monday. I did a bit of reading too. Why does it feel so reckless and lazy to read during the day? I’ve just finished a novel by Graham Norton. It’s called the Keeper and it was really good. I love GN so hoped I wouldn’t be disappointed but also hoped I wouldn’t just hear his voice in my head as I read the book. All good on both points. Definitely worth a read. Some real insightfulness into human nature and emotions in it. Lovely.

I walked to the supermarket for some bits and rediscovered my love of TUC biscuits!!! I’d forgotten how good they are. I can’t stop eating them. Lovely with red wine!

My other new addiction is Queer Eye on Netflix. I am hooked! They are all so gorgeous and it’s made me cry several times. I want the Fab 5 to come and sort me out. Especially Jonathan 🙂

One unsavoury thing I need to mention is the amount of dog poo there is on the streets here. The towns are beautiful and so neat and tidy but everywhere you go- it’s there. I remember it used to be like that in the UK and I hadn’t ever really thought about how much better it is now until I came here and saw it all over the pavements. Anyway, there we are. Sorry if you’re reading this whilst eating. Believe me it took something for me to even write it. Yuk!

I had a brief chat with Will. My cordless headphones aren’t working so I rang for some technical support. We think they might be broken 😦

I didn’t do my week 2 run 1 today (C25K) because I was busy writing so I’ve reset the reminder for tomorrow……….

I was going to go to Combourg today but it it was raining so I stayed put. There is a chateau there where the romantic novelist Francois René de Chateaubriand lived for a time. He was born in St Malo in 1768 and died in Paris, aged 70. He had quite a life and was a soldier, a politician and a writer.

I had a lovely chat with Trish, then a FaceTime call with Barbara and another lovely chat with Charlotte today.

I had lunch, read my notes for tomorrow and then did my run. It was hard today, probably because I’d left 2 days between runs rather than the recommended 1 day.

Early bed. Nervous about tomorrow!

I spent this morning with Pascale. She has just started to sew and asked me to help her make a drawstring bag as she wants to make some for her nieces for Christmas.

We used her Grandma’s Singer sewing machine. A few problems with the tension and the post that the bobbin of cotton should sit on was missing (a job for Jean Luc, Pascale’s husband) but we managed and spent a really lovely morning sewing and swapping words from each other’s languages for things such as pins, fabric etc. The result was a bag made out of some lovely white fabric that I think Pascale said used to be a table cloth. We put an embroidered label on the front saying « lingerie », some ribbon through the top that came out of my Tunnocks box- et voilà- un petit sac blanc 🙂

Part way through the morning two men arrived to sweep the chimney of the fireplace in the room where we were sewing. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a perfectionist and so initially the idea that they were doing something so dirty only a few feet from where we were doing something so clean (white fabric!) was horrifying. But Pascale just took it in her stride and I joined in. It was nice actually- not giving a damn 🙂

I was invited for lunch today too. Lunch in France is an event. The shops all close across lunchtime and reopen around 2pm. Jean Luc came home from work and Clément (their son) came home from school. Jeanne was already there at the house. So the five of us sat down to a feast. We had white port as an aperitif and then bread and different spreads- tomato, fish and pork. Then vegetable soup, then a cassoulet, then apple tart (all homemade of course) and then bread and cheese! It was delicious and so lovely to spend time around a table eating with other people. That’s one thing I really miss about being on my own- sharing a meal with others.

Later in the afternoon I went to a fabric shop recommended to me by Pascale. It’s called Self Tissu- tissu being the french word for fabric, cloth, material. They had some beautiful fabrics- oh my word! A lot of amazing designs and types of fabrics I haven’t seen in England. I wanted, of course, to buy everything, especially some stunning fabric with peacocks and flowers on it that would have made an amazing headboard (why headboard I don’t know but that’s what came into my head) But in the end I didn’t buy anything! I thought it was quite expensive and also I’m travelling around and will see so much more as I visit different places. Plus, I have a MASSIVE box of fabric in storage already. I was pretty impressed with my self constraint I have to say!

Julia FaceTimed me whilst cooking but then we lost the connection- no surprise there, the internet being what it is. I had a lazy evening watching tv.

Oh and I got a reply back from Angel Strawbridge saying that unfortunately their diary is completely full and so it isn’t possible for me to visit. She said that they have « up to 30 sets of visitors at the gates to the chateau every day » and that I could follow them on their website. It was a very nice email but I wanted to write back and say I didn’t want to come as a « follower » but as someone who has kind of done what they did (minus the chateau) and also because I love making/creating things as does Angel. Anyway, in the end, I didn’t reply. Disappointed though.

Bonne nuit 🙂

Feeling much better today thank goodness and off to Cancale!

Cancale is a coastal town famous for it’s oysters. It is a lovely place and made all the more lovely on the day I visited because it was a beautiful sunny day. There are some many restaurants there, most of which are primarily seafood restaurants. Walking along the front I saw people eating plates of «  fruits de mer » like I’ve never seen before! I thought straight away of Will and Tom- they would love it here.

Unfortunately because of my little problem with salmon, ie I like it but it doesn’t like me, I haven’t ever had oysters or mussels- I’ve been a little scared to try them. But those platters being served up in the restaurants looked so good.

What appealed to me though was what was happening right at the far end of the front where the oyster beds are. Here there were just a few stalls selling the oysters straight to the public. They had reusable oyster plates that people took their oysters away on, ate them and took the plate back. Nearby there was a wine van that was selling bottles of wine for people to have with their oysters and again people then just returned their empties! I saw a group of people, of several generations, sitting around a picnic table enjoying this simple but delicious feast. Wonderful!

I played it safe with my lunch and had my first galette. Un galette de Gaëlle. A galette is a savoury crêpe, usually made with buckwheat I think, and filled with savoury things. Mine was filled with ham, raclette, camembert and a perfectly fried egg. It was scrummy! Yum! While I was eating I saw several tractors go by pulling trailers piled high with sacks of oysters. The trailers seemed to have outboard motors on them? Clearly a finely tuned system.

I found 2 shops in Cancale that were amazing! The first was part bricante and part handmade things « L’Armoire d’Eugénie » I was in heaven! If I had just been on holiday and I had a house I would have bought tons of things!!! Honestly I would. But as I’m not and I haven’t I restrained myself. I did buy though some old embroidery magazines from the 1930’s, a piece of lacey fabric to make a cushion from (what else?) and a set of 3 old copper jelly moulds. Quite restrained I would say.

I had a lovely chat with the lady in the shop (mainly in French) about the lovely things she was selling and particularly about a gorgeous lace dress that was displayed on a mannequin. She told me that the lace flowers were all embroidered on by hand to the basic tulle dress fabric. It was stunning and on sale for around 200 euros. I asked if I could take a photo of it for my blog and she very kindly obliged. She told me about some of the different embroidery techniques in the region and how a man called Pascal Jaouen, a French embroiderer and designer, is revitalising the art of « broderie de Calais » It is exquisite. So delicate and beautiful. I looked on google to find out more about it and a picture of Kate Middleton in her wedding dress popped up but I couldn’t find anything to say that it definitely was broderie de Calais. I’ll keep looking……..

Next door was a shop full of gorgeous things- Agnès Rohmer-Kretz- from pottery and jewellery to beautiful handmade children’s clothes, in the most stunning fabrics, unlike anything I’ve ever seen at home. My eye was caught by something I’d recently been discussing with someone- reusable sanitary towels- and again in an array of fab fabrics. They were made by the lady who was working in the shop and she said she makes them from off cuts of fabric left over from making clothes- hence the lovely colours and designs. She makes them in 3 different sizes and says she herself uses them alongside a moon cup (some of you will know what this is and some may not) She told me that shop owners are being very much encouraged/persuaded to make/stock/sell environmentally friendly products, and these being one of them. She also sells reusable wipes, shampoo in blocks like soap and many other things. She told me a funny story about earlier that day actually. A girl came in to the shop with her male partner and was looking at the sanitary pads and was asking his opinion about which she should choose! Why?! You use them- you choose! And as lovely as they are they’re not going to be seen or to stay that way are they! Sweet though- young love 🙂

Another conversation about Brexit today! I said really the same as I said to the ladies from Australia the other day. This time the conversation was with two ladies again, but one from France and one from Germany. I just keep flying the flag for those of us who didn’t want to leave. We just had a nice chat- three women from three countries, all wondering what’s happening. Crazy isn’t it?

Will rang tonight which was lovely and I completed run 3 of week 1 of Couch to 5K. I wonder what week 2 holds……………

Bonne nuit 🙂

Another bad night’s sleep! Feeling a bit rubbish. Got up late and did some writing. I started watching the Bake Off on YouTube- someone called Cherzo puts the full episode on every week- thank you so much 🙂 Of course the internet blobbed after about 20 minutes, which I’ve grown use to now so I just thought ok I’ll watch the rest later. But instead of just switching it off, then I decided to read some comments that other people had written about the site- and I discovered that Michael had left that week! Note to self- just turn it off next time!

I walked into Dol this afternoon. It really is a lovely town. I went into the Cathedral and had a look around and yes I lit a candle. Part of the cathedral dates back to the 13th century and restoration work is ongoing at the moment to preserve this beautiful building. The oldest part reminded me of Sainte Chapelle in Paris with it’s blue and gold starry sky ceiling and stunning windows.

I came back and still felt rubbish (massive headache) so tried to have a sleep but couldn’t. The internet had come back to life as if by magic so I was able to watch the rest of Bake Off. Three things- those showstoppers were crazy! So labour intensive you would have to love baking to make one; I was very disappointed that Michael left; and Noel Fielding is bloody gorgeous! 🙂

Pascale had left a cup of homemade vegetable soup for me and it was so welcome- so comforting and just what I needed. Merci beaucoup 🙂

I had a message from my friend Trish to say that the postcard I had sent her little girl Olivia had arrived and that she was going to take it in for show and tell at her next French lesson. How lovely is that?

Early bed.

Bonne nuit 🙂

School time! We didn’t go by bike because a bit like in Goldilocks one bike was too big, one was too small but (thankfully!) there wasn’t one that was just right!!!

On the way there Pascale told me an interesting fact. She is 57 years old and retired a few months ago. She was able to do this because she has 3 children. If she had only had 2 then she would have had to have worked until she was in her 60’s (I can’t quite remember the exact age, but around 63 I think). Interesting.

We arrived at the school and met Martine whose class I will be talking to on Monday. She is lovely and in between talking about the lesson she gave me a French lesson! She has also invited me to visit her in Rennes, where she lives, next Wednesday and she will show me around! How lovely!

On Monday I will be talking to BTEC students who are doing elderly care and child care. Half an hour- twice- as the class is split in two! I will:

⁃ Introduce myself. I have decided I must do this in French

⁃ Tell them about my career, qualifications etc

⁃ Explain what we have in the UK as regards child care and elderly care and how it works

⁃ Talk about the NHS So! Someone has some work to do before then! Really looking forward to it but I’m sure I will be very nervous! I’m going to set up a WhatsApp Group to seek the advice and opinions of the LSMP gang so all will be well 🙂

We then had a look around the school. It’s fabulous. Students are aged from 13 to 22. They come from all over France and can board from the age of 15. It’s a vocational college and the main subjects studied there are farming, commerce and social/health care. I was introduced to the headmaster and then we went for coffee in the staff room. It was buzzing! There was chocolate and biscuits on the tables for people to help themselves and stood in the corner were 2 huge sacks of baguettes! I really wanted to take a photo but didn’t. It all felt lovely and relaxed- and so cool. The coffee was in tiny cups, everyone was kissing each other on both cheeks, there were teachers stood outside having a smoke. I know! But it still looked cool. Loved it.

I got my sewing machine out in France for the first time today. Hurrah! I can’t tell you what I’m making at the moment because it’s a surprise for someone. Suffice to say I passed a happy couple of hours with my machine à coudre 🙂

Pascale and Jean Luc bought another property in December. It’s in Cherrueix which is about 15mins drive from Dol and right on the coast. Pascale is painting it at the moment and invited me to go over and have a look. It is beautiful! They have put a new roof on and windows in. It has no staircase yet so having a look upstairs was interesting! The view is stunning and the intention is to have the sitting room upstairs because that’s where you can get the best view of the sea. Outside at the back is a garden and then out through a gate and you are almost at the sea! They plan to use it for their family but also as an AirBnB. It’s a must!

Day 2 of Couch to 5K today- me and Jo. I’m loving it. Very achey though. Day 3 on Thursday:)

I was given beetroot from the garden today. Along with rhubarb and goat’s cheese, beetroot is my favourite food. It was delicious! Really earthy taste. Homemade apple tart again too. It’s a good job I’m doing the 5K thing!

By the way, does anybody know who Keith is?! Just kidding! I’m using a language app that Tom told me about. It’s called Duolingo. I think you can pay to use it but I’m just playing for free at the moment. It’s good. Quite basic but it makes you think. You get hearts if you get the answer right and then go up levels etc. All day today I kept getting messages from the owl logo from the app (small and green and winks a lot- bit like Orville) saying I was being followed by Keith! Who is Keith? Go away!

Bonne nuit 🙂

It’s raining!!! So, I had breakfast, watched the rest of Strictly, then Coronation Street, then Sanderton!!! Strictly was amazing as ever, Coronation Street was Coronation Street, a perfect mix of silliness and sadness. Sanderton, well I was a bit scathing of it at first but I love it now. It’s not Jane Austen, but deliciously so! It’s a bit cheeky and more along the lines of Austentatious that we go to see at the Fringe. Dr Fuchs????! An Austen creation? I’d like to think so but….mmm.

A tiny bit of blue sky about 2ish so I set off for Mont Dol, a little village about 10mins drive away from here. I planned to visit another village that day too so I set the satnav then put it in my bag to take on my walk as I’m totally paranoid about losing it. There were lots of cars in the car park- a group of French people just setting off for a walk- but when they had disappeared out of view there was no-one around at all. I set off walking and all of a sudden a voice said “in 300 metres turn right!” Frightened me to death! Ha ha! 🙂

I walked around the village then climbed up to the monument and tiny chapel that overlook the landscape. I climbed up inside the tower and the view from the top was fab- despite the rain. The little chapel was locked but through a wrought iron little porthole I could see a beautiful stained glass window commemorating the 1914-1918 world war.

It was too rainy to go anywhere else so I came home, had an early tea, the sun came out- blue sky and everything- and I had an early night before school tomorrow!

Bonne nuit 🙂

Woke up feeling a bit sad. I had a bad night, little sleep- I don’t know why. I couldn’t get the internet to behave last night and I think I was just really in need of a bit of home- even if that was Coronation Street! Pathetic really, when you put it in perspective. Firstly, the tragedy that happened in Paris on Thursday and also, think of all the people who bravely travelled to all corners of the earth when even sending and receiving a letter took an age! When even travelling took an age! Come on Jane. Allons-y!

I found another delicious treat waiting for me in the kitchen/utility this morning. Home made rhubarb tart. Teatime can’t come too quickly!

I watched the rugby again this morning. France v Tonga. Ooh it was close! France won though, 23-22. During the match Charlotte rang me to say that they’d got tickets for Glastonbury- including one for me! It’s the 50th year of the festival next year so very excited to see who will be appearing. Not looking forward to the toilets though………

Pascale brought me new bedding today and took some washing for me too. She has arranged for us to go into school to see her colleague on Tuesday at 9.20- and we are going by bike!

The sun came out in the afternoon and around 5pm I set off on my first run using the Couch to 5K app. It’s really good (thanks Tom). You choose from a short list of celebrities, including sports people, the person you want to support and guide you throughout the programme. I chose Jo Whitley- good choice I think. Calm, quiet voice. Very encouraging. It worked well. Sarah Millican was on the list. I can’t quite imagine what she would be like. Probably talking about things related to the need for the aforementioned feminine wipes if her act is anything to go by!!! Anyway, I loved it. I ran along a quiet country road just a stone’s throw from where I’m staying. You go through a tunnel under the main road and then the road just goes on forever. Had a few funny looks from the locals. I was able to say “bonjour” though so I think I was doing it at the right level. I’d actually like to go out again today but they advise a rest day at this point- and it’s raining!

Tea was scrummy. Well ok pudding was scrummy. I ate the tart with some crème fraîche. Mmm, mmm- gorgeous. I wanted it to last forever 🙂

I watched Strictly until the internet failed! Then watched Woman in Gold with French subtitles on the television. A brilliant film starring Helen Mirren about the restitution of works of art seized by the Nazis in the war. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a must.

I couldn’t sleep again!!! But, silver linings, I went to check the time and Amy had sent me some of the official photos of the wedding. They are beautiful. I couldn’t stop looking at them. Then I really couldn’t sleep 🙂

Bonne nuit 🙂

Oh I forgot to say yesterday that the advert for feminine wipes I told you about the other day was on the television again last night- in the ad break for the Voice- Kids. I couldn’t find my phone quick enough to video it so this morning I tried to find it on YouTube. OMG! Horrified! Do you know how many things there are on YouTube related to this subject? Including videos for DIY preparations to keep your ******* smelling lovely! Really! No wonder women are attending for doctor and nurse appointments for horrid thrush etc if they are paying attention to that lot! In the words of the wonderful Debbie Smith, “big tub of aqueous cream, a pound, over the counter” A campaign is needed! Any takers?

I went to the weekly Saturday market in Dol today. It is huge, stretching right the way from the market place all the way down the Main Street, with a couple of deviations down side streets too. It sells everything- from sea food to sexy underwear, from cheese to chimeneas and so on. I saw a stall that brought my Grandma Taylor to mind. It sold house coats and button through, smart little crimpelene dresses just like she used to wear. Always neat and tidy 🙂

I went into a beautiful toy shop and bought a few bits for Christmas presents (I know, it’s coming) French toys are so stylish, so beautifully designed. I just wanted to buy everything! But I resisted. I did buy though from one of the stalls a lovely big pink basket, with birthday euros that I was given by the lovely Vernons. It’s got leather handles and will be perfect for shopping or storage. Thank you 🙂

My last stop was at a stall that was selling the most amazing bread and cakes. I bought a pain au raisin. Wow! Delicious! Unlike any other I have ever had. It was like eating cold bread and butter pudding. So big too! Half at lunch and half later on.

Spoke to Mum and Dad. All well in Dorset- just rainy.

The weather was brighter here this afternoon and I set off to Dinan, a beautiful town full of medieval houses and cobbled streets. Parking was easy (hurrah!) and I set off to explore. Leaving behind the main shopping street the true history of the town reveals itself and it is very beautiful with lots of artisan shops selling lovely things (which I didn’t buy btw)

I didn’t go to the castle, but instead headed for the ramparts. I was pondering which way to go when an elderly gentleman approached me and explained in French where I needed to be if I wanted to get up there. He then took out his wallet and showed me a picture of himself as a gendarme (I think) and said something about “sécurité”. He was reassuring me that he was telling the truth and was to be trusted. How kind. His directions were spot on and the view was well worth the climb.

I visited the cathedral of course, then went to a little tabac for coffee and a madeleine. I was really hot and thirsty and commented to the elderly gentleman (a different one) who had sat down at the next table that I wished I could have his beer. He said it was delicious- and 6.8% He was waiting for his wife. They were on an organised tour (Saga I think) and she had gone off with the rest of the party to look at the town. He told me that she had organised the trip as a surprise for their 50th wedding anniversary and she’d only told him they were going yesterday! I asked where the trip would take them next. He said “I don’t know- I just follow” Perhaps that’s how they got to where they are today?! 🙂

I also chatted to another English couple at the cafe who tried to tell me that a motorhome (not a camper van cos that’s another thing entirely apparently) is the way to go. I said it wasn’t for me- I like proper walls and a proper bathroom etc and, as a lone traveller, I wouldn’t feel secure. I then had to chase them down the street as I realised that the lady had left her phone on the table when they left!

Cheapest parking to date in Dinan- 80cents! It was 14 euros in Bayeux (I was there a couple of hours longer but even so) and 9 euros at Mont St Michel.

I found out last night that 4 people had been killed in Paris on Thursday. I had been watching the news yesterday and saw that they were talking a lot about security but I wasn’t sure why. So I looked at BBC news online and read what had happened. How absolutely terrible.

I watched Danse Avec Les Stars again tonight. I enjoyed it more this week but, as I said, it’s just not Strictly 🙂

Bonne nuit 🙂

So breakfast, as predicted was divine!!! A (small) baguette with butter and Pascale’s delicious rhubarb jam! Yummy!

I emailed Dick and Angel today. You know, the people on “Escape to the Chateau” I’ve asked if I can bob in for a visit when I’m in the Loire region. They can only say no can’t they?! Will keep you posted!

A pottering and writing day today until I met up with Richard and his friend Sue for coffee. Richard is the cousin of my friend Debs and he has a house in Kertanguellou in Brittany. They were on their way there from England (apparently Sue is going to gardening for her keep!) and so we met in Dol and had a catch up. It appears that Richard is a far worse collector of all things ancient than even I am! He is suffering at the moment from a severe attack of table-itis, and a co-morbidity of chair-itis also!!! He just can’t stop!!! I’m going to join them for a day over in Kertanguellou before I leave Brittany, probably next week.

On the way home I stopped off at the supermarket and bought 3 items- some washing up liquid, some bread and a bottle of red wine……4.29 BST (no pound sign on my keyboard!) Happy days! 🙂

I was given a piece of homemade apple tart to have after my tea and I ate it, savouring every last bit, whilst watching the French version of the Voice- Kids. I’ve never watched it at home before. It was so good- some incredible talent and lots of French songs which was lovely. I have to confess though that my avid viewing was largely down to that fact that I developed (very quickly) a massive crush on one of the judges. Patrick Fiori……..is gorgeous! A popular singer in France, he is a big bear of a man who is just scrummy. Look him up.

Bonne nuit 🙂

I was given freshly made crêpes and home made rhubarb (my absolute favourite!) jam for breakfast this morning! Delicious! They were brought to me by Pascale the lovely lady whose annexe I am staying in. She returned last night from the south having collected her daughter from University.

Pascale is a retired teacher, same age as me, and she has asked me if I will go into the school she worked at to speak to the students about being a nurse in England. Which, of course, I have said I would be delighted to do. The students are aged around 17 years so the other end of the scale to when I went in and spoke to my sister’s little ones a few years ago and one of the final questions was along the lines of where do babies come from!!! Mm! There ended the talk! Playtime! I think I will be doing it next week, so am looking forward to that.

Then Pascale showed me where the petrol station was and I did my first French fill up! Avec l’essence sans plomb! She also showed me where I can run, so I’ve downloaded the Couch to 5K app and intend to start on Saturday! And, bless her, she also said she would ask her colleague about some French lessons for me and………………gave me a dish containing more of her delicious rhubarb jam! I can’t wait for breakfast tomorrow!!! What a lovely, kind lady.

Other than that I did washing, went for a walk, did some writing (which I’m loving) and made a nice tea of chicken, mushrooms, courgettes, pesto and pasta. I’ve listed the ingredients of my tea as I was quite chuffed with myself for dreaming it up! To those of you who are good cooks (and I know several people who really are very good) that probably sounds a bit daft but, since I’ve been on my own, I have become a little lazy with meals and if you look closely I am beginning to look a bit like a fish cake! The humble fish cake, the food of choice for the singleton- confirmed on a past episode of First Dates!!! You can put it with anything! Salad, chips, veg- so versatile! But here there are no Marks and Sparks fish cakes, and only a tiny oven (and I’m not sure I can fathom how to work it) so I’ve gone stove top cooking (only got 2 rings though!)- all recipes great fully received 🙂

I had a nice catch up with Charlotte K on FaceTime and found and watched Bake Off on YouTube! All my favourites survived the elimination so all is good 🙂

Bonne nuit 🙂