Thursday 26th

After waving goodbye to Susan, we said Hello to the new arrivals, Sandra and Robert, from California, USA. After lunch we had a 2hr French lesson from Alison, an Expat, who is substituting for Lyn, another Expat who usually teaches the lessons. We went through a lot of vocabulary and split up into groups according to our differing levels of French. Alison told us to try one of the best restaurants around in Bardenac, Poirier Gaston, which serves continuous courses of delicious food and wine for only 12.5 euros (20 euros on Sunday). Many of the working men in the area go there daily for lunch, as it is such a good deal, and it is so popular that one must make a reservation. I look forward to going there as a group.

After a hard day blogging and emailing while the others painted, built bonfires and mothered us, Paul, Dan and I disappeared off to Chalais to pick up the other car from the garage where it was being made slightly more legal for the road. I was very excited as I got to drive, something I had been wanting to do since I got here. Don’t worry, I only forgot to drive on the right side once 😉 We sneaked in a cake for Dan from the patisserie and then I went off to get more stuff for the evening meal while Dan and Paul went to have coffee and more cakes (chubs)!! Paul let Dan do the ordering but, after 5mins of puzzled looks form the owner of the café, Paul had to help out and explain the difference between a long and short coffee. I’m still confused as to the difference, but it was a good try on Dan’s part.

After a sumptuous Thai meal cooked by Alice 😉 we drove off to Quai Sud in pouring rain and had deserts and beers. I have a feeling that I’m going to be smuggling a few pounds of lard back into England!! At least Easy Jet can’t charge me for it, though!