Family Holiday

 

Family Holiday

Natalie, Andy and Eilidh came again this summer, for the last week in June and the first in July, driving down from Scotland. Their old VW van made it all the way until the last few kilometres when it threw a wobbly which the local garage managed to fix in time for their return. They stayed, as before, at the gite 100 yards down the road so that they could have a swimming pool. 

 

Eilidh’s priorities for the holiday were the swimmig, seeing Mimi the cat, going to the market in Buis and getting a lollipop at the baker’s ( and seeing Papi of course).

They came to my allotment but there was nothing to take back this year, vegetables being 2-3 weeks behind where they were last year, so Eilidh helped with the watering. As last year, they came to my house each morning and we went to the Bar du Pont for breakfast (and Eilidh’s lollipop). Then itwas just a question of deciding what to do with the day. The weather wasn’t s hot as last year but quite hot and sunny enough so the pool got plenty of use.

 

 

At the Bar du Pont we bumped into Josephine. Josephine contacted me last year offering to help with the English conversation classes I give here (she has an EFL qualification) and was with her husband and two small children, Cecilia and Jay. Cecilia is just a year younger than Eilidh and the two got on like a house on fire so we went to Josephine’s house for extended aperitifs and, later, had a picnic beside the Toulourenc river together. Maybe Eilidh and Cecilia will become pen pals; their friendship certainly enhanced Eilidh’s holiday.

Andy hired an electric bike as usual but didn’t cycle up Mt Ventoux this year. He did though decide that he and Eilidh would cycle to the picnic by the Toulourenc, some 4.5 kms and Eilidh made the ride triumphantly on her bike. We also spent several pleasant evenings at the Bar du Pont eating pizza, mussels and chips and pancakes.

 

Life-long friends Steve nd Jo were on the brink of returning to the UK permanently and so invited us to a meal together at the Bar du Pont (photo below). I shall miss their company and our meals together, particularly in the winter when activities are scarce.

 

So once again we had a great time together doing nothing of particular note but relaxing and enjoying every minute of it.