We had a lunchtime visit from Marco and Carmen, now the best of friends, from Italy - also living aboard their boat. We met them firstly at "Chitry Les Mines " and then several times afterwards on our travels. He is Saun Connery's double, complete with the 007 moustache. She is, of course, much better looking! They have motored up to Briare from Decize with their two dogs to have lunch with us. What a laugh we had, with our broken English/French/and Italian languages.
We always do when with them. They brought us a delicious Panatoni and a Pandoro, the latter of which I had not heard nor yet tasted. Lucie did one of her kitchen sink soups and some baguette and we drank some Biere De Garde, Jenlain (Blonde) bottled in a Champage type bottle ABV (7.5%!) which they brought us too.
Now I know I have had words about French Beer, but this one was nice.
After lunch I took Marco and Carmen with our four dogs for a walk around the sights of Briare and the Loire.
Behind this bridge you can see where we find most of our free fire wood, just lying there for the asking. We call the bridge the "Monet Bridge" for obvious reasons, but there are several dotted about the place very similar to this one. It crosses the old canal, now disused, which used to enter the Loire downstream of Briare going westwards.
I nearly forgot the bottle of Saint-Helme from Bergerac 2005 which Marco and Carmen also kindly brought as a gift. Will try that later no doubt, but we are a little partial 
to Bergerac wines! 
This is the view of "Body and Soul" from "SS Gulliver" our friend's barge, Keith and Jenny, from just across the water.