This morning (13/03/13) we get a phone call from BBC Radio Suffolk and we find ourselves on the Mark Murphy Mid Morning Show in between some musical choices of his. This is the second time we are invited to be their radio "co-respondents" in France. This time, he introduces us to his audience more comprehensively and with more detail about our lives in Suffolk. I hand the phone to Lucie. It's her turn. She does well and is allowed enough time to quote this blog address which results in, an immediate, 189 hits - more than we have ever had in one day. She also gives the Earl Soham Brewery a great plug, describing it as the most important thing that I ("her Husband") really misses out here in Aquitaine. How right she is. I'd give anything for a pint of Vic right now!
The Radio Suffolk interview helps to unblock my bloggers block by reminding us of all the things going on in our life of retirement and the many winter happenings in Meilhan - good, bad and funny.
The winter weather must have broken several records for the number of dull, rainy and depressing days which we have suffered. The first snow, however, came today and has already melted away being replaced by cold watery sunshine with just a hint of spring in the air. My lovely Cranes arrive almost daily, in beautiful "V" formations, flying towards their summer breeding grounds in Northern Europe. Their fantastic cries foretell the arrival of spring and give us hope for warmer weather.
Nature sends other delights for us to view from our barge windows. Looking across the canal, who's clear wintery waters are fantastically full of "small fry" this year. There is a beautiful White Heron now helping himself to an easy breakfast. Then a delightful Little Grebe pops up almost within reach. A Kingfisher flashes on to our tiller with a tiny feast in its beak and I count five Cormorants flying in, like bombers on a raid, from the river Garonne which is perhaps running too fast for normal feeding. More ducking and diving to watch. Who needs television, or indeed, Radio Suffolk when we have these glorious sights and sounds daily?
Gosh, I really am unblocked!...
I remember, for instance, taking my sister Judy to the airport at Bordeaux after her visit in September. It is a story that she and I will always remember as it encapsulates the fun we always have with her whenever she visits.
Of course there is an inherent risk involved in any journey to catch a plane and be on time for "Check-in". To take an old 2 CV van such as our much loved "Mangetout", some would say, is pushing our luck too far. To be fair though, as yet, she has never let us down. We set off from Meilhan in good time.
We reach the motorway at the La Reole junction and I take the ticket which opens the barrier, placing it as usual in the pocket of the dash- board. We continue chatting happily together as we "zoom" on to the A62 motorway at maximum speed (55mph). It is beginning to rain.
We are now in the middle of a storm. Our tiny windscreen wipers are struggling as the heavens open up. Judy says that her knees are getting wet - and I too have a wet foot - just one of the many leaks which "Mangetout" has "rustily" developed over 39 years of being kept outside. We drop into the next service station to get some kitchen sacks to put over our laps. We struggle on like this for a good hour and are relieved to eventually reach the "Payeage". We approach the automatic barrier. We are still in good time.
"Zut alors" I find the ticket in the dashboard pocket which is now as soggy as used toilet paper. Eventually, however and after several attempts, I succeed in pushing it in to the slot.
Now anyone who uses these motorways can tell you what should happen next, once the ticket has been accepted. A large flashing arrow points to the payment slot, either cash or card. Does this happen now? It does not. Nothing happens. The small queue of cars behind us is beginning to shuffle around and peep their horns in frustration. Judy is beginning to giggle.
By pressing the "Assistance" button, we can just hear a garbled automatic voice message which is as useful as the voice which one often hears when re-fuelling at a petrol station. No use at all. Judy is now beginning to cry with laughter and her advice is unheard because of the furious noise behind. I press the assistance button again as a last resort, before abandoning ship.
I clearly detect a phone being picked up by a real person who swiftly gabbles another instruction in French. "Je suis Anglais madame, ce ne marche pas" I reply when she stops talking. There was an audible sigh and then the sounds of her phone being put down and of feet marching down a corridor and back again. To "Goon Show" fans, this is Mini Bannister going to fetch Henry Crunn and spending a great deal of air-time doing it.
Mercifully, and it is to their great credit, the phone is picked up again and a man's voice, in heavily accented English, says " 'allo, you 'ave ze problem M'seur, where are you from?"
At this point I lose my presence of mind. "Angleterre, M'seur." Again to his credit, he laughs out loud as does my sister who is now in danger of doing something silly with her kitchen sack. Of course I realise at once that this is not the information he wants. Silly me; Of course, he wants to know where we had joined the motorway so that he can calculate the charge. Doh!
Everything goes well with the rest of the transaction, once I insert my credit card the right way up, and finally the barrier rises and we free a whole load of furious French drivers behind us. But there you go, it really ain't all plain sailing y'know, is it?
There is more to come soon.....about the first port robbery, maintenance problems on board, foodie cruises, "five times" filtered water.... and the start of my dog training manual.....not to mention my exciting visit to Sanfransico - you must not miss it!
Please keep in touch.