Firstly; about the title of this posting. The word "wet"; simply applies to the weather in Brittany this January; the word "Dry"; refers to my 7th, annual, month's-worth of abstinance from alcohol - and to probity, the promotion of homemade Yoghurt (Easiyo), Meusli, Marmite , brown bread, English Tea, mindful excercise, pious clean living and five-times filtered water. (click any of these highlighted words for more info. or a different slant!)
Views of our winter mooring at Hede-Bazouges, with La Petite Madelaine lock house in the background and "Runner Bean" in the foreground.
27th Dec.at 1.00am We're back from a Christmas tour to visit our Children and Grandchildren and some close friends - A trip of around 1200 miles and lots of great real ale in some great little pubs. A ferry crossing on the good ship Bretagne which seems virtually empty. It is great to book a cabin and to crash out after an enormous English breakfast as soon as we are on board. The trip on shore includes a MOT for Little "Runnerbean" (shown above ) She "done good". Many thanks to Keith and Louise Ritchie who arrange it whilst we are in Lincoln. We cross the Channel from Portsmouth to Caen on the return, day time, voyage, with no problems excepting for a rather late 2 hour drive to Hede from the port. Not recommended.
The Itinery for the record:
We visit Alan and Nicki Robinson, Nicholas and Laura , Gabbie, Skya, Archie Walker, Keith and Louise Ritchie - a quick lunch in Sheffield with Jake, Rosemary, Emily and Cameron Walker - then Alan and Amanda, Harry and Lois Falshaw and then Steve, Sophie, Charlie and Max Blair for Christmas day and Boxing day. We have such a good time with all of them and have many memories of the excellent programme of events arranged by them all. Thanks. But we missed seeing Clive and Aileen - one can't always do everything one would like.
After 14 days away, Coco chanel, our cat, welcomes us home like never before, having been regularly fed, twice a day and socialised by our neighbouring old lady, Simone - this new voluntary service is a relief to find and bodes well for any future forays away from home. All is found to be safe and well with "Body and Soul" too, which we left with low heating and the fridge turned on.
We turned off our inverter/charger but we find the trojan batteries in good order; probably being kept topped up by our single solar panel.
Eden (7), the Youngest of our Neighbours daughters, with Guillaume St. James - proud father, looking on.
Guillaume is a professional musician, from the Rennes School of music and also a Jazz college in Paris. He now composes classical music and plays jazz tenor sax. He is the founder and President of the Hede- Bazouges jazz festival now in it's ninth year (2016).
The St James' - Such a lovely family and now our friends as well as good neighbours. We plan to be back in Hede-Bazouges from our spring exploration on Body and Soul - Southwards towards Rennes, Redon and the Canal Nantes a Brest.
Olivier, the professional clown and our friend from Tinteniac, doing his bit at the Hede-Bazouges Jazz fest. 2015.
Below I am accompanied by Jerome, bassist, and one of Olivier's Clowns playing tenor sax (impromptu!).
Behind is "Body and Soul" from which Lucie and her helper, Louise Ritchie, produce and serve over 60 English Cream teas for the French, my audience.....! We are performing under a sideless tent with chairs and tables within. The next Hede-Bazouges Jazz Festival is set for 17th 18th September 2016. We will be there!
Click here for information on the Canal D'Ille et Rance