tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36973499893778211682024-03-13T02:00:43.090+01:00Sea View Cottagemartinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.comBlogger423125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-166979482355305932012-01-16T13:58:00.000+01:002012-01-16T13:58:09.541+01:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy 2012 to everyone. xx</span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-82812295939703537782011-04-19T11:57:00.000+02:002011-04-19T11:57:11.436+02:00Lovely weather......<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a lovely day on the south coast of England. The birds are singing and the fish are jumping.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am going to mow the lawn and tend my borders. </span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-34231128307630657032011-04-14T13:44:00.000+02:002011-04-14T13:44:32.336+02:00Hello<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello all out there. I have been bad and not kept this blog up to date. As Summer is nearly here and I like to share our adventures, I will be posting more often. All is well by the sea, lovely in fact. Hope there is someone out there to read this.................</span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-38443210617103596402010-07-15T16:12:00.000+02:002010-07-15T16:12:45.248+02:00Time rushes on.........<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next week we are going to collect the boys from France. They are coming for their summer holiday. That's very scary, as it seems like yesterday that they were here for their last summer holiday. Man where does time go? Everything else is well, still trying to find something to do. Lots of ideas, just got to get something off the drawing board and bring life to the idea. That's the hard part. Hope all is well in your worlds and that you are enjoying the summer sun.</span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-18586784565051579262010-05-25T12:28:00.000+02:002010-05-25T12:28:59.731+02:00Well.......<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is there anyone there? It has been a very long time since I was here. I think my comments have gone away. </span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-84267910198624706022009-12-17T14:55:00.000+01:002009-12-17T14:55:25.105+01:00Home with a smile........Well we are home, with the spousal visa. The appointment lasted no more than twenty minutes.We had all the papers in place so it was a breeze. Just for information, you are not allowed to take guns or cross bows into the Public Enquiry office.martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-42281705269835687632009-12-14T13:02:00.002+01:002009-12-14T13:05:28.683+01:00Here we go again......<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wendy and I are getting together another pile of papers to proffer to the Border Agency. We have to travel all the way up to Birmingham for this pleasure, and pay £660. I hope this will be an end of all this form filling, and that we can get on with life and settle. The good part is that by paying the extra we get an answer on the day. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will be wonderful that Wendy can come and go through passport control without any worries that there will be a problem, something I have always taken for granted.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fingers crossed and spare a thought for us at 9.10am Wednesday 16th........ thanks. </span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-4462711375385057182009-11-14T14:45:00.003+01:002009-11-14T14:49:46.987+01:00Homage.........<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The following is a homage to <a href="http://lettuce-eating.blogspot.com/">Sally</a>. Seen on the beach this very morn.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sv61Ag1et5I/AAAAAAAAA4E/GHFlMXE2d9s/s1600-h/White+shoe+II.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sv61Ag1et5I/AAAAAAAAA4E/GHFlMXE2d9s/s320/White+shoe+II.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403955623310047122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sv61AZE8K1I/AAAAAAAAA38/2uwCDv7KuWE/s1600-h/Black+shoe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sv61AZE8K1I/AAAAAAAAA38/2uwCDv7KuWE/s320/Black+shoe.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403955621227408210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sv61AD2tDzI/AAAAAAAAA30/bkYA5NKbidM/s1600-h/Blue+shoe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sv61AD2tDzI/AAAAAAAAA30/bkYA5NKbidM/s320/Blue+shoe.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403955615530553138" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-29694278463796686912009-11-14T14:41:00.000+01:002009-11-14T14:41:00.197+01:00Stormy weather.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sv6zTM6s4MI/AAAAAAAAA3s/PtAu_DFLLnY/s1600-h/Stormy+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sv6zTM6s4MI/AAAAAAAAA3s/PtAu_DFLLnY/s320/Stormy+sky.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here, as in lots of places we are in the throws of a major storm. Wendy and I have just returned from a walk on the beach. The sea is magnificent when she is angry. Our walk was quite short as the wind was blowing us over. Good to be back indoors, Wendy's watching Sex in the City on dvd. I will have to find something else to do.....</span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-28561383235104444412009-10-30T10:08:00.002+01:002009-10-30T10:16:25.635+01:00It has finally happened..........<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We have finally got married. After all the bru ha ha we stood up in Eastbourne Register office and said our vows. It took around ten minutes. We had a nice little bash at home for my family and some wonderful blog friends that came down from London. The weather was fantastic so we could use the garden.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">Who would have thought that when I started reading Wendy's blog those few years ago she would end up being my wife........ o that sounds strange, I have a wife. She is upstairs feeling a little fragile must have been a dodgy sausage roll. </span></div>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-85593683353643138452009-10-27T10:51:00.002+01:002009-10-27T11:33:18.325+01:00Lovely......<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Yesterday was lovely. Up nice and early 4.45am. Hurried beans on toast and into the car and off to Gatwick airport. I checked in online so straight through security and onto the plane. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">The same old flight and routine at Basel. I went to collect my hire car and was told that it was on the other side, that being Switzerland. It seems that my booking agent (Wendy) had made a mistake on the form and I had to cross over the border. This is not as hard as it would seem, it means going up some stairs and through a door. The man at the desk was very helpful apart from telling me that I could not go to France in the car, then when I said ' Do I have to go back and book it there' he said 'Yes'. Then he proceeded to offer me a Golf or Passat. I said that I was going to cancel it and book it in France and he said 'Why?'. 'Because I cannot go to France in it, and I need to' I said. 'Who told you that?' he asked. You did, no I did not he said. My head was hurting at this point, so I can go to France in it?. You can go anywhere you want, so long as you bring it back. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">Paperwork complete I got the bus into Basel, and had a coffee and a walk around, I took the little ferry across the Rhine just for a laugh which was nice.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">Then back to the airport to collect the car and find my way back into France. Last time Wendy and I tried to do this we ended up in what looked like the meat packing district of Basel,lost. I had the sat nav with me and this made the whole process mush easier. Before I knew it I was at Auchan in Belfort. I had promised to get our French neighbour some tins of Cassoulet as she loves it. Only two tins in stock, so with those onboard I headed off to collect the boys.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">We left the house and started on the way back to the airport. We would have to cross the border again, as we were slowing down a border guard waved us down. I put the window down and he started talking in French. I asked Nathan to talk with him and after a while heard Nathan say 'Le Cassoulet' the guards face was a picture as he waved us through. When I looked in the rear view mirror he was shaking his head as he talked with his colleague. I asked Nathan what he had said 'He asked if we had anything apart from clothes onboard, so I told him about the Cassoulet'.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">I laughed till I cried, international stew smugglers.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">The plane was delayed by forty minutes, Wendy was at Gatwick to collect us. Another 19 hour day logged up. Going back next Wednesday, bring it.</span></div>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-71457476793414919122009-10-25T17:32:00.001+01:002009-10-25T17:33:49.931+01:00The start of a wild week......<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well it's here at last, the week of the wedding. We had a last minute hitch with yet another missing piece of paper from France. That has arrived, 150€ for a letter from a lawyer. Robbers.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am off tomorrow on the 8.15am flight from Gatwick to fetch the boys back. Some shopping on Tuesday and Wednesday, then getting married at 2.30 on Thursday.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has taken an age to get here, but we are so glad that we will finally be married.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here we go.............</span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-63700297146273767142009-10-10T12:03:00.002+02:002009-10-10T12:09:28.064+02:00How times change......<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of all many thanks for your good wishes about the wedding. I can't get into my comments to answer, I forget the password, must be age. </span><div><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/StBdCM4tf0I/AAAAAAAAA3k/39pN4ya_q7M/s200/zxspectrum_48k.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390911046362693442" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I watched a docudrama on BBC3 called 'Micro Men' it was about Sir Clive Sinclair and how he lead the way in home computers before anyone else. I forgot that he made the first calculator and the first digital watch. And the first small screen TV. What a guy. It was a good account of the conflict that took place between him and Acorn computers which was started by a former employee, they went on to win the BBC contract for home computers. Alexander Armstrong did a wonderful job of playing Sir Clive, while Martin Freeman proved yet again that he can play any role, as long as it's Martin Freeman. But I am off course. What was amazing was the actual machines that were being sold. I remember having a Sinclair Spectrum and having to plug it into a TV and hook up a cassette machine to load the programs. And then fighting to get anything to work. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How things have changed it such a short time. This morning I was laying in bed looking at a square in Narbonne France through a camera that I was controlling by my Iphone. Zooming in to see people having coffee in a cafe in the south of France. And then looking at guys loading luggage onto a plane at Stuttgart airport. We owe those pioneers of computers alot.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His latest invention is a folding bike see it <a href="http://www.a-bike.co.uk/store/home.php">here</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-19437431040075153352009-10-03T12:10:00.002+02:002009-10-03T12:16:38.013+02:00I'am getting married in the morning......<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Well not in the morning, but on October 29th. At last everything is in place for us to tie the knot. We have booked Eastbourne Register office as it's easier to get to than Brighton. It is in fact much nicer. We are getting married in The Mayor's Parlour. Swanky or what ?</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">I will go and collect he boys so they can be at the wedding, the good thing is that Wendy can come back with us now she has a multi entry visa.</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">Then the next round of forms to get another visa. O well we must enjoy our day,it's taken a long time to get here.</span></div></div>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-54617193438342098152009-09-16T12:53:00.000+02:002009-09-16T12:53:36.982+02:00Going home.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SrDDY2eUwRI/AAAAAAAAA3c/txZDuDvx8ls/s1600-h/%24CoteAlbatre_entete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SrDDY2eUwRI/AAAAAAAAA3c/txZDuDvx8ls/s320/%24CoteAlbatre_entete.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are heading home tomorrow, a day early. We were sitting here last night watching French tv when Wendy just said " I want to go home". So we changed the ferry booking and we leave the house at 10am in the morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a purely selfish level, I am more than pleased as it means fish and chips on Friday night, then Johnny Ross. Small things, small minds etc..................</span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-68273306107373029732009-09-15T17:08:00.002+02:002009-09-15T17:10:52.187+02:00Alligator Bay.........<span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today we went to Alligator Bay, it's just near Mont St Michel.</span> <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What a great visit. There are lots of turtles and lizards at the start. They lead the way into the snake house. I was a little worried that it would be like other reptile house that I had visited that were smelly and dirty. This one was very very clean and well laid out. They had a very novel way of getting up close to the snakes. You crawl under the case in a tunnel and pop your head up in a glass case. Being so close to a big snake is quite weird, after only seeing them on them tele before.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq-pVvQJo1I/AAAAAAAAA3E/aw0wslxkmZk/s1600-h/snake+pit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq-pVvQJo1I/AAAAAAAAA3E/aw0wslxkmZk/s320/snake+pit.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Then we went on to see the main attraction, the alligators</span>. <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They did not disappoint, they are masses of them. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq-tR6QDzrI/AAAAAAAAA3M/9KfgZyIE6FM/s1600-h/Crocs+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq-tR6QDzrI/AAAAAAAAA3M/9KfgZyIE6FM/s320/Crocs+I.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq-taXJHq2I/AAAAAAAAA3U/VBwiWgHSztM/s1600-h/Crocs+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq-taXJHq2I/AAAAAAAAA3U/VBwiWgHSztM/s320/Crocs+II.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well worth a visit. </span></div><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-23247565458952949522009-09-14T19:29:00.002+02:002009-09-14T19:32:35.629+02:00Rubbish.... The Bourne Deception.<span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought a book on the ferry. I love the Bourne trilogy, and when I saw this I got quite excited.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was not until I was back in my seat that I noticed it is written by some bloke called Eric Van Lustbader. I read it anyway. It's just a pile of complex crap. How can it have Robert Ludlum's name on the front in great big letters. He's dead, does not even know that this has been published. It's like saying 'Picasso's new blue period by Bert Postletwaite of Bradford. Crap.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq59YjgznxI/AAAAAAAAA28/XceWcPrfOPw/s1600-h/Bourne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq59YjgznxI/AAAAAAAAA28/XceWcPrfOPw/s320/Bourne.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-8961048068838866122009-09-13T16:35:00.009+02:002009-09-13T16:59:34.894+02:00Moving.......<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Today we went to the American cemetry which is just down the road from our house. There are 4410 men buried there. It is looked after by the American goverment. There is not a blade of grass out of place. Each cross bears the name, regiment, place of birth and date of death. The second grave that I looked at freaked me out slightly because of the name on the cross.</span><br />
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial,serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq0IIbY5QBI/AAAAAAAAA20/xi4nG-v1HmQ/s1600-h/Grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq0IIbY5QBI/AAAAAAAAA20/xi4nG-v1HmQ/s320/Grave.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial,serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: arial,serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">My Dad's name was John Cook and mine is Martin as you know. What are the chances of finding this ?</span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial,serif;">When you stand there and look at all the crosses and think that all these men had parents, brothers, sisters, wives. Now they are laying in a foreign land alone. </span></div><br />
We found one grave of a man who died on this very day, sixty five years ago. Someone had visited his grave and placed flowers on it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq0HuO3KTaI/AAAAAAAAA2s/4K8EviXfcl0/s1600-h/Cross+%26+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sq0HuO3KTaI/AAAAAAAAA2s/4K8EviXfcl0/s320/Cross+%26+Flowers.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
<br />
You cannot help but feel humble amongst so many heros. </span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-18176841495044357072009-09-13T11:05:00.004+02:002009-09-13T17:04:18.080+02:00Relaxing........<span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The last couple of days we have been relaxed for the first time in months. Waiting on the visa has been a royal pain up the bum. But that is now over and we can move on. At last. We thought that we would go somewhere nice. Wendy has wanted to visit Dinan for a long time, there is a shop there she wanted to see. So off we set. It's in Brittany, about fifty minutes drive from our house.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When we arrived. We got lost, that naughty sat nav, or is it me not listening to what she says? Wendy would say the latter. We did find the parking in the end, after going around tha same roundabout three times. It was lunchtime so we had a very nice meal, before starting off into the old town. The vibe of the town is quite fantastic, like London, Brighton and Pezenas all rolled into one. The shops sell beautiful fabrics and objects, and the fashion shops have great stock.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sqy0kOLF5yI/AAAAAAAAA18/hVBtjm-46aY/s1600-h/street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sqy0kOLF5yI/AAAAAAAAA18/hVBtjm-46aY/s320/street.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There was one shop that Wendy wanted to visit so we headed off there. It is a tiny shop that sells buttons and trimmings called Fleur de Lin et Bouton d'or. Wendy was in heaven, as I walked up and down and up and down the street outside. The lady that owns the shop speaks wonderful English, and even had a little joke with me. Buttons and ribbons were bought and there were smiles all round. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sqy1Io3631I/AAAAAAAAA2E/Q6nDnhh0rlo/s1600-h/Cloth+shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sqy1Io3631I/AAAAAAAAA2E/Q6nDnhh0rlo/s320/Cloth+shop.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This was posted up in a shop window. Wow.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sqy1RFgMnhI/AAAAAAAAA2M/u-DsRLKv6t4/s1600-h/Thomas+Jefferson+1802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sqy1RFgMnhI/AAAAAAAAA2M/u-DsRLKv6t4/s320/Thomas+Jefferson+1802.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We noticed that there was a river, on a map of the town, so we had a walk down a very steep hill to have a look. There we saw that there was a boat trip along the river showing historic sites. I really wanted to go, so Wendy gave in and we hopped onboard. It was lovely to sit and listen to the man tell us about all the history. After a while he realised that we were the only English speaking people onboard so he came and sat behind us and gave our own personal guide.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sqy11QNAfpI/AAAAAAAAA2U/tWwkb0HCq7I/s1600-h/Boat+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sqy11QNAfpI/AAAAAAAAA2U/tWwkb0HCq7I/s320/Boat+I.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We have often talked about having a second home in France, and where it would be. Should it be up near the boys around Colmar or down south near Montpellier ?. Well we have both decided that it will be here in Dinan. It is about seven hours from Sussex and just the most amazing place. So we will be back.</span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-76474408665650515742009-09-10T14:23:00.002+02:002009-09-10T14:23:54.930+02:00ErrrYES!.martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-74795379396113095242009-09-09T16:31:00.004+02:002009-09-09T16:45:04.151+02:00Tomorrow......<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sqe-7L6qc6I/AAAAAAAAA10/wG6Pktkfzww/s1600-h/phone.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/Sqe-7L6qc6I/AAAAAAAAA10/wG6Pktkfzww/s200/phone.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379478203937747874" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This morning I plugged the phone in to charge, as it had run down yesterday. It made the little beep to let you know that it was happy and having a feed. After about two minutes the sound went to let us know that a text had arrived. Wendy rushed across and picked it up, "Don't get excited Wendy,it will only be from Virgin trying to sell us something" I said. How wrong I was. It was from the visa dept, telling Wendy that her papers are ready for collection. There is no indication to whether she has been granted the wedding visa, or not. She searched on the web site with her tracking number, all it says is 'Papers ready for collection'. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">So today we have been to the station in Granville, booked two tickets for Paris tomorrow to go and get the papers and see what the position is. Tense is not the word. If the visa is in the passport, we can leave for home. Which in someways is lovely, but we have rented the house for two months. We have been here six days. But hey ho must no grumble, that's if the answer is the one we want.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">Who knows in the next couple of weeks we may be at Brighton Registry office booking a wedding. That's where the real fun will start. Fingers crossed. Paris here we come.</span></div>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-22371051451441075942009-09-09T10:31:00.003+02:002009-09-09T10:46:26.886+02:00Wine.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Well we had our first bottle from our 15 euro half box last night. It was ok, but we have had better. It's a little weak and does have a bitter finish. But then for 3 odd euros a bottle what did we expect ?. We will finish the other five bottles.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">When we arrived the people who own the house left us a bottle of wine to welcome us. Chateau Malesan 2007. We opened it on the first night and we both enjoyed it immensely. Rich and smooth with a silky finish. Nice people leaving us such a fine wine. The next day we were shopping in SuperU and I saw it on the shelf. It was priced at 3€90. It has now gone up to 4€, but we will be taking home a few cases to Bexhill. They have it in Carrefour also, so if in France beat a path there and try a bottle (or two ).</span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqdqtNgtJjI/AAAAAAAAA1s/phCv9xj_VfU/s200/Bot+II.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379385604870841906" />martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-2458739901393600102009-09-08T15:14:00.004+02:002009-09-08T15:48:12.287+02:00Bargain ?.<span style="font-family: arial;">This morning on our travels we found a huge Carrefour supermarket. They are having a wine festival. Wendy and I quite like having a glass of wine with supper, so we bought a half case.</span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: arial;">It cost 15€ 90. We have not tried it yet, but wine in a wooden case?, it's got to be good, right ?.<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqZgemdBBDI/AAAAAAAAA1k/4FBU6X5va58/s1600-h/wine2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqZgemdBBDI/AAAAAAAAA1k/4FBU6X5va58/s320/wine2" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-10297000433721895842009-09-07T20:06:00.002+02:002009-09-08T09:07:21.695+02:00Mont St Michel.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we went to Mont St Michel. The guide books do not do it justice. It rises out of the sand in front of you as you arrive in the car park. Once within the walls, you are faced with shops and restaurants lining tiny alleyways. We decided to have a quick lunch in one called "La Vielle Auberge". There was a terrace with views of the sea (in our case sand,as the tide was out). We chose two local pancakes and two beers. There was some shock on my part as the beer was 8€50 for a 50cl glass. This was domestic beer, 1664. How they can warrant charging this amount beats me. Anyway the food arrived, luke warm. But as we were both quite hungry,it was woofed down. Then after paying we left, Wendy on noticing a French couple viewing the menu told them in perfect French " I would not eat here, it's over priced, and not worth it" That's my Wendy. After our nosh we started the walk up the steps to the abbey. As it was quite hot, we were both puffing by the time we reached the ticket office. Once in the abbey everything else melts away. The atmosphere is magical and the views quite wonderful. A great afternoon out. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqVLf-vaKDI/AAAAAAAAA1M/AdjvsbI6EcI/s1600-h/Jason+Bourne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqVLf-vaKDI/AAAAAAAAA1M/AdjvsbI6EcI/s320/Jason+Bourne.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just wish we could have waited around for the tide to come in, but I don't think Saaby would have enjoyed being covered in salt water.... This is a picture of me showing signs of good French living already, more chins than a Chinese phonebook........</span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697349989377821168.post-81155428317128867982009-09-05T20:28:00.003+02:002009-09-06T10:57:02.337+02:00Normandy..........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqN34XJcYEI/AAAAAAAAA08/xg4lWc6SBTY/s1600-h/Car+%26+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqN34XJcYEI/AAAAAAAAA08/xg4lWc6SBTY/s320/Car+%26+House.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well we are ensconced in our rented house in Normandy. Wendy has handed her application ( the size of a small town's phone book ) in for the wedding visa and now we just have to wait.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every cloud has a silver lining. Today we went to visit the Bayeux tapestry. I had studied it while at school as a project, I even got presented a book about it for my efforts. To see it close up was a real treat. Seventy metres long and every stitch tells a part of the story. We thought that maybe some of the men in the scenes may have walked through our garden in Bexhill, before the shed was there and the fences.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqKtlrUl0jI/AAAAAAAAA00/F5FE0yqwy-o/s1600/Omaha-Beach_Laurent-Lefebvre-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqKtlrUl0jI/AAAAAAAAA00/F5FE0yqwy-o/s320/Omaha-Beach_Laurent-Lefebvre-1-1.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then we headed for Omaha beach. I had always wanted to visit to see where those brave boys ran up the beach under such heavy fire. There is a wonderful museum that has many objects found on the beach. They have a collection of shaving cream tubes, and I wondered how many of the men who used them to have a shave in England before they left had lived. Humbling is not the word. 34.000 men landed on the 6th June. Amazing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqN4GIzT3ZI/AAAAAAAAA1E/cFil6fa-EtM/s1600-h/Cows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qWLLZgNWnPE/SqN4GIzT3ZI/AAAAAAAAA1E/cFil6fa-EtM/s320/Cows.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we have more visits planned - hopefully they will have to be cut short as we hope to hear good news about Wendy's visa. We can always come back to see our new friends the cows that live almost in our back garden. Love Normandy.</span>martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755957103979521306noreply@blogger.com0