Having re-set the alarm, we got up next morning and set the breakfast table. The morning was cool and calm, and a light -hearted air permeated the group. Work started and we continued in pairs on our various projects. Geoff arrived to return Dave's specs, which had been left in his car and then set off to collect the last member of the group, Ryan.
Peace prevailed until the cuckoo in the nearby woods developed hiccups and started to call in double time - a highly amusing phenomenon! I had always associated the cuckoo with scenes of rural bliss until today, when, after half an hour of its non-stop hooting, I could have cheerfully strangled the beast!
Soon everyone returned and we reckoned a coffee was in order, especially since Julien, Paul's co-worker, treated us all to the lightest pain au chocolat you have ever tasted. They were magnificent, Merci Julien.
After lunch and when the shops re-opened, Dave and I walked into the village with the new arrival, Ryan. This was our first trip to the village and we were impressed by the lovely exteriors of the houses on the approach, and the friendly greetings of the villagers. The shop-keepers were equally friendly and helpful, if a little bemused by my sad attempts at their beautiful language. Ah well, c'est la vie!
We were taken by the commanding position of the church and the monument to the war dead. So many young lives lost from such a small community - as with so many other small villages across Europe. We meandered down past the church in the languid heat of mid afternoon following the signs for the Gallo-Roman ruins, however the steep downward gradient of the raod led us to re-consider the wisdom of going further bearing in mind the upward ascent of the return journey.
Instead, we followed the signs for the village de vacances, hoping to visit the swimming lake, but decided to cut short our walk as we were bearing an important and secret possession, a frozen lemon meringue pie, which we needed to get back as soon as possible before it turned into a watery goo. Tomorrow was the birthday of one of the party and the pie was to serve, bedecked with candles, as a birthday cake.
Back at La Giraudiere, a trip to the lake was under way, however our aged bodies were suffering and we left this to the younger members of the group, along with Sidney ( now known as Sidney Poitiers). Coming from the land of the mountain and the flood where the lochs are deep and very cold, we were not surprised when the swimming party arrived back to declare the water freezing despite the very warn air temperature.
As with lunch the evening meal was enjoyed seated in the courtyard. The laughter rippled around the table, especially when one of the young men ( who shall remain nameless - but he knows who he is!) admitted his crush on Cilla Black - well he was only 6 at the time! In fact so much hearty badinage, Dave's word of the day, was experienced that the three young musketeers made off for Mamie Bulles, the local bar to continue the merriment. Sore heads tomorrow?
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