French Experience 2013

Day 10

We were going to get up early today and go to the Saturday market in Vernon. Following last night's hail storm we had an early morning heavy rainstorm. With us not getting much sleep over night it was heading to lunchtime before we emerged to face the day. The site was drying out but despite all the rain and the sunny morning there was still pockets of ice evident. Some of the "static" French caravans had damaged awnings, mainly due to old age. With the sunshine I could also see that the front curve of the caravan roof was peppered with dents from the hailstones. I moved the car and climbed up onto the tailgate to have a look at the rest of the roof. Not only was the caravan roof dented but I found the Discovery roof was also a victim of the hailstorm. Jumped down and checked the bonnet and found several more dents. I'm just thinking "OK better contact the insurers and let them know" when I spotted a hedgehog stretched out on the levelling block behind the caravan wheel. Still breathing but obviously another victim of the storms. Marion promptly put some milk into a plate and we placed it near the hedgehog's head. I rigged a shade from the sun and we left it to recover and went off to the supermarket. They had also been hit by the storm and water had washed through about half of the store and a clean up operation was underway. Didn't stop them opening though. The only inconvenience was that the bakery had flooded and there was no bread or goodies. Headed back to the caravan and checked on the hedgehog. It was busily lapping up the milk then curled up on the plate and went to sleep. Later we put down some cat food, which it obviously enjoyed because the next morning the plate was empty and the hedgehog had left.

Day 11

Another R&R day folks. Went out to get some bread, croissants etc. You know, the French essentials (I know that list should include wine and cheese but it is breakfast time!). Being in France the local Boulangerie is closed for their holidays and the next two nearest are closed because it's Sunday. So I end up having to drive to the centre of Vernon. Arrive to find the car park I normally used is a Brocante so manage to eventually find a space on the street. Now for those of you who have never been to a brocante think car boot sale but more so. As well as the usual boot sale items you find furniture, weaponry, computers, gardening tools and at one rural brocante there was even quad bikes and rusty old tractors, ploughs and other farm machinery. Basically if you can get it there you can sell it. Suffice to say I love them and Marion hates them. So being by myself I had a good wander and managed to come away without buying anything. Every time I was tempted I could hear Marion saying "and what are you going to do with THAT?" Alright back to finding a Boulanger. Wandered through the streets to a boulangerie I knew to find it closed. Luckily on the door was directions to the ONE Boulanger open in the district, followed them and eventually joined the end of the queue to get to the bakers. 15 minutes later arrived at the door, it was a long queue. Quite a large shop with seven people serving and three bakers at the back still in hard production to keep the counters stocked. The smell was pure heaven. As well as the baking bread they also had a cafe doing breakfast so it was joined by the heady smell of fresh brewed coffee. Stomach rumbling I arrived at the counter and got my goodies, still warm from the ovens. Hurried back to the car and back to the caravan to enjoy. For me this is one of my major delights in France. Where ever you go you can always find superb boulangeries and patisseries, where in the UK can you find the same. Even French supermarkets leave ours standing. Yes, you have to buy bread fresh every day because you can knock nails in with a baguette by day 2 but rather that than the glutinous products churned out in Britain. They even sell fresh yeast in the supermarkets to make your own. In the UK I have to order from the Internet. Sat enjoying breakfast under the canopy when could hear the pitter patter of a few rain drops 10 minutes later the town and the valley had disappeared into the deluge. When it rains here, it really rains!