Leaving Blighty by Boat

Up at a hideous five thirty and dragged myself out of bed into a rainy world. We left at six thirty, but not before Lorraine had watered the cucumbers. Arrived at Newhaven a few minutes later, with James and Beth already in the line of cars.  Waited there for about an hour before we were allowed to drive into The Seven Sisters. I'd been a bit apprehensive as I knew the weather was a bit stormy, but the boat only rolled a little gently. 

We all found ourselves a pleasant place to sit, and had a really enjoyable trans manche experience. I went outside as we left, standing on a piece of deck with one or two others, looking at Newhaven and the grey sea and sky. Nice to see Seaford Head and the Seven Sisters from the sea. 

We had cups of tea and some food, but the game changer was a chocolate and coffee drink which suddenly made me feel perky. Also heard on the journey from Lou, who told me that First Matie was improved today, and the doctors were more optimistic, which made me very happy. 

After a while I found myself really enjoying the trip, and of course Enzo charming everyone, and fell asleep when Beth wheeled him about in his stroller for a bit. It made me wonder why we simply shouldn't go every weekend. 

We drove off the boat at Dieppe, I noticed the coast looked chalky there too. And into Normandy. Lorraine having to concentrate and we muttered the mantra right is right quite often, to stay on the right side of the road. We drove through a beautiful landscape of Normandy in the pouring rain. Noticing how many of the trees had great balls of mistletoe in them, making the trees seem they had been artistically designed, with an unusual features.  Not long after crossing the Seine on a very high bridge, we stopped off at kind of lay-by beside a forest, where Lorraine and I had judicious wees in the woods, and paused for a snack while the car roof was pelted with acorns and bits of broken twigs, sounding like stones. We also used a motorway that was tolled, but it was excellent and fast, and we got off near our destination, paying 21 Euros, but it was worth it. 

We arrived at Le Chêne, taking a turn off a country road, along a long track where at the end were gates, and a man called Charlie, who welcomed us. He had little English, but with a smattering of French we made each other understand. I have a decent French vocabulary, it's just stringing the words together that is the problem. An amazing place. A huge open plan kitchen and dining room, with gorgeous views out over the back of rising fields, and hedges with trees in. The garden full of sculptures and a swimming pool, and an area full of animals. These include a peacock that screams like someone being murdered once in a while. 

We all unpacked, and James and I made off to the local town of Sées, where there was an Intermarché supermarket, where we contrived to buy assorted stuff for dinner.  A bit random, you enter near the Lego products and so on, while the fresh food and bread is on the other side. Bought some wine and chicken and so on.

Home again, and watched the bats flitting outside the widow. Everyone tired tonight. 

Below having left Blighty in our wake, mid channel the sea a calm study in greys.