We get into a rhythm of our own in France. We go to bed at nine and get up at nine. I sleep incredibly well in the holidays, no deadlines, no work has been brought with me, there’s no housework to think of and I can actually, and totally rest. The photo above is of the campsite, here, I’ve spent many an evening with FM and MW over a bbq and it’s eerie and yet lovely to see it empty. The trees have been cut back, and as ever, the site is immaculate.

Carnac Plage itself is mainly closed. La Poste must have a short round at this time of year. Yesterday we cycled into Carnac itself (as we’re staying in Beaumer) and noticed most of the houses are shut up, shuttered and street after street is deserted. There does though, seem to be no sign of the recession here! Luxury houses are still being thrown up every where, and, even though the place is empty, a house can not be had for less than 400K if you want to be near the sea! We walked around, along the sea front and rode our bikes. Just us.

I then found the ‘people’. Whereas Cornwall will now be swimming with children on half term holiday, Carnac seems to be frequented by older people at this time of year. I found them on the ‘petit train’. I get quite excited when I see it, where ever I used to go, I used to cough up a few euros and take a ride. It was always disappointing, the commentary was always dreadful. If you ever go to Roscoff, you will not believe how bad it is. The driver boasted ‘no tape’ and that he gave the commentary himself. He pointed out the children’s home for delinquent children, and several fields of carrots and to be honest, that was about it. Nonetheless, it’s some times worth it, just to experience how bad it is.

There also seems to be no sign of the recession in the harbour. No fewer dinghies than usual, no fewer aquatic activities and the water sports business is booming in Carnac.

Now food!!!!!! There are so many things that they get right here in France. At home, we buy scallops individually and they can cost 75p each! Here! about ten euros a kilo! the same with oysters! Meat is extraordinarily expensive so, eat fish! Meat at home is cheaper than veggies, whilst fish is expensive, here it’s the other way round. The other thing they seem to have mastered here is fat free cheese and yoghurts with no sugar and deserts with no fat and no sugar. My diet is suffering a bit of a lapse because I’m eating veg and protein every day. I’m also having a glass of wine a day. My exercise is a bit adrift but I am cycling every day and walking a few miles along the sea front every evening.

In total, on Monday, we walked to the shop, home and ate. Walked around Carnac and then came home to sleep on the veranda. In between the eating and sleeping I’ve read Nick Hornby’s ‘About a boy’ and Kathy Reichs’ ‘Death de jour’ and I’m halfway through Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s ‘The angel’s game’. As you can tell, I’m taking ‘doing nothing’ very seriously.

Hi everyone!

Well you didn’t think I would go a week without blogging? We travelled over on a newish ferry, the ‘Armorique’. We’ve only been to France before in the summer holiday, when travellers are packed in so it was a nice suprise to be on a half full boat. We were up late on Saturday night and left Liskeard at 6 am, so we bought a cabin on the boat and slept all the way there.

The car decks always amaze me. The precision parking, no room to get in or out, the pole position exit when the ferry company get every body off and on and the boat turned round and back the other way in one hour. It’s easy for us, but I feel for families with young children, there are usually tears and parents looking quite frayed around the edges.

We love to take Laurent home, he’s sunbathing with DB as I type!!!!

We arrived at the campsite in three hours! I was the fastest vehicle on the road!!!!! DB co-pilots for me as I can’t read maps and I just drive. We are the only people here; other than a few touring caravans, and no surprise, mainly Neds! A few mobile homes are rented out, but other than that, there’s no one here. I feel a bit selfish saying it, but I’m quite happy to have the place to myself. Every other time we’ve stayed her, the place has been packed. The ferry was full of Brits, but most of them on package holidays and off to Eurocamp, Keycamp for the all in holiday. I can’t blame them, fun for all the family at a reasonable cost. We’re the lone Brits on this campsite…..and I like it that way!

This photo was taken at 8pm in the evening by the deserted Men du beach. I love being here; get off the ferry and set your watch back by thirty years! The shops shut for lunch and most shops and restaurants seem to be closed here, others are being prepared for the summer season. Houses are shuttered and no one is here. We usually go to a busy bar for the free wi-fi and were surprised to see it only opens from jeudi - dimanche. We’re using the wif-fi on the campsite.

Lastly, here I am with the big guy! It’s Tuesday and, other than lolling around in the mild weather and reading, we’ve not been up to much. I’ll get you all up to speed on the ‘not much’ as the week goes by.

It’s just so wonderful to be back here. The whole place has a comfortable familiarity about it. We know where everything is, how it works, where to shop, have a coffee or get the best views. It might be odd to some people to return to the same place year after year, but it almost feels like a second home. We’ll, we’ve slipped off our shoes, put our feet up, breathed a deep sigh of relaxation and we’re enjoying every moment of doing nothing.

Until tomorrow,

Froogs xxxxxx

HI everyone,

As I’ve excitedly told you all, I’m off on a holiday for the first time in years. In the past, I joined the rest of the sheep and used my holiday time to rip up the common sense rule book. This time, I’ve not only consulted it, but I’m taking it with me. In other words, I’ll be frugal on holiday too. At the ferry terminal, leaflets are pushed through car windows, explaining, on pain of a hefty fine, what you must carry with you, in case of an emergency in France. We’ve always been well prepared on this: the car has been serviced, the spare wheel and jack has been checked, and we’ve also prepared all the onboard necessities for the car. Many of the ferry customers don’t do this and there’s a long queue in the onboard shop to buy beam deflectors, warning triangles, hi-vi jackets etc. They also pay through the nose for first aid kits, that they probably have in their cupboards at home. We take everything, bring most of it back unused and will not be spending anything.

Yes, that is a dishwash tablet container and I’ve cleaned it out and stacked it with first aid and a few minor medical supplies. I noticed, on my last trip, that I couldn’t find a version of Boots or Superdrug, where you could just walk in, work out what you needed and just buy certain medications, such as for a migraine or stomach upset. You had to ask the pharmacist. It was also a lot more expensive that we pay. Here, we can buy 6 loperamide tablets for £1.60 and 16 paracetamols for 16p. Plasters, burn spray, and first aid requirements are pennies here. They are sealed, they don’t ‘go off’ and they can save you a trip to A&E by just having the basics in first aid. Both Dearly Beloved and I have both had first aid training at some time. Did you know, for example, that panty liners, or sanitary pads, are sterile and make really good wound dressings, which you can secure with micropore tape? I’ve burnt myself in the past and know now, it’s always important to have burn dressings in the house. They are a gel pad, with adhesive edges that completely seal the burn and usually no further assistance is needed if it’s just minor.

I’ll blog more this week, about how everything we need is coming with us!!! I’m quietly confident that I can afford this holiday and if I’m really careful. I won’t spend any more than my usual week’s budget for food and will still have the best of times.

Watch this spaces.

Until tomorrow,

Love Froogs xxxx