Ille-sur-Tet on a grey day

Poor weather all night again I’m afraid, but sunshine this morning. Put all the wet washing out again - this does take some time - hour later, and the clouds gather. I need to regroup and rethink. Come on Mr Burn - I need you to find us some tumble dryers. Bless him, he checked with the lady at Reception here and she told us to get down to Ille-sur-Tet where there is a service station and an outdoor washing area. I knew exactly what she meant as we have seen them on numerous occasions whilst travelling through France. Genius - so brekkie eaten, doggie walked, and washing picked in AGAIN, off we toddle to Ill-sur-Tet but not before I checked on our Welsh chum to see how his wife was doing and was relieved to find she had had a better day yesterday and the dog is faring well too. So all positives there. To be honest, the weather today has not been too bad, but just very grey and showery. We managed to find the washing and tumble dryer machines very easily. So Al waited in the van while I sorted the dryer. Open the door, pop the wet washing in, press the button to indicate the machine you are using - there is a bank of six machines, mostly washers but two dryers, one of which is being used. Pays my money, presses the buttons - nowt is happening. The machine is making a noise occasionally and seems to be blowing hot air (remind you of anyone! 😂) but it is not for turning - bit like the Iron Lady! Alan, who has promised he would watch me from the van and rush to my side, should I look like I needed help, had lost himself in his book, so I had to call him on my phone, so I didn’t lose my machine. As he came over, a lady from the supermarket arrived with an ‘OUT OF ORDER’ sign and duly taped it to my machine. Hey ho. We returned to the van and waited for the other machine to become free which it did. Off we trolley and start all over again. I only had enough euro to dry one load which took 30minutes. Off my beloved flies into the Supermarket to get some basil for our Spaghetti Bolognaise later and some change. Yes, you’ve guessed it, 30minutes pass, no Alan - no more Euros - still one big bag of wet washing to dry. Then a lady rocks up with her wet washing and she wants the machine I’m hanging onto for grim death. Anyway, disaster averted - she is English and we a good old yarn - I explained my predicament and she wants to give me a euro to get the load going - but then with that Alan arrives - my hero (better late than never model) - and we get the machine going pronto. Well, I am beginning to realise we must have been a teensy weensy bit starved of fluent English speaking company, as Alan and I could hardly draw breath before we interrogated this lovely lady who happened to be a French teacher back in the day, had lived in Tasmania for many years and for the last 12 in this part of France. She did make me smile when she talked about her husband because she said he was a ‘Magician’ - well he wasn’t, he is a Musician and plays in a band at the various campsites etc. She did say I don’t know what made me say that!!!!! The interesting thing about our chat was she will return to England when the time is right. She would not want to end her days here in France. How many times do you hear that - people move to another country and live for many years, but there is something in there that wants to return home at the end of the day.

Anyway after a successful mission, we see there is a clothing store in this area, so I go in to do some reconnaissance (errr shopping) - find my ‘friends’ the jogging trouser (lush) - too many damned baguettes - baguette free day for me today - but my joggers are my new BFF. Alan decided that I had forgotten to pack any of his t-shirts so he’s been mithering a bit about that - so I sent him to the appropriate area of the store and he came back three polo shirts for the price of two. Bargain! Then we do what only, two days of wet, grey weather can do, we spot a McDonalds and have a take-away burger. Yummy and Tom enjoyed the left over bread and a few chips. Very nice and, more importantly, very easy.

We drove on then to the Thuir area for a look around. This seems to be a great Apple growing region - there were row upon row of pink blossomed Apple Trees - at various stages of bloom, from none at all, to full. We had already decided to stay here an extra night due to the great dog walking here. Tom is able to run free on the track behind the site which takes you into town very quickly. Great for him and healthy for us. When we were there yesterday, I noticed this gorgeous Olive tree nestled in the corner of a residential area. Isn’t he grand! I have one at home in a pot but I don’t think he’ll ever get to look that good.

So I will bid you nighty night folks.