Well Anika arrived on Wednesday lunchtime with a car laden with yet more (seemingly vital) supplies from Chez Knoll. Key among these was a sun-lounger, a chest of drawers for one of the bedrooms, a golf bag, and - oh yes - a barbecue. As Anika settled down to the domestic realities of opening up the house and readying it for a two week holiday, Peter jetted off to Berlin for a vital business meeting (honest) that involved a visit to Checkpoint Charlie, the Holocaust Memorial and a long languorous drink and meal on the terrace of the Hotel Adlon right by the Brandenburg Gate.

After a stint of working at home on Friday morning Peter was able to catch the 15.20 Ryanair flight from Stansted, being collected by Anika at La Rochelle around 6.00pm (local time). This was when Peter discovered that Anika had not be alone all the time.
It seems that after a long hot day on Wednesday, when the back door had been open all day, a frog came a courting and seemed very interested in what was on TV since it settle in under the armchair by the telly. We believe it finally returned from whence it came or else we will be discovering a desiccated frog sometime soon, somewhere in the house.

One characteristic of the immediate area of Nantilly is the strange way that one or other of the two nearest boulangerie seems to take a holiday when we are here. Last time it was Festival de Gout in Marsilly and now it is (our much preferred) one in Esnandes. Must be good money in that business to be able to shut up shop for two weeks at a go.

After such a long and hectic week for both of us we decided that the best prospect for the evening was to see if Viviers could fit us in. It was about 8.30 when we got there and with a warning of a long wait, they fitted us in. Nice start to the holiday Moules a la creme (et oui - avec frites).

Saturday morning was all go, a trip to the decheterie to dispose of the accumulated recyclables, a pop in to the local co-op and boulangerie in Marsilly and an all important visit to the Tabac at the end of our Rue to get the gas bottle for the barbecue (well yes it is a bit of a cheat but come on now we are on holiday).

This may prove to be a turning point in our time in Nantilly. The extraordinary transaction was conducted in our very bad French, his none existent English and a lot of sign language. It seemed that out barbecue, purchased in Angleterre, could not possibly conform to the French regulations and therefore a French regulator must be provided (gratuit). Much sign language ensued to explain that the regulator he was offering had a screw connection for the outlet when our barbecue had a push on - pas problem - he had an adaptor. As the papier work was completed Le Patron realised we lived behind his shop and immediately offered (we think) to come round and fix any further problems we encountered. Nice man - either that or else he just invited himself and all his family for a barbecue!!!!

During the trip to the recycle centre we were once again amazed by the high level of staffing. It is hard to tell whether this is a manifestation of the "state" making it easy for everyone or, an example of "state" control making sure everyone "does it properly". One member of the team today was a youngish and good-lookingish woman with a bit of a stare and a Union Jack wrist band. She surely was determined that no one would mix wood with metal and cardboard with garden refuse nor to confuse the "small electrical items" location with that of the huile disposal point. They have also installed a "hazardous material" point, this seems to be for paint rather than nuclear waste. Hmm thinks, since about 80% of France's electricity is generated by nuclear powered stations - just where do they put that waste.

The weather has been glorious and perfect for a round of golf which we had booked for 1.00pm. Anika played her usual brilliant self and Peter was pleased to have got around (no pun intended) with only four lost balls.

Anika has discovered a new passion - the detailed recording of every scheduled flight that lands at La Rochelle. She can now identity the livery of every ex-UK and Ireland airline that uses the airport.

So now to test drive the barbecue.