Weekend in Chatelaillon

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Saturday Sept 1st

Its has been a beautiful warm day here with a slight on shore breeze, just to stop the overheating,
Went to the beach this morning, got there just after high tide, about 10.30ish.
There was maybe 100 people all standing there staring out to sea and all wearing wellies. Didn’t know what kind of cult we had stumbled upon, but within 15 min all was made clear. The sea receeded rapidly and in 15 min had started to expose mussel and oyster beds just off shore. Half an hour later the beach must have been 1 km wide and the enormous harvest was there to be seen. Dozens of tractors full of pickers armed with buckets, mini picks and sharpe knives headed out to work. French locals and foreign tourists alike followed with anything that could hold or gather shellfish. It was an amazing sight.

Met an English man about 56 years old who along with his wife is living full time in a magnificent american type motor home. He has taken to touring after recovering very well from what he described as a severe stroke. He was a lovely man to talk with and a very interesting and inspiring outlook. I am sure that he will get to see some incredible paces and things over the next few years. We wish him well.
The people in the town are very friendly and if you make a bit of an effort they give you all the help they can. There are campers and tents from all over the place down here. Germany, Holland, Belgium, all over the UK, saw a few NI but nobody from IRL yet.

Sunday 2nd September.

A few words from Orly!!: Yes its me! I‘m here too. You know yourself, can‘t get a word in edgeways with Howie! We’re having such a fantastic time here. I can definitely say that its taken a few days to get into the rhythm of not having to actually do or go anywhere - bliss. All the places so far as Howie has said, have been brilliant. Its quite quiet as the season here is winding down. In saying that, there is a huge mixture of people from young couples with babies/toddlers (like ourselves!!) to retired folk. Most of the gangs of kids are heading back to school, so only a few around now. The campervan is working out brilliantly. I love having everything with me. Weather has been great. More like a better version of the Irish summer (excluding this one of course!).

Evan:
Evan is sleeping all night every night. I can’t get over how excited he is. He’s wearing himself out as from the minute he wakes up to when he goes to bed at night he is constantly yap yap yapping and either skipping, jumping or running! He says hiya or bonjour to EVERYONE we pass and just a few moments ago asked this random woman walking by ‘Where you going?’ Everyone on site knows him. He’s getting a great colour (for Evan!). His little cheeks have a lovely glow. His toys are strewn outside and the ‘campervans’ are always getting ‘stuck in the bloody mud’ where either Thomas or some other toy town vehicle have to rescue them. He’s loving the bike and we’ve been out on them most days. Im glad we brought his tricycle too and he got a pressie of a beach ball yesterday from some man! He is now sitting on my knee looking at what I’m doing.

Our camera is not great and of course, I forgot to download the programme for it onto the computer and the cable. Lu-la! Its not great anyway so hopefully we’ll get a new one in the next while. As Howie says ‘might come free with a Garmin!’ Garmin is name of Sat Nav.

We logged onto the blog today and were thrilled skinny (well, that might be an exaggeration!) to see comments and messages from at home. I love the fact that we can still keep in touch with all at home too. Which reminds me, must write that letter requesting another years leave of absence!!! Hee hee, this is the life. We’re going down to the pool to stretch out for an hour or two. Bought an inflatable boat for Evan yesterday and he loves it. It was handy yesterday when the tide went out. Filled it with water so the tide didn’t bother us! Anyhoo, that’s all from me for now.

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