What a great few days!

Winter flower on the hydrangea

Monday 15the October some friends of ours arrived for a couple of nights on their way down to Spain where they're in the process of restoring a house up in the Pyrenees. Two of them, Jane and Bob, live in Bradford on Avon and we see each regularly. Jane's daughter Sarah was with them, who is married and lives and works with her husband (they have their own practice) as an architect, also in Spain. So Sarah was going home. Jane and Bob had been to once us before, but that occasion, they were on their way back from Spain to Bradford on Avon. For Sarah this was her first visit. We had a really good time together. Dinner at home here Monday evening - the wine was flowing, so a late night. Tuesday 16th was our wedding anniversary (41st). Having finally managed to get up and make coherent conversation, we went for a walk round the village and then headed down to our local restaurant L'Auberge for lunch. We're so lucky to have this place - just ten minutes down the road. That is if you're not going for a wander round first. It's one of those gradually disappearing places that offer great food at a great price. Lunch at € 14.50 offers a freshly prepared menu with a choice of starter, either a buffet or a hot dish, which this time was a leek tartelette. Three choices for a main dish - steak, beef casserole or fish followed by a cheese board. Finally a dessert from five possibilities. Wine is also included - 250 cl. person or half a litre for two, unlimited bread and water. Coffee is the extra and any pre-lunch drinks. It was all just wonderful. We'd reserved a table in advance and they'd given us the round table in the window, which was ideal. We'd wanted the others to be able to see everything that was going on and from this table it's possible.  As usual we were looked after very well. After that there was a visit to Fontevraud Abbey which they all just loved. Unfortunately they also found the impossibly delicious cake shop opposite the main entrance to Abbey. So back home for tea and cakes. We were treated to lunch and cakes - so spoilt rotten. Loads of chat and discussion in the evening and singing with Mike accompanying on the ukelele. Up earlyish this morning (17th) - 7am, as they needed to have some breakfast and get underway as soon as it was light - which at the moment here is about 8.00am. Didn't envy them their drive - at least eleven hours - a long haul, including a stop for lunch. Fingers crossed they arrive safely.