Bits and Pieces

We had such a good time today. Went to a gem of a place - Château d'Islette which is over towards Azay le Rideau. We'd been meaning to go there before, but just hadn't got round to it. So having been on our hit list for at least a year, and having heard rapturous reports about, and the weather suddenly changing for the better, we drove over this morning. 

There are all sorts of châteaux in the Indre et Loire - different shapes and sizes, histories and traditions. Château d'Islette, is relatively small, but just beautifully positioned and has the most tranquill atmosphere. You can take a picnic with you and spend the whole day, relaxing in one of the many comfortable chairs that are scattered around the site. It's quite blissful and has an interesting history. The château is still privately owned and has been for pretty much of its life, at various times requiring considerable restoration. It was classified as a historic monument in 1946.

On the spur of the moment we decided to go out for lunch and find somewhere in Azay le Rideau. It's not a place we go to very often, so don't know it well. We landed on our feet. A sweet little bistro - very reasonable and very nice food. Restaurant Coté Cour. We hadn't heard of it, but looking at the menu outside, everything looked interesting . . .and was! 

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We're in the middle of watching a fantastic French police series, Spiral otherwise known as Engrenages. We bought the boxed set of the first three series. Series four is either in the process of being made or is about to start. We're in the middle of series two. Anyway, a young algerian boy has just provided the police with information about a murder which he witnessed. It was a particularly viscious crime by a particularly viscious algerian gang, which terrorises its local community. The boy's older brother works for them - reluctantly, and is frequently beaten up. He discovers his young brother witnessed the murder. Terrified for both their lives he persuades the younger brother to go with him and their mother, to the police. By giving evidence the boy has endangered the lives of the entire family. The police arrest the murderer and the young boy identifies him.  The mother is waiting to hear the outcome of the police enquiry and is with the lead officer - Captain Berthaud. Due to an administrative error by one of the police team, which the sassy defence lawyer spotted, the suspect has been released. The mother, in an understandable panic, screams for protection. Captain Berthaud explains that whilst there is a witness protection scheme in America, there isn't one in France.  

There really isn't one in France. We couldn't quite get our heads round this. In actual fact there aren't many countries that do. There are seemingly just eleven who have varying forms of witness protection schemes. Not all are formal and none are in Europe:  America, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Taiwan, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK and believe it or not, the Ukraine. 

It's quite startling.