Where I was on this day 10 years ago

 On this day in 2011 I was waking up in the Vendee.

Having been there a few days it was going to be a very different day for us. Not the usual breakfast down on the beach at St Gilles Croix de Vie, quick  run to the boulangerie, nip round the shops and then home to lay on the terrace until dinner time, with a possible dip in the pool.

So I bounced out of bed threw open the doors to the terrace and took  in the early morning chill.

Kettle on, fruit salad eaten and showered ready to head up to the village.

The walk into the village took us past  the  caserne de pompiers, and 'Jardin des Olfacties' outside walls, they have the most amazing blue hydrangeas ( and geese inside who chase you, I know this from experience). Past the Eglise Notre-Dame -de-L'assomption ( de Coex) and in to the market square to the Bar/Tabac.

It was just before 10am ( French time) and the bar was full of workman having their espresso and in some cases brandy.

As my sis did  not have a TV at her place I asked the gentleman who ran the bar ( he knew us obs!!) if they would have the Royal wedding on the TV today. He pulled up a couple of chairs in front of the screen ( a massive projection screen) and said he would put it on for us.

And there we  stayed for the full morning and into the afternoon, watching the wedding and the balcony scene.

The French coverage was outstanding with  Jean Paul Gautier giving the fashion news. 

'Is that a stag on her head? will be with me forever, as the studio laughed, a mention of shooting them in the UK was mentioned.

Watching the French reporters on the streets of London speaking to French tourists was great TV.

Meanwhile, workmen were coming and going, Lots of whispering about what was on TV, to which the barman would reply ' The English ladies are watching the wedding.' He would not let anyone change the channel.

Any of the men wanting to use the little boys room, had to crouch down or crawl commando style under the screen.

We started on coffee and cakes, went onto pastis , lunch was  croque monsieur ( his only hot food) and wine, before more coffees and a few brandy, crisps, peanuts and anything else that he had behind the counter.

Our bill for the day was not even  30 euro an absolute bargain for the fact we took over the bar!.

We wandered over to U Express , bought  Cremant and wandered home on the same route as the morning.

We had BBQ that evening with usual French fare and then sat on the terrace talking about the day.

Its hard to believe it was 10 years ago. 

Happy Thursday