We have been waiting in Void Vacon  for the delivery of a new fuel pump to the VNF office. The internet tracking system said it was delivered on Saturday, but the VNF office (delivery address) isn’t open on a Saturday and I was advised that there would be a location somewhere in the town that would be an alternative delivery point – because everything is closed a lot there is, evidently, always an alternative!

Having checked the bar/tabac and the boulangerie to no avail, I checked out the small store with my carefully learnt French about parcel collection. Madame told me to stay where I was and disappeared out the back. I felt extremely proud and knew that G would be delighted at my getting the fuel pump; out she came, swept passed me and outside to feed Muttley a biscuit!! My accent is clearly even worse than I thought.

We have now befriended the VNF man who told me off for travelling without permission (which I had been given) and, bless him, he turned up with our parcel on Monday having recovered it from the poste.Who knows! He also told me my coffee was good – now there’s a complement from a French man. I’m loving these little French towns, I know we are providing them with a great deal of amusement but they are so happy to engage with us.

Very cold when we left yesterday, but I was very cosy under my eight+ layers. 5 locks all set and waiting for us, now in Sauvoy; middle of nowhere.. perfik. Suits us fine for the weekend.

It is a LOT of layers, I promise; I  really haven’t shovelled the weight on despite the temptation