Saturday 1st August

We had a lazy day for our first day off just slleping in and chilling out in the sun. Spent hours talking to Dave and Tracy after dinner which was really nice - a sure sign i'd properly settled in!

Sunday 2nd August

We got up planning to have a big day out somewhere but after speaking to Paul he advised us that it would be better on a Sat or Mon as more would be open. We then remembered that there was a local fete going on 'Les Rejouissances' so we wandered down in the morning withy Lisa. There were local authors selling and signing their books and so we decided between us to buy one and read it together. This was fantastic as we then proceeded to have a chat with each if the authors finding out about the plots of their books, inspirations and whether we would be able to understand. Eventually we decided upon 'Les temps difficile' an autobiography by Genevieve Cesaire, about the hardest times of er life when her husband left to fight in the war. After this we took part in a competition to recognise famous writers (French and English) and match their potraits to the names. After a while we gave up and simply guessed but we must be good guessers because suprisingly we got 16/21!!! we didn't win but were thrilled anyway.

We came home for lunch (reading from our new book on the way) and chilled a bit before deciding to go back with Christine and show her around the stalls especially considering there was a local stand about the protection of bees which we knew she would be particularly interested in. As Christine has been here for 6 weeks she now knows most of the locals so whilst showing her around we met more locals plus the others that we had already met, most of whom, i don't even remember meeting but they don't forget us!! We joined in with some games, splat the rat, throwing charentaise slippers over our shoulders into a sandpit and jeux de palet, where you throw heavy discs to try and knock down a wooden pole. I had my first pineau de charentaise but couldn't quite manage it as it was far stronger than the one we had in ile de Re and they pour a whole glass of it for only 1,50!!!!! After having a rest to recover from the effects of my pineau we decided to be children and do some arts and crafts making people (and in my case snails) out of corks and walnut shells. We took some pictures of the adventures of out people on the way home!

When we arrived back home we were informed that two more people would be staying with us for the night. An australian couple whole were on route to Turkey from devon on a tandem bike! insane people, but lovely and we had a nice chat with them.
Later that evening John arrived unexpectdly which was amusing for us!

Monday 3rd August

We got up early to go to the Chalais market and met our new arrival properly. The markets were fantastic and endless selling everyhting from food, to jewellery, clothes and electrical equipment. Me and Holly in trad. fashion spent way too much but everything was soo nice!! There were plenty of things we resisted from buying too though. There was also a stall there with hundereds of chickens and ducks stuffed in cages ready to be brought nice and fresh for the french to kill themselves! Their standard of living shocked both of us but all we could do was walk away asap.

After heading back for lunch and making a quick baana cake, we then popped down to the lake for our regular legnth. It was fairly cloudy so we didn't stay long and headed home to start the moussaka.

After my first set if days off i'm really strating to enjoy and appreciate the place. Swimming in the lake is better than the sea because it's not salty and i feel i know everyone well enough now to properly relax. Bit worried about the increasing heat over the next few days though.