Nice day off

Paid the builder this morning for yesterday’s work – around a third of what we’d expected, which is a relief, given that it was a matter of additional preventative measures in advance of the main work, since the administration seems bent on delaying a start until after the first frosts, which would surely bring more débris down.  That included the cost of the replacement of the already brittle corrugated plastic panel they broke in the process. 

I toyed briefly with going to Paris today for Etienne’s memorial service and wake.  Instead, in consultation with two others who knew him well and live locally, we got together at the Auberge du Somail for lunch, first raising a glass of local white wine to his memory.  Our menu du jour lunch was less good than last week’s €22 one, I have to say, but it was quite acceptable.  We had a table on the towpath by the old bridge, so were rewarded with much entertainment as Noddy-boat skippers struggled to avoid collisions – and frequently failed.  Running commentary from an old varmint at the next table: ‘Revenge for Trafalgar!’; ‘Chilly Willy: prepare the cannons!’.  (For such is the name of one of said Noddy boats.)  I limited myself to starting a round of applause once they’d all unscrambled the mess.  A few very smart converted barges came through during our three-hour lunch.  Must check what they charge for such cruises.  Another converted barge: the floating grocers, is moored at Le Somail, and is up for sale, in case you’re interested.

After lunch, we treated ourselves to an hour’s hire of a little battery boat and ambled very gently along to the aqueduct over the Cesse and back again, encountering a pair of black swans on the way.  Great fun, though even the experienced Mr Skipper Cooper struggled a little with its odd hydrodynamic qualities.  Our favourite Jack Russell enjoyed it too, even if I had to restrain her from going for the swans.