Happy Holidays

St Florant

It doesn't seem possible that a whole week ago I was over in Brownland enjoying cuddles with Jack, Leo and Riley (just for the record and the uninitiated in particular, these are my three young grandsons - I am not a hussy!)

I had hoped that I would be able to get around a bit and see some more family but my son-in-law was quoted silly money to add me to his car insurance and we decided that it would be easier all round if I stayed local until I came home again.

The weekend passed all too quickly and I really don't believe that I have been home for nearly a week already.

Tomorrow will be a busy day. Not for us personally as we will be battening down the hatches and staying firmly put. No, it is the first Saturday in July and the mass exodus from Paris and all places north will begin. In fact, as I am writing this at 5.30pm on Friday evening I can imagine households all over Paris being shuttered and emptied as 'les juillets' (those who take their holidays in July) pile into their cars and head for the south and west coasts of France.

French people rarely travel out of France for their summer holidays and why would they need to? There is plenty to see and do in this big (compared to the UK) country and the weather can generally be relied upon to bring enough sunshine and warmth to keep a family in a tent very happy for four weeks.

Unfortunately they do not seem to understand the concept of staggered journies, so every road out of Paris throughout the night and early tomorrow morning will be jammed with cursing French drivers and screaming kids. The motorway service areas will be full to bursting at the allotted eating hours and there will be queues at every péage.

Campsites will suddenly be cramped and noisy, supermarkets will put up their prices overnight (sceptic, moi?) and festivals, fireworks and frivolity will be the order of the day.

Then at the end of the month the whole thing will happen again in reverse as they all return back to Paris, but this time, it will be double trouble as 'Les aoûts' leave for their own holidays.

We are looking forward to our own little flurry of visitors over the next two months too and are thinking of all those not too 'touristy' places to recommend to them.

Bonnes vacances, tous le monde!