Le Vacance...c'est tres bon!*mew*
*mew*....
So this little kitty is back after a couple of weeks...and *mew* do I have a lot to tell...wow...*mew*
So I shall start with the first day which would be the sunday...
I've put these under a cut so I don't clutter up everyone's friends pages as I sure have a lot to tell...
Dimanche(the drive down)
Dimanche(31st).
Today I woke up a bit later than I intended but not that it mattered that much although my lunch went cold as I was on my LJ for a while and then getting some kitty desktop patterns which I think made us run a bit late and(so it did matter then)after we just went to get some credit for my mum's phone before setting off and I used my Kitty plush backpack although I didn't take her with me on holiday as we packed everything when we got back,me eager to put my boom box in the boot and I got in although sideways but I still got it in all the same.
The drive down was pretty quiet,being a sunday and we stopped off at Moreton in Marsh and Zara got a huge bag of mints and they actually ended up lasting the whole holiday but were a bit of a bad idea as the licorice ones nearly made her car sick on the way but luckily not.
We passed by Cerne Abbas Giant and she got to see it and then on the way past got stuck behind a red van doing about 20 miles per hour in a 60 zone and it was bendy roads so we couldn't overtake...grrr...I had a few choice *mews* to say about the driver of that van!
Anyway,we ended up arriving into Weymouth at 7-8ish and I was right about turning left at the clock and not right and we parked out the front first but the hotel owner sorted it for us to park out the back as the front you're not supposed to but he fixed it for us to park in front of his mates garage as we would be leaving early and even knocked a bit off the price as we would be leaving too early to have breakfast.
So we parked up and lugged our overnighter stuff in and watched a bit of TV and freshened up etc,not that there was very much except the soaps(bah)but there was some other interesting stuff on too anyway.
So we set out at about 9 ish to have a bite to eat and went to the same place we normally go to and I took a load of photos with my bratz camera although I lost them off the camera as it's not working properly(digital cameras always go funny on me as I've had problems with every single one I've ever owned)and the views from the hotel were lovely from the front which is a shame we had a back room but the place was buzzing with people and tourists and the restaurant,being an italian one was out of lasagne and bolognaise...not that I would eat anything so typical in such a a place anyway.
So I shared the panini thing with my mum and Zara and I both had the cheesy mushrooms and then shared some bread and a chocolate cake as the other thing we asked for was all out.
It was delish anyway.Funny thing was,the woman opposite kept giving Zara funny looks as Zara had a t-shirt on saying 'bitch' on it...well,that woman had no real right to judge as she couldn't keep her kids from running riot and screaming and shouting.
Anyway,on a nicer and lighter note,
The funniest thing was we finished eating when they were closing up and after we came out we checked the change and they must have been in a rush to finish up as we ended up not just getting the £2 tip we left but another £5 we couldn't account for!*mew*
Anyway,we were all walking back to the hotel along the seafront giggling like crazy!
So we just spent the rest of the evening just watching tv and playing the kitty games on the cd that I got free with the camera(the kitty one)so the money spent on that wasn't a total waste and just exploring the software,and listening to my Indochine tape on my walkman before we all settled down for a few hours sleep before getting up and ready to leave for the ferry.
Lundi et Mardi(arrival et Dinan)
Lundi.
Today we got up early and headed down to the ferry port and it wasn't long before we boarded the ferry and settled down for the trip to Guernsey where we were changing ferries
and I just had my walkman on and so did Zara.
We had a look in the shop but they didn't have anything much anyway.
We unfortunately were sat in the same place as last year and with a kid being sick opposite too again.Nice.
Anyway,when we got to Guernsey we ended up going around in circles looking for the entrance to the check in and then we were not allowed to park there yet as we had about 2 hours or something so we just parked up nearby and sat in the car as we didn't have enought time to go around,not that I really minded anyway.We must have been sat there for a long time which in the blazing sunshine is really not very nice at all.So we eventually went to the check in and we must have been sat there an awful long time too and it was so hot that I was having to put my jacket up at the window to stop the sun burning me.
The ferry had been delayed by about an hour and we saw all the other cars getting loaded on and we were still sat there...I had a horrid feeling we might end up being put on a later ferry or something but luckily our time came and we went on.As we went on,I saw a sign that said 'St Malo only' meaning they must have been at full capacity as they normally stop at Jersey on the way.
But I was so bored that I text both Pete and Rolo while we were sat waiting and they had a lot tighter security checks(both passports and car boots)which was understandable due to recent events on all parts of the crossings.
I did wonder how that would affect things.
But the rest of the way went pretty smoothly and we arrived in St Malo for around 5pm french time which was an hour later than anticipated but that really did not matter.
I was just glad to be there really.
Anyway,it took the usual 45 mins to the house and what we were greeted with when we arrived was the least of good starts.I saw the broken down fridge(the one that the neighbours took out and had to mop around as it defrosted and broke the weekend while we were in bristol)in the shed and I thought that it was still useable but obviously not.
But when we opened the front door the house looked to have a colony of small flies.
We cleared some of them up,or the dead ones with me going running around with the fly spray and a sweeping brush and trying to get rid of as many as possible.We cleaned a bit up and then went out to the local supermarket to get some odds and ends for that night and as we had no fridge anyway,and ended up with pesky flies in the car on the way as well,the kind that hide as soon as you open the window but then reveal themselves when you shut it.
I got one of the magazines I was expecting to get at the supermarket but they other they didn't have.I had a heated up baguette for dinner though as I really didn't fancy much else anyway and that would be something I'd be eating an awful lot of that week but not that I knew that at the time.
So we got back to the house and the cleaning and the root of the problem seemed to be coming from a sack of rotten potatoes that belonged to the caretaker that was under the stairs and an old fur rug.
The larger flies were still about and I disliked it so much and was so worried about eating with them near me that I ended up eating the baguette for dinner upstairs with Zara in her room.
So most of that night was spent just generally cleaning and trying to sort the problem and the general state of the downstairs with the cobwebs and the broken heater with the stagnant water on the floor that belonged to the caretaker too,one of his aquistions,much like the fridge.
He seems to like his knock off gear that he tends to buy or get given.
We coulda watched some films if it wasn't for his powerpoint/multi plug socket failing and we didn't know how to reset it or program his fancy video player.Pah.
But all the cleaning we were doing and my concerns with the flies landing on things,it's amazing I didn't end up with obsessive compulsive disorder as a result.
I ended up not really unpacking much and just taking things from my case or bag as I needed them as I should have unpacked that night but never did what with all the cleaning etc etc..
But after dinner,(for which mum and Zara shared a cottage pie)myself and Zara just sat in her room with my boombox on and chatted and stuff and planned the spends and thought on the next day and talked late into the night which was a lot of fun....
We all agreed on Dinan(the nearest town)being the destination for the next day and we'd get up early ish and we would have to see about getting a new fridge but I did warn mum that we might have to do things day by day...
It was quite late by the time we went to bed and we were all tired from the travelling so I doubt any of us had any problem sleeping.
Oh,except me waking up just before dawn and the sound of that clock on the bedside table got to me so much that I ended up putting it in the bathroom cabinet.I think I left it in there too,I can't sleep with loud clocks ticking away in the night like that.
I know a few people whom can't either.
Mardi.
Today was the trip to Dinan.
I wore my fav Tammy jeans,my red docs, and the Hello Kitty t-shirt that I got in Paris at Christmas but hadn't worn as yet.
We all got up around 10am and then had some breakfast before leaving the house to go to Dinan.We planned to go to the supermarket and the electrical store first but ended up going to Dinan centre first instead as we missed the turning,which was kinda lucky in the long run anyway.
It took a while to get a parking space(even in the winter it's just as bad)but we got one eventually and when we sorted out the ticket we got one that was up till nearly 5pm as I didn't realise that they don't charge for or count the siesta hours in that...cool.
Came in very handy too.
Had we gone after the siesta then we would have had less time and found it more difficult to park to add to that too.
The first of many lucky chances we had over the week anyway.
So we went around the shops and both me and Zara got some make up,including some new lipsticks they had in stock in the Debby make up range(my fav brand of make up)and Zara got herself a lovely pair of trousers and a top,and I got my Elegy and D Side mags(Zara bought D side too)then we headed to record shop I wanted to check out where I got the first of many Indochine cds(their first album)and I got a poster,and a postcard,but I didn't see any shoes in the shoe shop to tempt me(that would be later in the week)and we took my mum for a coffee and a cake which myself and Zara bought her.I had a yeast cake called a Kouign Amman,which was very very nice indeed.
Zara had a apple tart thing,I think.
We both had Grand cremes(she loved it)and mu had a Far Breton flan and a tea.
While we were sat there we saw all the tourists going by and one woman had a very tight vest with a fancy bra underneath and you could see the bra so clearly she might as well have not bothered with the vest at all!
I thought that it was quite funny..I think you can tell who are the english tourists anywhere.
So that was quite a sucessful day plus I got another mag that I was after as well.
Oh and it wasn't over yet as we had to sort out about the fridge and I was right about us having to do it all on a day to day basis as they said it would be 2 weeks to deliver or you had to rent one of their vans and drive it back yourself...which mum was not happy to do so we just had to leave it at that.
The other shop was too pricey.
Anyway,in the supermarket we got the food bits and pieces and I had a small baguette again(well,bread like that doesn't need a fridge)and I tried to find a nice diary but no luck there.Did see a nice Lollipops satchel type thing and matching pencil case but resisted as it was too small for my laptop but too big for everyday useage.
Did get yet another Indochine cd though(they are my joint fav with Derniere Volonte)so that was good also.
we went over to the neighbours as we had got them a little something to sat thank you for the help with the old fridge and they invited us for drinks on thursday night at 7:30 and Therese loved the tea set which we got her.
I finally ate in the kitchen that night(the fly problem had eased up somewhat) and we had a nice dinner and then me and Zara just sat in her room later that night after I washed my hair and we just chatted about various things etc....and planned on the next day and spends allowance and and stuff...so it was a really nice day all in all and we all enjoyed it.
I told Zara that we'd have to have an early start the next morning as we were going to La Maddie in St Malo and she was happy with that and although I got very little sleep that night(have no idea why though)and kept waking up it didn't harm my mood that much really.Although I do hate to sleep in the pitch black(well,it is the countryside) which is what I was doing,as I like to be able to see something at least.Which made me wish I had bought that darn Kitty alarm clock with the digits so I wouldn't be turning the light on and there would be something to see at least in the dark so it would not be pitch black instead of the damn camera....and still have had money for something else left over...grrrr!
I think me and digital cameras don't get on full stop as I've never had one work properly on me for very long and I have had 3 now.
Mum suggested I get a fancy one but that means it's more of a waste or money if it goes wrong or doesn't work properly.
So it's unlikely that I will be getting another digital camera at any point or using one again for anything unless it's not mine.
Pah.
Anyway,yeah,despite the disrupted sleep it went well really.....*mew mew content*
Mercredi et Jeudi(La Maddie et Lamballe)
Mercredi.
Today was the trip to La Maddie.
We got up early and had a bite to eat and then headed off to St Malo.
The journey was pretty uneventful apart from my normal lorry phobia making me jumpy but as soon as we got to the turning before the La Maddie roundabout,there was a huge queue of traffic which I put down to the tourists going into St Malo Intra Muros as it seemed to be heading that way although it was affecting the traffic into La Maddie.
Anyway,we soon parked up and myself and Zara headed straight into Jennyfer,and after a good few hours spent in there we both came out with a lot of stuff helped by the fact it was the sales but they seemed to have more empty sections than they did before which was a shame but and I didn't get the winter coat I wanted but I think I might just have planned a little too far ahead for that.
And she was picking stuff for me and me for her...as was the case for the most part...*mew*
I didn't get the Pjamas either(well,not on that day anyway) or any of the stuff on my list but I was happy with what I did get which was mainly khaki and black trousers,plus a black handbag and various odds and ends including a lovely jacket in purple which has lovely sequined buttons that was only something like 4 euros.
So we had a pretty good old spend in there and Zara came out with some nice bits and pieces including razor blade shaped earrings and some nice hipster jeans,she's lucky being so tall as it's a lot easier for her to get trousers or jeans than it is for me.
Anyway,she needed some flat walking shoes or sandals as the only flat shoes she brought with her were too warm as they were her velvet converse style boots.She found some in the supermarche nextdoor and I also had a fair bit of luck in the other shops although they had no more of the butterfly necklaces in Camaieu,or anything else to interest me except a winter coat but it's too much like one I already have anyway.
So we went in to the supermarche to get the food as well(I ended up having 2 bread rolls-one with raisins,one with maize...yum,they do the best ones in there anyway to have for dinner and we got some coffee eclairs in there too for me and Zara)and yeah,I had some more luck on the Indochine stuff,I found the best of video clips dvd in there for 10 euros cheaper than the other shop,where I had bought a live album in the sale and Zara had bought 'Nuit Intime' which is an adorable live acoustic album which she ended up loving too,so I got that DVD and found 2 more albums by them in a special offer,'7000 Danses' and 'Un Jour Dans Notre Vie'the second of which literally fell into my hands as Zara was checking out the DVDs which is when she found that one for me of the clips,I found the first one and tried to wave to her to get her attention but I knocked some down and I put one back and that second one just fell into my hands and then I realised what it was by the cover!
So that was lucky indeed and it turned out over the week that we were doing each others shopping as she would spot things for me and me for her!
She got some cheap sandals in the supermarket and I was the one whom spotted that!
Even if they ended up a bit of a bad idea as they ended up being too painful on her feet the next day but then we didn't know that then...
We had a look in claires in there too,after getting the food in the supermarket and we found a 5 for a euro offer on some stuff and they had some lovely stuff in that offer which was cool,even glass pearls in pink and white,and lip balms and lip smackers lip gloss....wow...so we took advantage of that naturally,and Zara got 2 rose shaped plastic rings in purple and pink(she gave me the purple one)as well and I found a cool cuff thing with ribbon on that I liked in the claires at home so we were pleased with that.
She also spotted a Hello Kitty handbag while we were in the queue with sequins on Kitty's face which I snapped up too...
I did end up going back in though as I had picked up two pink pearl necklaces instead of one white and one pink and after a lot of two-ing and fro-ing and confusion I managed to sort that out even if it did give me a headache in the process...heh!
But then we had a quick last look around and then left after a pretty sucessful day although it was nearly spoiled by a woman whom didn't look when she came out of the car park and we luckily just stopped in time as we were coming out too...she was paying more attention to the fag in her mouth,I think....*mew*
Anyway,yeah,we got back and I put one of my new Cds on the boombox and mum did some stuff in the garden while me and Zara just chatted and we had dinner later and I had the rolls and had a bit of mum's Far Breton and me and Zara shared the eclairs too....after dinner we just watched my new DVD on my laptop and drooled like crazy over the lead singer,Nicola Sirkis....he's so dreamy...mmm!
And we had a good chat and a good laugh too so that was a pretty nice end to a nice day.
Mum just read her french language book in the evenings after dinner for the most part.
So yeah,another successful day of doing each others shopping...*mew* and *giggle*....
and the video to Marilyn by Indochine and also the one to 'Satellite' and 'Mao Boy'..wow what a gorge guy....*mew*
But the one to 'Stef 2' is funny...it's quite scary as the whole band dress as women at the end and he makes a pretty convincing woman..so much so that I bet that Geoff would find him(or her?)attractive....*mew*
But yeah,a well cool day....*mew*
Jeudi.
Today we decided the plan was to go to Lamballe as it wasn't too far away and we needed to go somewhere not too far away as we had the drink over at the neighbours at 7:30pm that night,and besides,Zara had never been there anyway...
So we headed out after a quick breakfast and after I had spent so long deciding what to wear which woulda been a lot easier if I had brought my black docs and not the red ones as I bought so much Khaki stuff....so I settled on a pink t-shirt and my polka dot bustier which I had never worn before although I bought it about a year before and wore it with my tammy jeans and the red docs.
So we headed out to Lamballe and managed to find a free car aprk and the first space in the car park we went in I thought it had to be too good to be true and it was as that part was private parking...lucky there was a free space in the other part and mum took so long in getting in there that I did think we were going to lose it or something...what a relief we didn't...phew...*mew*
Anyway,it was still siesta time and there were a few shops open,and in cache cache Zara bought a raincoat and some bits and then we walked around and saw what was left of the market as it was finishing but not much and then waited for the others to open.
I saw a cute pair of Jennyfer sandals in the window of Eram so we just hung around there till they opened at 2 and I tried the sandals on but they looked funny on my feet but then a pair of pink JNY trainers caught my eye and I'm not really a trainers kinda girl but they were really cute and even though they were a 36 they fitted perfectly and very comfy too...and looked great with my jeans so I just couldn't say no.
Zara found a pair of Morgan heels so she got them as they were not too high and the sandals she got the day before were really painful on her feet.
We bought my mum a Far Breton in the cake shop and we had a chcolate pastry thing each but there were no creme brulees sadly...
shame as they do the best I've ever tasted in there...ah well.
I also got a DDP bag for my Laptop which I took a chance on and luckily it was just right for my laptop when we tried it later and there is space for the dvds in there too and the cables in a separate pocket as well which is even better.
Zara got a Wink comic as she had already bought a diary like it and there was a free little shoulder bag with it too so she got that.
I had a bit more luck myself as we went to the supermarket on the way back and it was the one we got lost looking for back in feb,and I only saw it as I saw the sign in the distance before the roundabout as the signs to it are not helpful at all....but while we were in there I got the Bourjois bubble bath which I was after and also another little find as I managed to get the Complices black denim jacket that I wanted before but they had none in my size in Dinan so I didn't get one.Lucky I waited too,as they were on half price sale...cool.
Anyway,that wasn't all as we got lost on the way back and had we not got a bit lost we would not have gone through Plancoet,stopped off at another supermarket and I would not have found another Indochine cd in the cd shop there so it was very good that we did..
and we got home in good time for the meeting too so I had a bit of bread before we went over there and we had some snacks there and my french is improving and it was kinda fun and interesting too even if Zara did feel a little left out which couldn't be helped.
So we had some dinner later as we were there a good long while and Therese liked my new trainers(first time I had worn them)and my new jacket and said that Complices is a good make as well....started me off on something with that,hehe....she has a lovely garden that I didn't even know exsisted as it's up the steps at the side of the house and you can't see it from where we are but we looked around and it is so lovely and Michel sometimes parks his car up there as there is a lane at the end which leads to the road as the other entrance we use it's a bit of a blind corner.But they've done it really nicely and myself and Zara were quite amazed as I'd never seen it before and it is kinda like a secret garden but very pretty and that's coming from someone whom barely ventures out into gardens but am glad I took the chance this time as there was no wind about and I had taken my hayfever tablets anyway as it was threatening to start up on the day we arrived so I had been taking them everyday.But it was so pretty especially as it was such a beautiful evening...
Myself and Zara just watched my Indochine dvd again in the evening and chatted late into the night about various stuff and had a good laugh.
Although over the holiday I just could not resist snacking and stuff as I spent so much time sat downstairs in the kitchen in the early evenings,so it's no wonder I did put a bit of weight on (my new clothes etc are still ok though)so I do need to lose that again...just eating fresh bread every day as I didn't want anything frozen due to the fridge problem...ah well,not that I mind..
But another successful day...which was all good anyway....*mew*
Vendredi et Samedi(St Malo Intra Muros et Dinan zone industrielles)
Vendredi
Today we all got up on the early side as we were going to Saint Malo Intra Muros...
Had breakfast and left not long after,wore my new trainers and same outfit as the day before as it all matched up and my new jacket too..
Headed out and the journey down was uneventful except a lorry scaring me and getting stuck in the tourist traffic getting into St Malo....the car parking was a slight problem as one car park was full and the other further on we were lucky to get a space so quick in there as well....but I think we had a lot of good luck with the parking though but it was siesta time by that point so that might have had some bearing on it....
Headed on to Pimkie after and I thought that they would be shut for Siesta but not luckily and I managed to get the skirt version of the trousers I wanted (camo ones)as well as a few others bits and pieces(the sale section,there was not much in there though)including a few cute jumpers and a purple cord skirt and a cute sparkly necklace whereas Zara had mainly got make up and stuff really...I paid for mine with hers as the girl on the till suggested it so I'd get the extra points on my club Pimkie card(got offerred another magic cheque voucher thing too but I said I'd have one next time and carry the new points over instead so I can get a larger amount one and hopefully it will be valid for longer too)but not before confusing the poor girl on the till as I couldn't understand what she meant when she pointed at Zara's stuff and got the change from Zara and gave it to me....that wasn't due to the language barrier or anything,that was just me being plain thick....felt sorry for the girl even though there was only about one person behind us anyway...and I also got another pair of jeans in Mim though and I picked out a pair of trousers and a skirt in there for Zara too which she got as they really suited her.
Looked in a few other shops and saw a genuine Kitty purse but decided against it as it wasn't that nice anyway.
so when we had been to all the main shops we normally go to we just decided to head back via La Maddie on the way out as we needed to go to the supermarket on the way home anyway.
Went in there and I went in Jennyfer again(and took ages again)looking for a vest to go underneath a pink top I got on wednesday in there and I spent so long deciding that in the end I just got both vests and found a lovely pair of pjamas in there too,in my size and the last ones as well.
Got one of the Indochine DVDs I saw the time before in another shop there and had decided to get since (a live one,Dancetaria)but the other way waay too pricey so I left that one.
Saw the diaries in Carrefour and they had a Hamtaro book but that wasn't a diary so I didn't get it.
Still might get it though next time if they still have it.They had a good large selection though but I couldn't find any nice enough to get,really.
Just got some of those delish bread rolls for supper and looked for any complices clothes but there were none anyway.
The queues were really big in there though but then it was a friday evening at around 6-ish....
Anyway,had a quick last look in claires but nothing much and got a postcard for someone in the newsagents there...
When we came out though it was sunny as we had to dash in there earlier as it had started to rain and I was using my new bag and didn't want to get it wet!
We got home for about 7 and I had my rolls and had some cheese in them this time and some egg from the salad mum got and mum also got some Gouda with Cumin seeds in which was so so lovely....mmmm.
Watched my new DVD with Zara and chatted in her room again and had a laugh...the uncensored version of 'Stef 2' was funny and the live concert was very good,especially the live version of 'Dancetaria' which is such a cool song anyway...there were some cute bits on the video,but the most moving being him talking about his brother whom had died and was the guitarist(Stefane Sirkis)and sang a song called 'she night' for him and it was so moving as he was crying...awwww....
It's a DVD that I would be watching again and again as it's a good concert as well....
Oh and I wore my new temporary tattoos that night (I got with my jacket)and Zara dyed her hair black which looks pretty cool even though you can see the ginger streaks and some blonde through it as she was ginger before....she had her fringe cut for the first time in years by my mum the day before(hence why we got mum the Far breton in the cake shop in Lamballe as a thank you)which made it look even cooler too..
we tried to be a tidy and make sure we made no mess but the bath mat got stained and mum was not pleased as it's a white one but oh well....was cool to watch her dye her hair though as well as to help where I could...
The only thing about today being that I wanted a new winter coat from Pimkie instead of Jennyfer(I always get them there) but I do think I planned too far in advance for that anyway....
Samedi.
Today we just went to the local Shopping park in Dinan and got the food on the way back in Champion and I had a good look around and got the other DVD I had seen for a little bit cheaper and got 2 complices tops and a necklace of a pink butterfly.
Did look in a shop which is like the french version of staples but saw nothing much.
Also looked in the toyshop but had decided against the Monopoly as we'd barely play it and still couldn't decide on what diary I wanted either.
Missed out on seeing and hearing a French cashier(whom studies in London but he works in the supermarket during the holidays)whom was chatting Zara up in front of my mum as I went in the fast queue and got stuck behind 2 old ladies...pah...
Mum did the garden in the evening as it was cooler and the funny thing was we did the cooking and although Zara did most of it I did assist where I could and even enjoyed peeling the potatoes even if we did cook too many.....I just had a small baguette as usual and they had pork in sauce.
Was really enjoyable doing the cooking together like that as we had such a laugh!
Did have some lovely little biscuit fingers with choc drops in though which were lovely too....and me and Zara had some chocolate pastry thing and tarte aux pommes which were both lovely....
Just chilled in the later part of the evening and stuff...was pretty good fun too...watched part of the new DVD but ended up just watching Dancetaria again...ah well.
Dimanche et Lundi(a day indoors and a brief trip to the supermarkets)
Dimanche.
Nowhere open today although there was talk of getting something in the diy store for cutting the weeds in the garden but we didn't bother and I doubt they would have been open anyway....so today was just about packing and tidying and while mum was in the garden(both myself and Zara have hayfever so we didn't go out much in the garden and it was bit hot anyway)we chatted and sat in the kitchen with the boombox on in the lounge and as one of the photos taken of me in the lounge last november had what looks like an orb on it,Zara took some of the same area of the lounge and we'll see how they turn out....
A very quiet day for the most part and the later evening was spent the way we had been doing for last few nights anyway....with a bottle of diet coke to share between us each night....as that stuff doesn't keep fizzy long anyway....*mew*
Planned to get a diary in the supermarket on the last day,monday,just any with an interesting inside to it as they were all pretty much the same on the inside except for a few and decorate it myself on the cover since I couldn't get my Jennyfer one as they only sell them at the larger branches and we had not been to Vannes or St Brieuc(I wish!Jennyfer and Pimkie on the same road and the traffic and that dodgy roundabout puts us off going there!) and when we were at the supermarket the day before,we'd bought enough food to last for the sunday too though when we got the food in on saturday as everywhere would be shut anyway the next day and also that last Indochine cd as I can't even get that off ebay or amazon that I had seen as and the wine for Unis as well although I planned to go to the other supermarket first as it might be cheaper there.
Anyway,yeah,a rather peaceful day but nice.
Lundi(8th).
Today we left the house after siesta time and just went to the larger supermarket and I did get the wine cheaper there as I remembered the price at the other place and it was the cheapest I had ever bought it at which was cool.
Got the Diary and a Lollipops fountain pen too (wished I got the matching shoulder bag and the pencil case but maybe next time if they have it then if not never mind)and also mum got some trousers in Camaieu as she loves their clothes in there,and she also got a flower ornament thing for the front room at home.Stopped by the other supermarket on the way back and got some chocolate to take home with me plus some of that nice cappucino that I can't get back home and biccies and stuff for the next day and the travelling back home and I did get the Indochine cd too.
The journey home from Dinan was eventful though as the car started doing exactly what it did on the way to Vannes that time...I thought that it was sounding and feeling funny like before halfway down the autoroute and when I looked at the panel I saw that symbol light again.....and stay lit..
mum was worried about it for the most part of that evening and didn't sleep as a result..
and even just trying the car later the symbol was still staying lit...but at least we know now that it only happens when we are in France as it seems to happen when we've been using 5th gear a lot....which we don't normally do...so we've gotta investigate at home about what that is and means..but all evening we were preparing ourselves for the possibility of taking the car to Dinan to the citroen garage in the morning as the ferry going home isn't until 4pm as we need to be there for then as the ferry goes at 5pm,and that we might not make it to the ferry or what they could say at the garage about it or that we might have to delay going back and what that would mean(change hotel booking,tell my supervisor,phone Zara's dad,phone the ferry people etc)and all that....
The rest of the evening coulda been better,myself and Zara were supposed to be cooking chicken but it went a bit wrong as the rice went like glue as my mum kept interfering while we were cooking and adding the sauce to it made it worse so they ended up just having the sauce with the chicken and the sauce was lovely as I had some on my bread as it's one of those bottle ones.So that was something.
The rice got binned though.Shame that that night cooking wasn't as fun as sunday night.
Well,my mum had the sauce with hers as we gave up on it pretty much.
Zara did plan on getting potatoes for the chicken which she probably shoulda done anyway....as in the supermarket a bag of rice she picked up went everywhere and on her new mim trousers to make matters worse and she had a dream she argued with mum over cooking rice as she told me earlier in the week about it and it came true...if only the nice saucy dream I had on wednesday night about the lead singer of Derniere Volonte had too...*giggle*
When we took the rubbish out later it was a really lovely sunset out and very beautiful..
even though it was already close to dark...
Anyway,as all the packing had been done and the cleaning had been done we just settled down with an old carry on film and some chat and a bottle of diet coke in Zara's room for most of the later part of night as the atmosphere due to dinner was a bit tense.....and both got to bed late too....
Mardi et Mercredi(the return home and the aftermath,sorry,day after)
Mardi.
Well,my mum checked the car this morning and the problem,like last time had mysteriously vanished like before.So that was something.
Anyway,we deliberately set off a bit later so we wouldn't be waiting so long in line at the port and we were not stopping off or anything anyway.
It took us the usual time to get there and we ended up waiting in line like last time in the blazing sunshine again.
Myself and Zara ended up heading off to the ferry terminal building but neither the shop or the bar opened until later and not that any of it was priced well enough to suit the little change we had left anyway which would have paid for a can of coke in La Maddie but not there..I only got a postcard with a recipe for Kouign Amann,which is the lovely cake thing I ate on Tuesday before.Mmm.
Anyway,we just sat in the car snacking on biccies waiting to board and then when we did board we were told that we'd have a 2 hour wait to change ferries in Jersey....hmmm.
Anyhow,settled down with my walkman and listened to a bit of music.
Did look in the shop though and Zara got herself a bottle of whisky and some sticks of rock for someone.
When we got to Jersey,we did look in the terminal there and Zara found a tape she was interested in and bought a coconut ice bar,and we had a diet coke and sandwich in the cafe there.
We were told that the ferry would be arriving into Weymouth an hour late and thought not much of it at the time and when we got on board,they told us to park in gear but then as we were on a slope when mum did that we had to take it out of gear as it nearly slid into the car in front....so they ended up clipping the car in with the ropes and stuff..which didn't half make us all shake when they unclipped them anyway when we did reach Weymouth.
But the crossing was ok,Zara got a bottle of wine for her dad and a body art set that was going cheap that she gave me half of which was very kind of her as she knows I like those little gemstone things.
I just wrote in my diary and listened to my walkman,really.
The real problems started when we reached Weymouth.We parked up and after asking at the wrong hotel,we remembered the name of the one that we wanted.
But we rang 4 times and it was very clear that there was no one in or answering.
So as it was highly unlikely that we would find anywhere else there and Bournemouth was too far to go and the expense involved of getting another hotel which I would have much rather have done,than drive the 6 hours back to Leicester overnight and tired and arguing and with mum insisting I stay awake all night to navigate and me nearly getting out of the car in the middle of nowhere as I had had enough and it was asking too much as if I doze off,I doze off-I can't help that,
just for saving a few lousy pounds.
Oh and my mum nearly driving the car into a ditch.....well,we got home for just before 7am and I went straight to bed and Zara slept in the spare room.
So that was a night that I won't forget in a hurry.
Mercredi(the last day).
I woke up and got up at around 1pm,and just had a small bite to eat and watched TV for a while and as I wanted to go into town to check my account etc,and mum wanted to check hers and Zara too,I gave Zara a wake up call at about 2pm.
So we all went off into town at 3ish and we decided that we would take Zara with us to town and then later that night drop her home as her dad would not be there to let her in till later anyway and it saved a lot of hassle of getting caught in the rush hour dropping her off or anything and saved hassle sorting her stuff out in a hurry before the shops shut.
Anyway,yeah,we went into town and I found that things were better than hoped and so I got a Hello Kitty plush cushion to match my duvet set,and Zara got some bits and pieces herself,including some Bratz sunglasses for me as she accidently trod on my others and broke them on the saturday night before we went which I wans't really that bothered about anyway but it was a lovely thought as I was planning to buy them myself as they were cheaper than the first pair and she found a 'Wink' doll,had no idea they were also popular here too!The comics are easily available in France and they even do clothes in the supermarches of her fav 'Witch' comic,which she also got a copy of that day and I had a look at,and it is pretty good and always has nice freebies with it too.
She also got a copy of Rock Sound as it had HIM posters in and I looked at the Darkwave section of the reviews, but nothing much there.
I had a nice cream cake and Teacake in town and a hot choc and Zara had a coffee and a lemon meringue pie.
I just had a ciabatta roll for dinner though and a choc dessert and me and Zara chatted for most of the evening as well as pulling funny faces and laughing while mum was on the phone to Geoff,as The Crow(Sheila)had tried to call us and left a message on the answerphone as she wants to know when Geoff is going back to France as she's an English lady living in Jugon and wanted Geoff to phone her as she won't phone him as it's too expensive,apparently.Like he will!
We call her 'The Crow' as she always has to poke her sticky beak into other peoples business....hah.
Never mind the local paper there for the ex-pats,tell her as it will be quicker.
Jugon in 2 hours,Dinan in 2 days and St Malo in 3 days, by the end of the week Finisterre and Quiberon!How's that for delivering the news?
Anyway,dropped Zara home at 9 and Helen helped her take her bags in.
When I got home I got a bit of an unwelcome surprise when the phone rang and mum insisted I pick it up this time.....
There's a girl I knew many years ago called Susan who has tried to phone me before but luckily I've always been out.Until now.
Yeah,it was her and I couldn't wait to get off the phone quick enough what with her saying do I remember a girl called Rachel(yeah and anything I tell Sue will go straight back to her,she most likely put her up to it)and am I 'courting' as she put it...and I said it's too personal a question as I HATE being asked that by people I barely know,let alone knew 7 years ago.
Plus she asked what am I into now and she's married now and I could hear kids in the background...I was not exactly receptive and it has been suggested to me that now she has her life on track she's showing off to anyone and everyone....heh.So she did not get much information to tell Rachel off me(Rachel being not a very nice person when I knew her)and the call could not have ended quick enough.
The rest of the evening was pretty quiet,just put up my new Indochine poster and rearranged things for it and unpacked and tidied up generally.Got to bed late though which didn't bother me too much really.
So all in all a really cool holiday and better than the one we had last year with Zara anyway.....yeah,I hope she'll come again next year or whenever...hopefully may as then at least that's sooner than next August and cheaper for her too and she won't have to take unpaid leave for it either.
Yeah,very much enjoyed and loved every minute,both of us did...*mew mew good 99.9%*
So this little kitty is back after a couple of weeks...and *mew* do I have a lot to tell...wow...*mew*
So I shall start with the first day which would be the sunday...
I've put these under a cut so I don't clutter up everyone's friends pages as I sure have a lot to tell...
Dimanche(the drive down)
Dimanche(31st).
Today I woke up a bit later than I intended but not that it mattered that much although my lunch went cold as I was on my LJ for a while and then getting some kitty desktop patterns which I think made us run a bit late and(so it did matter then)after we just went to get some credit for my mum's phone before setting off and I used my Kitty plush backpack although I didn't take her with me on holiday as we packed everything when we got back,me eager to put my boom box in the boot and I got in although sideways but I still got it in all the same.
The drive down was pretty quiet,being a sunday and we stopped off at Moreton in Marsh and Zara got a huge bag of mints and they actually ended up lasting the whole holiday but were a bit of a bad idea as the licorice ones nearly made her car sick on the way but luckily not.
We passed by Cerne Abbas Giant and she got to see it and then on the way past got stuck behind a red van doing about 20 miles per hour in a 60 zone and it was bendy roads so we couldn't overtake...grrr...I had a few choice *mews* to say about the driver of that van!
Anyway,we ended up arriving into Weymouth at 7-8ish and I was right about turning left at the clock and not right and we parked out the front first but the hotel owner sorted it for us to park out the back as the front you're not supposed to but he fixed it for us to park in front of his mates garage as we would be leaving early and even knocked a bit off the price as we would be leaving too early to have breakfast.
So we parked up and lugged our overnighter stuff in and watched a bit of TV and freshened up etc,not that there was very much except the soaps(bah)but there was some other interesting stuff on too anyway.
So we set out at about 9 ish to have a bite to eat and went to the same place we normally go to and I took a load of photos with my bratz camera although I lost them off the camera as it's not working properly(digital cameras always go funny on me as I've had problems with every single one I've ever owned)and the views from the hotel were lovely from the front which is a shame we had a back room but the place was buzzing with people and tourists and the restaurant,being an italian one was out of lasagne and bolognaise...not that I would eat anything so typical in such a a place anyway.
So I shared the panini thing with my mum and Zara and I both had the cheesy mushrooms and then shared some bread and a chocolate cake as the other thing we asked for was all out.
It was delish anyway.Funny thing was,the woman opposite kept giving Zara funny looks as Zara had a t-shirt on saying 'bitch' on it...well,that woman had no real right to judge as she couldn't keep her kids from running riot and screaming and shouting.
Anyway,on a nicer and lighter note,
The funniest thing was we finished eating when they were closing up and after we came out we checked the change and they must have been in a rush to finish up as we ended up not just getting the £2 tip we left but another £5 we couldn't account for!*mew*
Anyway,we were all walking back to the hotel along the seafront giggling like crazy!
So we just spent the rest of the evening just watching tv and playing the kitty games on the cd that I got free with the camera(the kitty one)so the money spent on that wasn't a total waste and just exploring the software,and listening to my Indochine tape on my walkman before we all settled down for a few hours sleep before getting up and ready to leave for the ferry.
Lundi et Mardi(arrival et Dinan)
Lundi.
Today we got up early and headed down to the ferry port and it wasn't long before we boarded the ferry and settled down for the trip to Guernsey where we were changing ferries
and I just had my walkman on and so did Zara.
We had a look in the shop but they didn't have anything much anyway.
We unfortunately were sat in the same place as last year and with a kid being sick opposite too again.Nice.
Anyway,when we got to Guernsey we ended up going around in circles looking for the entrance to the check in and then we were not allowed to park there yet as we had about 2 hours or something so we just parked up nearby and sat in the car as we didn't have enought time to go around,not that I really minded anyway.We must have been sat there for a long time which in the blazing sunshine is really not very nice at all.So we eventually went to the check in and we must have been sat there an awful long time too and it was so hot that I was having to put my jacket up at the window to stop the sun burning me.
The ferry had been delayed by about an hour and we saw all the other cars getting loaded on and we were still sat there...I had a horrid feeling we might end up being put on a later ferry or something but luckily our time came and we went on.As we went on,I saw a sign that said 'St Malo only' meaning they must have been at full capacity as they normally stop at Jersey on the way.
But I was so bored that I text both Pete and Rolo while we were sat waiting and they had a lot tighter security checks(both passports and car boots)which was understandable due to recent events on all parts of the crossings.
I did wonder how that would affect things.
But the rest of the way went pretty smoothly and we arrived in St Malo for around 5pm french time which was an hour later than anticipated but that really did not matter.
I was just glad to be there really.
Anyway,it took the usual 45 mins to the house and what we were greeted with when we arrived was the least of good starts.I saw the broken down fridge(the one that the neighbours took out and had to mop around as it defrosted and broke the weekend while we were in bristol)in the shed and I thought that it was still useable but obviously not.
But when we opened the front door the house looked to have a colony of small flies.
We cleared some of them up,or the dead ones with me going running around with the fly spray and a sweeping brush and trying to get rid of as many as possible.We cleaned a bit up and then went out to the local supermarket to get some odds and ends for that night and as we had no fridge anyway,and ended up with pesky flies in the car on the way as well,the kind that hide as soon as you open the window but then reveal themselves when you shut it.
I got one of the magazines I was expecting to get at the supermarket but they other they didn't have.I had a heated up baguette for dinner though as I really didn't fancy much else anyway and that would be something I'd be eating an awful lot of that week but not that I knew that at the time.
So we got back to the house and the cleaning and the root of the problem seemed to be coming from a sack of rotten potatoes that belonged to the caretaker that was under the stairs and an old fur rug.
The larger flies were still about and I disliked it so much and was so worried about eating with them near me that I ended up eating the baguette for dinner upstairs with Zara in her room.
So most of that night was spent just generally cleaning and trying to sort the problem and the general state of the downstairs with the cobwebs and the broken heater with the stagnant water on the floor that belonged to the caretaker too,one of his aquistions,much like the fridge.
He seems to like his knock off gear that he tends to buy or get given.
We coulda watched some films if it wasn't for his powerpoint/multi plug socket failing and we didn't know how to reset it or program his fancy video player.Pah.
But all the cleaning we were doing and my concerns with the flies landing on things,it's amazing I didn't end up with obsessive compulsive disorder as a result.
I ended up not really unpacking much and just taking things from my case or bag as I needed them as I should have unpacked that night but never did what with all the cleaning etc etc..
But after dinner,(for which mum and Zara shared a cottage pie)myself and Zara just sat in her room with my boombox on and chatted and stuff and planned the spends and thought on the next day and talked late into the night which was a lot of fun....
We all agreed on Dinan(the nearest town)being the destination for the next day and we'd get up early ish and we would have to see about getting a new fridge but I did warn mum that we might have to do things day by day...
It was quite late by the time we went to bed and we were all tired from the travelling so I doubt any of us had any problem sleeping.
Oh,except me waking up just before dawn and the sound of that clock on the bedside table got to me so much that I ended up putting it in the bathroom cabinet.I think I left it in there too,I can't sleep with loud clocks ticking away in the night like that.
I know a few people whom can't either.
Mardi.
Today was the trip to Dinan.
I wore my fav Tammy jeans,my red docs, and the Hello Kitty t-shirt that I got in Paris at Christmas but hadn't worn as yet.
We all got up around 10am and then had some breakfast before leaving the house to go to Dinan.We planned to go to the supermarket and the electrical store first but ended up going to Dinan centre first instead as we missed the turning,which was kinda lucky in the long run anyway.
It took a while to get a parking space(even in the winter it's just as bad)but we got one eventually and when we sorted out the ticket we got one that was up till nearly 5pm as I didn't realise that they don't charge for or count the siesta hours in that...cool.
Came in very handy too.
Had we gone after the siesta then we would have had less time and found it more difficult to park to add to that too.
The first of many lucky chances we had over the week anyway.
So we went around the shops and both me and Zara got some make up,including some new lipsticks they had in stock in the Debby make up range(my fav brand of make up)and Zara got herself a lovely pair of trousers and a top,and I got my Elegy and D Side mags(Zara bought D side too)then we headed to record shop I wanted to check out where I got the first of many Indochine cds(their first album)and I got a poster,and a postcard,but I didn't see any shoes in the shoe shop to tempt me(that would be later in the week)and we took my mum for a coffee and a cake which myself and Zara bought her.I had a yeast cake called a Kouign Amman,which was very very nice indeed.
Zara had a apple tart thing,I think.
We both had Grand cremes(she loved it)and mu had a Far Breton flan and a tea.
While we were sat there we saw all the tourists going by and one woman had a very tight vest with a fancy bra underneath and you could see the bra so clearly she might as well have not bothered with the vest at all!
I thought that it was quite funny..I think you can tell who are the english tourists anywhere.
So that was quite a sucessful day plus I got another mag that I was after as well.
Oh and it wasn't over yet as we had to sort out about the fridge and I was right about us having to do it all on a day to day basis as they said it would be 2 weeks to deliver or you had to rent one of their vans and drive it back yourself...which mum was not happy to do so we just had to leave it at that.
The other shop was too pricey.
Anyway,in the supermarket we got the food bits and pieces and I had a small baguette again(well,bread like that doesn't need a fridge)and I tried to find a nice diary but no luck there.Did see a nice Lollipops satchel type thing and matching pencil case but resisted as it was too small for my laptop but too big for everyday useage.
Did get yet another Indochine cd though(they are my joint fav with Derniere Volonte)so that was good also.
we went over to the neighbours as we had got them a little something to sat thank you for the help with the old fridge and they invited us for drinks on thursday night at 7:30 and Therese loved the tea set which we got her.
I finally ate in the kitchen that night(the fly problem had eased up somewhat) and we had a nice dinner and then me and Zara just sat in her room later that night after I washed my hair and we just chatted about various things etc....and planned on the next day and spends allowance and and stuff...so it was a really nice day all in all and we all enjoyed it.
I told Zara that we'd have to have an early start the next morning as we were going to La Maddie in St Malo and she was happy with that and although I got very little sleep that night(have no idea why though)and kept waking up it didn't harm my mood that much really.Although I do hate to sleep in the pitch black(well,it is the countryside) which is what I was doing,as I like to be able to see something at least.Which made me wish I had bought that darn Kitty alarm clock with the digits so I wouldn't be turning the light on and there would be something to see at least in the dark so it would not be pitch black instead of the damn camera....and still have had money for something else left over...grrrr!
I think me and digital cameras don't get on full stop as I've never had one work properly on me for very long and I have had 3 now.
Mum suggested I get a fancy one but that means it's more of a waste or money if it goes wrong or doesn't work properly.
So it's unlikely that I will be getting another digital camera at any point or using one again for anything unless it's not mine.
Pah.
Anyway,yeah,despite the disrupted sleep it went well really.....*mew mew content*
Mercredi et Jeudi(La Maddie et Lamballe)
Mercredi.
Today was the trip to La Maddie.
We got up early and had a bite to eat and then headed off to St Malo.
The journey was pretty uneventful apart from my normal lorry phobia making me jumpy but as soon as we got to the turning before the La Maddie roundabout,there was a huge queue of traffic which I put down to the tourists going into St Malo Intra Muros as it seemed to be heading that way although it was affecting the traffic into La Maddie.
Anyway,we soon parked up and myself and Zara headed straight into Jennyfer,and after a good few hours spent in there we both came out with a lot of stuff helped by the fact it was the sales but they seemed to have more empty sections than they did before which was a shame but and I didn't get the winter coat I wanted but I think I might just have planned a little too far ahead for that.
And she was picking stuff for me and me for her...as was the case for the most part...*mew*
I didn't get the Pjamas either(well,not on that day anyway) or any of the stuff on my list but I was happy with what I did get which was mainly khaki and black trousers,plus a black handbag and various odds and ends including a lovely jacket in purple which has lovely sequined buttons that was only something like 4 euros.
So we had a pretty good old spend in there and Zara came out with some nice bits and pieces including razor blade shaped earrings and some nice hipster jeans,she's lucky being so tall as it's a lot easier for her to get trousers or jeans than it is for me.
Anyway,she needed some flat walking shoes or sandals as the only flat shoes she brought with her were too warm as they were her velvet converse style boots.She found some in the supermarche nextdoor and I also had a fair bit of luck in the other shops although they had no more of the butterfly necklaces in Camaieu,or anything else to interest me except a winter coat but it's too much like one I already have anyway.
So we went in to the supermarche to get the food as well(I ended up having 2 bread rolls-one with raisins,one with maize...yum,they do the best ones in there anyway to have for dinner and we got some coffee eclairs in there too for me and Zara)and yeah,I had some more luck on the Indochine stuff,I found the best of video clips dvd in there for 10 euros cheaper than the other shop,where I had bought a live album in the sale and Zara had bought 'Nuit Intime' which is an adorable live acoustic album which she ended up loving too,so I got that DVD and found 2 more albums by them in a special offer,'7000 Danses' and 'Un Jour Dans Notre Vie'the second of which literally fell into my hands as Zara was checking out the DVDs which is when she found that one for me of the clips,I found the first one and tried to wave to her to get her attention but I knocked some down and I put one back and that second one just fell into my hands and then I realised what it was by the cover!
So that was lucky indeed and it turned out over the week that we were doing each others shopping as she would spot things for me and me for her!
She got some cheap sandals in the supermarket and I was the one whom spotted that!
Even if they ended up a bit of a bad idea as they ended up being too painful on her feet the next day but then we didn't know that then...
We had a look in claires in there too,after getting the food in the supermarket and we found a 5 for a euro offer on some stuff and they had some lovely stuff in that offer which was cool,even glass pearls in pink and white,and lip balms and lip smackers lip gloss....wow...so we took advantage of that naturally,and Zara got 2 rose shaped plastic rings in purple and pink(she gave me the purple one)as well and I found a cool cuff thing with ribbon on that I liked in the claires at home so we were pleased with that.
She also spotted a Hello Kitty handbag while we were in the queue with sequins on Kitty's face which I snapped up too...
I did end up going back in though as I had picked up two pink pearl necklaces instead of one white and one pink and after a lot of two-ing and fro-ing and confusion I managed to sort that out even if it did give me a headache in the process...heh!
But then we had a quick last look around and then left after a pretty sucessful day although it was nearly spoiled by a woman whom didn't look when she came out of the car park and we luckily just stopped in time as we were coming out too...she was paying more attention to the fag in her mouth,I think....*mew*
Anyway,yeah,we got back and I put one of my new Cds on the boombox and mum did some stuff in the garden while me and Zara just chatted and we had dinner later and I had the rolls and had a bit of mum's Far Breton and me and Zara shared the eclairs too....after dinner we just watched my new DVD on my laptop and drooled like crazy over the lead singer,Nicola Sirkis....he's so dreamy...mmm!
And we had a good chat and a good laugh too so that was a pretty nice end to a nice day.
Mum just read her french language book in the evenings after dinner for the most part.
So yeah,another successful day of doing each others shopping...*mew* and *giggle*....
and the video to Marilyn by Indochine and also the one to 'Satellite' and 'Mao Boy'..wow what a gorge guy....*mew*
But the one to 'Stef 2' is funny...it's quite scary as the whole band dress as women at the end and he makes a pretty convincing woman..so much so that I bet that Geoff would find him(or her?)attractive....*mew*
But yeah,a well cool day....*mew*
Jeudi.
Today we decided the plan was to go to Lamballe as it wasn't too far away and we needed to go somewhere not too far away as we had the drink over at the neighbours at 7:30pm that night,and besides,Zara had never been there anyway...
So we headed out after a quick breakfast and after I had spent so long deciding what to wear which woulda been a lot easier if I had brought my black docs and not the red ones as I bought so much Khaki stuff....so I settled on a pink t-shirt and my polka dot bustier which I had never worn before although I bought it about a year before and wore it with my tammy jeans and the red docs.
So we headed out to Lamballe and managed to find a free car aprk and the first space in the car park we went in I thought it had to be too good to be true and it was as that part was private parking...lucky there was a free space in the other part and mum took so long in getting in there that I did think we were going to lose it or something...what a relief we didn't...phew...*mew*
Anyway,it was still siesta time and there were a few shops open,and in cache cache Zara bought a raincoat and some bits and then we walked around and saw what was left of the market as it was finishing but not much and then waited for the others to open.
I saw a cute pair of Jennyfer sandals in the window of Eram so we just hung around there till they opened at 2 and I tried the sandals on but they looked funny on my feet but then a pair of pink JNY trainers caught my eye and I'm not really a trainers kinda girl but they were really cute and even though they were a 36 they fitted perfectly and very comfy too...and looked great with my jeans so I just couldn't say no.
Zara found a pair of Morgan heels so she got them as they were not too high and the sandals she got the day before were really painful on her feet.
We bought my mum a Far Breton in the cake shop and we had a chcolate pastry thing each but there were no creme brulees sadly...
shame as they do the best I've ever tasted in there...ah well.
I also got a DDP bag for my Laptop which I took a chance on and luckily it was just right for my laptop when we tried it later and there is space for the dvds in there too and the cables in a separate pocket as well which is even better.
Zara got a Wink comic as she had already bought a diary like it and there was a free little shoulder bag with it too so she got that.
I had a bit more luck myself as we went to the supermarket on the way back and it was the one we got lost looking for back in feb,and I only saw it as I saw the sign in the distance before the roundabout as the signs to it are not helpful at all....but while we were in there I got the Bourjois bubble bath which I was after and also another little find as I managed to get the Complices black denim jacket that I wanted before but they had none in my size in Dinan so I didn't get one.Lucky I waited too,as they were on half price sale...cool.
Anyway,that wasn't all as we got lost on the way back and had we not got a bit lost we would not have gone through Plancoet,stopped off at another supermarket and I would not have found another Indochine cd in the cd shop there so it was very good that we did..
and we got home in good time for the meeting too so I had a bit of bread before we went over there and we had some snacks there and my french is improving and it was kinda fun and interesting too even if Zara did feel a little left out which couldn't be helped.
So we had some dinner later as we were there a good long while and Therese liked my new trainers(first time I had worn them)and my new jacket and said that Complices is a good make as well....started me off on something with that,hehe....she has a lovely garden that I didn't even know exsisted as it's up the steps at the side of the house and you can't see it from where we are but we looked around and it is so lovely and Michel sometimes parks his car up there as there is a lane at the end which leads to the road as the other entrance we use it's a bit of a blind corner.But they've done it really nicely and myself and Zara were quite amazed as I'd never seen it before and it is kinda like a secret garden but very pretty and that's coming from someone whom barely ventures out into gardens but am glad I took the chance this time as there was no wind about and I had taken my hayfever tablets anyway as it was threatening to start up on the day we arrived so I had been taking them everyday.But it was so pretty especially as it was such a beautiful evening...
Myself and Zara just watched my Indochine dvd again in the evening and chatted late into the night about various stuff and had a good laugh.
Although over the holiday I just could not resist snacking and stuff as I spent so much time sat downstairs in the kitchen in the early evenings,so it's no wonder I did put a bit of weight on (my new clothes etc are still ok though)so I do need to lose that again...just eating fresh bread every day as I didn't want anything frozen due to the fridge problem...ah well,not that I mind..
But another successful day...which was all good anyway....*mew*
Vendredi et Samedi(St Malo Intra Muros et Dinan zone industrielles)
Vendredi
Today we all got up on the early side as we were going to Saint Malo Intra Muros...
Had breakfast and left not long after,wore my new trainers and same outfit as the day before as it all matched up and my new jacket too..
Headed out and the journey down was uneventful except a lorry scaring me and getting stuck in the tourist traffic getting into St Malo....the car parking was a slight problem as one car park was full and the other further on we were lucky to get a space so quick in there as well....but I think we had a lot of good luck with the parking though but it was siesta time by that point so that might have had some bearing on it....
Headed on to Pimkie after and I thought that they would be shut for Siesta but not luckily and I managed to get the skirt version of the trousers I wanted (camo ones)as well as a few others bits and pieces(the sale section,there was not much in there though)including a few cute jumpers and a purple cord skirt and a cute sparkly necklace whereas Zara had mainly got make up and stuff really...I paid for mine with hers as the girl on the till suggested it so I'd get the extra points on my club Pimkie card(got offerred another magic cheque voucher thing too but I said I'd have one next time and carry the new points over instead so I can get a larger amount one and hopefully it will be valid for longer too)but not before confusing the poor girl on the till as I couldn't understand what she meant when she pointed at Zara's stuff and got the change from Zara and gave it to me....that wasn't due to the language barrier or anything,that was just me being plain thick....felt sorry for the girl even though there was only about one person behind us anyway...and I also got another pair of jeans in Mim though and I picked out a pair of trousers and a skirt in there for Zara too which she got as they really suited her.
Looked in a few other shops and saw a genuine Kitty purse but decided against it as it wasn't that nice anyway.
so when we had been to all the main shops we normally go to we just decided to head back via La Maddie on the way out as we needed to go to the supermarket on the way home anyway.
Went in there and I went in Jennyfer again(and took ages again)looking for a vest to go underneath a pink top I got on wednesday in there and I spent so long deciding that in the end I just got both vests and found a lovely pair of pjamas in there too,in my size and the last ones as well.
Got one of the Indochine DVDs I saw the time before in another shop there and had decided to get since (a live one,Dancetaria)but the other way waay too pricey so I left that one.
Saw the diaries in Carrefour and they had a Hamtaro book but that wasn't a diary so I didn't get it.
Still might get it though next time if they still have it.They had a good large selection though but I couldn't find any nice enough to get,really.
Just got some of those delish bread rolls for supper and looked for any complices clothes but there were none anyway.
The queues were really big in there though but then it was a friday evening at around 6-ish....
Anyway,had a quick last look in claires but nothing much and got a postcard for someone in the newsagents there...
When we came out though it was sunny as we had to dash in there earlier as it had started to rain and I was using my new bag and didn't want to get it wet!
We got home for about 7 and I had my rolls and had some cheese in them this time and some egg from the salad mum got and mum also got some Gouda with Cumin seeds in which was so so lovely....mmmm.
Watched my new DVD with Zara and chatted in her room again and had a laugh...the uncensored version of 'Stef 2' was funny and the live concert was very good,especially the live version of 'Dancetaria' which is such a cool song anyway...there were some cute bits on the video,but the most moving being him talking about his brother whom had died and was the guitarist(Stefane Sirkis)and sang a song called 'she night' for him and it was so moving as he was crying...awwww....
It's a DVD that I would be watching again and again as it's a good concert as well....
Oh and I wore my new temporary tattoos that night (I got with my jacket)and Zara dyed her hair black which looks pretty cool even though you can see the ginger streaks and some blonde through it as she was ginger before....she had her fringe cut for the first time in years by my mum the day before(hence why we got mum the Far breton in the cake shop in Lamballe as a thank you)which made it look even cooler too..
we tried to be a tidy and make sure we made no mess but the bath mat got stained and mum was not pleased as it's a white one but oh well....was cool to watch her dye her hair though as well as to help where I could...
The only thing about today being that I wanted a new winter coat from Pimkie instead of Jennyfer(I always get them there) but I do think I planned too far in advance for that anyway....
Samedi.
Today we just went to the local Shopping park in Dinan and got the food on the way back in Champion and I had a good look around and got the other DVD I had seen for a little bit cheaper and got 2 complices tops and a necklace of a pink butterfly.
Did look in a shop which is like the french version of staples but saw nothing much.
Also looked in the toyshop but had decided against the Monopoly as we'd barely play it and still couldn't decide on what diary I wanted either.
Missed out on seeing and hearing a French cashier(whom studies in London but he works in the supermarket during the holidays)whom was chatting Zara up in front of my mum as I went in the fast queue and got stuck behind 2 old ladies...pah...
Mum did the garden in the evening as it was cooler and the funny thing was we did the cooking and although Zara did most of it I did assist where I could and even enjoyed peeling the potatoes even if we did cook too many.....I just had a small baguette as usual and they had pork in sauce.
Was really enjoyable doing the cooking together like that as we had such a laugh!
Did have some lovely little biscuit fingers with choc drops in though which were lovely too....and me and Zara had some chocolate pastry thing and tarte aux pommes which were both lovely....
Just chilled in the later part of the evening and stuff...was pretty good fun too...watched part of the new DVD but ended up just watching Dancetaria again...ah well.
Dimanche et Lundi(a day indoors and a brief trip to the supermarkets)
Dimanche.
Nowhere open today although there was talk of getting something in the diy store for cutting the weeds in the garden but we didn't bother and I doubt they would have been open anyway....so today was just about packing and tidying and while mum was in the garden(both myself and Zara have hayfever so we didn't go out much in the garden and it was bit hot anyway)we chatted and sat in the kitchen with the boombox on in the lounge and as one of the photos taken of me in the lounge last november had what looks like an orb on it,Zara took some of the same area of the lounge and we'll see how they turn out....
A very quiet day for the most part and the later evening was spent the way we had been doing for last few nights anyway....with a bottle of diet coke to share between us each night....as that stuff doesn't keep fizzy long anyway....*mew*
Planned to get a diary in the supermarket on the last day,monday,just any with an interesting inside to it as they were all pretty much the same on the inside except for a few and decorate it myself on the cover since I couldn't get my Jennyfer one as they only sell them at the larger branches and we had not been to Vannes or St Brieuc(I wish!Jennyfer and Pimkie on the same road and the traffic and that dodgy roundabout puts us off going there!) and when we were at the supermarket the day before,we'd bought enough food to last for the sunday too though when we got the food in on saturday as everywhere would be shut anyway the next day and also that last Indochine cd as I can't even get that off ebay or amazon that I had seen as and the wine for Unis as well although I planned to go to the other supermarket first as it might be cheaper there.
Anyway,yeah,a rather peaceful day but nice.
Lundi(8th).
Today we left the house after siesta time and just went to the larger supermarket and I did get the wine cheaper there as I remembered the price at the other place and it was the cheapest I had ever bought it at which was cool.
Got the Diary and a Lollipops fountain pen too (wished I got the matching shoulder bag and the pencil case but maybe next time if they have it then if not never mind)and also mum got some trousers in Camaieu as she loves their clothes in there,and she also got a flower ornament thing for the front room at home.Stopped by the other supermarket on the way back and got some chocolate to take home with me plus some of that nice cappucino that I can't get back home and biccies and stuff for the next day and the travelling back home and I did get the Indochine cd too.
The journey home from Dinan was eventful though as the car started doing exactly what it did on the way to Vannes that time...I thought that it was sounding and feeling funny like before halfway down the autoroute and when I looked at the panel I saw that symbol light again.....and stay lit..
mum was worried about it for the most part of that evening and didn't sleep as a result..
and even just trying the car later the symbol was still staying lit...but at least we know now that it only happens when we are in France as it seems to happen when we've been using 5th gear a lot....which we don't normally do...so we've gotta investigate at home about what that is and means..but all evening we were preparing ourselves for the possibility of taking the car to Dinan to the citroen garage in the morning as the ferry going home isn't until 4pm as we need to be there for then as the ferry goes at 5pm,and that we might not make it to the ferry or what they could say at the garage about it or that we might have to delay going back and what that would mean(change hotel booking,tell my supervisor,phone Zara's dad,phone the ferry people etc)and all that....
The rest of the evening coulda been better,myself and Zara were supposed to be cooking chicken but it went a bit wrong as the rice went like glue as my mum kept interfering while we were cooking and adding the sauce to it made it worse so they ended up just having the sauce with the chicken and the sauce was lovely as I had some on my bread as it's one of those bottle ones.So that was something.
The rice got binned though.Shame that that night cooking wasn't as fun as sunday night.
Well,my mum had the sauce with hers as we gave up on it pretty much.
Zara did plan on getting potatoes for the chicken which she probably shoulda done anyway....as in the supermarket a bag of rice she picked up went everywhere and on her new mim trousers to make matters worse and she had a dream she argued with mum over cooking rice as she told me earlier in the week about it and it came true...if only the nice saucy dream I had on wednesday night about the lead singer of Derniere Volonte had too...*giggle*
When we took the rubbish out later it was a really lovely sunset out and very beautiful..
even though it was already close to dark...
Anyway,as all the packing had been done and the cleaning had been done we just settled down with an old carry on film and some chat and a bottle of diet coke in Zara's room for most of the later part of night as the atmosphere due to dinner was a bit tense.....and both got to bed late too....
Mardi et Mercredi(the return home and the aftermath,sorry,day after)
Mardi.
Well,my mum checked the car this morning and the problem,like last time had mysteriously vanished like before.So that was something.
Anyway,we deliberately set off a bit later so we wouldn't be waiting so long in line at the port and we were not stopping off or anything anyway.
It took us the usual time to get there and we ended up waiting in line like last time in the blazing sunshine again.
Myself and Zara ended up heading off to the ferry terminal building but neither the shop or the bar opened until later and not that any of it was priced well enough to suit the little change we had left anyway which would have paid for a can of coke in La Maddie but not there..I only got a postcard with a recipe for Kouign Amann,which is the lovely cake thing I ate on Tuesday before.Mmm.
Anyway,we just sat in the car snacking on biccies waiting to board and then when we did board we were told that we'd have a 2 hour wait to change ferries in Jersey....hmmm.
Anyhow,settled down with my walkman and listened to a bit of music.
Did look in the shop though and Zara got herself a bottle of whisky and some sticks of rock for someone.
When we got to Jersey,we did look in the terminal there and Zara found a tape she was interested in and bought a coconut ice bar,and we had a diet coke and sandwich in the cafe there.
We were told that the ferry would be arriving into Weymouth an hour late and thought not much of it at the time and when we got on board,they told us to park in gear but then as we were on a slope when mum did that we had to take it out of gear as it nearly slid into the car in front....so they ended up clipping the car in with the ropes and stuff..which didn't half make us all shake when they unclipped them anyway when we did reach Weymouth.
But the crossing was ok,Zara got a bottle of wine for her dad and a body art set that was going cheap that she gave me half of which was very kind of her as she knows I like those little gemstone things.
I just wrote in my diary and listened to my walkman,really.
The real problems started when we reached Weymouth.We parked up and after asking at the wrong hotel,we remembered the name of the one that we wanted.
But we rang 4 times and it was very clear that there was no one in or answering.
So as it was highly unlikely that we would find anywhere else there and Bournemouth was too far to go and the expense involved of getting another hotel which I would have much rather have done,than drive the 6 hours back to Leicester overnight and tired and arguing and with mum insisting I stay awake all night to navigate and me nearly getting out of the car in the middle of nowhere as I had had enough and it was asking too much as if I doze off,I doze off-I can't help that,
just for saving a few lousy pounds.
Oh and my mum nearly driving the car into a ditch.....well,we got home for just before 7am and I went straight to bed and Zara slept in the spare room.
So that was a night that I won't forget in a hurry.
Mercredi(the last day).
I woke up and got up at around 1pm,and just had a small bite to eat and watched TV for a while and as I wanted to go into town to check my account etc,and mum wanted to check hers and Zara too,I gave Zara a wake up call at about 2pm.
So we all went off into town at 3ish and we decided that we would take Zara with us to town and then later that night drop her home as her dad would not be there to let her in till later anyway and it saved a lot of hassle of getting caught in the rush hour dropping her off or anything and saved hassle sorting her stuff out in a hurry before the shops shut.
Anyway,yeah,we went into town and I found that things were better than hoped and so I got a Hello Kitty plush cushion to match my duvet set,and Zara got some bits and pieces herself,including some Bratz sunglasses for me as she accidently trod on my others and broke them on the saturday night before we went which I wans't really that bothered about anyway but it was a lovely thought as I was planning to buy them myself as they were cheaper than the first pair and she found a 'Wink' doll,had no idea they were also popular here too!The comics are easily available in France and they even do clothes in the supermarches of her fav 'Witch' comic,which she also got a copy of that day and I had a look at,and it is pretty good and always has nice freebies with it too.
She also got a copy of Rock Sound as it had HIM posters in and I looked at the Darkwave section of the reviews, but nothing much there.
I had a nice cream cake and Teacake in town and a hot choc and Zara had a coffee and a lemon meringue pie.
I just had a ciabatta roll for dinner though and a choc dessert and me and Zara chatted for most of the evening as well as pulling funny faces and laughing while mum was on the phone to Geoff,as The Crow(Sheila)had tried to call us and left a message on the answerphone as she wants to know when Geoff is going back to France as she's an English lady living in Jugon and wanted Geoff to phone her as she won't phone him as it's too expensive,apparently.Like he will!
We call her 'The Crow' as she always has to poke her sticky beak into other peoples business....hah.
Never mind the local paper there for the ex-pats,tell her as it will be quicker.
Jugon in 2 hours,Dinan in 2 days and St Malo in 3 days, by the end of the week Finisterre and Quiberon!How's that for delivering the news?
Anyway,dropped Zara home at 9 and Helen helped her take her bags in.
When I got home I got a bit of an unwelcome surprise when the phone rang and mum insisted I pick it up this time.....
There's a girl I knew many years ago called Susan who has tried to phone me before but luckily I've always been out.Until now.
Yeah,it was her and I couldn't wait to get off the phone quick enough what with her saying do I remember a girl called Rachel(yeah and anything I tell Sue will go straight back to her,she most likely put her up to it)and am I 'courting' as she put it...and I said it's too personal a question as I HATE being asked that by people I barely know,let alone knew 7 years ago.
Plus she asked what am I into now and she's married now and I could hear kids in the background...I was not exactly receptive and it has been suggested to me that now she has her life on track she's showing off to anyone and everyone....heh.So she did not get much information to tell Rachel off me(Rachel being not a very nice person when I knew her)and the call could not have ended quick enough.
The rest of the evening was pretty quiet,just put up my new Indochine poster and rearranged things for it and unpacked and tidied up generally.Got to bed late though which didn't bother me too much really.
So all in all a really cool holiday and better than the one we had last year with Zara anyway.....yeah,I hope she'll come again next year or whenever...hopefully may as then at least that's sooner than next August and cheaper for her too and she won't have to take unpaid leave for it either.
Yeah,very much enjoyed and loved every minute,both of us did...*mew mew good 99.9%*