Convoi Exceptionnel!

 

"I need Summer to be longer so I have more time to do nothing.”
– Unknown

 

Where have they been now?

Tim and I were lucky to help out at the Standing with Giants installation at the Ver-sur-Mer War Memorial. The display has life-sized silhouettes to honour the 1,476 British servicemen and women who died on D-Day, 6 June 1944. By the end of the day, we were covered in black paint, but the weather was perfect, with a clear blue sky and a great view of the sea. I remember standing quietly for a moment among the silhouettes as the late afternoon light fell across the memorial. It gave me goosebumps to realise that each shadow stood for a life lost, and I felt both sadness and gratitude.

We can never fully repay the sacrifices made for us on D-Day, but we can help by telling others about the Memorial so it gets the support it needs. Thanks to the Memorial, those 1,476 brave men and women will always be remembered. The installations will stay until September, when they will be packed up and sent back to the UK.

Afterwards, we really needed a beer, so we headed into Arromanches. It’s always a lovely place to visit, even when the wind is howling, and if you know where to look, you can find draught Guinness.

And?

Tim and I recently visited Southwest France with some friends and made some beautiful stops along the way. We spent time at Noirmoutier, a lovely island with amazing seafood. If you get the chance, try the oysters at one of the beachfront shacks. Then we went to La Rochelle, and after that to the Île de Ré, another stunning island. We visited Bordeaux but didn’t stay long because the apartment didn’t have air conditioning, so we drove on to St-Émilion. There, we stayed in a house with air conditioning and a pool. St-Émilion is beautiful—the food and wine are fantastic, and the scenery looks just like something from “A Good Year,” which is one of my favourite films.

One highlight was a meal at a small place in the village, where we watched an orange sun set behind the trees. We were determined to sit outside even though it was still very hot, but it was worth it for the view of the vineyards. Sitting with a glass of wine in front of the vines it came from was a bucket-list experience, and it tasted delicious!

The only disappointment during the trip was our friend John’s habit of pronouncing French words badly. He kept saying "Convoi Exceptionnel" like it was some kind of wild chant, stretching the words in a way no French person ever would. After that, every time we raised a glass, someone would shout John’s version of “Convoi Exceptionnel!” and it quickly became our official toast for the trip.

And?
Last weekend we went up to Dieppe, not quite St-Émilion, but close, to pick up our daughter from the ferry. It was market day, and the quay was full of shoppers and people eating in the sunshine. We stopped for coffee and just wanted a croissant to dip in it, since we couldn’t afford much else after a week in St-Émilion. When we asked the server where the nearest boulangerie was, he went and got some for us. That’s real service!

As I write this, there’s a bird flying around the house! That’s what happens when you leave the windows open. Tim is running around waving his arms, but the bird is completely ignoring him. After a few more frantic laps and some gentle coaxing, the little bird finally found an open window and darted out. I think the bird had more fun than Tim did, but at least it left without asking for a croissant.

Culture corner:
I am currently listening to a French café lounge playlist I downloaded from Spotify. It’s a great way to enjoy a cozy coffee shop atmosphere and listen to French, which always sounds lovely no matter what they are saying, unless it’s convoi exceptionnel!

Just read a great book called “The Eights” by Joanna Miller and it's about four women who were among the first to be admitted to Oxford University. Crammed full of historical detail but nothing at all to do with France. 

Time to swap croissants for crunches, at least until my next adventure or until the next pastry calls my name. After my trip to Southwestern France, I really need some serious exercise. Basic-Fit in Argentan is cool and calm, with lots of equipment and virtual spin classes you can follow on a screen.

Until then, à bientôt!