If I don't reply...

capers123 · Post by **capers123** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:26 pm

Hi, Chaps,

people occasionally PM me here especially at this time of year about appeals.

If I don't reply in the next week or so, there's a good reason behind it - I'm off to France as the co-driver for a friend whose twin daughters are stuck with grandparents in Nice and really should be back at school. Her husband is a little tied up at the moment (for another three weeks or so), so can't drive with her. She put out an SOS as it's a long way for one person to drive, so muggins though I'd offer.

Stopping off for a night in Champagne and a day to recover in Nice make it just about OK

Hope the weather is nice. Back Friday evening, followed by an early start on Saturday (to drive the children to Lancaster for a load of concerts & workshops that they're teaching).

Post by **hermanmunster** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:58 pm

Good luck Capers!!

Have heard about several sets of aprents making marathon car trips across Europe to collect kids - seems to be the only way with the trains on strike too. Hope it goes well!

Tolstoy · Post by **Tolstoy** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 2:38 pm

Hope you have a good trip don't envy you that distance. The ferry we returned in on Sunday was incredibly busy.

capers123 · Post by **capers123** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 9:55 pm

It wasn't bad. I've seen bits of France I've never seen before, drunk champagne in Champagne that had a crown cap (beer bottle type) instead of a cork, yet was the best I've ever tasted (home made in small farmhouse, untaxed). Great food even for a veggie like me. I paddled in the Med. And drove 1,000 miles, arriving home tonight. Increased my very limited French and Spanish comprehension & vocab (the girls were practicing the latter in the car on the way home 'tranquillo, tranquillo).

Tomorrow I drive my family to Lancaster - such a short local trip. Back sometime Sunday.

Tolstoy · Post by **Tolstoy** » Tue May 04, 2010 10:35 pm

I can only assume the Lancaster trip paled by comparison. We will be driving down through France in August and that Champagne sounds tres interesting.

No matter how much time I spend in the country my French still doesn't get any better

capers123 · Post by **capers123** » Wed May 05, 2010 12:17 pm

Lancaster was OK. The children were only performing (and teaching workshops to adults) on the Saturday, so Sunday morning, 'on the way' home, I took them to Barbondale and Dent then over to Ingleton. Not quite as spectacular as the pre-alps, but still pretty good, to the point where the children both requested a holiday there. Luckily, we have friends who live in Dent, who also happen to have a holiday cottage there that was available in August...