Three big days with Paddy and Abbey

Comment allez-vous? J'aime France et tout les places nous are seeing. Can only do that for so long and then I have to call on John whose French is improving day by day.

We have had three big days since Paddy and Abbey arrived last Friday night. Our first day was at the D Day beaches where we started at 7 in the morning and got home at about 11 at night. We had a huge day but saw so much starting at the Pegasus Bridge and ending up at St Mere Eglise. We went to Juno, Sword, Gold and Omaha Beaches with calls at Arromanches and the Mulberry Harbour and the American Cemetry. Paddy and John relished the day and squeezed the most out of every minute. They were very happy with what they saw and Abbey and I enjoyed it as well. We had a lovely day though it is still quite cold. For lunch we sat on a hill overlooking Arromanches and the Mulberry Harbour and had a picnic and it was perfect.

The next day we headed off to Mont St Michel - a beautiful monastery set atop a rocky outcrop in the delta of a river. Around it has grown up a small medieval town and we spent many hours exploring the church and the township. It was fantastic. From there we drove to Bayeux to see the Bayeux Tapestry. They have presented it really admirably and it was well and truly worth the visit.

Today we have driven down - in separate cars this time- to the Loire Valley. We visited the Abbaye Royale at Fontevraud and also Chinon Castle. We thoroughly enjoyed both and although we drove most of the time in rain the weather was kind on our arrival at both these places. We are staying tonight in a small town called Amboise and then we will visit Chenonceau tomorrow and we will head back north and the kids will go south.

We are still relishing the food and the wine. It is fantastic. We got three bottles of wine plus an abundance of good food for dinner tonight for 20 euros. Just love it. Add to that the wonderful scenery and, although I hate to admit it, the helpful French people, we are having a very very nice time.

God bless Mark Webber for winning the Spanish Grand Prix - here's hoping he can do it again this weekend cause Patrick and Abbey are going to be there.

Will have a glass of wine for you all.