Burgundy to Provence

The alarm woke us at 7:45 when it was still quite dark outside.  There was mist in the horse paddock outside the bathroom window and the rain was falling quite heavily - definitely signs that we should move south!

So after breakfast, we packed and cleaned the cottage, said our goodbyes to Abigail, Jasper and 2 of the cats, and headed off.  We had originally planned to drive through the gorgeous wine villages that we love so much, south of Bouilland, stopping at a boulangerie and/or patisserie for bread and pastries to celebrate 2 special birthdays, but the weather dictated that we just get straight onto the A6 motorway and drive.

It rained non-stop until we reached Lyon, and then was patchy until we switched to the A7 and arrived in Carpentras, where it was, and still is at 7:30pm, fine and very warm with clear blue sky.

I booked this apartment over 12 months ago (as I do) and the English landlady seemed to be quite pleasant at first, but in the time since, has had me a little concerned.  So many rules, so many regulations, such a stickler for protocol. And then today, when I phoned from one of the "aires" (motorway resting places - often very upmarket with huge petrol stations, restaurants, supermarkets etc) to advise her of our expected time of arrival, all of my fears were confirmed.  This woman is going to be an absolute pain in the neck (to be polite).

Anyway, we arrived at our cottage, and I was ready for her.  I was not going to stand for any of her nonsense!  She greeted us at the door - a fairly senior English lady with her adorable rescue dog and 2 beautiful cats - and there seem to be no rules at all.  "You are on holidays" she said, "and this is your house, this is your garden, please make yourselves at home and let me know if you need anything." She is very sweet and has won me over completely!

And then she gave us a mass of fabulous information about markets and towns in the area - and our apartment is gorgeous.  Quite small, very pretty and spotlessly clean with large windows overlooking a gorgeous garden, a well equipped kitchen and perfectly reliable internet access - everything we could possibly want.

Brian has prepared a simple dinner of salad and some left-overs from Burgundy - and we will be toasting the health of 2 very special young ladies who bring joy to our lives and who are both celebrating birthdays today.  Happy Birthday Kerri and Freya - we love you both very, very much.