trouville
N/A
What a weekend back on the canal
It was a friday the 13th the forecast hot & dry. After weeks of rain,so much rain, id begun to wonder if the Burgundy would change from wine production to rice, sun was forecast .Clair had to attend a seminar; she would spend the night in Lyon.She said.
She gave me the key to the front door & reminded me that none of her ex- husbands had any reason to call?One had &.i have a fear of husbands current or obsolete
As the TGV left i though how wonderful life was,the day was warm i had the old Mercedes(one she bought for an obsolete husband) with the top down the sound it made was wonderful i took the long way back,accelerating along a straight empty road,the noise wind & sound were great
At the house i parked & let myself in;i felt at home.It was 8am i poured a glass of champagne how good it tasted!I went out on to the veranda where i looked out over the river.I thought of the first time id been hear my boat moored on the river Claire had found me on the town key & given me mooring when the fire brigade had been warning me about setting fire to public property.--All those years ago
She likes to have a man about she invites her girl friends while i do the cooking serving & washing up!She also enjoys having someone to go to parties & dinners with,!.She also has a great way of “helping”she will give me a 500euro note and ask me to fill the car.The fuel station has a large sign saying it dosent accept 200 or 500€ notes.I pay the 100€ or so cost and Claire tells me to keep the rest!
I sat outside, the birds chirping loudly,i thought this would be a fine way to spend the summer!Id arranged for Dave to skipper my friends boat this summer which he was more than happy to do,& the owners wife was more than happy with the arrangement.She & i dont see eye to eye as it is & when id somehow put my foot on her skirt as she boarded from the tender& she arrived on deck without, things hadent got any better!That happened while visiting the islands off Cannes where we anchored.
My skippering job provided 400€ a month plus expenses.In real terms id get about 1200€ pm(in summer 800€ in winter as agreed) plus food which Dave is happy with.So far ive been doing better than that by Claire!She had bought me some trousers and she had just bought me a new pair of sebago Docksides!!The first new pair id had since 1998! and the first non secondhand shoes since then,the shop had to order them as they are quite small in there sizes so i take 43.5 and the shop only had 43 or 44.Another step in the right direction!
I would avoid the heat humidity& crowds in the med to return in September or october in a good state. Claire jolly good to be with.All French woman hate their men to drink.Clair had removed her first husband when drunk on Absente had hit her!The second husband used to shout at her(she said)I heard from them them they had a problem with her earning far far more than them?Im quite happy with the situation.
Claire & i have been to a party with a couple in the same situation,though the husband refuses to use his wife's income!!He works for the town repairing roads and earns less net that Claire is giving me!!His wife goes off around the world horse rideing i had no idea such a thing existed?Its incredibly expensive!Another couple the wife has the complex!She still works as a nurse again earning less than the cost of a house keeper and help to look after their small children?I freely admit im a kept man!!And very happy to be so!!Antifoulings hard work!I hope my position is secure untill winter.
With Claire being away i went around collecting all the empty wine bottles,as many French houses woman dont want to see their man drink.When were alone Claire will sit at the dining table watching a film or the news while i prepare lunch or diner,the kitchen is open with just a low division i pour myself a glass or two while cooking and drink water at the table!Or just one glass this arrangement works well.
As the old glass collections a drive away i put the bottles in the bin!Then tided up,for lunch i had a salad and the rest of a bottle of white wine which went in the bin then off to the boat yard to finish Claires “rowing” boat she wants to use it on the lakes and for that must pass an inspection,it had already failed on the engine & antifouling!!Now id copper bottomed her and an electric outboard had been bought.
I took out the boards& ores that needed another coat of varnish.But befor i began i took out the wet things from my boat.There had been a well proportioned plywood boat for free,but ply when it gets rot can be the end of the boat,then the owner of a small wooden boat had “given” it to the yard.It seemed a good boat for the canals.I thought of the Belgium canals & i could borrow Claires tailor to get it there.
The yard wouldn’t “give” it Claire paid for the summer & winter on the hard and one launch & recovery the boat was then moved next to hers.I was now a 2 laptops & 2 boat owner!
I finished the varnishing then cleaned out my new boat!It had been used for fishing,which along with hunting is when men can drink & smoke, to much, away from their woman!!There were cigarette packets empty bottles and dead leaves,i gave the inside a good washing out using plenty of bilge cleaner then left it to dry.I found two empty Absente bottles and one of pastis!!I put the absente bottles aside as they had re printed“old” labels from 1915,i would soak them off and save them.Nothing more to do than let everything dry.
I went along to the cafè. I leave my Compaq in an old bouls locker now i have a replacement x40 at “home”.I was offered a pastis i said id prefer a glass of red wine,i accepted a glass of brandy i sat down poped in hear(forum) to try to sort out my x40 then looked at the herald tribune and wondered why it had changed?Its not the paper it once was.I sat there wondering what other paper i could find online?
Then 4 things arrived at once my drink with a garaf of water,an sms from Clair,Claire herself and disaster!!!The sms said she was home& why were there so many empty wine bottles?She dident sit down so we stood there,she looked at my glass and the garaf of water ice cold but the “pastis 51” was clear to read.She took out her phone i hoped she wouldn’t be calling the person that buys & sells old furniture or that he was in Henday or some remote part of France,or stricken with some dreadful decease
He answered she asked if he could go with her to a party,since id replaced him i knew hed be delighted!And would have canceled anything to go.Id promised her id never drink Pastis the brandy on the table looked just like pastis,i put my laptop away she drove me to the yard.She was hurt & angry i kew it was no use saying anything we drove in silence
At the yard she came in, her boat gleaming in the late sun the copper bottem looked wonderful,she said id done a good job & would i be hear on thursday?Those 5 words struck fear and dread i said i would be; to take her boat to inspection.She went over to “my” boat and picked up the empty Absente bottles and let them fall back.She left.
I rushed over to the yard office and asked them to launch my boat in the morning,they would.Now i had somewhere to sleep.Its forbidden to sleep aboard on the hard,but if your being launched they over look just one night.I went to the paint locker and took out a can marked “unleaded petrol”and a clean marmalade jar & poured myself a large glass of brandy its over 70% luckly there were still a few old bottles of soda
With those 5 words my life was in ruin.I poured another glass i was as good as flat broke!Id bought a new battery for the compaq just before i found the x40 for which id also bought a new battery then an alfa network 500mw usb wi-fi adapter & mini wi-fi bridge plus a few other odds and ends;with luck id have about 150€ left for the whole summer!!I poured another glass before going back to the cafe
How is it i wonderd that life can be perfect one moment and in ruins the next?I sat in front of my compaq and wondered again what had happened to change the herald tribune?I logged into the forum but that to had little comfort to offer I sent a few sms in the hope of getting some cash,The owner of the boat i skippered said he would credit my account with 3000€ to get me through summer!Of course it was an advance against the antifouling which i would now have to do!I was at least solvent again.I ordered another brandy,compared with mine it lacked something?
At about midnight id fallen asleep at the keyboard while looking for an alternative online paper to read!!The waiter closed my laptop and put it away for me.I somehow got back to the yard climbed into Claires boat and fell asleep i woke up to find myself in the bildge,i felt dreadful.I got up, got mine ready for launch before going off for some breakfast
So once again all my well laid plans had changed.I was on the canal i would have to fix the papers then where would i go?Untill the next weekend i would stay near hear to help Claire and sort out my boat there was much to do,i had thought of useing her next year.But hear i was on the canal for the summer.
This is how i found myself liveing aboard a compact boat! That ill fated weekend
.I would first go to Isle-sur-le-doubs where i could tie up beside an “intermarche” stock up and put fuel aboard all is just accross the road from the mooring;then id go back through the lock and moore in a “cutting” a short walk from the town center.Just accross from that free mooring are some dismal dreary flats,but there there is an open wi-fi!!I hoped it was still open
Then once stocked up and ready,id go down towards Chalon-sur-soan where i hope this time i will cruise the canal de Roanne à Digon and of course the canal du centre where ive also found wi-fi in the past.
Thats how fast my plans changed!Now i have quite some work to do to make my micro cruiser comfortable & leak proof!!I wonder why when i make plans for summer something comes along to change them?Everyone else seems to start with a plan which other than the time scale they manage!Perhaps next year ill manage??But as i have never managed i doubt things will change? The economicaly challenged must always be adaptable!
If id know what other disasters were in store!Life can be so hard.
It was a friday the 13th the forecast hot & dry. After weeks of rain,so much rain, id begun to wonder if the Burgundy would change from wine production to rice, sun was forecast .Clair had to attend a seminar; she would spend the night in Lyon.She said.
She gave me the key to the front door & reminded me that none of her ex- husbands had any reason to call?One had &.i have a fear of husbands current or obsolete
As the TGV left i though how wonderful life was,the day was warm i had the old Mercedes(one she bought for an obsolete husband) with the top down the sound it made was wonderful i took the long way back,accelerating along a straight empty road,the noise wind & sound were great
At the house i parked & let myself in;i felt at home.It was 8am i poured a glass of champagne how good it tasted!I went out on to the veranda where i looked out over the river.I thought of the first time id been hear my boat moored on the river Claire had found me on the town key & given me mooring when the fire brigade had been warning me about setting fire to public property.--All those years ago
She likes to have a man about she invites her girl friends while i do the cooking serving & washing up!She also enjoys having someone to go to parties & dinners with,!.She also has a great way of “helping”she will give me a 500euro note and ask me to fill the car.The fuel station has a large sign saying it dosent accept 200 or 500€ notes.I pay the 100€ or so cost and Claire tells me to keep the rest!
I sat outside, the birds chirping loudly,i thought this would be a fine way to spend the summer!Id arranged for Dave to skipper my friends boat this summer which he was more than happy to do,& the owners wife was more than happy with the arrangement.She & i dont see eye to eye as it is & when id somehow put my foot on her skirt as she boarded from the tender& she arrived on deck without, things hadent got any better!That happened while visiting the islands off Cannes where we anchored.
My skippering job provided 400€ a month plus expenses.In real terms id get about 1200€ pm(in summer 800€ in winter as agreed) plus food which Dave is happy with.So far ive been doing better than that by Claire!She had bought me some trousers and she had just bought me a new pair of sebago Docksides!!The first new pair id had since 1998! and the first non secondhand shoes since then,the shop had to order them as they are quite small in there sizes so i take 43.5 and the shop only had 43 or 44.Another step in the right direction!
I would avoid the heat humidity& crowds in the med to return in September or october in a good state. Claire jolly good to be with.All French woman hate their men to drink.Clair had removed her first husband when drunk on Absente had hit her!The second husband used to shout at her(she said)I heard from them them they had a problem with her earning far far more than them?Im quite happy with the situation.
Claire & i have been to a party with a couple in the same situation,though the husband refuses to use his wife's income!!He works for the town repairing roads and earns less net that Claire is giving me!!His wife goes off around the world horse rideing i had no idea such a thing existed?Its incredibly expensive!Another couple the wife has the complex!She still works as a nurse again earning less than the cost of a house keeper and help to look after their small children?I freely admit im a kept man!!And very happy to be so!!Antifoulings hard work!I hope my position is secure untill winter.
With Claire being away i went around collecting all the empty wine bottles,as many French houses woman dont want to see their man drink.When were alone Claire will sit at the dining table watching a film or the news while i prepare lunch or diner,the kitchen is open with just a low division i pour myself a glass or two while cooking and drink water at the table!Or just one glass this arrangement works well.
As the old glass collections a drive away i put the bottles in the bin!Then tided up,for lunch i had a salad and the rest of a bottle of white wine which went in the bin then off to the boat yard to finish Claires “rowing” boat she wants to use it on the lakes and for that must pass an inspection,it had already failed on the engine & antifouling!!Now id copper bottomed her and an electric outboard had been bought.
I took out the boards& ores that needed another coat of varnish.But befor i began i took out the wet things from my boat.There had been a well proportioned plywood boat for free,but ply when it gets rot can be the end of the boat,then the owner of a small wooden boat had “given” it to the yard.It seemed a good boat for the canals.I thought of the Belgium canals & i could borrow Claires tailor to get it there.
The yard wouldn’t “give” it Claire paid for the summer & winter on the hard and one launch & recovery the boat was then moved next to hers.I was now a 2 laptops & 2 boat owner!
I finished the varnishing then cleaned out my new boat!It had been used for fishing,which along with hunting is when men can drink & smoke, to much, away from their woman!!There were cigarette packets empty bottles and dead leaves,i gave the inside a good washing out using plenty of bilge cleaner then left it to dry.I found two empty Absente bottles and one of pastis!!I put the absente bottles aside as they had re printed“old” labels from 1915,i would soak them off and save them.Nothing more to do than let everything dry.
I went along to the cafè. I leave my Compaq in an old bouls locker now i have a replacement x40 at “home”.I was offered a pastis i said id prefer a glass of red wine,i accepted a glass of brandy i sat down poped in hear(forum) to try to sort out my x40 then looked at the herald tribune and wondered why it had changed?Its not the paper it once was.I sat there wondering what other paper i could find online?
Then 4 things arrived at once my drink with a garaf of water,an sms from Clair,Claire herself and disaster!!!The sms said she was home& why were there so many empty wine bottles?She dident sit down so we stood there,she looked at my glass and the garaf of water ice cold but the “pastis 51” was clear to read.She took out her phone i hoped she wouldn’t be calling the person that buys & sells old furniture or that he was in Henday or some remote part of France,or stricken with some dreadful decease
He answered she asked if he could go with her to a party,since id replaced him i knew hed be delighted!And would have canceled anything to go.Id promised her id never drink Pastis the brandy on the table looked just like pastis,i put my laptop away she drove me to the yard.She was hurt & angry i kew it was no use saying anything we drove in silence
At the yard she came in, her boat gleaming in the late sun the copper bottem looked wonderful,she said id done a good job & would i be hear on thursday?Those 5 words struck fear and dread i said i would be; to take her boat to inspection.She went over to “my” boat and picked up the empty Absente bottles and let them fall back.She left.
I rushed over to the yard office and asked them to launch my boat in the morning,they would.Now i had somewhere to sleep.Its forbidden to sleep aboard on the hard,but if your being launched they over look just one night.I went to the paint locker and took out a can marked “unleaded petrol”and a clean marmalade jar & poured myself a large glass of brandy its over 70% luckly there were still a few old bottles of soda
With those 5 words my life was in ruin.I poured another glass i was as good as flat broke!Id bought a new battery for the compaq just before i found the x40 for which id also bought a new battery then an alfa network 500mw usb wi-fi adapter & mini wi-fi bridge plus a few other odds and ends;with luck id have about 150€ left for the whole summer!!I poured another glass before going back to the cafe
How is it i wonderd that life can be perfect one moment and in ruins the next?I sat in front of my compaq and wondered again what had happened to change the herald tribune?I logged into the forum but that to had little comfort to offer I sent a few sms in the hope of getting some cash,The owner of the boat i skippered said he would credit my account with 3000€ to get me through summer!Of course it was an advance against the antifouling which i would now have to do!I was at least solvent again.I ordered another brandy,compared with mine it lacked something?
At about midnight id fallen asleep at the keyboard while looking for an alternative online paper to read!!The waiter closed my laptop and put it away for me.I somehow got back to the yard climbed into Claires boat and fell asleep i woke up to find myself in the bildge,i felt dreadful.I got up, got mine ready for launch before going off for some breakfast
So once again all my well laid plans had changed.I was on the canal i would have to fix the papers then where would i go?Untill the next weekend i would stay near hear to help Claire and sort out my boat there was much to do,i had thought of useing her next year.But hear i was on the canal for the summer.
This is how i found myself liveing aboard a compact boat! That ill fated weekend
.I would first go to Isle-sur-le-doubs where i could tie up beside an “intermarche” stock up and put fuel aboard all is just accross the road from the mooring;then id go back through the lock and moore in a “cutting” a short walk from the town center.Just accross from that free mooring are some dismal dreary flats,but there there is an open wi-fi!!I hoped it was still open
Then once stocked up and ready,id go down towards Chalon-sur-soan where i hope this time i will cruise the canal de Roanne à Digon and of course the canal du centre where ive also found wi-fi in the past.
Thats how fast my plans changed!Now i have quite some work to do to make my micro cruiser comfortable & leak proof!!I wonder why when i make plans for summer something comes along to change them?Everyone else seems to start with a plan which other than the time scale they manage!Perhaps next year ill manage??But as i have never managed i doubt things will change? The economicaly challenged must always be adaptable!
If id know what other disasters were in store!Life can be so hard.
