I spy with my little eye...
Last Sunday on the way back to our next stop in the Somme Valley we detoured via Bayeaux to catch a glimpse of the Tapestry. It's something that's been on my Things To Do Before I Die list since junior school.
I took my camera in, but was politely referred to a notice that read "No Cameras" and that little camera sign with the bar through it.
Very good it was too. I was examining the cloth with great interest when I overheard the American next to me say "Gee, didn't they write funny in those days?". "That's medieval Latin", I said, "that says 'Harold Was Here' and that says 'Harold went over to France'". "You speak Latin bud?", "Yes, I learnt it at school". There was a man next to me intently focusing a Nikon on a section of the cloth. I heard him mutter "Smug git!". "Yes, but at least I can sodding well read."
I spy with my little eye... something beginning with "A". "Arrow? Ow, bugger."
We rushed through lunch1 and continued up the A13.
...something beginning with "T". "tarmac?". "Correct"
This was the game we played for about 45 minutes as we sat staring at the Motorhome in front of us whilst sitting stationary somewhere south of Le Havre. We had completely forgotten that all of Paris leave Paris during the weekend and then attempt to get back on Sunday evening. We had, of course, just gone past the junction that would have turned us north "vers Le A28/A16". We smugly slid the top shut on the roadie, turned on the air-con and switched the gear box into auto whilst my friend, naturally, kept the top firmly open and armed with a really powerful clutch foot, soldiered on bravely.
Eventually I switched the Sat-Nav into backup mode - this entailed reading the spiral-bound map book, turning off at the next junction regardless and ignoring the pleas of "When possible, make a U-turn". We came to a nice aire-du-somewhere because the frighteningly expensive coffee had now gone through us.
I pulled up behind the MG. His wife walked back to us with a concerned look.
"We have a real emergency, we've run out of CD's to play. Have you got any?"
"I've got Dark Side Of The Moon or The Corries Live in Scotland III, any good?"
"We're desperate, I'll take both."
1€28, yes €28 for 4 lemonades and 4 plain sandwiches in the bar outside of the Tapestry Building!
I took my camera in, but was politely referred to a notice that read "No Cameras" and that little camera sign with the bar through it.
Very good it was too. I was examining the cloth with great interest when I overheard the American next to me say "Gee, didn't they write funny in those days?". "That's medieval Latin", I said, "that says 'Harold Was Here' and that says 'Harold went over to France'". "You speak Latin bud?", "Yes, I learnt it at school". There was a man next to me intently focusing a Nikon on a section of the cloth. I heard him mutter "Smug git!". "Yes, but at least I can sodding well read."
I spy with my little eye... something beginning with "A". "Arrow? Ow, bugger."
We rushed through lunch1 and continued up the A13.
...something beginning with "T". "tarmac?". "Correct"
This was the game we played for about 45 minutes as we sat staring at the Motorhome in front of us whilst sitting stationary somewhere south of Le Havre. We had completely forgotten that all of Paris leave Paris during the weekend and then attempt to get back on Sunday evening. We had, of course, just gone past the junction that would have turned us north "vers Le A28/A16". We smugly slid the top shut on the roadie, turned on the air-con and switched the gear box into auto whilst my friend, naturally, kept the top firmly open and armed with a really powerful clutch foot, soldiered on bravely.
Eventually I switched the Sat-Nav into backup mode - this entailed reading the spiral-bound map book, turning off at the next junction regardless and ignoring the pleas of "When possible, make a U-turn". We came to a nice aire-du-somewhere because the frighteningly expensive coffee had now gone through us.
I pulled up behind the MG. His wife walked back to us with a concerned look.
"We have a real emergency, we've run out of CD's to play. Have you got any?"
"I've got Dark Side Of The Moon or The Corries Live in Scotland III, any good?"
"We're desperate, I'll take both."
1€28, yes €28 for 4 lemonades and 4 plain sandwiches in the bar outside of the Tapestry Building!
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