Car all packed, Kitty’s food and water left out for her, neighbours aware so all we needed to do was lock up and go and fill up with diesel. But easier said than done!

Down at our local Leclerc there seemed to be a problem. Himself appealed to me to help. We stuck the bank card in, chose gasoil, added the pin number but were then told to take the ‘carburant’ from pump 3…,but gasoil/diesel is the fourth pump. After two tries I moved the car to the next pump …and got told we could fill up from pump 2 but gasoil was still in the fourth one!

About now a car pulled into the previous pump so I went to warm him of our experience. As I did my eyes wandered to the number on the collection of carburants on offer…pump 3. And our car? It was sitting by pump 2. Oh, bum…we got back into the car, told ourselves it wasn’t like that last time we filled up. Surely it confirmed your choice and then told you to fill up to a certain sum of euros.. didn’t it? Several villages later we pulled into a supermarket gas station that we thought was still operational but the screen on the pump was blank and festooned with cobwebs!

Our third try was ok. Wise to the pump numbering we were ready for anything but the screen was on our side. Yes, it still gave the overall pump number but actually stated we had chosen gasoil. Result.

After that excitement the rest of the journey was straightforward. Very hot so aircon and windows open at times…I know, it’s either one or the other. Coffee stop close to Brive on the A89, lunch sarnies at aire des Palombieres somewhere west of Perigueux where I sat in the shade of a very leafy pin oak. Bet it will be beautiful in the autumn…

and arrival at our lovely hotel in Chatelaillon Plage at five o’clock. We were greeted warmly and told they remembered us …ominous? But our room is great, on the ground floor overlooking the terrace and pool.

While Mr McGregor rested his eyelids I went for a wonderfully relaxing swim…

Then it was off to find some supper and a stroll along the ‘prom, prom,prom’ but no brass band playing ‘tiddly om pom pom’…😊

…but lots of beautiful sand to wiggle my toes in and the sun sinking into the sea…bon nuit!