24/08/07

This mornings agenda was set by our visit to the Chenoceau Chateau – which was about an hours drive from Blandines Country Chateau. The impressive things about this castle is that it was built on a river – a small one that leads into the Lau, a larger one. This in itself would have justified visiting it, but it was also surrounded by magnificent gardens. According to Mr Fouin, French gardens are really structured and have geometric lines – where as English ones are more organic, these gardens were a good example of the French style. For lunch we ate a tough baguette and ham and nibble really tiny meat and cheese sausages from the Butchery of a champion white sausage makes. The Labyrinth at the castle was quite impressive although I was more intrigued by the massive vege garden at the palace. We doubted that there would be half as much variety in the 16th century as there were so many different types here, all in very neat rows and no weeds.Quashed or By goshed- Quashed – French people are unwilling to speak English and would prefer you to speak French. It seems that many are trying to speak English and would like to practise or help you where they can – Blandine, her Dad and people in Paris later on.- By Goshed – French people are proud – for a nation that has been conquered by almost everyone they seem to still have pride, clinging to every military triumph such ie. The English didn’t take this or the Germans never occupied this area.- By Goshed – hate the English – but only in the same sort of way that we make jokes about New Zealanders - I guess with a lot more history behind it though. The French call the English ‘Roast Beef’ and the English call the French ‘Frogs’. We arrived back at the farm with some goodies from the bolongerie and I watched a German show badly dubbed to French and tried to guess the story line while Blandine had a shower. We then said our good byes (the double kiss – no hug) and she started her six hour drive to the town where she worked.I chilled out for a while writing this journal in my room then went and had a four course meal, the main being spaghetti bolognaise with Blandines parents. Blandines Dad spoke a moderate amount of English as he had worked in the U.S a bit and we talked about lots of things ranging from desalinisation plants to ‘The Who’. But the main topic of conversation was Australia and where they visited when they came over to see Blandine. We then flicked through their photos on a lap top and agreed that I needed to so some more travelling and learn more about Australian Flowers ( I hadn’t heard of a favourite Aussie Flower of theirs called Azalea). Before long it was 11o’clock and we all headed off to bed.