My tiresome midlife crisis...

I found a lovely little spot to camp locally this weekend and it was free. Add to that a mini heatwave and a lake for Milo equals good weekend for us both. The only mishap occurred when some kind of leaf landed on the van roof. It appeared to be one of those helicopter type leaves, sycamore I think. Anyway it sounded like a glass marble on a tin roof that I would have been unable to sleep through. So I climbed onto my folding stool, with a kitchen utensil in hand and poked my head out the kitchen sky light. I spotted the little blighter straight away and as I tried to reach for it with the spatulas an old gentleman wandered past, just at the same time as the stool leg snapped. I yelped out loud and hung onto the sky light with my legs dangling. The old man looked up and I'm sure I looked like some kind of mere cat in a zoo peering out at him. He gestured Bonjour and walked on by. Mean time I'm nursing a few broken finger nails. But I did manage to remove the leaf.

I've now decided to return to the UK. I've come to a decision that I'm having a midlife crisis and it has to end. I've been wandering around for nearly two years now and I'm tired. Tired of living out of suitcases or borrowed drawers. Tired of being a constant visitor everywhere I go. Tired of worrying how to fund myself. Tired of trying to figure out what it is I'm trying to figure out. And I'm tired of feeling tired. I've all but given up on finding the man of my dreams but I have come to realise that it's not as important as I first thought. I've had so much fun looking and if I'd found him on day one I'd have missed out on a whole big adventure. I've absolutely no regrets of what I've done on my adventure and wouldn't change any of it. But I feel it's time to stop for a moment, stand still and reflect. And then start the next chapter of my life...

Me, Angel of the North...

My broken stool...

Happy Milo...

Me as usual sitting alone on a rock...

Enjoying female conversation...

Milo and me went off for a little jaunt in the Beast this week. We found ourselves a little hidden gem in the form of Saint Ceneri Le Gerei. This is the prettiest village we've found so far. There are no shops and only about 140 residents. There are a few bars but only one was open this time of year. Luckily I'd stocked up on supplies from the supermarket before we arrived. It's funny but everyday lots of the supermarkets here close for a two hour lunch, can you imagine Tesco doing that?!

We got to the village and took a tiny narrow lane down to the river and parked up. We were the only Motorhome and there was no charge. We took a walk along the river up towards the church on the hill, stopping off at the little Chapel of Saint Ceneri. The Chapel is in the middle of a field beside the river, it's so quaint. We even got to sign the guest book. We walked back through the village getting a lovely photo looking down on the river. Back at the van a gentleman and his dog stopped to say hello. He was Ceephas and was an English artist living here with his wife Jennifer. He then invited me to visit his gallery and join them for a drink in the local bar. It was lovely to have some female, English conversation with Jennifer and  they have invited me to return. I also got to meet Le Garçons mother this week, who is lovely, and supplied more female conversation.

We had a gorgeous sunny day too and I managed to chill on the doorstep of the Beast and get a fair bit of writing done. Still so much to write though as I keep remembering so many different things as I go along...

Saint Ceneri Le Gerei

Walking by the river...

The Chapel...

The guest book...

The view...

The sunshine...

Yuk! he snogged his sister...

Washed hair, bit of lippy and a pair of high heels. Then off I went to meet Mr Handsome Stranger on our 'date'. And there he was, sitting at the same table in the same cafe, even wearing the same clothes. But, I noticed, as I walked towards him, his hand was gently rocking the pram beside him and he wasn't smiling at me but at his very much alive wife. Not quite the scenario I had in my head. He was supposed to arrive after me, clutching a bouquet of flowers, chosen to match the blue of my eyes, when he would bend down on one knee and declare he had been unable to stop thinking of me all week and would I give him the great pleasure of becoming his (second) wife...
I'd entered too far into the paved cafe area to walk on past and had to take the only available seat, directly in front of him. I then spent the next hour, with my back to him, listening to his happy family chatter. Although, as I couldn't understand a word they said, I  kidded myself he was chatting to his sister whilst cooing over his nephew in the pram!

Ha, back in the real world I left the cafe and took Milo for a walk in the park and was rather happy to find the park cafe open. I treated myself to a long, cold beer, the sun was shining and I felt a little happier. I even picked myself a small bunch of daffodils from the hedges, which I have placed on the windowsill of my 'conservatory'.

On my way home I got some bones for the dogs and managed to get some peace and quiet in the van to crack on with more writing. I've not done much writing this week as there are roadworks in front of the house. It actually feels like they are rebuilding the M1. I'm seeing men through all the windows and not a looker amongst them...

Flowers in the conservatory...

I don't need a man for flowers...

Cheers...

Peeking at the road men... 

Today I fell a little bit in love...

Saturday morning, I took myself off to the market again in Mortagne au Perche. The weather was a bit drizzly but the view from, my friend CLemons, cafe was a beautiful array of market stall flowers. And I must say the view to the left of me wasn't half bad either. A tall, dark, well dressed and extremely handsome gentleman sat at the table beside me. By his feet was an old fashioned straw basket holding his shopping, some flowers and some books. I decided to take my book, from my bag and pretend to read it, I was trying, discreetly, to glance to my left to get a better view of him.  That's when local old bag lady came and sat at my table. Very old, extremely plump lots of bags and very few teeth. She sat herself down and started chattering away to me. At first I was a bit annoyed but then my handsome stranger spoke to me and explained what she was saying. She just wanted to sit and rest her legs.

Then the handsome gentleman engaged in a conversation with me about the book I was reading. He told me he loved books and knew of a local book shop where we can exchange books for free and they also have English books. We chatted for a bit about the weather, the market and the general area. Then he drew me a map on a scrap of paper detailing the location of the book shop. When he stood up I noticed he had the most dreamy eyes, he was of mixed race, I don't know which race but he certainly won it. And I think that's when I started falling a little bit in love. Until Bang! I spotted his wedding ring as he handed me the love letter, I mean map. He said goodbye, it was lovely to meet me and that he was here every Saturday for coffee. Of course, being a little bit in love, I took that as a date. And when he left I started daydreaming about our future. I decided he was a lonely widow, he was taking the flowers to her grave, he wore the ring in her memory, on behalf of his grownup children, who just want him to be happy once again. With me...
Old bag lady agrees with me...

Second best view from cafe...

Streets in Mortagne au Perche...