Wednesday 27th June Commercy

It was another scorcher. Summer seems to have arrived properly at last. Volker did the biz with a cereal baguette delivered by 8am. I lit the magma. Today was special. Breakfast was fresh sardines. I had bought the sardines at the supermarket. They were already filleted so a bit of salt pepper and olive oil and on they went. The sizzling sound and the smell was Devine. A drizzle of lemon and the skipper was in heaven. I insisted Volker taste one, he did not like fish but loved these. I allowed him a brace. The bloody crew then also decided they were very nice so another 3 were lost.

I took my time over the other 5. What a great start to the day. Collette got the washing machine in action and I chivvied around the boat. We went for our stroll at midday and took our time around this lovely town. The driveway from the chateau has to be one of the longest in the world.

We got back to the halte to find vim and Ajax tieing up alongside.

After re acquainting with the Dutch lads, Volker came along to teach me how to cook his fabulous potatoes dish. They were bloody lovely again. Simple food is often the best. We had a can of beer extra strong 8% stuff so afterwards the crew and i hit the sun deck and slept and burnt til 5ish.

We showered, and changed and joined Ava and Volker on nina at 7.10 for dinner I was pretty pleased with a mere 10mins late!

Ava had set the table beautifully. We had champagne. Dinner was a minced steak potatoes tomatoes and beans one pot which was delicious. These guys could cook! Creme brûlée and a superb cheeseboard followed. Collette downed another bottle of champagne and was well cooked. Volker and I drank a couple of bottles his Riesling.

Great night. It would be a sad parting tomorrow but we were so happy to have met and become friends with two such "vonderful", as Ava would say, people.