Friday 7th June Fish Friday

After an itching I detest gnats interrupted night, we awoke to yet another stonker with 28 degrees splattered all over the meteo.  Marvelous!

Bumped into Arlette steel brushing her superb iron garden gates. Discovered her house had 9 bedrooms and was built in 1749 so plenty of history their. She advised me on boulangerie and so off to the artisanal Bannette I trotted.  Point of order needs investigation here.  

What is the difference between a Banette shop and a Boulangerie?  Well it would seem that a group of millers decided in 1981 to set up a franchise which guaranteed the use of a premium type of flour for consistent production. They named the franchise after an ancient french loaf the Banette.  So essentually it is a boulangerie. Out of interest I have also discovered that if a shop is a boulangerie, French law dictates that the dough is kneaded, proven,shaped and baked on the premises and can never have been frozen. Bread is taken very seriously in France and justifiably so in the authors humble opinion.

I digress, Clamercy being a decent sized town, we headed off on the wheels of steel in search of vittals. We found an AUCHEN after one of those terribly embarrassing ask for directions conversations. The young lady concerned seemed mystified when I kept asking for ouchen. After several attempts she exclaimed with a huge smile "ahhh ARSHAA"

Fish friday and the salmon fillet was on offer. Can you cut that monster in half please. No came the reply you have to buy it all to get that price.9.95euros per kg. The cut fillets were a staggering 25 euros per kg. Thats a hefty mark up for a bit of slicing. I took the whole lot, we could freeze it.

shopping always takes longer than expected and so it was after midday when we got back. We set off in the tradition of many an englishman in the scorching midday sun to explore the city on a two hour tourist route walk. The narrow hilly  streets were deserted for Lunchtime. Some beautiful timber framed  houses provided loads of character.

We of course gravitated to the church

As we explored it we are struck by how immaculately clean it is and the number of chairs laid out. The side door opens and the vicar enters with a fairly solemn "Bonjour" as I take in some of the best stainglass work I have seen for some time.

Collette drifts over with news "they are readying for an important funeral" I snap an impressive 12ft high crucifix statue commanding the whole church before we make our exit quietly.

 

Back at Doucette we have a sunbathe and a nice cup of refreshing yorkshire listening to the very sombre church bell striking a monotonous two note funeral march. I need cheering so thoughts of dinner invade. Tonights is cobbed chicken and salad but we still needed salad as the arshaa stuff was not up to standard.

We remounted the steel stallions and headed off for a farm I had spotted on the inward journey. Got there about 5.30 and were greeted by two very real guard dogs who only had eyes for Collette.

 

 The farmers wife soothed them and we came out of her shop armed with some very fresh lettuce and one day old eggs.

 

we set off under the watchful eye of the four legged sentry past the enormous farmhouse

 

and out onto Clamecy back roads and by chance, fell upon an Aldi store. Perfect as I was after some rose and muscadet exclusive to the store. 6 bottles of muscadet but sold out of rose was a partial result.

Back at Doucette, we find Randal has arrived and moored. Captain Tim is having pre dinner champers with his clients before they set off to dinner and then he comes over and joins us for drinks. As a result it is ten before we open the cob to reveal a magnificent cajun crusted poulet. Being a tad drunk we sit and devour the whole thing with our lovely fresh salad and drift past midnight listening to some gentle tunes and watch Tim`s returning guests fall back aboard.