15. 07. 08. Tuesday. Just got back from a wonderful weekend with my “French” family. I took the train to Bordeaux last Thursday afternoon to spend the holiday weekend with Marie-Pierre, Olivier and their two children Baptiste and Agathe. Arrived an hour late on Thursday (French trains are not as reliable as they once were) and we all went over to M-P’s friend Françoise’ apartment for aperos and then on to a Tapas bar for dinner. Friday lunch time Michele, Jean-Loup, Eliane and Julian arrived from Bayonne – more aperos and a superb lunch of fish caught and cooked by Olivier followed by a visit and tasting to the Forgotten Vegetables farm in the afternoon. Saturday market at St Medard then off to the Bassin d’Arcachon in the afternoon for a cruise on Olivier’s boat and some fishing – we didn’t catch a thing! Olivier’s sister Chrystal, her husband Bertrand and their two children came by for aperos after we had returned. Sunday was cool and grey so we went into Bordeaux after lunch to wander around and then we caught a Norwegian movie called M. Horton – interesting experience seeing a Norwegian movie with French sub-titles! In the evening went to the local Bastille day fireworks display which was very good. Monday was warm again and sunny. Had a superb roast lamb for lunch after which the Bayonne contingent left for home. 
Olivier, M-P, myself, Baptiste, Chrystal, her son Theo and Olivier’s mother Therese went to the Bassin again and once again tried our hand at fishing but with no better luck! In the evening M-P, Olivier and myself climbed up on the roof of their house and watched another firework display. Tuesday, Baptste gave me a lift to the station in Bordeaux and I caught the train back to Clermont where it all seems very quiet!