mercredi

 Today started slowly. We're getting up later and later. We can sleep with the windows open and hear nothing but birds and crickets. Wednesday is market day in Carnac. To be honest, French markets, like British markets, mainly sell a load of crap. The French specialise in really tacky and really expensive crap. The food is good. Local producers selling direct, and merchandisers who tour from market to market. The sausages (a kind of French version of salami) are wonderful but stink like three week old cadavers. The fish and shell fish are running around the stall and the pig butchers had whole pigs in bits, that you could use as a jig saw and reconstruct the pig. The cheese is amazing, and I love it, but on mass, in truck loads smells like teenage boy feet times one million! It was also very very hot and very crowded but always worth a browse. We bought some melon and 'squeaky beans'. Then wobbled home on our bikes with a basket full of lunch.

 Here is just a tiny example of the utter shite you can buy in French markets. It will cost you a fortune and will fall to bits in a matter of days. Nice colours though!

 After cycling the long way round, we made it back to the campsite to get on with the sunbathing. It's hot one minute and breezy the next. I've spent hours on this patio, just reading and enjoying the sunshine.

 By two o'clock, it had cooled down considerably and we decided to cycle back to the old town of Carnac. We've been coming here since 2005 and have never actually been there. It's picture postcard perfect, with a real sense of civic pride, pristine cleanliness and flowers in every available space. It has charming little side streets, with shuttered windows. Unlike the neighbouring tourist resort of Carnac Plage, Carnac Ville is full of life, people who live there all year, have veggie gardens, chickens in their back gardens and it feels like a real community. I'll move here if I win the lottery!!!

 There are flowers everywhere, a real sense of local pride in the place.

 Some of the houses are tiny - this two up, two down will set you back 112,000 euros, with no garden and no parking...........any takers?

 Another thing that France gets really right, is that cycling is common place. I love the cycle racks that are every where. There are ranks of them outside shops, cafes, bars and even in shopping precincts. Years ago, on my first trip to France, the amount of bikes genuinely shocked me and I even had nightmares about them. I've now given in. I get here. I lock up the car for the week and go every where by bike. I even bought the 'Missmarplemobile' especially for my trips to France. On the road, cars all seem to give you the priority; they wait at junctions, they wave you one and they patiently wait for you to make it through a narrow section of road before they try and pass you.

 And, as Columbo would say, just one more thing. Not being a catholic, I'm unaware of saints. Here, there are saints for everything and I look for the statues of them. Here is Saint Cornely on the wall of the parish church in Carnac ville. I particulary like the saints that adorn the walls of homes, they sit in an especially made niches on the walls.

Well, it's six thirty in the evening, we're still sitting outside and all is quiet. I'm sitting here with a glass of wine, which leads me on to tell you about wine. In the UK, most of the cost of a bottle of wine goes to the tax man so we pay around £5.50 for a very average bottle of Chilean Merlot. Here a reasonable 'appellation controlee' can be bought for under two euros. We don't drink much at all and will have drunk a total of two bottles between us over the week, but I still enjoy a bargain.

We're off for our evening walk along the beach,

Until tomorrow/ a bientot xxxx

Froogs

mardi

 Today, as I blog, is hot. The wind has died down, everything is still and the heat continues to rise. Yesterday, was fresh, breezy at times but perfect for cycling. Today, the sun defeated me and I'm back on the campsite, moving in and out of the sun, drinking chilled water and sitting in shorts. It's a hard life!

Yesterday was all about cycling here and there! In the morning, we cycled the short distance to Trinte-sur-mer. Wandered around the market, looked at postcards, walked up the pier (ish......not sure what they'd call it) and just took in the sights.

 No sign what so ever of any recession here either! The rich seem to come and play and even those with smaller boats must pay a fortune for a mooring here.

 We always go for a good gawp at the 'cats' and the 'tri's'. The photos do not do justice to the size of these speed machines. You can see inside, these are for speed and not for comfort. I don't like the open sea and certainly wouldn't want to be perched on the side of one of these when it's 45 degrees from where it should be! They certainly are a sight to marvel at though.

 Here's froogs, resuming her daily position outside a cafe somewhere, it's a daily expense, but we don't eat out and, when in a tourist area, I always remember it wouldn't be there at all if people didn't spend any money. Our ten euro a day budget is more than adequate for our needs.

 I just thought I would share my view from my coffee, over the port as I sat and watched the world go by.

 After a morning in Trinite, we came back, lazed, ate and read. The afternoons are often about dozing off to sleep, or just curling up and being together. It's light until at least ten pm, so around 8pm, we took ourselves off for our evening walk. The empty beaches, roads, avenues have the most wonderful peace. There were a few people out walking, or sitting on the beach. Mostly, we had the place to ourselves. If you're reading this and liking what you see, take yourself one day to Carnac for a holiday. Try to visit in low season, it's a very different place to the Carnac I've experienced before. Although, I will  be back next summer, I'm also going to make sure I visit in May or Easter. It's so tranquil.

 Those of us who visit Breizh (Brittany!) year in, year out, know full well, this place has a defiant independent character and their Breton language keeps them separate or unique. In the same way as Wales, or the Hebrides, or parts of Scotland, where the regional language is still alive. Breton and Cornish (Cornish - a language which is officially dead, but used more and more, is being learnt and brought back to life) has similarities. One thing I would love to see in Cornwall, is the bilingual signage. Liskeard, for example, is actually called Lis Kerwyd......along with a multitude of alternative spellings and pronuciations.

 Our evening walk took us right along the front of the 'Grand Plage' and the beach front apartments seemed a little more occupied. People eat late in France and the clink of glasses and cutlery against china could be heard as people ate in their front gardens and on their balconies; this family had carried their garden furniture onto the dunes and were enjoying an evening drink as the sun set.

 Here's another photo for Foster Mummy. This is the main road........ Avenue des druides..........sssshh! No one is here! Not a car, not a house open, no one!

We walked back to the campsite as the sun was setting, poured a glass of wine and put our feet up, listened to the cuckoo, watched the bats circling over head and chatted quietly until it went dark.

Lundi

 We get into a rhythm of our own in France. We go to bed at nine and get up at nine. I sleep incredibly well in the holidays, no deadlines, no work has been brought with me, there's no housework to think of and I can actually, and totally rest. The photo above is of the campsite, here, I've spent many an evening with FM and MW over a bbq and it's eerie and yet lovely to see it empty. The trees have been cut back, and as ever, the site is immaculate.

 Carnac Plage itself is mainly closed. La Poste must have a short round at this time of year. Yesterday we cycled into Carnac itself (as we're staying in Beaumer) and noticed most of the houses are shut up, shuttered and street after street is deserted. There does though, seem to be no sign of the recession here! Luxury houses are still being thrown up every where, and, even though the place is empty, a house can not be had for less than 400K if you want to be near the sea! We walked around, along the sea front and rode our bikes. Just us.

 I then found the 'people'. Whereas Cornwall will now be swimming with children on half term holiday, Carnac seems to be frequented by older people at this time of year. I found them on the 'petit train'. I get quite excited when I see it, where ever I used to go, I used to cough up a few euros and take a ride. It was always disappointing, the  commentary was always dreadful. If you ever go to Roscoff, you will not believe how bad it is. The driver boasted 'no tape' and that he gave the commentary himself. He pointed out the children's home for delinquent children, and several fields of carrots and to be honest, that was about it. Nonetheless, it's some times worth it, just to experience how bad it is.

 There also seems to be no sign of the recession in the harbour. No fewer dinghies than usual, no fewer aquatic activities and the water sports business is booming in Carnac.

 Now food!!!!!! There are so many things that they get right here in France. At home, we buy scallops individually and they can cost 75p each! Here! about ten euros a kilo! the same with oysters! Meat is extraordinarily expensive so, eat fish! Meat at home is cheaper than veggies, whilst fish is expensive, here it's the other way round. The other thing they seem to have mastered here is fat free cheese and yoghurts with no sugar and deserts with no fat and no sugar. My diet is suffering a bit of a lapse because I'm eating veg and protein every day. I'm also having a glass of wine a day. My exercise is a bit adrift but I am cycling every day and walking a few miles along the sea front every evening.

In total, on Monday, we walked to the shop, home and ate. Walked around Carnac and then came home to sleep on the veranda. In between the eating and sleeping I've read Nick Hornby's 'About a boy' and Kathy Reichs' 'Death de jour' and I'm halfway through Carlos Ruiz Zafon's 'The angel's game'. As you can tell, I'm taking 'doing nothing' very seriously.

Travelling is all part of the fun.

 Hi everyone!

Well you didn't think I would go a week without blogging? We travelled over on a newish ferry, the 'Armorique'. We've only been to France before in the summer holiday, when travellers are packed in so it was a nice suprise to be on a half full boat. We were up late on Saturday night and left Liskeard at 6 am, so we bought a cabin on the boat and slept all the way there.

 The car decks always amaze me. The precision parking, no room to get in or out, the pole position exit when the ferry company get every body off and on and the boat turned round and back the other way in one hour. It's easy for us, but I feel for families with young children, there are usually tears and parents looking quite frayed around the edges.

 We love to take Laurent home, he's sunbathing with DB as I type!!!!

 We arrived at the campsite in three hours! I was the fastest vehicle on the road!!!!! DB co-pilots for me as I can't read maps and I just drive. We are the only people here; other than a few touring caravans, and no surprise, mainly Neds! A few mobile homes are rented out, but other than that, there's no one here. I feel a bit selfish saying it, but I'm quite happy to have the place to myself. Every other time we've stayed her, the place has been packed. The ferry was full of Brits, but most of them on package holidays and off to Eurocamp, Keycamp for the all in holiday. I can't blame them, fun for all the family at a reasonable cost. We're the lone Brits on this campsite.....and I like it that way!

 This photo was taken at 8pm in the evening by the deserted Men du beach. I love being here; get off the ferry and set your watch back by thirty years! The shops shut for lunch and most shops and restaurants seem to be closed here, others are being prepared for the summer season. Houses are shuttered and no one is here. We usually go to a busy bar for the free wi-fi and were surprised to see it only opens from jeudi - dimanche. We're  using the wif-fi on the campsite.

Lastly, here I am with the big guy! It's Tuesday and, other than lolling around in the mild weather and reading, we've not been up to much. I'll get you all up to speed on the 'not much' as the week goes by.

It's just so wonderful to be back here. The whole place has a comfortable familiarity about it. We know where everything is, how it works, where to shop, have a coffee or get the best views. It might be odd to some people to return to the same place year after year, but it almost feels like a second home. We'll, we've slipped off our shoes, put our feet up, breathed a deep sigh of relaxation and we're enjoying every moment of doing nothing.

Until tomorrow,

Froogs xxxxxx

Preparing not to spend any money!

HI everyone,

As I've excitedly told you all, I'm off on a holiday for the first time in years. In the past, I joined the rest of the sheep and used my holiday time to rip up the common sense rule book. This time, I've not only consulted it, but I'm taking it with me. In other words, I'll be frugal on holiday too. At the ferry terminal, leaflets are pushed through car windows, explaining, on pain of a hefty fine, what you must carry with you, in case of an emergency in France. We've always been well prepared on this: the car has been serviced, the spare wheel and jack has been checked, and we've also prepared all the onboard necessities for the car. Many of the ferry customers don't do this and there's a long queue in the onboard shop to buy beam deflectors, warning triangles, hi-vi jackets etc. They also pay through the nose for first aid kits, that they probably have in their cupboards at home. We take everything, bring most of it back unused and will not be spending anything.

Yes, that is a dishwash tablet container and I've cleaned it out and stacked it with first aid and a few minor medical supplies. I noticed, on my last trip, that I couldn't find a version of Boots or Superdrug, where you could just walk in, work out what you needed and just buy certain medications, such as for a migraine or stomach upset. You had to ask the pharmacist. It was also a lot more expensive that we pay. Here, we can buy 6 loperamide tablets for £1.60 and 16 paracetamols for 16p. Plasters, burn spray, and first aid requirements are pennies here. They are sealed, they don't 'go off' and they can save you a trip to A&E by just having the basics in first aid. Both Dearly Beloved and I have both had first aid training at some time. Did you know, for example, that panty liners, or sanitary pads, are sterile and make really good wound dressings, which you can secure with micropore tape? I've burnt myself in the past and know now, it's always important to have burn dressings in the house. They are a gel pad, with adhesive edges that completely seal the burn and usually no further assistance is needed if it's just minor.

I'll blog more this week, about how everything we need is coming with us!!! I'm quietly confident that I can afford this holiday and if I'm really careful. I won't spend any more than my usual week's budget for food and will still have the best of times.

Watch this spaces.

Until tomorrow,

Love Froogs xxxx

Using it up, getting out and putting our feet up Day 10.

 As I write, I'm sheltering in the summer house as the heat is extraordinary for this time of year. We left home early this morning, to head to Minnions to walk the dogs on the moor, to be greeted by hundreds of cars, runners and walkers who were taking part in a competition on Bodmin Moor. I hoped they survived the heat. We headed home, deeply annoyed that our moor was so crowded all of a sudden. Just as we were about to turn off to drive through St. Cleer and head back to Liskeard, we made a detour to Siblyback lake. It's not my kind of place, full of water sports enthusiasts, mountain bikers and oozing with Volvos and Golden Retrievers! I always feel a scruffy oiyk around such people and we headed for the lake side walk. The dogs were soon defeated by the heat and we had to head back a lot sooner than I would have liked.

I'll catch up with the walk later after I've given more instructions on sprouting seeds for salad. As you can see from the photo above, the seeds and beans have doubled in size. They then need rinsing under the cold tap.

 Below, is my sprouter. It costs a stupid amount of money, maybe even ten pounds but I have had it for years and years. You layer the seeds onto each layer and the secret is to keep them wet. Remember, this is indoor gardening and they need looking after.

 Every day, you take the layers apart, run them under the cold tap and put them back in the cupboard.

 I sprout mine in a dark cool place. I'll blog the sprouting every day to show you each update. It takes three to five days. Today, is day 2 of the sprouting process.

 Back to the morning walk at Siblyback lake. It's 15 minutes away from where I live and well worth the £3 all day parking. Get there very early, or go in the evening. It's a brilliant place to take teenagers who can learn to sail, canoe etc. We've never afforded to do any of the activities we see others doing but it's wonderful to see young people having the times of their lives. The three mile walk around the lake is gravel pathed, it's flat and a very easy walk and you don't need special boots. Do watch out for the total to**ers on mountain bikes who do it a break neck speed with the intention of killing walkers. I like to walk slowly, in the middle of the path and chat to the anglers and old folk on the benches. Why they need to do it in lycra with camel packs when I can do the bike ride in a flowery frock on my Miss Marple bike with my little dog in the basket on the front.

 I'm going to go again this week, I'll try and get there by eight in the morning so it's cooler for the dogs. They kept needing to stop and drink the water. I would have happily bimbled around slowly as the walk and view is just stunning. I'd also paid £3 and I like to stay a few hours and feel as if I got my money's worth. I felt cheated when I had to leave after an hour.

 I took the photo of the chap, in the lake, fishing for trout to get the scale of the lake. Bodmin Moor is in the back ground and I just marvel at the stunning countryside that is right on my doorstep.

 Someone commented yesterday on the 'mixes' we can get. I don't usually buy them as they are expensive and I think you can make better yourself. I did buy 3.5Kilo scone mix and a 3.5 kilo suet pastry/dumpling mix. They are made for caterers and I bought them for £1.50 a bag from Approved Foods, and I can't make the pastry or scones for that price. In the spirit of using up what I already have, I baked some scones and lemon cake today.

 I added sultanas to the scones, as, you guessed it, I had some in the cupboard. Half the cake and scones can be frozen for another day, I have guests in and out this week so I need a tin full of goodies to share.

 I also made one of Dearly Beloved's favourites - Lemon cake. I just make a victoria sponge mix and I grate the zest of one lemon into the sponge as it wizzing away in the Kenwood. When cooked, I leave it to cool for a couple of hours and then I fill with lemon curd. For the topping, I put a cup of icing sugar into a bowl and drip lemon juice into it until it is a pliable paste. I pour it into the middle of the cake and let if find its own way to the edge.

 Next, I thought I would share Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream with the world. We buy this when it is about to 'go out of date' and we freeze it until we want it. I'm sorry, very sorry if you can't get this in your part of the world as it's lovely.

 It has a crust on top and the cream is thick and unctuous and only to be eaten as a rare treat. It's wonderful but not for the waistline.

The afternoon has been filled with dozing in the garden under the parasol and the mid afternoon had to have a Cream tea. Serve the scone with strawberry jam and a liberal dollop of clotted cream and just for good measure, have a slice of lemon cake too.

We are day 10 into my personal challenge of using up what I have and not spending any money. I have transferred last week's food budget into the savings account. We are being extra careful as we're off on a holiday and the money has to be found from somewhere. We also have a stock pile to get through.

I'll be back tomorrow with day 3 of sprouting and the rest of my no spend challenge.

Holiday at home and day 9

 Hello again,

As usual, many many thanks to all of you who clicked, googled or found 'Frugal Queen'.I'm still utterly amazed that more than two thousand of you do that every day.

I thought I'd start by saying what I've used up today. I had the pastry mix, which makes dumplings or the lightest crispiest pastry. I used the chicken and bacon pie filling (cooked last week and frozen) and quickly mixed up some pastry. Whilst it was 'resting', before I made the pie, I thought I would answer a few queries about sprouting seeds. I buy mine in the local health food shop and they seem to give me salad for days on end when I remember to use them. The seeds also seems to keep, in a twisted bag for months and months until I remember to use them again.

 I just follow the instructions of the packet. I rinse them and then soak them over night.

 I don't use many at a time as a little go a very long way. Right now, they are soaking in a glass on my kitchen window sill. I'll show you the sprouter, and what I do next, tomorrow.

 We've had a really good day. We've mooched around the garden, trimming and pruning, tidying and weeding. The washing has all been dried outside, it's ironed and back in the cupboards. I've blasted music around the house (Kate Rusby, followed by Fleetwood Mac......do you have favourite ironing music?)

Still haven't been food shopping and I'm still determined to use up everything I have. Dinner was a childhood classic! Just the sort of food that my mum used to make. Chicken and bacon pie, chips and peas and plenty left for tomorrow.  That's if I don't sneak off to the kitchen for some cold pie later! There's two things for you to ponder and comment about, music to iron or do the housework to and what's your childhood classic?