When we arrived in Cognac yesterday, we instantly had another fight to get Topsy (and Happy), as Guide Dogs, onto a city bus to get to the campsite.

Then found that the bus stopped 1k from the campsite and there was no option but for Topsy to hobble slowly there, passimg a travellers site on the other side of the river. The campsite had no shop; the pool was closed and on top of that my solar charger battery pack dissapeared overnight from the toilet block. And it was raining. So I decided to pack up and take up a friend’s very generous offer, to let Topsy recuperate at their family cottage in a tiny hamlet outside Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnier.

For insurance purposes, I asked the reception at the campsite to write me a brief note to say thst I had reported the loss of the charger to them. They started to do this, but then after a quick call to the manager? said that they could mot. So I was handed a phone to speak to him directly. He initially tefused to issue a note, but became more receptive when I pointed out that this might not look very good on his website. So a letter was drafted and the charming young lady on reception kindly went through about 4 or 5 taxi firms, before finding one that would transport the dogs. She also did a recording for the audio diary.

So we stopped off at Tourost information and got some bus & train maps of southern France; visited a supermarkey and stocked up with food and dogfood sufficient for 4 or 5 days; replaced the solar charger with  a simple battery pack and 2 mains charger units, so that I can charge both the phone and a battery pack at the same time.

We then caught a bus to the station and bought a ticket to Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnier. This time was not charged for the dogs, as Guide Dogs travel for free on  French trains; other dogs at half adult fare. The over 60s get concessionary fares. Only they didn’t mention that the connection from Angouleme  to Chasseneuil was by bus! So as there was only a 5 minute transfer, I missed it and had to wait for the next one.

Arriving in Chasseneuil, we collapsed into a corner café, where the kind lady owner arranged a taxi and cooked me an omelette. I even had time to bolt down some cheese and a glass of wine before the taxi atrived. I had carefully not memtioned the dogs, but luckily he had a large boot and they hopped on.

On arriving at the village, a gentleman with shoulder-length white hair greeted us from over his gate and was totally unaware of any English family iving in the villager! We trundled round to the back of his house and low and behold, rheir name was written on the post box of the house behind his! We then sauntered down the road and spoke to Alan, who luckily knew that I was coming and was able to reassure my erstwhile neighbour that I was expected! He slso volunteered that his son Julien ran an intetnrt bakery buisness and that I could pop round at 10AM tomorrow for bread.

So he unlocked the door and we have made ourselves at home.