En français, then in English

J’avais perdu mon raison d’être aprés la mort de ma femme, Carolyn. Ce balade m’a donné un autre, a gagner Liausson avec mon Pudding de Nœl, et aprés ça, le Mediteranée. Pour 3 mois, ma vie était 20kg dans mon sac, et tout j’avais besoin de ètait de nouriture et d’eau pour moi et mes chiens. Je n’ai pas lit un papier, ecoutè a un radio ou a vu le television. Je ne les pas manqué. Maintenant j’ai encore trouvé l’amour d’une belle femme, et une raison d’être.

Mes félicitations a tous qui a ésperé Agnès et moi bon chance.

I had lost my reason for living after the death if my wife Carolyn. This journey has given me another, to reach Liausson with my Christmas Pudding, and after that, the Mediteranean. For 3 months, my life was 20kg in my pack, and all that I needed was food and water for me and my dogs. I have not read a newspaper, listened to a radio, or watched television. I haven’t missed them. Now I have once again found the love of a beautiful woman, and a reason to live.

My thanks to all those who have wished Agnès and I good luck.

And for the diary:

I rolled down the ramp off the ferry on to English soil at 7.38 this morning, then promptly got lost in the maze of motorways. I ended up zig-zagibg across country at the mercy of Google navigator to Winchester, then took the A34 towards Oxfoed, turning off fot Witney, Burford and Stow-on-the-Wold.

The dogs were pleased to be back in THEIR house, alrhough the garden looked unloved, so I spent the afternoon tidyiñg it. This was after lighting the log-burning stove, as the central heating had failed. So it was once more back to washing in the sink! Then off to “The Queens Head” pub on The Square in Stow to re-familiarise myself with Donnington Brewery’s BB (Best Bitter). And as the Civic Society had an excellent “Gardiner’s Question Time” expertly chaired by Cybil Ruscoe, I ended up downing 5 pints!

A great welcome back to Stow-on-tbe-Wold and a fitting way to celebrate the end of a whim that became a three month reality.