Gemonimo

[quote user="woolybanana"]'Ere, that map, its quite a long way to St Compost Machin. Wouldn't the train have been easier?[/quote] Yes, it most certainly would, Wooly! We are dead on our feet - 22k today with quite a lot of hills and descents but we are in a charming Albergue, have been fed and watered (red water) but are ready for tomorrow.  Sweets is just taking care of her teeth to avoid problems and might well come by and post in a moment unless she has gone directly to bed.There is a bunch of Irish who are enjoying themselves and a bunch of Dutch singing at the top of their voices.  The Irish have just joined in with Nelly Malone and The Wild Rover so I'll make a discreet exit. More when time and internet permits.

Goodnight and God bless, everyone for your thoughts and encouragement. See you tomorrow, Sweets, sleep well..... Jen

Thanks for reminding me,  ericd. My daughter mentioned it to me - she was in the military and served in Irak - and says it's indispensible so I'm taking some Johnson's baby powder.  She also taught me how to pack my bag by rolling everything, something I wouldn't have thought about. 

Thanks, guys..... All these best wishes will certainly make our steps lighter and I know that Sweets and I have already included many of your tips in our planning. We will try and stay in touch, internet access permitting. xxxxxxxxx Jen

[quote user="Chancer"] Good luck, the anticipation at this stage is quite enjoyable isnt it? [/quote] What? Tooth abscess, acute back pain and now diarhoea, you must be kidding!!!!!!!![:-))]

Now for my 10centimes worth! Sweets if you are at 5k you are an absolute genius!  I'm at 6.7 before the essentials, i.e., toiletteries, but does include a big bag of nuts and dried fruit. My stuff has been laid out on a spare bed but my son and heir has been laying out his stuff on the same bed for his return to the fac so there is every chance that if Sweets walks without undies, I'll be walking in my son's boxer shorts. The 'do I really need that' list is getting longer but the stuff that really weighs is the stuff in bottles which brings me back to the toiletteries.  Do I really need shampoo? Yes, but I can live without conditioner so I've saved quelques grams there.  Gel douche? No, a bar of savon de Marseille will do the trick and will also wash the aforementioned undies. Call me wet, but I just can't wash my face with soap and water and come home looking like a 'mummy' so I have to find a place for the L'Oreal face cleaning wipes (will double as hand wipes, but at what price[:D]). Mercifully my back is better thanks to a prescription of Voltarene but that has given way to an upset stomach [+o(] which can be attributed to nerves but once the show is on the road, we'll be ok. Won't we?  

[quote user="sweet 17"] Please excuse me having a quick word with Gem.  Gem, latest email to you's come back and I will investigate it but not en ce moment.  All is progressing well and I will be at Bdx in good time.  I think OH is allowing something like overnight to get there![;-)] [/quote] Sweets, I've sent an email with another address (son and heir's)

[quote user="woolybanana"]Give us a cuddle, lady![kiss][/quote] I have noticed that since he has lost weight and found his youthful form[Www] our Wooly has become decidedly perky!

With my doctor and dentist is the case, usually because they don't have secretarial support on the spot. It has never interfered with the treatment I have recived, indeed I have always received more time from my doctor here than the one I had in the UK.

Chancer, we'll be coming home kn*ckered not naked[:D]  

[quote user="sweet 17"] Gem, yes, email received and reply sent.  Though whether you get the reply is another story. [/quote] 20.40 and no email.  I'm receiving others ok so I don't know what the problem is.  The only thing I need to know is do we take the 8.30am Bourricot Express? They need confirmation.  Sorry folks, but normal lines of communication between Sweets and me are up the spout!

[quote user="5-element"]The friend who "did Compostelle" found that as a lone woman, dogs were the scariest hazards she encountered; if she is right, I hope you have walking poles.[/quote] Je confirme. On one of my training walks I was bitten on the calf by a rottweiler and still have the holes to prove it.  So I'll just hide behind Sweets who has the poles[:D] Sweets, did you get my email?  

No she hasn't!!! She's been on a chaise longue in the garden, thinking of next week[:-))] By this time next week we should be trotting (limping and toothless) towards Puente la Reina[:D] Yes, Sweets it's 12.05 at the Gare St. Jean - I'll be there from approx 10.15 due to the arrival time of my connection from chez moi. You'll recognise me by the shell on my back!!!  I'll email you later and if you don't receive anything, it will be back to this very public forum to tie up our loose ends.  And drink the whisky - much better than mouthwash. xxx

[quote user="woolybanana"]No you won't, you will be still stuck on your forever walk to Paradise!![/quote] [:D][:D][:D]

[quote user="sweet 17"] The toque (spelling?) is perfect.  Shame I can't just wear that on the Compostelle! [/quote] I can't believe you even thought of that[:-))] And Clair, that was brilliant!

Yes, 5-e, I take the stones out when they have defrosted and it's a doddle.  Right now I have a tomato problem.  Last year I had too many and couldn't give them away but as I don't like waste I made futures in tomato puree and tomato sauce and it's still in the garage (I bottled it) and now the problem has returned.  However, I have found a brilliant way of using this years crop.  I have been cutting them in half, baking them in the oven for 6hours at 100 degrees and when they are sort of dried out and syrupy I freeze them still in halves. They make great tomato tarts (they don't get all waterlogged), and I'll be eating them all winter.      

[quote user="ericd"]Are you guys doing the walk to Compostella in September???[/quote] Yes, in ten days[:-))]

I freeze plums and cherries raw and then make them up into jam or crumbles or whatever when I need them. That way they don't get cooked twice.

[quote user="ericd"]Gemonimo, which courier system did they use for your pants?????[/quote] It was the PO eric, but the package was very light, not like a couple of motorcycle helmets which wouldn't fit in a letterbox!

[quote user="Russethouse"][quote user="Gemonimo"]I've just ordered two pairs of lightweight walking trousers from LLBean in the US so if there is no duty payable I'll be very happy.  However, if I'm charged I'll let you know.[/quote]  I got charged when I bought stuff from them (I'm in the UK) - the value is on the outside of the parcel if I remember correctly [/quote] Package arrived this morning.  $99.00 for two pairs of fabulous trousers and NO duty! Made up for a rubbish start to the day!  

It's not too difficult to see why Gardengirl is your avatar, GG!  You should post some piccys of your garden as it sounds fabulous. Rose, I have a border of clay soil (it separates the vines from the grass) and when I planted quite a few years ago I just put in anything I saw and as yet it has all survived.  I have climbing roses, cotoneaster, oleander, mimosa and heaven only knows what else. It's all rather wild and anarchic and like GG, I have trees which pop up uninvited although mine are erable - a real pest.  

[quote user="woolybanana"] Right Mac, just do what you are comfy doing. Be polite to the locals, make contact as you wanna. Be seen to buy stuff locally if you can, don' t get into the bringing of presents for your neighbours bit unless you really would have done it in  UK. Make your number with the commune though they will know you are there, no need to see the maire unless you wanna. And work on the French as much as you can. It greases the parts that other gels do not reach!! [/quote] Excellent advice Wooly.

[quote user="sadie"] A foreign female pensioner has no place in society. . [/quote] That's rather a sweeping statement, Sadie, Jen (a foreign female pensioner)

Now I know why 800kilometres with Sweet 17 won't be a problem.  We think alike! Integration is something which may happen  but only after time. I've had my feet in my little 'bled' (which I adore) for nearly thirty years, raised my children here, kept a low profile, helped out when asked but certainly didn't try to integrate.  So you can imagine my surprise when I was invited to become a conseillere municipal and my absolute astonishment when I got more votes than anyone else on the list including the maire. Now this wasn't because I was an 'integrated' member of the community, quite the opposite. It was because I had no axe to grind with anyone, no issues with anyone but could be relied on. Moral of the story? Be a decent citizen (human being) and the french will integrate you. Well, perhaps not all of them.  My immediate neighbours won't have anything to do with me![:D]  

[quote user="Patf"]Seems that I will live to 100 [8-)] Not sure if this is good news or not. I did a similar questionaire on another forum, from pomhorn, and got 101 on that. [/quote] It's all that confit and red wine Patf!!