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 user="Swissie"]Was that a hint Gem?  So tell us how do we contribute to your sponsorship? [/quote] Not at all, Swissie, in fact I haven't even approached the locals whose church it is.  Madame le Maire is going to tell the locals at the August 15th Messe and we'll see what the response is. Sponsorship started out as a joke - would I have the nerve to walk to SJdC with a Leclerc logo on my back?(answer, no) and then the idea of sponsorship became a reality when my family knew I was a member of the Church Restauration Committee and the idea of a stained glass window took form. It's also motivation to keep going when I get a bit wobbly.  That said, if anyone is interested in sponsoring, PM me and I'll be happy to give details.

[quote user="Jonzjob"]Don't worry about the window G! If it is stained a bit of soap, water and some elbow grease will soon get it clean![:-))] [/quote] Très drôle, Jonz! And therein lies the problem - there is no stained glass window.  At some point it was damaged, removed and replaced with a clear (actually, filthy) pane of glass and that's what I have been raising money to replace.  The village is raising billions to renovate the church (11thC) and my little contribution is to raise enough money to replace the existing clear glass with something more 'digne' which will include the coquille St. Jacques symbol. €600 raised so far and that's just family and friends so as you can imagine, I can't let these good people down.  The weight of that responsibility weighs as much as my backpack!!  

[quote user="sweet 17"] Hey, do you think leading ladies sometimes get stage fright to such a degree that they can't go on? [:-))] [/quote] OUT OF THE QUESTION!!!! I can't let my sponsors down and in any case, the church will still need its stained glass window.  So Sweets, GET A GRIP! [:-))] Just kidding! It's the butterflies in the stomach which are the worst bit but at least I'm sleeping. Thanks for the encouragement tout le monde[kiss]

Yes, JJ, we've decided to take the train from Bordeaux all the way to St. Jean Pied de Port, stay one night there and then get to Roncevaux next day. So, our pilgrimage (on foot) will really start on Sunday 5th September.  We are both suffering from stress which is manifesting itself in various 'maux' but I'm sure when we are on our way, all the aches and pains will disappear and we'll be fine. No doubt you will hear from us during the five weeks, starting on the 4th as the Pension where we will be staying has an internet connection[:D]

Fabulous!

[quote user="sweet 17"] Oh dear, Coops, I don't think I'll have my mobile next month when I go on the Compostelle.  [/quote] Bet you will[Www]

[quote user="Théière"]Ditto, A friend who recently downsized said if there was a fire what would you save first if you only had 30 mins and that's how they managed it.[/quote] Well Theiere, I did have a fire and saved (some) photos and documents and a couple of sticks of furniture.'Minimalist' is a wonderful way to live even if you don't downsize. Sweets, La Camino will make you see things differently (materially speaking)  so wait until you get back to make any decisions. Who knows, you might find you want to live with just the 6kilos you are carrying to St. Jacques[:-))] 

[quote user="woolybanana"]Wheeee, another target reached: the 50 pounds weight loss is now 25kgs which is 55 lbs, and still going until I hit target which is in the range of 33-35kgs or 73-77 pounds plus a couple more for luck. Which will get my BMI back where it should be. I am quite enjoying this, giving my body and soul a lesson for so much wild indulgence over the last hundred years![/quote] Congratulations, Wooly, it can't have been easy for you and you deserve all the praise you can get.  200kilometres along the Galician meseta with the sun burning down (and two loopy pilgrims for company) should take care of a few kilos.......[:-))]

Maria, I am so sorry to hear about your loss and being in a foreign country far from family can't be easy for you. Catalpa is quite right when he says not to make quick decisions - sage advice.  If I were nearer and free for the next two months I'd love to help with the changeovers but it's impossible but don't despair, I'm sure that there will be people who will help you in this time of need.  Courage.

[quote user="sweet 17"]   Mostly get lost instead![:D] [/quote] Now I'm getting worried............

Meee! You don't think I'd schlep for 800k with someone without integrity, do you?[kiss]

Back much better, thanks.  Counting the days now...... aaaarrrrrggghhhhh!! Can't wait, though.

Sounds fab, Swissie but I'm afraid I can't offer any ideas as I've never had a pond.  When it's done, please post some piccys.

[quote user="woolybanana"] GET A LOVER, WORKS A TREAT! [/quote] Je confirme......

Well, Swissie, I think I would.  I have had problems with mine from the day it was put in by the biggest rip-off artist in the SW.  All the errors were corrected and paid for by the original installers insurers and it was up and running, chrystal clear a couple of days before my daughter's wedding last year. The one lesson I have learned is that it pays to get recommendations from happy clients and if chemistry is not your strong point, pay someone competent to take care of it.  In any case, having a pool for visiting family with children keeps the 'I'm bored' team entertained!  

Hola Sweets... thanks, but I did a quick tour of Intersport but didn't see anything that weighed less than air so I left.  Son and Heir has a €20 token (c**k up with an on-line order) so he's getting a silk bag liner to use on his euro-rail escapade and I'll use it afterwards. Don't forget to look for a towell. I might order some walking trousers from L.L.Bean - their clothes are for anglo saxon bodies - as I'm not having any luck with french sizes. Isn't this exciting - only seven weeks to go! Enjoy your lunch - hope it's not spaghetti!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

[quote user="Swissie"]Gemonimo - some of us older ladies have no problem getting picked up when hitch hiking- blizzard or no blizzard!    lol. Get better soon - shame you don't live nearer, I know a very nice and excellent acupuncturist - oh, and stuff the housework. [/quote] Remember that incident well!!!!! And this afternoon I took myself off to an osteopath who seems to have worked wonders.  I especially liked the bit when he said "don't do anything for at least two days". Coincidentally, it turns out that the osteopath's daughter was a french student who stayed  with my family in London about 25 years ago. Small world. 

Thanks, Swissie for your kind thoughts.  The back problem happened when I got out of my car two days after walking and (I hope) had nothing to do with the hike last w/e. However, the 'real thing' is only seven weeks away and I really can't afford to have a problem and thus wreck Sweets pilgrimage.   Sooooo, the grass isn't being cut, the house isn't being cleaned, the shopping's not being done and I'm lying on my bed surrounded by my books and tubes of anti-inflammatoire cream.  Could get to llike it!!!! Sweets, no panic... if the Son and Heir hasn't returned to the fac, I'm sure he will be able to drive us.  If not, well the train to Biarritz would be an exciting beginning to a more exciting journey! Auto stop Cendrillon?  I don't think truckies pick up 'ladies of a certain age'!!!!!!

Thanks Theiere.  I'm beginning to think I should just leave the phone behind but six weeks is a loooooong time to be out of contact and if Sweets or I have a 'malaise' en route....... It's not the weight of my own charger which is a problem, it's just that in some refugios there will be zillions of people and probably only one plug (to go with the single lavatory and single douche)........

Can anyone recommend a good solar cell phone charger.  I've googled and found futures of the things but need a recommendation before I buy.  It needs to be solid but light and preferably small.

[quote user="woolybanana"]Bloody awful suffering I tell you; not for civilized folk or me either.[/quote] It wasn't really 'suffering' Wooly, it was more an enormous fatigue as there was a rise of approx. 800metres in 8kilometres on day one followed by a steeper descent at the end of day two. Sweets found the first day a lot easier than I did because she is used to hill walking. But all in all it was not as frightening as I expected but this was only day one!!!!

[quote user="gardengirl "] Sweet, so sorry to read of your problem; and the prospect of many more weeks of bites is terrible!. I’m a midge/mozzie god too, so I’ve tried many of these; however, what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for others. Those of us who are sweatier mortals seem to suffer more – not saying you are sweaty – just an observation!  [:D]   *Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers as much as possible (a bit of a bind at times, and still leaves plenty of other ‘bits’ for them to get at! *Take anti-histamines before and during the trip (I take these year-round for rhinitis anyway, but doesn’t help; or maybe it does, and I’d have even worse problems following bites!) *Avoid sitting outside morning and evening. *Garlic tablets *Skin So Soft (Found I was passing this round to people on our trip to India, and my niece used to send it out to a friend who lives in a tropical area) *Citronella; (sometimes needs refreshing after 30 – 60 minutes; roll on form useful for this) *Lemon eucalyptus *Citronella candles in the evenings *Mozzie coils in your room in the evenings while you’re outside (keep windows shut before, during and after use; smell isn’t pleasant) *Electric plug-ins *Neem oil; this now comes in various forms (also good against nit infestations) *Avoid perfumes; including hairspray, deodorant etc) *’Repel’ citronella/eucalyptus * High frequency emitters – haven’t tried these, but I’ve read about them * Vitamin B1; this contains thiamine, which can be an irritant to mozzies. However, I understand that long-term use can upset your mineral balance. The effect of B1 can be lessened by taking alcohol. * Smoking – pipes and cigars in particular. * The daughter of someone I know finds Tropical Strength Jungle Formula very effective, even though she has very sensitive skin, and had nasty rashes with other available products.   After bites: * I find ‘clickers’ from outdoor shops and Boots very effective at taking the itch and sting out of bites. If you can get the number of bites down using some of the above remedies, it’s easily used; too many and you can’t cope with it. OH didn’t believe it would work, but even he has used them and found it helped! I click away for long periods when bitten, and find them very effective. * Dab with vinegar – I’ve never tried it, as I don’t want to smell like a fish and chip shop! * Rub with the inside of a banana skin; I haven’t tried this one either; even if it works, it might attract other types of flies!   Good luck, Sweet!  [:)] [/quote] Garden Girl all those remedies will weigh more than Sweet and her rucksack combined[:-))] But at least she won't be scratching!

[quote user="Chris Head"]On the left, with the ugly dude! [/quote]   Don't you mean 'on the left with the cute guy'?  Welcome home, Chris. You've been missed.

Swissie, ma pauvre, il faut que tu t'allonges avec une petite serviette bien froide et humide sur le front..... J'ai bien peur que tu aies attrapee une insolation!!!! [:-))]