Dick Smith Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 Just off (in 15 minutes) to France for half-term - so, shall we see you all there? Who arranged the band for Ouistreham? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 You have probably gone by now, but I hope you have a good journey.Does Dick have internet access in France, will we see him this week? Can't remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 I think he does - I'm sure he was posting last time he was here (not sure Julie would approve, mind).This explains why he was posting elsewhere so early today.Must be off - got to go and blockade the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 I'm pretty sure that Dick does have internet access in France. I think that like many of us though, including me, it's on a frustratingly slow phone line. Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted October 22, 2006 Author Share Posted October 22, 2006 'Evening all.Arrived safe and sound, excellent journey, lovely (if slightly pretentious) dinner. Eating sparingly today...No band, I noticed (and I looked) and no banners of welcome. Hmmm.Weather is rotten - how long has it been like this? Almost as bad as August! Just found a huge butterfly (well, Julie did) with purplish wings and 4 'eyes' - any ideas what it moght be?Internet access (so far) seems improved over last time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Head Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Dick, next time would you check your spelling before posting please? It makes hard reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Yeah I thought I'd told you about the dodgy spelling last week. Does the French keyboard need cleaning too?Nice to see you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Welcome back to normandy Dick, hope you have a good week.The weather has been rather wet for a while now........ not likely to see much change before..... urrrr....april......Norman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Dick, you saw the other thread about Normandy?http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/777186/ShowPost.aspxWhat with the weather being bad, what you need is a nice hoodie.I hope you have a great holiday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 No Dick, the band packed up and vamoosed just after we leftOuistreham the night before. They played a rousing Chelsea,Chelsea for us[:D] We had a couple of breakfasts on the Mont St Michel on the way toPortsmouth and that was awfully pretentious tripe ! We were underattack from a million school kids (both French & British) on Fridaynight on the Normandy and with my problem from the evening beforejolly's, the trip home was long .....and slow ! Empty for two days now, so it's have a lie in time and then a couple ofpre-arranged lunches to catch up on ! Only 3 weeks approx to go thenthe lock goes on...yippee doo dah ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 [quote user="Dick Smith"]Weather is rotten - how long has it been like this? Almost as bad as August! Just found a huge butterfly (well, Julie did) with purplish wings and 4 'eyes' - any ideas what it might be?[/quote]How huge is huge? Peacock?[img]http://www.arkive.org/media/0965BA6E-296B-4D86-962B-957818DCFE2F/Presentation.Large/large-Peacock-butterfly.jpg[/img]I've corrected your spelling in the above extract. [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 [quote user="Miki"]Empty for two days now, so it's have a lie in time and then a couple ofpre-arranged lunches to catch up on ! Only 3 weeks approx to go thenthe lock goes on...yippee doo dah ![/quote]Are the armed guards preparing the watchtowers and the attack dogs on the prowl yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 Nice day yesterday until late afternoon. Grey and overcast this morning. I blame Dick for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted October 23, 2006 Author Share Posted October 23, 2006 That's the little chap. What is it?Miki - our breakfast on the Normandie was vile as well, we tried the self-service instead of the restaurant, and it's exactly the same, except you get more for less, but it was pretty poor stuff. What is so hard to understand about cooking hash browns? They aren't meant to be greasy and floppy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalpa Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 As Cassis said, Peacock. Maybe you mistook it as a term of... affection.[6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 If the day ever comes when I get affectionate with Dick, please have me locked up. He's too hairy for me. Oh, and he's a bloke. [kiss] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 Re the weather, I don't like the look of this:OO - er look at the weath - er Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 [quote user="Cassis"][quote user="Miki"]Empty for two days now, so it's have a lie in time and then a couple ofpre-arranged lunches to catch up on ! Only 3 weeks approx to go thenthe lock goes on...yippee doo dah ![/quote]Are the armed guards preparing the watchtowers and the attack dogs on the prowl yet?[/quote]I am having talks with Group 4 and also the local chasse, who I believeto be the cheapest at the moment. We have two old heinz chiens on hire,who with the right masks on, look pretty angry but they are cheap, sowill have to do for now. I said empty today and bosh, two calls thismorning for rooms for 2 nights....ruddy guests !!Dick, For newbies to France and many of them, no doubt looking forward to thedelights of French food, it must come as an awful shock when they eaton a BF ferry, which is so werry Fwench. The chef was serving thebreakfast, all done up in his finery and looking oh so much like a top haute cuisine geezer,only to plonk such dire inedibilities on the plate, even the toast at45p a slice was only toasted on one side...some new French delicacyperhaps, that I am unaware of [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 [quote user="Miki"]even the toast at45p a slice was only toasted on one side...some new French delicacyperhaps, that I am unaware of [/quote]Is it because it is Energy Saving Week in the UK, perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted October 23, 2006 Author Share Posted October 23, 2006 You're lucky. I asked for some toast and M le Chef told me I had some. I did, it was under my scrambled eggs, which would make the application of butter and marmalade problematic. So I asked for some extra toast. He told me I had toast. I said "mais..." and then he glowered at me so fiercely that I caved in and went and ate my two minute sausages (sorry Cassis) which were burned on one side and unccoked on the other, the weirdly hard, folded bacon and the scrambled eggs - which were actually OK. The hash browns were both burnt and soggy, which is a real gastronomic trick if you can manage it. Many chefs work their whole lives and don't get the knack.My roast porc later on was a bit dry, and I rejected the garlic mash in favour of frites which were pretty anonymous. No, all in all not a good intro to French cuisine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 [quote user="Dick Smith"]. I said "mais..." and then he glowered at me so fiercely that I caved in. [/quote]Oh so that is how you do it!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted October 23, 2006 Author Share Posted October 23, 2006 You have to be carrying a ladle.Nice to see you back - pity about the weather! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 [quote user="Dick Smith"]he glowered at me so fiercely that I caved in and went and ate my two minute sausages [/quote]I've heard of a two minute egg but not a two minute sausage. Maybe that is why they were uncooked on one side - they should have been four minute sausages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Head Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 Can't we get a food parcel to the poor chap? Where are you Dick? I'm sure someone reading would take pity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 [quote user="Dick Smith"]You're lucky. I asked for some toast and M leChef told me I had some. I did, it was under my scrambled eggs, whichwould make the application of butter and marmalade problematic. So Iasked for some extra toast. He told me I had toast. I said "mais..."and then he glowered at me so fiercely that I caved in and went and atemy two minute sausages (sorry Cassis) which were burned on one side andunccoked on the other, the weirdly hard, folded bacon and the scrambledeggs - which were actually OK. The hash browns were both burnt andsoggy, which is a real gastronomic trick if you can manage it. Manychefs work their whole lives and don't get the knack.My roastporc later on was a bit dry, and I rejected the garlic mash in favourof frites which were pretty anonymous. No, all in all not a good introto French cuisine...[/quote]I'm laughing now, cos that is why I had another slice of toast. Mytoast was also hidden under a mass of colour, ranging in depth fromburned to raw (new Dulux colours for next season............ you saw it here first!) and he also told me I had some toast and I said "well OK, Iwould like to buy another slice please" to which he used his incrediblyversatile tongs and with one deft flick of the wrist, on went anotherhalf burned, half raw slice and bang on the tomatoes, well that's whatI think they were, same colour for sure but somehow, not the same kindof tomato I remembered from just the day before. Sadly I also had the hash raws,(you luckily appear to have had the colour but not the correct texture?) so his gastronomic trick was not perfected on me, perhaps next time[;-)]Still, I do think it is a safe bet now, that cornflakes will be my future selection for brekkers on that route [:)]Do let us know if your return gastro delights are as edible !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now