"Le Poinconnet" a Le Poinçonnet Travel Page by SkiBunni

Aurelie and Odile picked me up at the train station with loads of waves, jumping, hugs and kisses and more hugs. It was great to see them again. Welcomes like a long lost relative. I said thanks and good bye to Amandine. Odile had changed her appearance a bit but Aurelie was still the same, lol. Jean Claude is the same but had to have throat surgery because of cancer (he smokes like a chimney) and had a nasty set of scars from both ears to collarbones.

I got settled in the same room as last time (got a picture this time). Delphine's room is now being used by "Papi" Jean Claude's elderly father. Iviore and the cat are dead. Mangue is living with Aurelie and now old with a grey muzzle. Aurelie is now married to Jerome and has Maxence (5) and Yannice (2). Both are very ill behaved when compared to Eleanore's little angels.

I remembered how scary driving here is now. Roads are so narrow and confusing as heck. We went to the SuperMarche (kinda like the Real Canadian Superstore here). Bought enough food for an army and left.

Dinner (with all that food) was awesome. I love staying with families. They cook such great food and stuff you full. Dinner was melted cheese over different meats and potatoes. Dessert was good too but hard to finish as I had so much dinner.

Got up and went to a market with Odile and Aurelie. Very similar to the Farmer's Market in Kelowna except for the live animals for sale. The market was held in St Aout.

Came back, had lunch and mostly just used my french as no one speaks english (yay, I'm practising). We had lots to talk about and catch up on.

That evening Odile took me to Delphine's grave. It was a very nice dark grey marble with plaques from family and friends. Odile said she was very glad I came, not just to visit the family, but to say goodbye to Delphine. I'm glad too. I suppose I could have asked how she died but I didn't want to ask, didn't understand french well enough the first time and frankly, I don't need to know.

Dinner was soup with roast, potatoes, carrots and cooked celery (which is worse that raw celery, yuck). Some dessert crepes, talked longer into the night and to bed.

Got up, ate and drove to the train station to catch the train to Paris and then on to Vienna. Got the great "I'll miss you and come back soon" speech. Hopefully.