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Saturday 26 May
The weather is fair and i think it will turn out quite sunny. I woke up today at about 7 O'clock and the after giving mum her birthday presents I had breakfast. I helped mum with the plants, cleaned my shoes, helped wash up and then transferred a lot of things to the car. We set off at 8.30am [here the notes detail the time and mileage as we progressed along the road eg after 56 miles we reached the M1 at 28mins past 9 - also various lorries etc I saw on the motorway - so I won't include too much of that].It started raining, stopped at a service station for a drink and a snack, passed Bromleys soap factory, into Oxfordshire and onwards into Hampshire then arrived at half past four at the terminal [not sure where!]. Had tea at a Wimpey.
got on the ship (The Prince of Brittany) and found our cabin. I was on the top bunk; we had a port hole as well. All of a sudden the ship was moving. We decided to have a snack. i had a drink of coke and some biscuits, we took the tray from the reclining seat area to the bar and sat down next to the roulette table - it was very exciting. Then after a while we went out on deck. We saw HMS Hermes [an aircraft carrier] and two other frigates. Later on we went back inside to watch the roulette. One man won £4 in four goes, but others lost £5 in one go. We watched for ages until we went to bed at half past 11.
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| from http://www.flickr.com/photos/29420006@N04/3741506642/ |
Sunday 27 May
Woke up at 6 O'Clock as people were knocking on everyone's doors. I got up and looked through the porthole, but could see nothing but the sea. Went down to the cafe but there was a long queue. Managed to find seats though. Now we could see some land and the ship rocked about quite a lot. After breakfast, which consisted of cornflakes and a drink of tea. We went down to the shop and mum bought a postcard and a newspaper. Then we looked out of the window and saw Saint Malo harbour, so we rushed upstairs to get our coats and bags then came down to wait in the car. We drove off and then into a car park so we could take a photo of the ship. Looked around St Malo shops, mum bought a bracelet.
Drove to Dinan and looked around, then went on to Lamballe. Stopped on the way for lunch - sandwiches. Found our hotel, it was meant to be 2* but it was really 3*. Went out for a walk and bought some big jam and custard tarts. Went to the Hotel d'angleterre for evening meal. First I had minced pork and potatoes and gerkins (the pork was too salty). Then I had chicken and potatoes and veg. For sweet I had a creme caramel with some dark sauce that was too strong. then we went into the lounge and watched a film and looked at the magazines.
Woke up at 6 O'Clock as people were knocking on everyone's doors. I got up and looked through the porthole, but could see nothing but the sea. Went down to the cafe but there was a long queue. Managed to find seats though. Now we could see some land and the ship rocked about quite a lot. After breakfast, which consisted of cornflakes and a drink of tea. We went down to the shop and mum bought a postcard and a newspaper. Then we looked out of the window and saw Saint Malo harbour, so we rushed upstairs to get our coats and bags then came down to wait in the car. We drove off and then into a car park so we could take a photo of the ship. Looked around St Malo shops, mum bought a bracelet.
Drove to Dinan and looked around, then went on to Lamballe. Stopped on the way for lunch - sandwiches. Found our hotel, it was meant to be 2* but it was really 3*. Went out for a walk and bought some big jam and custard tarts. Went to the Hotel d'angleterre for evening meal. First I had minced pork and potatoes and gerkins (the pork was too salty). Then I had chicken and potatoes and veg. For sweet I had a creme caramel with some dark sauce that was too strong. then we went into the lounge and watched a film and looked at the magazines.
Monday 28 May
Breakfast was a croissant and some other bread with apricot jam and a cup of coffee. Drove to St Briec then to guingamp and stopped for lunch then St Michel and passed St Efflan and arrived at our next hotel. It was fairly good - shower but no radio. After watching television and getting changed we went to the dining room. First I had soup of the day, then ham, gerkins and a few little lobsters. Then some chicken and chips and finally some apple pie and some dry white wine. We went out around the bay in the car then came back and watched television.
Tuesday 29 May
Had a good night and woke up at 10 to 8. Had breakfast which consisted of some bread & apricot jam and a cup of tea. We set off and passed through Morlaix. Stopped at Huelgoat and had a drink, looked around and wrote a postcard. Then went on to Chateauneuf and stopped for lunch. Played with the tennis ball. Saw a Jay. Reached our next destination, Resporden at 25 past 2. It was called the Hotel de la gare and it was right next to the station. We walked around the town and dad bought some cakes. Drove to Pont Avon and walked around and I bought a postcard. Came back and changed then went into the dining room. I had a grapefruit, some braised beef with carrots and potatoes and strawberry gateau. After that we went and watched television in the lounge before bedtime.
Wednesday 30 May
Woke up at 8 O'clock and started writing. had breakfast with raspberry jam on toast and baked bread avec un coupe de the. Apres le petit dejuner nous allons au voiture et il pleur tres mal. Nous allons a Concarneau et parked l'auto. We walked around looking at the shops. I bought a bar of chocolate with a strawberry centre.Wanted to walk on the castle walls but they were closed.
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| from http://www.lester-immobilier.fr/uk/region/index.cfm?page=concarneau |
I bought a penknife [which i still have]. Then the sun came out and we played on the beach with the tennis ball. Managed to listen to radio1! after that we went to our hotel and got changed and had dinner at about 25 to 8. I had soup then 1 1/2 hours waiting - chicken, potatoes in butter and a tomato. Then i had strawberry tart. We finished our meal at about 20 to 10. Stephen went to bed but i was allowed to stay up for some coffee. With the coffee we got some prunes covered with chocolate powder.
Thursday 31st May
Woke up at 10 to 8. For breakfast we had some toasted, some baked and some ordinary bread with jam and butter. After making some sandwiches and filling up with petrol, we drove to Quimper. Looked around the shops.
Had a drink then headed up the D63 to Plonévez-Porzay and then on to Sainte-Anne-la-Palud. Went onto the beach and played cricket and explored the dunes.
Had lunch then had a swim in the Atlantic - it was fairly cold. Got dried and had an apple. The sun was fairly hot and I slept a little. Went back to the hotel and got changed for dinner. I had tomato soup, rabbit and prunes and spaghetti without any sauce and potatoes. Then for dessert I had an apple cake with meringue and nuts. Then mum, Stephen and I went on a walk by the river and fed some Geese. When we got back we watched television and then went to bed at quarter past ten.
Friday 1st June
Woke up at 8.15 and my sunburn was killing me, so I got a pillow to rest myself on and started writing. After breakfast we got ready to go to Josselin. We took the N165 on to Quimperle then turned left on to the D62 which changed into the D26. Went through Pont Scorff onto D769 to Hennebont. Then N24 to Baud, then past Locmine to Josselin. The hotel [restuarant du chateau josselin] was just opposite a large castle next to a river.
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| Quimper (from http://www.brittany-cottage.me.uk) |
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| from http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com |
Friday 1st June
Woke up at 8.15 and my sunburn was killing me, so I got a pillow to rest myself on and started writing. After breakfast we got ready to go to Josselin. We took the N165 on to Quimperle then turned left on to the D62 which changed into the D26. Went through Pont Scorff onto D769 to Hennebont. Then N24 to Baud, then past Locmine to Josselin. The hotel [restuarant du chateau josselin] was just opposite a large castle next to a river.
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| Chateau Josselin (from http://www.chateauxmedievaux.com) |
Found a creperie and had a ham and cheese one. After a while we decided to go and look at the castle but we couldn't find a way in, but another English family told us to go round. We found the entrance, paid and went in. Had a tour with a group which was half French and half English; there were two guides giving commentaries in French and English.
The dining room was beautifully furnished and had some 14th century porcelain on the table. The names of the Kings who had helped to rebuild the castle were carved in wood. There was a massive statue on the wall of a man on a horse. There was also a large plan showing all the owners of the castle since 1026. There was a library in the next room with over 3000 books; the oldest was a 14th century chronicle. Also some show cases of hand-painted portraits made into broaches plus a tiny sewing case and various other gifts from previous Kings. The last room was full of paintings of Kings, one was of Henry IV and his cousin and his cousins brother.
After that we took a few more photos of the castle before going to the hotel to unpack. I had a bath. Then mum, Stephen and I went back into the town and bought some chocolate and a postcard of the hotel and castle. We listened to a band and looked round a chapel. We came back to the hotel and watched a man fishing and had a go ourselves. For dinner I had fish soup - I hated it. Then guinea fowl in cider sauce, then some cheese and a blackcurrant ice cream with blackcurrants. Then we went back to watch the fisherman - he hooked one but it got away. Went back inside to watch television before going to bed at 10.45pm.
Saturday 2nd June
Got up at 7.10am as we had to catch the boat at 12 O'clock. Had breakfast at 7.30 a croissant and other bread with butter and apricot jam and tea. After we had packed everything into the car, we set off for Dinan. We looked around and bought 4 pizzas, 6 croissants, 6 quiche lorraines and a big loaf of bread. Then we set off for St Malo. We were held up in a big traffic jam and only had about 20 mins to do 18 miles because we had to get to the boat an hour before it sailed. We got there and after a little wait we were allowed onto the boat.
We got our old seats by the roulette table again and asked someone to save our seats while we went into the Princess room for lunch. It was a four course meal, starting with a choice of hors d'ouvres. After that I had beef, chips, carrots and peas. There was a cheese course but I didn't bother with it. then I had a fruit cocktail, a piece of caramel and then a baked apple in red sauce and coke to drink. We went back to our seats and from time to time I kept going out onto the deck and looked for land. Also I looked all around the ship and bought a Tolberone in the shop. Then I had a go on the one armed bandits, but did not win. Quite a long time after the lady came and opened the roulette table, but no one played.
We went to the cafe and bought some crisps and cake. The weather was cloudy but it got brighter but the sea was quite rough and the boat rocked a lot. Dad took a photo of me and Stephen. Much later on I saw the Isle of Wight and then we saw Portsmouth. As we neared the port we saw a pilot boat arrive and a captain got on to steer us towards the dock. When we were quite well in we saw a lot of naval boats and we could see HMS Victory clearly. Then we went down to the car deck and waited. We left the boat at ten to eight and looked for a phone box to ring nanny and grandad. After that we got to the hotel and watched television before going to bed; but was woken up because Stephen was sick, so were mum and dad. For breakfast i had cornflakes and three pieces of toast, dad just had some tea. But on the drive home I got the sick man blues!
The dining room was beautifully furnished and had some 14th century porcelain on the table. The names of the Kings who had helped to rebuild the castle were carved in wood. There was a massive statue on the wall of a man on a horse. There was also a large plan showing all the owners of the castle since 1026. There was a library in the next room with over 3000 books; the oldest was a 14th century chronicle. Also some show cases of hand-painted portraits made into broaches plus a tiny sewing case and various other gifts from previous Kings. The last room was full of paintings of Kings, one was of Henry IV and his cousin and his cousins brother.
After that we took a few more photos of the castle before going to the hotel to unpack. I had a bath. Then mum, Stephen and I went back into the town and bought some chocolate and a postcard of the hotel and castle. We listened to a band and looked round a chapel. We came back to the hotel and watched a man fishing and had a go ourselves. For dinner I had fish soup - I hated it. Then guinea fowl in cider sauce, then some cheese and a blackcurrant ice cream with blackcurrants. Then we went back to watch the fisherman - he hooked one but it got away. Went back inside to watch television before going to bed at 10.45pm.
Saturday 2nd June
Got up at 7.10am as we had to catch the boat at 12 O'clock. Had breakfast at 7.30 a croissant and other bread with butter and apricot jam and tea. After we had packed everything into the car, we set off for Dinan. We looked around and bought 4 pizzas, 6 croissants, 6 quiche lorraines and a big loaf of bread. Then we set off for St Malo. We were held up in a big traffic jam and only had about 20 mins to do 18 miles because we had to get to the boat an hour before it sailed. We got there and after a little wait we were allowed onto the boat.
We got our old seats by the roulette table again and asked someone to save our seats while we went into the Princess room for lunch. It was a four course meal, starting with a choice of hors d'ouvres. After that I had beef, chips, carrots and peas. There was a cheese course but I didn't bother with it. then I had a fruit cocktail, a piece of caramel and then a baked apple in red sauce and coke to drink. We went back to our seats and from time to time I kept going out onto the deck and looked for land. Also I looked all around the ship and bought a Tolberone in the shop. Then I had a go on the one armed bandits, but did not win. Quite a long time after the lady came and opened the roulette table, but no one played.
We went to the cafe and bought some crisps and cake. The weather was cloudy but it got brighter but the sea was quite rough and the boat rocked a lot. Dad took a photo of me and Stephen. Much later on I saw the Isle of Wight and then we saw Portsmouth. As we neared the port we saw a pilot boat arrive and a captain got on to steer us towards the dock. When we were quite well in we saw a lot of naval boats and we could see HMS Victory clearly. Then we went down to the car deck and waited. We left the boat at ten to eight and looked for a phone box to ring nanny and grandad. After that we got to the hotel and watched television before going to bed; but was woken up because Stephen was sick, so were mum and dad. For breakfast i had cornflakes and three pieces of toast, dad just had some tea. But on the drive home I got the sick man blues!
