Your first days in your home in France

@Cheryl “Făndanger News Sheet”

The News Sheet of ill repute

Wednesday 19th April 2023.

My love of the French Way of Life

My First Visit to France. I was taken on holiday by my Aunty and Uncle in 1953, we camped near Dunchurch in Kent. I remember seeing the 2 Engined aeroplanes taking off from Lydd Airport with 4 or 5 cars on them. The undercarriage was fixed, they were noisy lumbering old things.

We had a day out to France, going by Folkstone Harbour. I had and still have my own Passport; I was 6 at that time. With this cherubic little blond hair boy looking into the camera. The Passport was stamped in and out of both England and France. We went to Boulogne, which was a major harbour in those days

My mother insisted on buying both an oilskin coat, trousers and wide brimmed hat, all bright yellow so I would not be lost! Boys in those days wore shoes, socks, short trousers, shirt and a jumper! It was mid-summer, not a cloud in the sky and in old money 75 degrees, about 22 Celsius.

Uncle had written to a French friend who he fought alongside during the war, he picked us up, took us to his farm 30 minutes away. We had a lovely French Lunch with wine, with his family, I was allowed to go with the French Children and play, including going in the Swimming Pool! I also had my first kiss with someone who was not family. I did not want to go back, but we caught the last boat, back to England.

I travelled by train many times on School Holidays, from Folkstone to Boulogne, then on overnight on the famous “Couchettes” Which were during the day a compartment for 6, converting at night to 6 very hard bunk beds. I can remember now looking at these giant French Steam Locos, with outside pipes, very utilitarian, painted black. The level crossings had bells, you could hear them becoming nearer and neares, then clanging past receding into the distance. We always had breakfast in a vast dining hall, used by school parties in Basle, then departing to different parts of Europe. It used to take 2 days to travel to Northern Italy or the South of France.

I started going to the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1968. Again by Train. Page and Moy organised a Train from Victoria, SNCF Ferry Newhaven Dieppe. Then School Bus Dieppe to Le Mans. It cost £17 seventeen and six pence, about £17.80 in todays money. While at University we started Camping, going to France. At Auction we bought an Austin Princess Herse and Limousine. The Herse carried 6 people and the camping equipment. The Limousine 8 people and luggage. They both were worn out, did about 20 miles to the gallon, but when there are 14 of you and petrol was 5 gallons for £1 it was worth it. We went near to Monte Carlo one year, one friend stayed working on a yacht!

Once we were qualified, we used to travel across France on our way to Benidorm, we left on a Thursday Evening, travel none stop arriving on Saturday Lunch Time. We left Friday, arriving home on Sunday Evening. There was very few Toll Roads in the early 1970’s, but they grew year on year. We used to Stop at The Routier’s for Lunch. We still do.

What a great story did you eventually settle in France

then ?

@helenslateagain Great yarn!! Glad to hear a happy story these days!