After breakfast we lugged our bags down the two flights of stairs from our attic room and repacked the car. M. Salamolard, the owner/chef, came out to say goodbye and we had a short chat during which I told him that we had visited twice before, the first time in 1989. He was full of apologies about our room and told us to ring ahead next time for a ground floor or first floor room. He scurried off to the cellar and came back with a bottle of wine for us and a free pen and thanks us for our fidelity!
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| Anton, Mimi, Peter and Barrie outside Anton's house |
We drove off in the direction of Saulieu and the motorway south, stopping in Saulieu to buy a picnic. It being Sunday nothing was open but a small supermarket in the Casino chain. The choice was limited and we decided on two slices of paté en croute (a French version of veal and ham pie) and plastic tubs of grated carrot and pasta salad. We had this picnic at a brief stop on the motorway and arrived at Uzès and Barrie's block of flats at about 5.0pm. Barrie was there to open the gates for us. He gave us a warm welcome as usual. When Barrie and Marion moved to Uzès from their large house in Stafford they found the flat too small, so they bought the flat next door and put a couple of doors through. The flat is full of wonderful photos of Marion and we felt her absence. Barrie is a thoughtful host. We sat down with a cup of tea and caught up on family news from both sides. Then we strolled through the streets to Barrie's eldest son Anton and Mimi's lovely town house where we had a glass or two of rosé wine before going to a restaurant in the square.
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| Peter and Barrie after dinner |
Barrie has 10 grandchildren and while two sons are in or near Uzès, he has a daughter in Israel and a son in Dusseldorf so the cousins are scattered in various. parts of the world and speak a variety of languages. It is always interesting to hear what they are up to.
We took another route back after dinner. Uzès is a beautifully restored with fine buildings and creamy coloured pavements. And so to bed.
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| Uzès |
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