percy toboggan
07-Jun-08, 15:35
I'm not keen on flying....but I came back to Manchester from Brest Airport today on a turbo-prop airliner with about fifty others, one of those where the wings are slung above the fuselage... The altitude was lower than a conventional jet...she flew at about 24,000 feet. As we crossed over the coast of Cornwall I could clearly see the familiar outline of the coast and Lizard Point...I was staggered how quickly I could then see Plymouth and the Davenport dockyards down below...there was barely a cloud save a few cotton wool balls of fluff to mar the view. I was like a kid in a sweetshop. My five year old g/d was more moved by the model of the aircraft we bought for her. ( a 'Dash-8' - apparently.... for enthusiasts)
We've had twelve days in central Brittany...where the roads are comparatively devoid of traffic, the pace of life is reflected in the relaxed revolving of the wind turbines which seem to pepper the place now.
Small scale they average about half a dozen to the farm......and landowners get two grand a year for each one on their land...might pay better than onions...I dunno.
We rented a cottage in the middle of flippin' nowhere, and a Fiat Multipla - an ugly-bug wagon which grew on me...I was sorry to hand it back really.
We toured around clockin' up 2,000 km's - Mont St Michel, Dinan, and Ploumanache were the highlights....weather was Mancunian Dry - ie.a lot of greyness...just about three days of sunny spells..though, luckily very little rain.
I can barely remember the nineteen fifties, but echoes of those times were all around...from faded shop signs in rural villages and a generally slower pace of life....people rode bikes with shopping baskets at the front..I didn't hear a single siren...and gosh, you can park yer car for nowt almost everywhere.
We suffered from road-blocks when locals got uppity about a hospital closure - good natured mobs taking direct action...which I suppose is more 1970's like but I admire the way the French stand up for themselves, in domestic matters at least.
It's no longer a cheap place to holiday....food is dear...though wine is cheaper. Fuel is catching up with the UK....6.75 Euros for a gallon of diesel. Eating out is firmly in the 21st. century too....and the cuisine is okay, but to me rather over-rated. Eating in was often preferred - mainly because Mrs.T wanted to bring £400 back towards a Scottish jaunt later in the year...her view was positive, but as France is not Scotland, it's never going to win her heart completely. Saddest of all the handiest restaurant in the local town was owned and run by southern English...and lots of 'em were propping up the bar. We could have been in Bognor.
Right, I'm off to sort 400 photo's and an hours worth of video.Good to be back, but I'd prefer 1959....maybe I should contact that Doctor bloke on the telly....I don't want to be eight years old again though...the time travellin' toboggan likes his red wine too much!
We've had twelve days in central Brittany...where the roads are comparatively devoid of traffic, the pace of life is reflected in the relaxed revolving of the wind turbines which seem to pepper the place now.
Small scale they average about half a dozen to the farm......and landowners get two grand a year for each one on their land...might pay better than onions...I dunno.
We rented a cottage in the middle of flippin' nowhere, and a Fiat Multipla - an ugly-bug wagon which grew on me...I was sorry to hand it back really.
We toured around clockin' up 2,000 km's - Mont St Michel, Dinan, and Ploumanache were the highlights....weather was Mancunian Dry - ie.a lot of greyness...just about three days of sunny spells..though, luckily very little rain.
I can barely remember the nineteen fifties, but echoes of those times were all around...from faded shop signs in rural villages and a generally slower pace of life....people rode bikes with shopping baskets at the front..I didn't hear a single siren...and gosh, you can park yer car for nowt almost everywhere.
We suffered from road-blocks when locals got uppity about a hospital closure - good natured mobs taking direct action...which I suppose is more 1970's like but I admire the way the French stand up for themselves, in domestic matters at least.
It's no longer a cheap place to holiday....food is dear...though wine is cheaper. Fuel is catching up with the UK....6.75 Euros for a gallon of diesel. Eating out is firmly in the 21st. century too....and the cuisine is okay, but to me rather over-rated. Eating in was often preferred - mainly because Mrs.T wanted to bring £400 back towards a Scottish jaunt later in the year...her view was positive, but as France is not Scotland, it's never going to win her heart completely. Saddest of all the handiest restaurant in the local town was owned and run by southern English...and lots of 'em were propping up the bar. We could have been in Bognor.
Right, I'm off to sort 400 photo's and an hours worth of video.Good to be back, but I'd prefer 1959....maybe I should contact that Doctor bloke on the telly....I don't want to be eight years old again though...the time travellin' toboggan likes his red wine too much!