Medieval Market in Chinon

What a lovely day it was yesterday...the PERFECT time to go to a Medieval Market. Packing a picnic lunch ('pique-nique' in French), we set off about 11:00 a.m. for Chinon, which lies a bit southwest of Tours. This is wonderful countryside to travel through!

Vineyards, fields of wheat and sunflowers are interspursed with small villages, little hamlets and an occasional town. The roads are good, but mostly undivided, two-way roads with ditches on both sides and no shoulders. There are few places to pass/overtake slower traffic...and lots of tractors, hay wagons, caravans, mopeds and other slow-moving motor vehicles...so the trip can test the driver's patience.

After an-hour-and-three-quarters driving, we arrived in Chinon and started searching for a parking spot. Fortuitously, the way our TomTom satnav got us there, we passed two little parking areas before we actually found the market. We spent a few more minutes looking for a spot farther on, then turned around and went back to the parking lots...they were by far the closest we could get and, as luck would have it, someone was leaving just as we got there.

It was now almost 1:00 p.m., so we had our lunch in the well-shaded car before proceeding over to the festivities. A number of streets, from the chateau down to the river, were closed to traffic and lined with stalls selling goods of every description.

At the entrances to the area, programs were handed out and plastic wine 'goblets' sold. For 2€ you could buy an empty souvenir goblet with this year's logo then, at various places along the streets, you could get your choice of white or red wine or beer in your goblet for an additional 1€.

People in medieval costumes walked around and street performers stopped here and there to entertain the passers-by. In the main square, a stage was set up and a variety of performances staged. As we passed it, a small band of musicians...a recorder, a drum and a hurdy-gurdy...were playing to the crowd.

Nearby, two wild boars were being roasted over open fires and served to the tavern guests who were seated at long wooden tables under a canvas canopy. It looked very medieval...and smelled delicious! The people at the tables were singing and seemed to be having fun.

Fortunately, the narrow streets were fairly well-shaded and a gentle breeze blew up from the river, keeping us from getting too hot. Art exhibits were open (free) to the public and medieval music played through well-placed speakers around town adding to the festive atmosphere. After about three hours of walking and elbowing our way through the crowd, we decided to head for home.

It was a long drive and a lot of walking and a good time was had by all!

Post-Op Recovery

Well, it's been a while since my last post -- 2 months to be exact -- how time flies when you're having fun!

I had my surgery on 20 May and spent the following 7 days in hospital with fluids going in and drains coming out and about 30 staples and 5 stitches holding my lower abdomen closed. By the time I was released the staples, drains and IV fluids were all removed and only the 5 stitches remained...to be removed after another week or so at home.

I love the French health care system. The hospital I was in is only about 18 months old and the staff were wonderful...even trying to speak a little English to me and helping with my fractured French! The other thing I like is the nurses who come out to your home as needed/prescribed by the doctor (in my case DAILY!) to change dressings, etc.

My home care has been EXCELLENT! I have been healing well and feel confident in the nurses' knowledge. They are sympathetic, gentle, efficient but not rushed, although they cover a large territory and drive untold kilometers every day to visit all their patients.

After about a week, 3 of my 5 stitches were taken out, with the remaining 2 removed a few days later. After another week, part of my incision re-opened spontaneously and has been draining rather profusely for several days. The nurse recommended I go to my GP, which I did that afternoon. He didn't like the look of it, although it was definitely NOT infected, and referred me back to the surgeon.

Of course, this was Friday evening...and the surgeon's office didn't reopen until Monday morning. I got an appointment for Tuesday afternoon and Geoff drove me to the hospital where the surgery had been performed.

After an hour-long drive and 20 minutes waiting to see the doctor, he looked at the opening in the incision and declared, 'Pas problem!' ('No problem!'), that the nurses should just continue changing the dressing daily and the hole would close up on its own in about 7-8 weeks. So, an hour and 45 minutes after we left home, we were headed back.

Now it's just a matter of time, I suppose. In the meantime, it's still a bit painful standing up for more than a few minutes or bending over when doing things, but my recovery continues apace. At least we have some gorgeous, sunny (for now), warm weather, so I can get out in the garden for some fresh air and sunshine for part of the day...with a little light gardening as I feel up to it.

Mostly, I enjoy sitting out and listening to all the birds chattering away...such a soothing noise...eating lunch outside or catching up on a bit of reading. Hopefully, I will have lots of interesting things to blog about in coming days.

Just Chillin'

Taking a bit of time to relax and recover from my trip to the doctor in Blois yesterday. It's not all that taxing, but the hour drive each way and a few hours in doctors' offices take their toll on my these days.

First of all I HATE getting up early because I HAVE to...I either want to sleep late or, if I wake up early it's because I am ready to wake up on my own. When I have doctors' appointments with hour-long drives, I usually have to get up 2 hours before so I can shower and wash my hair, dry my hair, get dressed and leave the house on time. Plus I usually add an extra half-hour in case of traffic or weather delays. So, all told, I get up 2-3 hours before the appointed time.

Yesterday was no exception. The appointment was for 10 a.m. - fortunately not TOO early - so a 7 a.m. alarm got me up and headed toward the shower by 7:20. Got out of the house right on schedule at 8:30. Dog was walked, watered and settled in the entry hall. Geoff had a couple of cups of espresso to get himself ready to drive me. I had all my required test results and a bottle of water, plus my book, Geoff's book, Geoff's camera and the TomTom and off we went.

The trip was uneventful until about 5 miles before our destination...when we hit a long line of traffic going about 5 mph (as opposed to the normal 60 mph on this section of road). It only took us about 6 minutes to get to the head of the line and take our turn to pass the slow-moving farm equipment that was holding everything up. Fortunately, it wasn't anything more serious or a really long delay. Geoff gets quite impatient in such situations. You'd never guess he learned to drive in London traffic. These days a large truck going at the speed limit on a road where passing is difficult has him itching to go faster!

Anyway, we met with the anesthetist who will be working with my surgeon for my operation (whenever it gets scheduled) and I pretty much understood what he was saying in French, usually with a repeat or two or an occasional rephrasing. He wanted me to go over to the cardiologist to have my heart checked out, since I'd be having general anesthesia. So my 1/2 hour visit to the anesthetist had an hour-and-a-half added to it for waiting for and being seen by the cardiologist, then waiting for the report to be typed up and given to me. More French to understand, but the cardiologist was glad to be able to practice his English a little.

The good news is that my heart is in wonderful condition for 58 years old and the surgery can go ahead with no worries. Now I just have one more MRI to be done next week to make sure of the exact extent of the problem and that it hasn't spread. Then the surgery will get scheduled...hopefully very soon! I'm ready for it to be over with!

Meantime, I'm going to take some "me" time and chill out, do as little as is necessary to keep the house functioning and try to stay positive. Maybe I'll even get to soak up a few rays of sunshine, too.

A Little Sunshine

The sun is trying to come out this morning and I am trying to get to work on my website and my husband's site, too. Both need updating. I have so many ideas that I just can't seem to focus on one long enough to take action. Think I'll have some lunch (it IS almost noon) and try to list my thoughts and prioritize them before getting back on the computer...and down to some work.

Okra Envy

I just saw Ken Broadhurst's "Living the Life in Saint Aignan" blog about okra...the BEST is okra, corn and tomatoes!!! And New Orleans Gumbo...with LOTS of shrimp and crab meat or with chicken, ham and spicy sausage!! YUMMMMY...and don't forget to add a hint of file (pronounced: fee-lay) powder immediately before serving.

With a fresh green salad, a bit of French bread and a bottle of vin rouge...THAT'S LIVING, Ken!