(The 2016 ECS Tour de France, pas en bicyclettes mais en Eurostar.)
Well hello mes amies, once again the ECS have set out to sail the high seas and invade France which was having ‘inondations’ of its own without our help. We left Eltham at an hour of the day the writer rarely sees, let alone gets up, dresses and travels. Two coaches conveyed a somewhat depleted party to Ashford, (two sops and two altos unable for a variety of reasons had to pull out), to meet the Eurostar and, hopefully, Peter who had perspicaciously seen the sense of starting the journey in comfort and at a later time, from St Pancras.
Little was seen of the battlefields of Northern France due to the weather and anyway we’d been there and done that (and I still have the sweatshirt) so we ate, drank and were merry for most of the Rhone/Saone valley. As we descended down into Avignon the sun and Gemma, our guide, came out to greet us and steer us to Saad our driver for the duration.
The Ibis in Nimes accommodated us in typical French style (more of this later) and Chris and Margaret availed themselves immediately of the facilities, going bravely for a dip in the very public swimming pool. I note this was the first, nay the only occasion the facility was used. Not so intrepid nowadays are we?
In the evening it was off the Nimes centreville for some in the evening taking in the historic centre and sampling some very good restaurants. Others stayed nearer the hotel to look for food and entertainment in the nearby industrial estate which was so very thoughtfully provided. Vicky and Henriette were even more adventurous and went to try the French version of our National Health Service to see whether they could amputate Vicky’s finger for the fun of it. All questions to Vicky please, not me.
Next morning the fun really began. There were some who tried rearranging the furniture in their bedrooms, mattresses can be so entertaining, there were others who had to shave kneeling on the floor with their heads under the bench seat because the only socket to be found was at floor level. Then we encountered ‘she who must be obeyed’ in the breakfast buffet. This was where the food was but we were not allowed to touch just look at whilst collecting cutlery and drinks. Then we were marshalled off to another room at the back away from the ‘Quality’. It was set up with much the same food only less of it. Fraulein Hitler pretended not to speak English and ran away whenever her true job became too much for her. So the lack of eating utensils became farcical. Trying to eat French bread, croissants, cornflakes and cheese and yogourt with just a teaspoon was novel. Taking picnics for later in the bags provided (?) was strictly Verboten, a fact we found out on our final day when the camp commandant blew her top on seeing yours truly with two bags and a knife heading towards the school canteen – such a felonious act!
Off to La Ciotat (my computer does not like French maybe I should ask Henriette for help, she is a lady of many talents isn’t she Peter?) a truly lovely day; ECS at the seaside, sun, sea, food and very echoey music. Memories of Ghent flooded back. Only a 2 second delay this time but enough to throw us. Charles coped magnificently as he watched Peter’s arms flail ever higher. The rehearsal was terrifying and there was barely enough time to change before lining up and trailing the length of the church back to our singing positions to clapping which dwindled by the time half the choir had arrived. Somehow we did our best and were awarded by more warm and well meant applause. Then it was a quick hobble back to Saad and Nimes. Not quick enough however – the bar was shut!
Wednesday was a day off or a visit to hospital or a trip to Aigues Mortes and the Camargue, history and hysteria all in one day. Our trip organisers don’t do anything by halves do they? Aigues Mortes was historically interesting, some very pretty gardens, and it was dry unlike the rest of France which was drowning. The Camargue seen once was reasonably interesting but twice, became tedious, seen one flamingo seem ‘em all.
Thursday and a visit to Pont du Gard which let us in, have a wander, a group piccie and a glace but would not let us out!! We sat on the coach for 20 mins at the barrier contemplating Agincourt. Maybe Madam Hitler had phoned ahead and ordered our imprisonment for the crime of bun capture. Eventually Saad paid our fine and we were off to the other Pont at Avignon. Here we dismounted and ran to find food before the restaurants shut. Did they know we were coming?
Monsieur Le Chef let us into the final venue in Avignon. Mr white shirt whose church it was had not paid his electric bill but we are getting adept at singing in the gloom. Maybe we should change our uniform to all white and use the reflected light to see by.
A smaller audience clapped our entrance, which had been choreographed to be shorter and all the choir got a plaudit this time. Monsieur Blanc effusively asked us back to sing again but we were on a mission. Back to the bus at speed and Mr Fanshawe gave Saad instructions in Arabic (he has his uses) to fly like the wind to get back to the bar before it shut. Then in true ECS style we kept the rest of the paying guests awake ‘til gone midnight with the usual renditions of musical numbers which got louder and more tuneful as Michael drank. “Happy Birthday” to the chairman brought many a tear to the eye especially when all the groupies joined in. That’s their auditions sorted then.
Friday and our departure. Packing is always sad and when you know the blue sky and sun will soon be behind us is worse. But a meal in Avignon had been organised with a pre meal aperitif ( a present from Anne Seymour), when all the thank yous would be given to a group of very hard working people. Tony, Rod, Val, Michael, Peter, Charles, Gemma and Saad we salute you. Outstanding food, fun, entertainment and educational nourishment (oh and the shopping was good too!) had by all.
And to finish an enchanting tour of Lille TGV station as an added soupcon.
Au revoirs ‘til the nextime, and bon nuits to you.
2016-06-05 PF. |
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