Les Deux Sabots

09/06/2024

The final full day! C'est fini!
Another beautiful sunny day (again, over 20 degrees with blue skies).
A later start today, off to a Normandy Book Fair to get Le Percee du Bocage: Volume 3 (the book containing Private Archie Thompson) signed by the authors Stephane and Marc-Henri. Both put a dedication into the book.
Marc-Henri had met me before when he and Billy from Operation Bluecoat - Musée de la "Percée du Bocage" took me on a tour of Archie's battle locations. It was good to see him, and he remembered me (probably from us being pictured in a local newspaper article together).
The setting was the wonderful Chateux Audrieu. Back in 1944 though, it was the scene of a massacre of 24 Canadian and 2 British POWs by the SS. These stories aren't few and far between.
From here in the the British Normandy Memorial. Once again, to pay respects to Archie, but also to see the Standing With Giants art installation. Moving, isn't a big enough word to say how it feels as the silhouettes gradually come into view.
The main reason for staying today was actually to see the triathlon at Arromanches. But I'm glad we did as the visits previously mentioned wouldn't have been possible.
On to Arromanches and the tri. A different setup to normal as it's a 'Cross' tri. Two groups. One doing a single 500mtr sea swim, 12km VTT(mountain bike) ride including on the beach and a 4.2km run (much on beach) and the bigger 1000m swim (2 laps with 200mtr beach run between), 20km VTT and 8.4km run.
It looked tough. I'm glad we'd dragged a bench to the sea wall and could watch in comfort!
On the way back we stopped at the two newest vending machines installed in two villages near the cottage. Pizza and bread! We'd had enough pizza this week, but couldn't resist a hot baguette! Pizza next time.
Now it's time to pack for an early start home.
À bientót Les Deux Sabots!

08/06/2024

Well a different day!
Started with a wonderful run around the beautiful Suisse Normande before the weather got too warm.
Then a visit to the Overlord Museum in Colleville (not) followed by a visit to Arromanche (not) for the air display.
Have never seen so much traffic here, not helped by inconsiderate parking. (Only around 4 hours stuck in traffic.)
It turns out watching the display from the top of a hill, with like minded strangers works well.
A stop to visit Uncle Archie in Bayeux on the way back. Some tears. But glad I could visit.
Until next time.

07/06/2024

A more relaxed day.
Off to the vets in Falaise to make sure the Golden Nugget is allowed back into the UK. Box ticked.
Then people watching and drinking coffee in the centre of town before a picnic in the enclosure of Falaise Castle (home of William the Conqueror).
Then more people watching and coffee in the historic and beautiful city of Argentan.
Back to the cottage to plan ahead for a busy weekend!

06/06/2024

The day. The day of days. D-Day.

Early (4am) start to enable us to get to the restricted zones before the road closures.

It was emotional to see the sunrise over Gold Beach, and poignant to spend a silent moment at the time the first waves of brave men would have arrived, not knowing their fate.

Due to the restrictions, we stayed all day (once out, not coming back in, and can't enter another restricted zone).

A picnic on a bench at WN33. C-47s, C-130s, the Red Arrows and a Typhoon. Also parachutes in the distance at Juno.

Then a service hosted by the local Mairie with speeches and a minutes silence.

We will remember them.

05/06/2024

Blessent mon coeur

D'une langueur

Monotone

05/06/2024

A long day today.
Starting with a crepe breakfast at Flers market (how beautiful is it all?) Then on to Operation Bluecoat - Musée de la "Percée du Bocage" to see good friend Billy after stopping off at the peaceful CWG at St Charles de Percy.
Thanks to Billy we purchased our copy of the book which has now immortalised my Great Uncle, Private Archie Thompson into print history.
From here a visit to the hill where Archie perished, and the views that confirms why spots like this were so valuable in 1944. A poppy cross laid, then on for supplies for tomorrow.
An early (4:30am) start, for a very important day.
It's impossible to imagine what they experienced in the months to come, 80 years ago.

04/06/2024

There must be something happening here this week! The N13 full of convoys, whether police, diplomats or Willys jeeps being lead by a half track full of people!

A stop at a very busy Ste. Mere Eglise followed by a flying (literally) visit to the batteries at Azeville and Crisbecq.

Then Utah beach and on to Omaha to see the King Tiger (Tiger II) and Panzer 4 in action. Then along the coast for a more peaceful view of Omaha. (Have never seen so much traffic in Normandy!)

Gonna need a holiday after this!

03/06/2024

Almost 3 years and we're back! Channel Tunnel perfect as always. A quick stop at the V1 site at Val Ygot and on to the cottage. Bonjour mon ami!

03/07/2023

Win a stay in our beautiful cottage (feel free to share, all monies raised go to worthwhile local causes):

16/01/2022

A message to all our British neighbours and friends. This morning, the French Government announced an easing of restrictions for travel from Britain to France. Vaccinated visitors travelling from the UK will no longer have to self-isolate on arrival or show proof that their trip is essential. We look forward to welcoming many of you back to Normandy this year and hope that you will finally get the opportunity to visit the British Normandy Memorial (pictured). 🇫🇷❤️🇬🇧

📷 : Marie-Anaïs Thierry / Normandie Tourisme

05/11/2021

Up bright and early to head to Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët for the large and highly recommended market, only to find that this weekend is the La foire Saint-Martin and the market place has been taken over by a huge funfair being set up. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♀️

Never mind, at least the crépe stall was open (that was breakfast sorted!).

So, change of plan, off to the beautiful town of Domfront for a wander. Turns out there was a market (small one) on here!

Back to the cottage to pack and replace the last remaining bulbs with LEDs (looks like the energy usage required is about 15% of that required before throughout the whole cottage).

Then a final walk beside the River Rouvre just down the bottom of the village, before heading home tomorrow.

04/11/2021

A mainly 'doing' day. Getting things ready at the cottage for future guests. Heating oil delivery, boiler serviced, garden work.
Oh, and we did find a great open water swimming lake just 30 mins down the road (https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/sports-and-leisure-activities/la-ferte-mace-outdoor-activities-centre).

03/11/2021

A day of large stone buildings! Starting with the magnificent Château de Fougères, just over the regional border into Brittany. What a fantastic place to visit. Well worth going back for another look around.
Then for a nice walk on the beach in the bay of Mont Saint-Michel and stopping off on the way home for a wander around Avranches where we found another castle!

03/11/2021

A quick stop at La Roche d'Oëtre en Suisse Normande this morning on our way out for adventures. Not a bad view to have at the end of the road!

02/11/2021

A visit to a new destination today. Alençon. A beautiful medieval town, steeped in history. Then back to the cottage via Falaise (you can't get much more Norman than that!) and Pont d'Ouilly, to replace all the bulbs in the living room and kitchen with energy efficient LEDs (no pics, they're just bulbs).

01/11/2021

All Saints Day in France today, a public holiday.
Started with lighting a candle remembering lost loved ones in the church of St Pierre and St Paul in Bréel followed by a very moving visit to the new Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer (last time we were here there was nothing but the D-Day Sculpture) and then on to Bayeux military cemetery and a wander through town to get lunch.

31/10/2021

Not a bad part of the world to enjoy an afternoon walk in the autumn sun.

30/10/2021

And relax.

16/07/2021

06/06/2021

We are very lucky to have a good friend in France who has sent us pictures of the engraving of my Great Uncle, Archie Thompson on the new British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer. Thank you Billy.

We will remember them.

05/06/2021

Blessent mon coeur d'une langueur monotone.

05/06/2021

25/05/2021