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France Club Holiday, July 1999

This brings us to the Club Holiday to Le Chateau Mont Epinguet. I think everyone who went would agree that it was a truly excellent holiday; the following is a brief account of each day's events (from the Saturday onwards)…

Saturday - Steph & I and Paul & Sheila met at Portsmouth ferry terminal. Some bloke on a motorbike lost his girlfriend (and found her again just before embarking). Met up with Glyn & Lynda, Simon, Geoff & Hillary just in time for the evening meal at the Chateau.

Sunday - Portbail - decided on an impromptu picnic on the beach. Jolly excellent it was too. A post-picnic 40 winks followed by a gentle stroll around the harbour. The evening saw the official champagne launch of Simon's V8 followed, after another excellent evening meal, by a well marshalled game of Cluedo. I think everyone should be congratulated on following the rules; Simon's compering was excellent. Paul, yes Paul, was the first man out (never mind, better luck next time) and Steph & Mary went on to win - well done to them.

Monday - Historical town of Bricquebec - went to the market. Steph bought a wicker picnic bag and Simon bought some cherries. (Why?) Went on to St. Mere Eglise. Ate in the cafe overlooking the parachutist hanging from the Church tower. Sheila fancied the waiter - thought he was clean-cut (aaahh). It then proceeded to chuck it down for the rest of the day, half of which we spent huddled under an awning. After good helpings of Sausages and mash, Simon organized a treasure hunt created from an English/French dictionary. Steph won that as well - although she later admitted to bribing Fiona (the host's wife) for help with the translation!

Tuesday - Pegasus Bridge/Normandy Landing Beaches. We were lucky enough to see the bridge raise twice. Me and Simon made friends with some teenage French totty on bicycles (for about two seconds as they whizzed past). Went on to Gold Beach for some beach tennis and paid regular trips to the Tourist Centre. (Why did we keep doing that, Simon?) Some also went to see the Bayeaux Tapestry. Well worth seeing if you have never had the chance. The evening was crazy - I think more alcohol was drunk this night as the post evening meal activities involved making up ghost stories followed by a singalong that extended into the late night walk round the block. Fortunately there were no neighbours to disturb - that's if you don't include bats and glow-worms.

Wednesday - Carteret via Les Pieux. Yet more totty in the Les Pieux Tourist Centre that Simon failed to get off with. On the way to Les Pieux, Geoff's points, despite constant care and attention, let him down while overtaking a tractor round a bend. [It should be noted that apart from this little mishap, all 5 MGs had no problems (nor did Paul's Ka - but that's modern and reliable and doesn't count)]. Yet another holiday highlight was the "Moules et Frites" on the sea-front at Carteret. Boules, tennis and sleeping on the beach saw off the rest of the day. As the evening came we became aware of a little scheme that John had been working on throughout the day. The aprés dejeuner entertainment took the form of a court drama. This all sounds completely barking but to try and summarize, Geoff and Hillary were accused by John of "treason to the MG club" and "to desert the MG club assault on France". After a long drawn out case where witnesses were called (myself, Steph, Simon, Paul and Sheila), Hillary was found guilty and sentenced to "leaving France tomorrow, not returning for another 12 months and subjected to an MG owning husband for at least another 25 years". Zany!

Thursday - we left early for the 8 a.m. ferry, I think the others spent the day in Cherbourg buying wine.
I know many of us took photos and Glyn & Lynda took some video - I feel a winter French evening coming on!