So, in August, Jan’s friend Alex called around to our house, with her boyfriend, Yann, for a barbecue and an elegant supply of beverages. We had a great evening and drank the brews in the back garden sitting around a log fire until the wee hours.
Call me rude or not, but within nanoseconds of Yann and Alex extending an invitation to Luke, Jan and I to visit them at the beginning of September – I had the fights and car rental booked! A brief, but active (as we were to find out!) stay with us leaving Liverpool on September 1 and returning September 6 from Nice on EasyJet.
We had a great time there. Alex showed us all round Nice – the café’s, the markets. And the chocolate factory by the port! Yann was at work during the weekdays – but he’d done an awesome job of setting up our accommodation in their flat. We had a great time walking round the back streets – drinking 1664 and sampling the local pub snacks!
The second evening there, we walked across the city to Yann’s Mum’s house for dinner. It was a great evening – Jackie, Yann’s Mum, had gone to so much trouble in the kitchen for all of us. And I mean all of us! There was the five of us, Katie, Yann’s Dad, and his bird, and Jackie. Quite a few mouths to feed – which Jackie did very successfully. Yann’s Dad has a pub and, I understand, quite a fantastic wine cellar. Suffice to say he brought a large part of his quality section with him! I can only think it might have been this that prompted me to give an after-dinner speech. In French! It was also, probably, thanks to this wine that I was understood!
Alex and Yann had given up their bedroom for the 3 of us whilst they kipped on the pullout couch in the living room. And Yann had gone to all the trouble of cleaning the whole place throughout and preparing a meal for us on our arrival. AND I’d only met him once before. Now that’s kindness and selflessness. Thanks, Yann.
One more surprise before the weekend was the arrival in town of Jan’s Mum and Dad. My ‘in-laws’, Dave and Carol. Not your typical in-laws a-la Les Dawson. More just a couple of good friends to hang out with!
So the weekend arrived. We all headed off to Yann’s grandma’s house in Ampus, about two hours drive away, north-east of Nice. Up in the hills.
Alex, Yann, Jan, Luke and I stayed in the family house in Ampus village. This is a 17th century, corner-terrace house they Yann’s family all use when they visit his Grandma (Maimie), so as to avoid imposing too much on her when the whole clan gathers!
That evening we went down to Maimie’s house, about two miles away, and met the rest of his family. And what an awesome reception we got there when we arrived! We’d no sooner got the introductions out of the way (by this stage I’d got used to kissing strangers on both cheeks on both arrival in and departure from their company!).
We spent a couple of days in Ampus being catered for in every fashion by Yann’s Grandma and family! It was wonderful! So good, in fact, that we were all very sorry to leave for the journey back to Nice.
We are really looking forward to visiting Ampus again – but feel very guilty about imposing so much on Yann’s family!
Back in Nice, we enjoyed our remaining couple of days in cafes, on the beach and visiting nearby towns such as Cap Ferrat.
Evenings allowed us to indulge in a restaurant or two. My favourite one was owned by one of Yann’s friends and it set back a street or two from the port. What an awesome menu! Mainly traditional Nicoise food - which I have never before tried. But I will definitely be having again! We all had something different – and all wished we had ordered someone else’s meal as they were so delicious.
Luke really enjoyed his meal. Yann introduced him to the famous recipe of chips and ice-cream!! Suffice to say he (Luke!) loved it – much to the disgust of the maitre d’.
The restaurant owner, , was a real character. Very welcoming and couldn’t do enough for us! He even added Luke’s new dish to the menu – "French Fries and Ice Cream a la Nicoise"!!
Very sadly our trip to Nice, visiting Alex and Yann ended too quickly. It was the best short trip I’ve ever taken – and I’m sure I speak for Jan and Luke, too!
Thank you for everything, Alex and Yann. See you in 2005!
First of all - how about thowing some of your left-over holiday change at a good cause and sponsor my bother-in-law John Prebble who is running the 2005 London Marathon in aid of the children's charity, WellChild? Please - just click here to make a small donation! Thanks muchly ! !
Right - now on to the business of skiing.
The pictures of "the girls'" skiing trip to Valberg are provided below. Just click on the 'thumbnail' images to access the bigger picture!
I am given to understand that the concensus is that all the pictures 'capture the mement' and speak for themselves - so I won't add any text to them!
Jan has aked me to thank EVERYONE for an awesome time.
And so would I - having had a great time with my son Luke over the 5 days Jan was away! Not sure if Jan's too impressed with his expanded vocabulary, though!
So here are the snaps :