St Laurant-sur-Sevre (8/9)

We were up and off early because Gaëlle had to get to work - it was Monday after all. We had finally agreed that it was easiest if we all left at the same time.  We were so pleased to have been able to spend time with her again.

Jill, Allan, Louis-Marie and Danielle

Louis-Marie and Danielle (running mate Max's parents) weren't expecting us until midday, so we stopped at for an hour or so thinking that we might catch up on the diary, but this wasn't to be. We went for a walk instead, and of course we saw a red squirrel very close by and didn't have a camera!  On arriving at St Laurent-sur-Sevre where Max's parents now live, we stopped in the square in front of the basilica to read the directions from both Max and L-M. We overshot the address the first time, and on our second attempt we were more successful. We had just turned into the correct street when Allan noticed the driver behind pull out, pass us and almost cut us off. It was Louis-Marie, who guessed that it might be us because of the Belgian number plate on the car ie foreign! 

The new home

It was fantastic to see them again.  We had had a great time when they were in Australia and we picked up from there.  (Jill can follow a French conversation, and Danielle and Louis-Marie can follow some English so the conversation is in French which adds to the fun and I dare say, misunderstandings from time to time).  The house is very new, and not of the usual French architecture - it is box-like with a flat roof, very Australian in fact. They are fortunate to live on a hill with a wonderful view across the valley and down onto the village of St Laurent-sur-Sevre.  We were made very welcome, and then sat down to a lovely lunch. Danielle is a wonderful chef. 

Old mill on the Sevre

After lunch they took us on a walk through the forest along the Sevre River. We walked down to the river and then followed it for some distance to a very tall viaduct, built in the middle of the nineteenth century. After crossing the viaduct, we gradually dropped down to the river again. Along the river we must have passed at least five sites where mills would have been. The buildings are there but not functioning as mills, and only one has the remnants of the water wheel still in place. It was quite late by the time we got back, so we had drinks and nibbles, and then dinner before bed.