Another wet day. We are due a few of them I fear. But anyway there are things to be done, one of which is to cancel our redundant landline, not used since before Covid! It is suspended so I am €14+ in credit. And so we proceed to Orange in Orange. Or rather, we don’t. Where once there was their boutique there is now a smart travel agency. The bright young pair at their screens inform me Orange is now down the road on the Carrefour commercial centre.
It now being 15 mins to midday we have no hope of getting there before shutdown so instead we walk to the Théâtre Antique and sit at a café with kir and pastis.
Orange Ville is looking better - smarter and cleaner. Despite its appalling politics.A motorised scrubbing brush was being driven round the square in front of the Hôtel de Ville asticating the marble paving, new apartments are being created from Haussman style buildings. All very ‘comme il faut’. Trendy little shops and a general air of well being.
The rain started and we headed home discussing whether or not to stop for a plat somewhere. In the end we decided on Roaix and got there just before 12.45…a bit late for us! But we were welcomed and got the last 2 seater table, me with a clear view of France 2 lunchtime news. What revelations…
American tourists are flocking to Nice in their thousands, vile weather is about to hit us, Dark chocolate is better for your teeth, The provinces are entraining en masse to Paris to protest about underinvestment in regional train services and Birmingham’s éboueurs are still on strike (cue close up of a dead rat as I tuck into my navarin of lamb).
As we were eating, the heavens did indeed open and rain thundered down. Fortunately it had exhausted itself by the time we were leaving but we fear the worst tonight.
