week 2 of the journey

The next  stop was Vittel on the way to St Julien de Civry to visit Jay Henri and Harm .

Jay Henri is my dear friend who created my Mediterrenean Ambiance in LCF He actually managed to paint a ceiling with clouds over the dark red ceiling I had in my first years of LCF

The first beautiful demonstration kitchen in LCF was a shining burgundy red Polydada /Smeg kitchen created by Peter Fuyt and company . They where fantastic to me, they created the tribune to seat 25 students and the  catering kitchen from where I served the diners to the private restaurant. I am for very grateful to them,  without them it would not have been the way it was. Maybe when I get home I will find a photo to show you . Also my thanks to everyone else who sponsored and helped me in those days

Back to Jay Henri the painter, after my ski accident in !990 I decided to change the school slightly making it more practical for hands on lessons . Something which I could see would be popular in the future. How right I was , one always has to keep ahead. Part of the tribune was removed a new Atag kitchen put in, it became a big rebuilding with new supporting beams being needed !!!

But when we finished it was beautiful and infact remained this way for a long time .

First things first  I left the lake to drive to Vittel I walked around the park and had a drink in the old Grand hotel now a Club Med, great for golfers 9 rich ones ). As yet my clubs are still in the back of the van. I stayed overnight  in a municipal camping was okay.

The next day on to Dijon and then into the vineyards  of the Burgundy, this time I was really going to try a FRance passion adress to camp overnight . First though lunch in a simple cafe in Gevrey Chambertin. A delicious blanquette de veau which is to me real comfort food. Then I ambled through the vineyards in Pattys wagon to Nuits St George .

I drove into the Domaine, it looked lovely, with a wide grass garden and in the front a small statue and sort of lake, a new swimming pool had just been built too, obviously still a lot of work can be done, they even have a gites with Jaccuzi! I was tempted to rent this as my back was hurting.

I greeted the owner in the cave, as it expected of one in the France Passion way. I tasted a few wines and of course bought one of the best as presents for my visits to come to my friends. I opened 1 bottle that night and had my 2 glasses .

Diner that night was artichoke with shallot and mustard dressing . The Dijon influence   of course.This night I slept well, Vittel had felt a bit spoky .

Today I will find my SIM card, i told myself I did in Beaune , I  was very peased with myself and Ellen who is helping me from afar. Then on the road to Jay Henri.

The kink in the cable, some of you have already heard so I have to tell, I had a small blackout whilst driving very slowly, so just touched the fan rail. A bit of damage to the side of the van, but as I was sort of blocking a N road I had to call the police . I was too nervous to be able to get the van started. Long story short , they took me to hospital and Lady Penny went of with the firemen to a nearby village . I had read on the ANWB book about french hospitals and how they kept you in. Well I could not get away and when they took a blood test and put in an intrevenous drip thing I was captured .

I phoned my friends and Harm Jay Henri's partner said he would go get Penny who was with the camper van with the plombiers He decided I was more important . LOng story short, he got the plombiers to bring the van and Penny to the hospital. And to my great delight a lovely plombier annex dog whisperer came into my cubicle with Penny in his arms . Whow . The plan that was I was to sleep in van at hospital with Penny. But just to be sure  I had to go onto heart machine !!!!!

.I am pleased to say all is well. Penny spent the next day at the dog rescue . I got out at about 17.30 the next day but too late to pick up Penny, RULES ! so I went to Civry and was welcomed warmheartedly by friends of Jay Henri and Harm, they had gone to England that morning.After a lovely breakfast with them the next morning I went to pick up my girl, she was fine so I sat and had a cuppa chatted and cuddled her and made my plans.I needed to rest relax recover and rethink. 

I phoned Henk 

Henk Steenhoven and his partner Jose had been so very supporting when I called them about my accident, 2 days before , they where my next port of call planned for Wednesday ( thus tomorrow) .Henk and Jose where the pioneers of the cooking shops - La Cucina and the importers of the wonderful Global Knives and they sponserd me in many ways .Those where the days my friend . One day we even put a robot in the Utrechtse straat with my voice coming out of it, whilst I was doing a magimix demonstration inside. !!!! You should have seen the peoples faces . It was Henks idea Great !. 

They had been so kind to offer to come to the hospital should I have to remain , and take Penny with them. Unbelievable it is a 4 hour drive .they live in Dieuleft in the Drome , turn of Montelimar North.

They invited me to join them " Take your time come here and you can stay in our guest appartment Whow.

I had learned my lesson, so I decided to  drive through the Macon to St Verand, stopping in Cluny on the way What a beautiful village . The market was ending, so I bought a few things and then had a leisurley lunch of 12 escargots with garlic butter a cup of coffee and water. A feast for a Princess.  

I climbed the hills of the Macon , Beaujolais to my France passion adress, on the top of the mountain I  parked the van and thanked God I was still live . I say no more !

I dined in the chambre d ,Hote of the vineyard that night and went to bed and had a wonderful sleep. I awoke to the sunrising over the hills . 

Now I am being spoilt , it is wonderful here and I am loving it all. Chatting sitting on the verander , overlooking the Drome with  Henk, Jose and Betty has helped me put all in perspective again Yesterday we went  shopping in the JAG, not my bone shaker for once , I felt like the queen riding through the wonderful Drome, we went shopping In Le Clerq and I was to make diner.

Jose had been spoiling us with the most delicious pure and tasty dishes, first day was cod with lemon thyme  and tomatoes , first a lovely tomatoe bruschetta on the terrace overlooking the mountains , lunch yesterday a small tomatoe salad with pasta and ecrivisee and a gorgeous dressing . Yummie 

Now my turn , it was such fun. Lamb stuffed with fennel, anchovies and hazel nuts , glazed onions and Girolles , fried atrichokes , diner was quite late !!! but we had a great evening . They know what makes me happy, and with it all a red wine Raiox ,  and so to bed .,

Pat and Penny