I just realised I’m never going to get the full report of my trip to france online, so instead, I will just say a jolly good time was had by all, only three things broke on the car ( 1: the boot hinge, fixed by Poppa Mike at 100 miles; 2: the speedo cable, fixed by downloading a chart of RPM to KPH at Dad’s; and 3: most of the electrics, fixed by jiggling this, wobbling that, re-crimping a connector or two and eventually at the end of the trip, tearing out both glove boxes and having a good rummage.) The net result is: 1) the boot lid it better than when I set off, 2) the turn indicators work properly for the first time since I owned the car and 3) one of the horns is dead and suspected of having blown the fuse that took out the brake lights and indicators…

The convention was on a fairly small site, considering it had the highest attendance of any juggling convention ever recorded: definitely over 4000. I think there were over 4500 but I’m reluctant to be a rumourmonger. The weather was too hot to move most days but the shade was plentiful and the food, the company and the diversions were excellent. Took a bunch of photos and generally hung out. Tried to hold a salsa workshop but it seemed to deeply offend some ecuadorian woman who dived in and more or less took over… ho hum … had some good fun dancing.

On the subject of which, I stupidly left the notebook containing Belkis’ phone number at home and didn’t have her email any more so we never got our trip to Paris :-( if you’re reading this Belkis, I apologize.

Found that my French has not got considerably worse in the 5 years since I’ve used it… but also discovered that it completely deserts me when stuck in france with no fuel, no cash, and 80 minutes to make it 50 miles to the ferry.

Practiced a little Dutch and asked a few key questions: also bought Asterix in Britain in Dutch in Gent (in Belgium) for practice. The lady said “voila, alstublieft” as she gave me my change… Now I can ask for Wild Boar with Mint Sauce or a cup of hot water with a spot of milk, and can say “Crazy guys, the Brits” in Dutch…