After setting up the house yesterday, we realised that there were just a few extra things we needed to get. So this morning saw a quick run out to Weldoms and then home to make a third trestle table for the dining room. With the new table cloths in place and the Pans on Fire sign on the wall, it all looked suitably welcoming. The final beds were placed in the loft, and all was in readiness.

Originally, we had planned to take the train to Barcelona to meet the band, and then come back with them on the coach. But a last minute change of plans meant that we would now drive down, and I would drive back while Rita went on the coach. The reason for this change was that good friends Kaye and Peter Coates had decided to renew their wedding vows after 42 years of marriage, and so we would now drive to Talairan, stay with them for a day, then drive on to Barcelona on Monday morning.

I had driven down to Talairan a few weeks previously, so I knew it would take about 2 hours from Moissac. So around 1230h we left Moissac for the 1500h ceremony in Talairan. What I hadn’t allowed for was the French holiday weekend traffic. Soon after passing Toulouse, the traffic on the motorway stopped for the first time and then proceeded to stop and start all the way to the Talairan turnoff - a classic case of shockwave delays!

As a result of the traffic delays, we didn’t arrive in Talairan till after 1600h, and hence missed the formal part of the ceremony. We understand it was quite a moving affair, especially when the Mayor (who was performing the ceremony) gave the Talairan Medal to Peter and Kaye to acknowledge their role in the community (only those who have lived in a foreign community can appreciate the feeling that such acceptance can engender).

But we did get there for the reception, which was quite a lively affair with all their French friends from Talairan. It went late into the night, and early into the next morning, until we dragged ourselves to bed around 0300h with very sore heads (from so much laughing). A great night.