Dad and i arrived in Toulouse a few days ago to get the boat ready for the short two month cruising season that Mum and Dad are running this year. Linquenda was still afloat, no pipes burst and no animals made homes aboard the vessel during the winter so that more or less means we did a good job winterizing the boat last fall. It did take the better part of the day just to wash all the soot and dirt off the boat though, pretty dirty, one wonders if there are still old biddies burning coal in this town?
Dad is reunited with his beloved Lidl (german discount supermarket chain) and makes daily pilgrimage to stock up on vittles and the fine selection of vin du pays to be had. So far the sauerkraut & sausage in a can has been a hit as compared with the cassoulet in can, which was a bitter disappointment. “It’s not a real cassoulet unless it has duck, pork and a bit of toulouse sausage in it”, wieners just don’t count.
Tomorrow our celebrity small book artist friend Brandy Fedoruk (author of numerous editions in the Ampersand Gallery) arrives to help out with some painting and varnishing. Should be fun times.
The picture above shows us winding our way through Toulouse last fall on the last day of that season.
Oh, how I wish we could join you for a last hurrah!! If the immigration folks get their act together sooner than later (granting Robert travel permission), and we win the lottery, well let you know!