Rather a restful and uneventful time today. Other than a quick trip to Le Blanc for a couple of bits from the supermarche, the day was spent pottering around John's and watching TV. We had hoped to go to the circus in St Benoit but Sally was coming down with a cold.

John and Tom decided we should go for a drive today and they picked Angouleme, as John hadn't been there before. This is the medievil hill-top town we'd been through briefly on the way back from Cognac. Very gloomy day but quite warm still. A stop at a hill-top abbey ruin and then a stop at Rochefocauld to look at their chateau. Arrived in Angouleme in time for a late lunch at McDonald's - yes, even John had some. He was intrigued to see that they're having a m...

John and Tom spent the day continuing with the window restoration whilst we headed off to Poitiers for the wifi at McDonald's. We also took the opportunity to explore a larger french supermarche. What a difference! They're kind of a Warehouse meets Pac 'n' Sav. We managed to get enough meat and stuff for the next 3 days meals for a mere €50.

Day at 'home' today as crappy English weather has arrived. Very wet and cold - only 14 deg C! A bit of a shock to the system after what we've been having, but a good start to acclimatise to what's been in the UK for the entire summer, before we head back next week. Left Tom with John while we went to the supermarket. Sally made a lovely shepherds pie for dinner and we all watched a couple of DVD's that we'd bought in England (the new Lewis series).

Returned to Tours toady and took John for the ride, as he's never actually stopped and had a good look around. Quite a lot to see really, including Gare, Cathedral, Loire river, Opera House and other monumental buildings. A quick detour into a C&A shop before John spied all the antique shops down a side street. He'll be going back another time for a day's shopping!