We are now in Amberac a lovely small village in The Charente, a department in the south west of France and named after The Charente River which is a big, lazy, very picturesque River with flowing willow trees that bow their heads over creating a feeling of peace. I think this area is definitely underrated and its wonderful that its not packed with tourists

Its wonderful to be back with our great friends Sandy & Roger - these guys were our 2nd hosts in France when we came back in 2011 and it feels like we have come home.. The welcome is wonderful and we have the 1st night madness with wine, a great dinner and so much laughter. the Rummikub gets pulled out and yep nothings changed - Roger wins - no surprises there.

Rod helps Roger WRECKING and by all the chatter, laughter they are having a ball, lots of noise, would flying out of the top windows as they are on the 3rd floor and lumps of concrete falling from above down the staircase, this was not impressing Sandy and I as it means mess, dust and all that means cleaning we had recollections and the breakfast bar being jack hammered!!!  

Nice relaxing time in the afternoon by the pool was a treat. Then an evening with Barry & Celia a couple of their friends who have a house here in the same village and who we visited in Plymouth in England and had a fantastic few days with, Barry dragging us around all his favourite Pubs pouring BASS beer down us. We chowed down to Roger's fantastic Chilli Con Carne and Maison de Frites washed down with as much red wine as one could handle. 

The next day out to lunch at a new local restaurant was a great typical experience, I love the small french restaurants that the menu changes daily with the home cooked food and its cheap we have nothing to compare this to in New Zealand. We need to get on those bikes or I will burst ha ha. 

The photos tell the story and Pascal was put to bed early not to be part of this hilarity.