Day Fourteen 28.03.05 We revisited a restaurant that we had been to on a previous trip. It is beside an enormous lake and very picturesque. Before eating we went to the lakeside and were followed by a lovely black Labrador. William was particularly taken with him and said that he would like to have one in the future, James wasn't so sure as he prefers s***sus. The restaurant has large picture windows overlooking the lake and the food is excellent. This is turning out to be a very gastronomic tour! It seems the whole day centres around food. From the freshly prepared fruit salad (Thank you Bill) to the French bread and croissants. Then onto lunch and dinner. Eating at the house gave individuals the opportunity to flex their cooking abilities. Utilising not always perfect ingredients (granulated not caster, uht not fresh) to give wonderful results and a truly varied and enjoyable menu. On the way home from the restaurant we stopped in Bazooges en Pareds a small village near the house to visit the medieval tower. It was about 100ft high with seven levels including cellar and viewing platform at the top. It had recently been restored and much of the original character of the building has been retained. Outside we visited the gardens and dovecote. The gardens although not at their best this time of year were full of different herbs both for medicine and cooking. The dovecote was interesting because historically only nobles could own doves and the amount of doves you could own directly correlated with the amount of land that you had. If land was sold nest within the dovecote would have to be blocked up by law. On the way home the others decided to walk the 4km back to the house, fortunately James had to drive as he was the only one who had not drunk and William thought it was only fair to keep James company getting us both out of having to walk.