A visit planned to Danny and Pauline at Le Sentier on the way to Le Mans. We stayed at their “B&B” for want of a better word - it’s called a hotel, Le Marechalerie, and if ever want somewhere lovely to stay this is it. We were there in 2008 at the recommendation of David and Irene Fraser - David was then President of our NZ counterpart INGENIUM. At that time they offered a dinner at the hotel and it was a hoot - anyone staying could book in and share the table, so we dined with Dutch and French people and somehow Danny kept the conversation going with very little or no English - it was such fun.

Danny had told us he was expecting a truckload of wood and coffee may be short, it how good was it to touch base with Danny and Pauline. He is “rural France”; he lives and breathes what rural France is: the making of produce, looking after the break basket. For while he is not a farmer he produces most of his own food and is part of the community. He is not happy with the current political situation and that the cities and the rich are looked after and the regions ignored but also accepts it might be what was best at the time.

And in his generous way he gave is a tub of eggs and a tub of peaches from the farm. And the name of friends on the Gold Coast he suggested we get to know. A kind, thoughtful and generous man.

The wood man came - of course this is really important with winter approaching. The wood man also had a coffee with us.
And then on to Le Mans.