A Theft in Tournefeuille or Robbed at la Ramee.

ST FELIX LAULAGAIS.

Well, I expected the headline to be about the parkrun or the swim or the wild goose chase but never imagined the one above. We left the park and called into the Aldi for provisions. Rosie came back announcing that she'd lost the envelope containing the kitty euro notes. A look around the van revealed that we'd been robbed of all our cash, euro and sterling notes. Surprisingly, they had not taken cards, passports or computers! A visit to the local gendarmerie proved futile, they were on lunch for a couple of hours. We returned after lunch and reported our loss to a "newly qualified". He wanted chapter and verse as well as photos of the van, there are screwdriver marks on the side door. How much is missing I hear you cry? Well, we estimate about 600 euro and £100. The police wanted denominations so we guessed. Would you know?

We were awake in plenty of time to arrive at the parkrun. Almost entered a tunnel too low for the van as I took a wrong turn and ended up aiming for the Airbus factory.

Rosie cycled as I ran the 5k. Met a couple from Heald Green, the man runs at Sale Harriers. The course is nice and flat alongside the lake. Chat with the organisers after the race, they both work for Airbus , coming on short contracts and staying for a decade.

Rosie and I go for a swim and we believe it is during the hour we are in the baths that we are robbed. Doubly annoying because the pool is very busy and the changing area not particularly clean.

After our wasted afternoon we head for Cepet. Rosie's dad, Bert, met a family on the French coast sometime in the last 30 years'. He can't remember when but they won't be that old! Anyway, a 30 mile diversion sees us in the village. The house looks empty. The next door neighbour tells us that they have gone to the coast. Bert's response "are you not going to hang around for their return?"

Rosie has found a delightful spot for our evening stop. We're beyond St Felix, alongside a lake 2 miles away.

We enjoy a beer and a glass of wine. Later, we discover that Rosie has developed a taste for sweet wine at 5 euro a glass, a half litre of beer costs 4! We decide to raise our spirits by eating in the restaurant after a walk around the lake. The sun is still shining but the wind is cutting.

We chose the menu of the day, although the chef's wife tries to persuade us to try the cassoulet. Duck or tuna starter, followed by pork or chicken and a desert of Brittany cake including prunes cost 25 euro each. The litre of local wine costs 8 euro. Perhaps life isn't so bad after all!