The lock-down has wrought havoc thoughout the world - no less so than here in France, but they do say every cloud has a silver lining and, looking at our current and longer range weather forecast this morning, I realised that may indeed be true.

Anyone who had planned to come down to south west France during early June has saved themselves a bomb and had a lucky escape.

The weather here is absolutely dreadful - cold, damp and windy.  May was fabulous but my word, are we now paying for it.  The temperature has dropped at least 10C, thunder is regularly rumbling around with the accompanying rain and showers, and no sign of a real let-up for the next 10 days.  Add to that, the fact that, as we are released, many shops seem to want to recover lost income by the end of the month - prices are, shall we say "somewhat elevated" ………………………………

Believe you me, you're missing absolutely nothing !!

Sounds like the weather in Normandy 75 years ago, apart from today of course.


Ed

I wasn't there Ed - my Dad was - but I thought it wasn't too bad a day weather-wise.  I know it had been postponed for 24 hours because of weather worries and that a storm came in a few days later almost wrecking the Mulberry Harbour but I thought the day itself was a tiny window of acceptable conditions.

Whatever we've got, at least there's nobody trying to kill us !!!  D-Day must have been absolutely horrendous, for the early landings in particular - my Dad went in late morning so not in the first waves.

I got it wrong anyway Peter, it's 76 years this year.

Just a shame all the events and the anniversary trip have had to be cancelled this year.


Ed

This is quite interesting chaps:

D-Day invasion rare photos reveal the chronology of events - CNN Style

Bill

Interesting read Bill and a couple of photos new to me.

I have absolutely no photographs of Dad in Europe.  In Royal Signals with 50 Div, he came out of Dunkirk with the BEF, went to the Western Desert with the 8th Army fighting through that campaign, then on to the invasions of Sicily, and Italy as far as Monte Cassino.  He came home to Barnard Castle to train recruits ready for D-Day (and, it appears, also to sire my brother - and no, he didn't bump into Dominic Cummings!!!)  Landing on Gold Beach on  D-Day, he fought through Europe as far as Arnhem (with the ground forces after which, 50 Div was basically disbanded.  Having lost so many troops thus far, it didn't have enough personnel left to remain an effective fighting force). Finding himself "out of a job" he went out to the far East where he finished his war with the surrender of Japan.

I have several photos of his time in the desert, and even some landing craft racing in to a beach in the far east somewhere. A few more taken in Burma and India but unfortunately, not a single snapshot taken in Europe.  Maybe the fighting was too hot when he was with 50 Div………… :roll:

Please don't say I don't give you anything Peter.
You have now got what we had here in Spain last week.
back up into the mid 30's now but we still have some very breezy weather.
Prices here still remain the same thank goodness.
Batten down the hatches my friend.

Sorry Peter, I drifted your thread a bit.

Regarding the weather, we've just had a thunderstorm with some long awaited rain.

Think it's quite fortunate that the weather isn't too good here this week-end, as watching (the very few) news reports I do watch, it appears rather a lot of people ignored the current situation and went to many seaside resorts last weekend.


Ed

[user=2045]thespanishdriver[/user] wrote:

Please don't say I don't give you anything Peter.
You have now got what we had here in Spain last week.
back up into the mid 30's now but we still have some very breezy weather.
Prices here still remain the same thank goodness.

 Batten down the hatches my friend.

If you're expecting me to be grateful Gary, you can take you Spanish donkey and shove it .############ !!   

Pleased it's picked up for you - hope the same happens here soon.  :thumbs

Ed - I think UK may just be pushing her luck a little.  I'd be worried that it's a tad too much a tad too soon.

On the other hand, it is very thoughtless, if not darned right selfish of those who inisist on ignoring the social distancing.  We get UK news here and I saw some pictures of Bournemouth beach last weekend - it was just crazy.

No idea about elsewhere in France but our area is still being quite sensible about it all.  I must say though, it's very different facing lock-down in the country when you have a sizeable garden.  In towns with just a window box and a house full of bouncing children, it must be horrendous.

Hope you all stay safe.

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

Interesting read Bill and a couple of photos new to me.

I have absolutely no photographs of Dad in Europe.  In Royal Signals with 50 Div, he came out of Dunkirk with the BEF, went to the Western Desert with the 8th Army fighting through that campaign, then on to the invasions of Sicily, and Italy as far as Monte Cassino.  He came home to Barnard Castle to train recruits ready for D-Day (and, it appears, also to sire my brother - and no, he didn't bump into Dominic Cummings!!!)  Landing on Gold Beach on  D-Day, he fought through Europe as far as Arnhem (with the ground forces after which, 50 Div was basically disbanded.  Having lost so many troops thus far, it didn't have enough personnel left to remain an effective fighting force). Finding himself "out of a job" he went out to the far East where he finished his war with the surrender of Japan.

I have several photos of his time in the desert, and even some landing craft racing in to a beach in the far east somewhere. A few more taken in Burma and India but unfortunately, not a single snapshot taken in Europe.  Maybe the fighting was too hot when he was with 50 Div………… :roll:

I'm very happy that you saw a couple of photos new to you Peter and after reading your recap of your Dad's war history (wow, he did so much!), I'm sorry that you have no photos of him in Europe.

However, great and everlasting respect to your Dad for doing what had to be done in unbeliavably difficult times.

Best,

Bill

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

Interesting read Bill and a couple of photos new to me.

I have absolutely no photographs of Dad in Europe.  In Royal Signals with 50 Div, he came out of Dunkirk with the BEF, went to the Western Desert with the 8th Army fighting through that campaign, then on to the invasions of Sicily, and Italy as far as Monte Cassino.  He came home to Barnard Castle to train recruits ready for D-Day (and, it appears, also to sire my brother - and no, he didn't bump into Dominic Cummings!!!)  Landing on Gold Beach on  D-Day, he fought through Europe as far as Arnhem (with the ground forces after which, 50 Div was basically disbanded.  Having lost so many troops thus far, it didn't have enough personnel left to remain an effective fighting force). Finding himself "out of a job" he went out to the far East where he finished his war with the surrender of Japan.

I have several photos of his time in the desert, and even some landing craft racing in to a beach in the far east somewhere. A few more taken in Burma and India but unfortunately, not a single snapshot taken in Europe.  Maybe the fighting was too hot when he was with 50 Div………… :roll:

Your dad must have been very near my granddad at times, granddad was CSM 4th RTR with the BEF, and was RSM 7th RTR in the western deserts, while your dad was fighting his way up italy, Granddad was in a cattle truck being shipped from Italy to germany, having been one of the 30,000 + told by Churchill to surrender at the second siege of Tobruk. Granddad didnt get to Barnard Castle till post WW2 when RSM IC training RTR.

Oh no, photos of granddad during ww2 either.

Ps its been chucking it down most of the day too.

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

Ed - I think UK may just be pushing her luck a little.  I'd be worried that it's a tad too much a tad too soon.

On the other hand, it is very thoughtless, if not darned right selfish of those who inisist on ignoring the social distancing.  We get UK news here and I saw some pictures of Bournemouth beach last weekend - it was just crazy.

No idea about elsewhere in France but our area is still being quite sensible about it all.  I must say though, it's very different facing lock-down in the country when you have a sizeable garden.  In towns with just a window box and a house full of bouncing children, it must be horrendous.

Hope you all stay safe.

Fortunately it's all very sensible here as well Peter, mask wearing being taken seriously inside all public buildings, whether it's the Mairie or SuperU. I was very pleased when our big local quincaillerie reopened and had and still does maintain a very strict regime of masks, hand sanitising, separate entry and exits and only shopping trolleys, with all the baskets hidden away, as the trolleys help ensure social distancing.

I despair at human comprehension when seeing video from the UK and US, particularly on the beaches, where so many people seem oblivious of what has been happening to society over the past couple of months and seem to think that is is perfectly safe to carry on as if nothing had happened! Do they not realise that the virus has not gone away and when they act so selfishly, they are just become part of the problem.

I long to eat in a restaurant again, or even visit our village bar which is now open, but until safe to do so, will stay home and garden and model railway.

Be safe, live long and prosper,

Bill

It has been beautiful here for weeks, near enough since lockdown started but the weather broke for us on Thursday. We’ve had very heavy showers and thunder today. It’s was our ten year anniversary yesterday, we would have booked somewhere nice but glad we couldn’t as the weather was so poor!
Hopefully you’ll see the nice weather return again soon!

[user=1938]The Q[/user] wrote:

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

Interesting read Bill and a couple of photos new to me.

I have absolutely no photographs of Dad in Europe.  In Royal Signals with 50 Div, he came out of Dunkirk with the BEF, went to the Western Desert with the 8th Army fighting through that campaign, then on to the invasions of Sicily, and Italy as far as Monte Cassino.  He came home to Barnard Castle to train recruits ready for D-Day (and, it appears, also to sire my brother - and no, he didn't bump into Dominic Cummings!!!)  Landing on Gold Beach on  D-Day, he fought through Europe as far as Arnhem (with the ground forces after which, 50 Div was basically disbanded.  Having lost so many troops thus far, it didn't have enough personnel left to remain an effective fighting force). Finding himself "out of a job" he went out to the far East where he finished his war with the surrender of Japan.

I have several photos of his time in the desert, and even some landing craft racing in to a beach in the far east somewhere. A few more taken in Burma and India but unfortunately, not a single snapshot taken in Europe.  Maybe the fighting was too hot when he was with 50 Div………… :roll:

Your dad must have been very near my granddad at times, granddad was CSM 4th RTR with the BEF, and was RSM 7th RTR in the western deserts, while your dad was fighting his way up italy, Granddad was in a cattle truck being shipped from Italy to germany, having been one of the 30,000 + told by Churchill to surrender at the second siege of Tobruk. Granddad didnt get to Barnard Castle till post WW2 when RSM IC training RTR.

Oh no, photos of granddad during ww2 either.

Ps its been chucking it down most of the day too.

Good heavens Q - tanks in the western desert must have been like fighting in an oven.  I know British tanks at that time were no match for Rommel's Panzers nor his powerful anti-tank guns which, I understand, picked them off like a shooting gallery.  I wonder if your Grandad was at Knightsbridge in the Battle of Gazala ?  Dad was in Tobruk when we took it from the Italians a year earlier than your Grandad's unfortunate stay.  Dad certainly spent time as a signals officer with the 7th Armoured Division so their paths must have been very close indeed.  Who knows, your Grandad being taken at Tobruk, may well have saved his life - those words "For you Tommy, the war is over" must have sounded wonderful to so many.  At least thay knew their chances of survival were heavily in their favour.

Your area sounds very much like ours Bill.  The virus hardly touched Lot et Garonne fortunately - how bad was it with you - you're much closer to the main hot-spot than we are but presumably you're a "Green" area too.

We haven't been out to bars or restaurants yet either - like you, we're going to let things settle and see if there's any kind of a spike.  We survived the lock-down, another week or two of being careful won't kill us but taking risks might !!

Sorry you missed your 10 year anniversary Chris - you'll have to make No 11 very special !!  I saw that May was the sunniest in UK since records began - Mother Nature always has to ba paid alas and the balance is usually redressed fairly sharply. 

I well remember the big drought of '76 when UK temperatures almost reached 40C.  They appointed a "Minister of Rain" - can't remember who now, but within about 24 hours of his appointment, the heavens opened and didn't close again until late autumn !!

Titanic was obviously 100 years ahead of her time - she'd only have slush bergs to contend with now with all this global warming going on……………………..

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

Sorry you missed your 10 year anniversary Chris

Missed! Then I would have been in the dog house! We had a nice day anyhow. I’ve got a new Class 43 as a present out of it thought!

And a box of Milk Tray for SWMBO - "All because the lady loves Milk Tray" ………………………………..  

Given that the modern 10th Anniversary gift is diamonds (naturally !!), I opted for the older, more traditional one of either tin or aluminium - a tin of beans and an aluminium saucepan.  I don't remember much about the 11th one ! ……………………

And here I am thinking it is summer time up north of the equator - a tad cold down south where I am right now !

And just to prove me wrong, today it's beautiful - if slightly chilly !!!

Weather forecasting in this part of France isn't an exact science but far too regularly, they get it 100% wrong ………………..today, so far, is just one such occasion - wall to wall sunshine rather than the forecast heavy cloud with rain, clear blue skies but, at 7.30 am, it's only 13C and heading up to a lofty 18C.  Ten days ago we were basking in 29C temperatures.  Fortunately, the pool can be heated if need be………………….. :cheers