Staturday 7/10/06 TO Tuesday 10/10/06

We drove for about 4 hours to get to stansted, it didnt feel too bad and the roads were pretty clear. Hadnt been there before. Once we had parked, in zone D if i remember right, we got on a bus to get to the main building. Because we had timed it to alow contigency time, there was a bit of waiting around before we could check in. I had a coffee and sat with the bags, watching and wondering where all the passers by were going. I noticed there are a lot of ' we think we're posh' people going skiing, and alot of 'individual' young people travlling . Gap years and things i spose.
After check in there was more waiting around, although we took advantage and got some luch. I had a chicken and pasta thing from boots, which had rather less chicken and much more pasta, nice all the same. The security search was fun, but i kept thinking as i approached the metal detector i might have left a penknife or something on me, but it was ok.
W boarded the plane walking up some stairs of the tarmac. I chose a window seat,and the view was good. I love taking off, feeling so much power , that was fun, and watching the ground drop away as we gaind height.
Once we laned we got our bags off the conveyor belt and onto a trolly. I didn realise 20kg was so heavy. I had the moment where it sunk in i was comong to france the secon we set off round Lyon airport. We had to wait for a bus to take us to the Eropcar deot. They gave us a peugeot 1007, whih was like a sort of bubble/robot. The door were sliding and electronic.
The drive to montlucon and 'Chateux saint jean' was somewhat longer than i had anticipeted, the scale on the map must ave been far out, as it took 4 hours to get there. It was a very nice place, with an older chatuex dating back to the 1600's, and a newer bit were our room was. Because it was too late to eat in the hotel, we drove into montlucon(5 min drive) in the robot bubble, and got a pizza at speedy rabbits pizza takeaway. It was nice, with strongish cheese and stuff on.
The drive to the farm 'La Bourse' was pretty, but i didnt really notice thinking about the arrival.
Onc we got there no-one was to be seen. Although after waiting while; kenny appeared and we went inside. Andrew was still here at this point, although not quite awake. Dad still had the 4 hour drive back to lyon airport, so after a coffee and checking the maps he had to leave. So there i was, on my own in centeral france. Athugh a daunting prospect, it wasnt too bad to start with, kenny took me round showing me and i got more of an idea of what i was in for.
The following days till tuesday were mainly just 'shadowing either kenny or andrew, and although feeling like i wanted to go home, by tuesday evening i felt a bit more settled in, as i got bedroom, and could finally unpack all the stuff i thought i'd need.




The view from my window on the plane.











The view from buble-robot as we drove to Montluçon.














Our hotel, Chateux Sain Jean, as we arrived at about 9pm after the collossal 4 hour drive from Lyon. This is only part of it , it extends to left left with newer parts, and to the right older parts. The person on duty was very nice and helpful, although i didnt let her carry my mega bag to the room.








This the left hand view from my window, the morning we were leaving the hotel.