A week out from Port Napoleon we've enjoyed settled conditions and mostly v.good weather. Our regular anchorages have proved mostly quiet and peaceful. A first visit to the marina at Porquerolles revealed a tripper-oriented but nonetheless attractive spot with friendly and helpful staff.
Culinary (re)discoveries include just how good the cheeses of the Savoie really are - particularly Tomme and Reblochon, which seem to go well with the local red drink. We should not overlook the joyous combination of a glass of the Black Bush with a small slab of very dark chocolate, is there a better way to take your antioxidants ? (whatever they are).
It seems that even machinery is political these days. Our new German generator which worked pretty much OK when under the supervision of Anglo-Saxons now finds itself in a new socialist paradise and has turned decidedly workshy. We are being treated to a spectacular display of close-formation buck passing by the vendor, installer, agents et al. Rather in the way that during the fifties and sixties everybody would do Tommy Cooper or Jimmy Cagney impersonations so these folks all do plausible impersonations of someone being helpful. But it is just an impersonation - they don't mean it.
We think we're about to succumb to the temptation of a run ashore so we may be doing our bit to enhance the financial status of the marina operator in Le Lavandou - whether poper levels of gratitude will be shown for this small-scale eurozone bailout remains to be seen but it's not recommended as a bet whatever odds you may be able to secure.