ann and andy lawrenson

Thunderstorms seem to be following us around Europe, and last night’s was an absolute lulu. At about nine o’clock a vast black cloud appeared on the distant horizon and came scudding towards us at incredible speed accompanied by sheet lightning and tremendous rolls of thunder. A sudden high wind swept through the site taking anything not nailed down with it, and there was a brief shower of rain before the sun came out for the last quarter of an hour of daylight. We thought that was the end of it and went to bed. Were we ever wrong! At about 11.30 another huge wind roared through, but this time accompanied by a tremendous drumming of hail on the roof of the van, continuous sheet lightning and unbelievable rolls of thunder. The storm hovered right above us for ages, and as we were pitched right beneath some rather large oak trees the acorns rattled on the roof like bullets in a bucket. I think Ann has definitely decided that caravan dwelling is a mixed blessing to say the least, particularly as she had to pick her way across the site to the loo in the pitch dark after all the lights had fused.
We had a very pleasant day today, first in St Jean de Cole, which is the prettiest place we have seen in an area full of attractive villages, then in Nontron, where we were reminded that France would be an expensive place to live. Fifteen euros for two lemonades and two small sarnies!
The beast is continuing to cause odd moments of anxiety with clunking noises, warning lights and occasional loss of power, so we are hoping it gets us as far as Littlehampton. Our ferry is at 5am next Monday morning, so we will probably arrive and go straight to bed! All the best, Andy.