Judith's mother was an Australian "Silent screen" movie actress in Australia and went to England to advance her career before war broke out. She married a Squadron Leader in the RAF who flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain and was involved in a lot of "cleaning up" work after the war which took them to Paris for two years where Judith and her 5 years younger sister Susan attended school. The family purchased mother's, sister's orange orchard in Arcadia, Australia (Just a short distance from us)and migrated. Not long after arrival Judith married her English boyfriend (There's was the first marriage at the Monastry in Arcadia). The boyfriend was not happy in Australia and they returned to England and set up home near Kingsbridge, in Devon leaving her 15year old sister Susan with mum and dad. Susan followed her boyfriend to Seattle USA where he had found a job with BOEING. That relationship didn't work out so she "escaped" to Vancouver, north of the border in Canada where she has lived for over 40 years working most of the time in the Forestry Industry.
While living in Kingsbridge Judith and husband took in a 14 year old French exchange student, Jean Louis Bizec, for a month. Later on a second student who was having a hard time with another family (called Barker!) joined them, and the boys returned several times in the next few years. Judith and Susan stayed with this second fellow who has a farm (specialising in Goats cheese) in Southwest France for a week before coming to us.
You have probably noted how many connections, if a bit loose, they have with us. Now comes "The Spooky" bit. They told us that after Kingsbridge, (we dropped them off at the ferry in Roscoff yesterday) they were going to stay with a cousin in Bristol. "Oh, whereabouts?" we asked. In a place called Hanham!! That's the small place I spent the first 14 years of my life!!
Judith and Cathy admiring selection of cheeses brought from SW France.
Judith with Susan at Josselin.
Judith meets Jean Louis, the first of her exchange students whom she lost touch with 25 years ago. He is now head of the Oncology Department at Vannes hospital, specialising in lung cancer patients.
This is what Jean Louis arrived in with his son (no room for mother, she had to come in the VW!).
When JL was staying at Kingsbridge as a boy with Judy's family a doctor arrived in a Morgan and he made up his mind there and then that that is what he wanted to do. Become a Doctor and own a Morgan!!
At the Restaurant.
Lunch is served! JL's son Bastien, wife Elyain, Susan and Cathy and three big plates of Moules and Frites (Mussels and chips)
Nearby were a table of French people all dressed up who'd had a few and took no persauding to strike this pose!
Cathy has a go in the Morgan. An old boyfriend had one of these! It's been added to the list of priorities!
Off to Roscoff for Judith and Susan to take the ferry to Plymouth.
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