We said goodbye to the Aussies this morning who were off to Dunkirque on their motorbikes - they were NICE people even though I was as jealous as hell with their 3-month European touring holiday. Then there was Stephen and his friend (only referring to her as that because I can't remember her name!) who were our first guests to try the Michelin star restaurant next door. It was a success, thankfully! I know it wouldn't have been my fault if they hadn't liked it, but you know how responsible you feel, especially when its so expensive. From the sounds of it we must have the lobster starter - Stephen eulogised (is that the right spelling?) over it.
Since we had no more bookings for a few days, I said to John not to bother making the rooms up - let's just have a bit of a holiday/rest/laze, says I. I'll just get the beds moved back into the correct room, says John, and of course I have to go up to help him for a couple of hours before the Grand Prix was due to start. So it all got done. Then, after the Grand Prix there's a knock on the door and there stands a Brit who was scouting out a route and accommodation for a cycle ride he's doing with some friends from somewhere to Agincourt. Unfortunately it's the 3rd September and we'll be closed by then, but he and his friend book to stay the night. Thank you John, if you hadn't insisted that we make up the rooms we wouldn't have earned 45€ - though they want separate rooms so we have to give the twin-bedded room and the single room. Still, it's money we hadn't expected.
Then, as I'm hanging out the washing a Dutch couple turn up who want a room for 2 nights - the double room is fine for them and hey presto, there's another €100 in the coffers.
That's €145 John's earned us, but we do have to get up early tomorrow morning and do breakfasts, which is a bit of a bummer.
Went into Dieppe to try out a Turkish restaurant (L'Ankara) we had seen down one of the side streets which did a vegetarian menu, so we immediately thought of Yvonne Rowse. We've been meaning to go there for several trips and never getting round to it so decided we really would this time, stopping off to get info on the Parc des Moutiers which the Dutch couple had shown an interest in. Had a drink on the harbour, in the sun but also in a slightly cold wind, then a meal at the restaurant - and all of it 'free' given the unexpected income. Food wasn't bad, 'good value for money' is a good description - it was relatively cheap and hence relatively simple. I had moules farci (stuffed mussels) which were tasty, but the couscous stuffing somewhat drowned the flavour of the mussels. This was followed by lamb kebab, which was two lamb chops! Very tasty, but not exactly what I'd expected. Still, the whole meal came to just of €40 for 3 courses, coffee and a bottle of wine, so you can't complain. (Well, you can, but you shouldn't.) We'll go again this trip and try the more expensive menu by way of comparison, and let Yvonne try the vegetarian option.
Hey ho, that early night seems somehow to have moved to nearly 11 p.m.
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