"ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH GORGEOUS ERIC?"

JAMIE BORWICK SELLS UP!

At least that’s what I thought Jacques said from the top of my ladder one south of France morning after Christmas. Jacques, or Jack to you Brits, is my electrician. He works for me ‘au noir’, that is to say ‘on the black’, ‘cash in hand’, no taxes, a good job done for less money!
   The only drawback is that Jacques likes to jaw a lot, preferably over strong sweet coffee. Actually it’s no bad thing, more jaw jaw means I get the chance to try to converse with my ‘bits and pieces’ French. I’ve discovered the secret of learning a language; go to the country of the lingo you wish to learn, stay there and six month’s down the line you can cope ok.
   What was all that rubbish we learnt at school?
   At the third time of asking him to repeat what he had said, I finally realised I needed to grab my map of Languedoc, which is by the way where we now live. ‘God’s acre’, amongst the vineyards, between the Mountains and the Mediterranean.
   "Ah, I see," I exclaimed, "Gorges D’Heric!"
Gorges D’Heric is said to resemble a huge ‘sabre slash’ penetrating 5km, dividing the southern slopes of the Espinonouse and Caroux Mountains and is one of the most outstanding beauty spots in the south of France. I’ve since visited this natural beauty spot to find out that the Gorge offers spectacular walks, hiking and swimming in crystal clear waters of the numerous deep rock pools.
   The walls of the rock are also very popular with climbers. There is a rock-climbing school in the nearby village of Mons, as well as an adventure centre, canoeing, mountain biking, and kayaking on the River Orb at the foot of the Gorge.
   Also, for anyone seriously interested in preparing for running Marathons – and I should know as I’ve done a few as Call Sign readers might remember - then this would be a superb location especially in winter when you sometimes just don’t fancy the wind-chill factor back in Blighty…
   I can let you into another secret for those wishing to spend a short break in the warm before the end of the ‘kipper’ season, let me recommend a pretty little’ chambre d’hote’ (or B&B to most of you!) in this area of stunning scenery. You might like to go ‘house-hunting’, or you might just fancy a little relaxation for only 35 euros per night. Charles and Vicki hail from Essex and offer a welcome at their luxury accommodation amongst those vineyards.  You can contact them on 0033 467 363 199 or by email charles.trowers@tiscali.fr .
   But if anyone is thinking of coming down here to work ‘au noir’ like Jacques, forget it, there are enough electricians, plumbers and roofers down here without a load of cowboys from England with their crazy prices!
   And by the way, how’s the traffic over there these days guys?

Bob Woodford (ex-P49)