Waiting for our campervan

We've been here two weeks tomorrow, the wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly but the wheels of our campervan turn more slowly, well they don't turn at all actually, they sit on the lot a few miles down the road, waiting to be united with us.
I'm sure the money is through, the man hadn't checked when Jackie phoned today, and didn't call us back. I think he needs a bit of a rocket, otherwise things may never happen. Once we have the van we can go to England, Jackie has said she will post the log book to us there, so we don't need to wait around, I think she is scared she will never see the back of us.
I've tried to book ferry tickets for Sunday from Calais to Dover in anticipation but it won't accept any of my plastic, what is with this, doesn't anyone over here want my money?

Today was very warm and sunny again. Started the day with a skype call to Hukarere Rd, got to chat with Kate, Dib and Evelyn which was nice. After that I had another fun bike-ride though I think I managed to locate every hill in the district.

This is the road through the forest on the way to Maisse, the roads are quite narrow with no shoulder so the traffic whizzes by. They are very good at leaving a 1.5m gap between them and cyclists though, as that is the law and also there are lots of cyclists out and about.

Mountain bike track between Milly-la-Foret and Maisse. I found it by accident but it was good to get off the main road. You can't really tell from the picture but it was very steep and rough, I took it very easy as I didn't want to lie broken in the forest as no-one would have known where I was until I began to smell.

A French village house in Maisse  ( which is 7.4km total west of Milly. The journey starts with uphill grunt, followed by downhill mountain bike track)

Another village house

Beauiful paddocks between Courdimanche-sur-Essonne and Vayres-sur-Essonne

Oats or wheat fields in front of the village of Courdimanche-sur-Essonne (2.6kms north from Maisse with a gentle climb out of Maisse up onto  flat rural land)

New apartments at Boutigny sur Essonne reflected in the Essonne. Boutigny is a further 5.8kms via a couple of little villages north east of Courdimanche.

Fields on the way back to Milly from Boutigny-sur-Essonne, a round-trip of 25.5kms. From Boutigny to Milly was another long, sustained, not steep but energy sapping climb, followed by rapid descent and home along the flat. Predominantly through forest virtually down to the road, but then with glimpses of rural land as in this photo.

We had a lovely lunch that Diana had prepared in my abscence, same as we have had most days, baguette, ham, dozens of different cheeses, salady things and delicious jams, sitting outside at the table in the semi-shade.
After lunch we wandered into the village to post some cards and buy a few essentials like brioche (sweet cakey bread) and cider.

Me by the street sign to Jackie and Nick's house, Number 12

Me in Milly under the wisteria

Gorgeous building front in Milly-la-Foret

I think I told you about the seventeen handkerchiefs Hilary bought at the charity shop the day before yesterday? She and Josie handwashed them, spread them on the trampoline to dry and then later, steam ironed them as pictured below. Why we need seventeen cotton handkerchiefs when we have limited storage space in our campervan is anyone's guess, but that we have.

Hilary with one of her handkerchiefs she bought at the charity shop

Hilary and Josie ironing handkerchiefs