Stairway to Heaven?

It seems plumbing (toilet) issues in Malta see me coming. When I was here with mum seven years ago, we had leaks and other nasty things going on with the toilet in the old house and had to enlist the locals assistance,

Friday evening – I thought I could hear a radio on all night, only to realise it was a persistent water drip when I went to clean my teeth on Saturday morning! We had drained the roof tank dry and had no water in showers, toilets, handbasins etc! With Kevin’s direction (from France) George got Higher!

Roof top of the fifth story, to turn off the pump! Quite a good view up here he said!’

Meanwhile the planned date to the Irish pub, to cheer on the All Blacks, was put on hold while we waited for the emergency plumber. Who, true to his Italian word, duly arrived at half time (we had found a cable channel which was playing the game live) . Husband and wife team, very capable, sorted the problem which turned out to be lime in the filter blocking the up and down thing in the toilet cistern!

Water sorted, thank goodness, and cable TV looping on a Dynamo advertisement, so no second half, George and I finally headed out for a late breakfast/lunch….

Was worth the wait! Hunger pangs fed, we went back to the apartment for me to pack for my side trip the next morning leaving at 6am!

Late afternoon dip in the harbour at Senglea, a grocery shop and movie time before an early night!

Alarm went off at 4.30 am and we were out of the house by 5, George driving, and dropped me to the Airtport, back home asleep before I had got through customs!

6am the Maltese airport was sooo busy, the line for coffee about 50 people long, so I decided to forgo that treat for now. The plane was full, heading to Toulouse and being Ryan Air – not a drink in sight for the next two hours! First leg over safe and sound, I proceeded to look for my bus to the train station. This was where it got tricky…ticket machine in French and no one (English speaking) around me I could ask for help. Oh well I pressed the buttons and out popped three pink tickets and I followed some others to a bus – whose driver was outside having a cig! Help! I said and he laughed…then proceeded with his colleague to tell me “this is very bad” pointing at my pink tickets! I must have looked very confused (or blank, now going into coffee withdrawal) as the driver then told me this was the right bus, to get on and gave the ride to me free,

Matabain train station. At least at the right place for my next journey with over an hour up my sleeve… the time (11am) and gasping for that coffee!

Oh I forgot to mention, hadn’t had a bathroom stop since leaving home – but daren’t wander too far from the board that would light up with the platform number only 10 minutes before departure time! I sat for a moment, tipped half my coffee over myself , drank the rest then plonked myself in front of the screen in readiness for the mad dash to the train!

And it was – found my seat (window) with 1 minute to spare and raced off west through the French countryside. Destination Agen, where Kevin and Rols were meeting me!

One stop-, and 1.5 hours later I set foot on solid ground completing the last part of my solo journey!

Thank goodness Kev and Rols had planned on lunch in Agen before the car ride home – had only had half a coffee all day and was both hungry and thirsty!

The town of Agen on a Sunday,

Lunch was followed by a 40 minute (air conditioned) car ride to Fumel – my base for the next 10 days….stopping halfway at village atop of a hill for views and a cold beer!

40 in the shade….

And a sleepy resident cat in the afternoon heat!

The square with a beer!

Back to the village of Fumel by 5ish, settled into my abode and drinks with Kevin and Rols- well mostly Sue and Kevin! Albeit a little dusty this morning (Monday) for the shopping chores! Great kids toys