What a challenge ...

We have spent today in Calais exploring the place I felt - as a child - was full of stress and anxiety ... would we get to the boat on time, would I have mal de mer (again), wiuld the car make it ( we were once towed on board!).

Today it was basking in sunshine ...we found easy parking iutside the splendid - id architecturally mad - Hotel de Ville. After the usual angst about parking ... our car was towed away, years ago, on our honeymoon in Spain ... I asked a local passer by. First chuckle of the day. He said you used to have to pay when the communists ruled ...but not now!

So, it has been a real dilemma of what to chose today ... but Rodin won out! Powerful modelling of men in torment. Tried a bit of art history stuff on beautiful daughter but ... even though she's doing art GCSE next year ... it was of little interest.

I had several good doors and architectural oddities, fabulous spaces on the belfry stairwell too ... Calais was a visual delight. Old fears of the place are now completely dispelled.