Our couch surfing appointment was not too far from Uzes. Another beautifully maintained town with an actual Duke whose family has owned 'The Duche' for a thousand years. We'll probably get to meet the Duke at some point because the family that was to host us, worked for the Duke. When we arrived on the property the hostess met us and we became fast friends. The reply to Monique's question of "Do you like living here?' was "What do you think?" Kent

Last week just before Wes, Angie and Lilly came to visit from England, we traveled south on a business trip for Monique. I was driving so we got lost. As you may know we are keeping our eyes peeled for a 'Place'. We looked up from the map and there was this great fixer upper that might suit our needs. We are searching for a property that we can call 'Sipapu.'
Kent

Monique's brother Jean invited Monique's Mom his brother Daniel whom you already know and us to have dinner with him and his wife Dominique. The dinner was absolutely remarkable and the host and hostess were perfectly attentive to our pleasure. However after a sautern, pouilly-fuisse, and a chateauneuf du pape, we were ready to sing. And sing we did. A fun time was had by all. Kent

We went to the Clockmaker's window to find out his hours. Through the glass store front we saw him way in the back of the store, a light shinning on his head and hands.There was no door. A note told us to knock on the window. Which we did shyly. The second time with a little more boldness. A small man dressed in black roused himself from his work and crossed the store momentarily disappearing from view only to reappear at a non-discript side door, whose entrance he blocked with his small frame, but formidable personality. We didn't realize until later that the content of my project would be intriguing enough to qualify as a password into his atelier...behinnd the glass window. Somehow all very mysterious, in an ancient guide sort of way. He said he would give it some thought once I send him some drawings. But he went on to caution me that he had a backlog of about two years. I said, "Fine" Now M. Franklin from Boulder said to me that sometimes things can be taken as an ivitation to investigate. I was intrigued by the title of the store, "L'Horloger de Saint Paul". When I looked it up on the internet, I found out that it was the title of a 1974 French film, that took place in Lyon. The clockmaker of the film finds out that his son is involved in some shady business, even murder. I began to wonder was there a connection between the new clockmaker and the movie. He said good bye in such a strange manner. More later.
Kent