A "Flamer" is when your cooking burner manages to nearly singe off your eyebrows. I had to re-fill my petrol burner yesterday, because I'd used up so much gas trying to cook toast on that useless "toaster" we'd bought the day before, that I wasn't sure I could finish supper without extra gas. Cooking supper was fine, which was a relief, as I was teaching young Jasmin how to make a tomato, garlic, bacon and onion sauce for pasta, and it would have been rather horrible had her eyebrows ended up missing. But later, when trying to make my cup of tea (I know, I should be drinking coffee in France) for the evening, I had a good 18" flamer! This can be rather alarming, if you're new to them. Thankfully I've been camping for a while, and after a "tut" of annoyance, I set to, trying to work out why, and if I could fix it. Sadly, the yellow flame refused to settle, and so the kettle is black again, despite all the washing. And thus we come to the decision. It's only one decision, because there was, in fact, another flamer this morning. Next year, we're having one of those charming cookers which take a neat canister of gas, and which turn on when you twist the knob, and it clicks. I'm bored struggling with stoves which rely on sleight of hand to make sure they work well - like those toilets which only one member of the family can flush - I'm unable to work out how to make these flamers go away. I'm very concerned that these flamers are going to interrupt my cooking lesson this evening, when I will be teaching Jasmin to cook scrambled eggs!
By now you will be wondering who is this mysterious Jenna of whom I speak? We've made friends here! Don't look so surprised, it's an occupational hazzard of having children. They love camping, and they love wandering off round the site and picking up little girlfriends. They could not have met more perfect friends. They are German, and their mum is from New York, so they speak very good English, and are encouraged to do so at every opportunity. Although I was hoping that Lottie and Lizzy would find some French friends and be practicing their French by now, this is more fun for them, as they are able to concentrate on the very serious business of playing. In addition to which I really like their parents. The girls are called Jasmin, Joelle and Jenna, and the parents are Zoe and Christof. I get on very well with Zoe, although I've teased her about her great caravan with the microwave in it. This is probably jealousy because I'm struggling with a flaming stove!
It will have become apparent to all that we decided to stay another day by the beach. The weather has cooled a little today, and I'm enjoying feeliing so very relaxed. We went down to the beach yesterday evening, after supper, with our new friends, which was a lovely trip, Just a quick play on the beach, in the pleasant cool of the evening. I'm very concious, though, that if we don't leave for the mountains tomorrow, we will probably not go, as it will take so long to get back up the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment