During my various farewell drink ups and chats with people, I promised to keep in touch and send the occasional note to let you all know how things are going.  I hope you are interested and weren’t just being polite.  For those of you thinking of doing something similar at some time, maybe this will be a useful preview of what to do and what not to do.  Anyway, here goes … It’s a bright morning in the Port de Plaisance (sounds nicer than “marina” I think) in Calais.  I’m sat aboard La Fulica on the visitor’s pontoon, surrounded by lots of other visiting yotties, mainly Dutch, Belgian and English.  Sue is having a shower in the marina facilities block.  We’ve been here since Monday, when we crossed the Channel from Ramsgate.  We had intended to spend a day in Calais getting “La Fulica” ready for the canals, but when we arrived at the Port de Plaisance we were told by a neighbouring yottie that the Canal de Calais was closed for repair until 1 August...