French Contact Club Visit Sept 2025

Whist we were all enjoying our drinks Baron went off on reconnaissance to explore the three-storey fortress in the grounds and he came back quite animated saying he had shot imaginary bows and arrows at would be attackers.  He’s now planning to build a similar one in their back garden - subject to Mole Valley planning approval!

We headed back to the hotel and changed for dinner, enough time to visit the bar again before collection, we tried the cocktails this time as the gin and tonic the previous night seemed to be pure gin!!!  
The Les Pieds dans la Plat restaurant in Conde Sur L’Escaut was fabulous just inside the Belgium border.  We had amuse bouche to start then the ladies had wonderful fish including swordfish, sea bass and prawns and the guys had steak.

On Sunday, Marc and Maite hosted a wonderful buffet in their garden, it was gloriously sunny the champagne and red wine was flowing and Maite had made a wonderful duck and apple pie which we all enjoyed.  Phillip gave an impressive speech in both English and his very best French and President Christophe from Conde Saint Amand thanked us so much for coming.  Peter Heard continued his party piece of smashing wine glasses, he was taken away from the glasses very quickly!!

We were then transported back to Lille for our train which went smoothly until we got to the security scanners! Philip was accused of carrying lethal weapons - we could see him being carted off by security for interrogation but guess what - it turned out to be the President’s chain of office that caused the problem after all! Phew.  We arrived back in London and all went off in different directions.

There was some hilarity on the train that Maureen, Baron, John and Lynne Smith, Peter and Ann Heard, Andrew and Philip were on, although they probably did not think so at the time!! The train from St Pancras to Sutton was uneventful but when they caught the train from Sutton to East Ewell, they were told to be on the first 8 carriages because of a short platform.  The train was busy and they were split up with John and Philip being at the other end of the carriage.  Halfway through the journey Peter and Andrew looked out of the carriage to see which carriage they were in.  John and Philip thought they were getting off and shot off the train with their luggage headed down the platform!  When they saw everyone was still on the train they had to jump back on with Philip’s case getting stuck! Phew! They made it and everyone got home safely.
What a great trip.  

The French Club are looking forward to visiting the UK next year.