My Life is Being Organised

[smallhobbit]

The Daughter phoned me yesterday: "I've decided where we're going next year."

This was news to me, as I didn't know we were going anywhere.  Last year we went to the WWI battlefields, and we're going again next month, exploring rather more specific subjects.  So, extremely intelligently, I said "Oh!"

TD: "It's with Leger again."  (The coach company who run the tours.)

"Ah," I say, "Your Dad and I are doing their WWI Poets tour that summer.  I didn't think that was something you'd be interested in."  (That had been quite a surprise.  I'd mentioned to SM (husband of a significant amount of years) that I was interested in the tour and he had been all for it, so I'd booked before he changed his mind.)

TD:  "I'm not.  And that's fine.  We should do the D-Day landings tour."

"Oh, right!"  (Note the continued intelligent replies.)  We then discussed suitable dates, and I found myself agreeing to request the time off work and, once that's done, arranging the booking.

I am off to the Normandie beaches.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Cool! Have fun!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you!

[solosundance]

Arromanches is well worth a visit, or as a base - the town itself and the artificial harbour remains, plus the museum. Beach is nice too!

[smallhobbit]

The tour is based in Caen, and we will be visiting Arromanches and seeing the harbour.

[solosundance]

Yes that makes sense, I'd overlooked the part where you mentioned the coach company. We've done the Normandy beaches by car (driving down from Calais) a few times, once solo, once with kids and mother-in-law in tow. I'm sure an organised coach trip will be a lot more focused than we were!

[smallhobbit]

If it's like the tour we did last year, it will be. It means you get to see a lot, and saves having to plan things out. It's really good as an introduction, although you don't get as much time at some places as you might like, but for a first trip it's good.

[debriswoman]

Sounds good, debrisman and debrisoffspring 2 did a similar trip:-)

[smallhobbit]

It should be interesting. And a good way to spend time with the offspring.

[moth2fic]

Enjoy! I've been carted round various northern French museums and sites and they're all very interesting (and very tastefully presented) though not something I'd have chosen for myself.

[smallhobbit]

My interest is WWI but I'm always up for something new.

[luthienberen]

Isn't it wonderful when one's life is organised? LOL

The D-Day Landings tour would be extremely interesting yet saddening as well as I imagine.

Re: the WWI Poets tour, is that quite an extensive excursion? (While I have read about the Great War, my interest in poetry is minimal to none.)

[smallhobbit]

I'm sure it will be both interesting and saddening - having been to a number of WWI sites last year, it will be interesting to see the differences.

It's a five day tour (the same as the others). We touch on a number of the major WWI poets: Ivor Gurney, Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen etc. I've read some of the poems, and I think it will be very poignant seeing where they were written.

[luthienberen]

The comparison will definitely be intriguing, I look forward to your impressions (if you feel like sharing of course!).

Yes, visiting the settings of the poems will certainly add to the meaning / context of the poems. I have heard of Sassoon and Owen (I better have where I live!), but not Gurney. I hope that the tour, while saddening and poignant allows you an extra insight into these men's lives.

[smallhobbit]

I shall certainly be blogging - I posted about our trip last April when we toured the WWI Western Front battlefields - we go again in four weeks time.

Gurney was local to where I live.

[luthienberen]

Yay! Look forward to your thoughts :)

Gurney was local to where I live.

I feel it must make reading his poems much more personal having that connection.

[smallhobbit]

Gurney suffered from mental health issues, and I've not really got into his poems. It may be the trip will help in that respect. WWI certainly contributed to his problems, but they were already there before he joined up.

[margaret_r]

Aren't children just wonderful in organising your life for you! I'm sure you'll enjoy the experience though:)

[smallhobbit]

Oh definitely - although I'm delighted she wants to go with me.

It's got to be a fascinating experience.

[mafief]

lol with your replies.
Have fun!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much!