Spotted Xantias! (and other French stuff)

[Timmo]

Ooooh! I spotted an Aventime today! Down in the village by the beach, 03 plate in blue with silver top, southampton reg as most were, chance I'll see it again as where it was parked wasn't where many holiday makers park!
Also spotted a red P reg P1 Xantia estate yesterday and a P2 red saloon prolly hdi in newquay when popped over to tow their van back to storage, ( they were in their P1 VSX TD estate with roofbox and bike rack! - the one I cleaned back in easter)
The red P2 Xant taxi about is getting pretty screwed now too! See it regularly, front end on high back down, and not sounding the best! Haha! And the chap who runs the pub up the road also see regularly in his P2 estate in the same red!
Also seen a couple of Zx's this week! A very tidy blue estate, k or l plate?? And a p reg saloon in grey, seems more and more popping up down here! Loads of c5's and c4's C3's and ds3 etc. Will try and get pictures!

[Timmo]

dont know if anyones seen the 'Cartakeback.com' advert on the telly box, but theres a chap with a big smiley face and a checque for his Black Y plate C5!!

[Napoleon]

Just back from France, which was a bit of an adventure, in some ways. Anyway, here's some random stuff I took pics of.

Tonnes of Xantias, most in fantastic condition. Several XMs, less so. Bx's - fewer than either? NO Ds's, no H vans.

Here we go with random shots for ya:

I don't know what this is, but you will...

DSC05985 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

Good advice for anyone, especially in the shower with a bar of soap (Seen at Chinon, sur Loire)


DSC05989 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr


DSC05992 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr


DSC05993 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

Ok, not car-related, but had to include it. One thing you will hear the English sometimes 'joke' about is the so-called fact that the only problem with France is the French. Sorry, but it's the other way around. It's the sodding English! Includes me, I suppose. Tasteless interloping photo...


DSC05994 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

XM...


DSC05995 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

Again...


DSC05996 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

And running away from me...


DSC05998 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

My boy's face in the C5 headlamp...


DSC06003 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

And to finish, a Renault, outside the emergency department, where I spent 30 hours with what the French drs called, 'heart failure', helpfully written on a piece of paper for me to read.


Image0383 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

Luckily made it home after this little drama. Not quite as bad as made out, but not great news.

Hope you liked the pics.

Driving in France was a dream, most of the time, the C5 just brilliant, and I loved it. Brought back memories.

My God, the amount of croissants consumed! And Toulouse sausage!

[Napoleon]

Just one more. The C5 snoozing in the car port one evening at the gite...


DSC05853 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

[Citroenmad]

Good pictures Tim.

That first Citroen is a DS3, there are swarms of them around here.

I hope your heart failure didn't dampen your holiday too much

[Napoleon]

Not too much, no, Chris! Credit to the French infirmieres... quite lovely, espcially Carole. I don't know how they put up with my saying, 'Je doit depart maitnant!'.

Hope I didn't appear ungrateful to them. I'm a huge French-life fan and have even more respect for medicins, the world over. But I just had to get out of there.

A few more pics of varying levels of interest...


DSC05929 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr


DSC05930 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr


DSC05932 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr


DSC05933 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr


DSC05934 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr


DSC05942 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr


DSC05947 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr


DSC05983 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

Chinon (a must visit)

DSC05991 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

A84 chaos at booths. Mrs Napoleon drove into a Reserve booth here, and that was fun! Not. Lots of tooting of horns from Netherlanders and Germans.


DSC06006 by Tim Redberry, on Flickr

[Citroenmad]

Some more good pictures

I really like France, in an ideal world its where I'll end up living. It is a totaly diffrent way of life out there.

Where did you visit in France Tim?

Im very much looking forward to going again next year.

[Napoleon]

Me too, Chris, me too. Like England, but not quite.

We went to nearby Saumur on la Loire. Stayed in a gite owned by an English couple.

We visited, in no particular order, chateau d'usse, Chinon, Villandry, the mushroom museum west of Saumur. Then a market on a Tuesday. I took a drive out on my own for an hour in the forest just to get worried about running out of fuel in the middle of NOWHERE! (low tank). And I mean nowhere.

Also went south from Saumur on one day, but ran into major and very unexpected traffic jam so turned around and came back closer to base.

In last three days hotelled in Villedieu les Poeles, 25 miles from Avranches, east of Granville. South of Granville went to superb beaches at Julloville. Had my little stay in hospital, as I referred to.

I've 'done' a fair bit of France, but so much more to do in a lifetime. And yes, life is too damned short, isn't it?

I could quite happily live there. Just would have to sort out the work aspect, convince the wife/kids, and say goodbye to ailing parents. Not going to happen easily, but you never know. It would be a dream come true.

[Citroening]

I didn't spot it, but dad said he saw a certain Silver Series 2 XM owner today whilst in his C6...

[Citroenmad]

We went to nearby Saumur on la Loire. Stayed in a gite owned by an English couple.

Very nice! We have a few friends who have a chateau in that area which we usually visit. We normally stay further South of Angouleme, towards Sarlat, a very nice area. Taking in a few trips over to Royan to see some more friends.



On the spotting note - I saw a red C5 the other day and today was alongside a very tidy Xantia 'Stateside' in an odd greeny silver colour.

I guess the Silver S2 XM was Dave?

[Timmo]

had a white M reg (sinker??) Xant park up just up from our house yesterday!! snapped a picture from the bedroom window!




have seen it locally a couple of times, but only in passing, also saw a Xantia haynes manual in the weekly local paper this week!

[Citroenmad]

Quite possibly an anti-sink that one, being a M with the chevrons on the bonnet - not that that is the definite clue

[citroenxm]

Spotted today on the very outskirts of tenby, a Visa! A silver one. no time to take a pic but the reg C66 AEL was the reg.. looked very tidy too indeed...

Also a red C4 by Leob .. on the same road a bit further up..

[CitroJim]

Also a red C4 by Leob .. on the same road a bit further up..

Franklin gets around a bit...

[Citroening]

Spotted today on the very outskirts of tenby, a Visa! A silver one. no time to take a pic but the reg C66 AEL was the reg.. looked very tidy too indeed...

Excellent spot Paul! C66 AEL is indeed not a bad car - I sold it to a nice chap called Mark from Tenby. Here it is from when I had it:

Also a red C4 by Leob .. on the same road a bit further up..

Franklin gets around a bit...

Wasn't me guvnor! A rare spot Paul... You certainly had some good spots today!