Travelog for: Tiger Tom

I am a tiger with a big THIRST! Inspired by 'Greedy' I have decided I wish to drink my way around France. I wish to sample fine wines wherever I go and become a knowledgable French wine expert on the way.

I am due to travel to Normandy in three weeks time where I will be left with my first host family.

In the meantime I shall sample as much wine as possible before I go!

Salut!

I didn't travel very far last night, just to the kitchen for a bottle of wine and a glass. Cheap French wine, but oh, so yummy.

My appraisal of this wine ..... 'Mmm, dry'. (There wasn't even a clue on the label as to what I should be tasting!!) I think I have a lot to learn.

After my first glass I decided the world looked good from an upside down position. I spent the rest of the night standing on my head.

Well, I made it a bit further today . . . the summer house to be exact. I settled down for the evening with a 'proper' French bottle of red wine. So 'proper' the label was in French. I had to take my French phrase book with me.

Over a glass, or two, of wine I studied the label and used the book to translate. It really made my little grey cells work. So much so I resorted to eating a whole box of Belgian Chocolates to help me concentrate.

After all that work I relaxed on my back and studied the ceiling, contemplating what I should write today.

My thoughts on the wine .... mmm, red!

(Still think I have a lot to learn!)

What an evening! I sat drinking wine, which was ok but wasn't French (and came out of a box), when, Rick Stein's 'French Oddysey' came on the TV. Rick was travelling down the Canal Du Midi, eating gorgeous sea food and sampling good wine at a winery. Mmm, I was SOOO jealous.

After the programme I sat on the box of wine - Gosh, it was a struggle to climb up! - gazed into the garden and dreamt about France. Still, only two weeks to go until I'm there.

Finally, I tried to cheer myself up by reading Rick's book and began to plan this weekend's food.

Rick says, ' I still think that the French make the best wine in the world'. Oh, I so agree.

My opinion of this evening's wine ... 'fruity'.

Tiger Tom is obviously getting too carried away, planning for his forthcoming trip to France!

Helen discovered him in the fridge this morning - he'd discovered the bottles of French Champagne bought to celebrate Steve's 40th birthday.

Helen told him off and removed him from the fridge. She found him later snuggled up to a bottle of quality French red wine, one of Steve's birthday presents.

Tiger Tom has been told he has to wait until Sunday evening to get a taste, he'll just have to be patient!

Hurrah! I was allowed to taste the champagne, but only the little bottle.

It was very fizzy and the bubbles made me sneeze!

After finishing off the bottle . . . ooops, was I supposed to share? . . . I practised my scooter riding technique. I need to be able to balance, ready for my ride around Normandy.

It was very difficult as my 'scooter' kept rolling away, I hope my Normandy scooter doesn't do that!

My appraisal of the champagne . . . 'bubbly'.

Hello i'm Myles Helly and Steve Doel haded me tiger tom when they viseted me in france i'm English but speak good french i tryed to teach tiger tom some but all he can say is bonjour grrrr,resently i took him for a tour of normandy on my scooter lucky i was the designated driver because he drank a too much.

I was very sad to be leaving Normandy. I've spent two months travelling on a scooter. No pictures though, so Helly won't let me complete my mission, she says I'll have to come back.

I cheered up a bit when I found out I am to go travelling to America and southern France next year. Hurrah! I think I'll have a glass of wine later to celebrate.

In Honfleur I climbed up with my firends and looked at the town from a distance.

Hurrah, what an amazing bridge.  This is the Pont De Normandie. It spans the River Seine. It felt ever so high up.

Finally I'm back in England, although I feel very sad and am missing France already.

The traffic in Dover was amazing, so much and so noisy.

After climbing up to have a look I decided to snuggle down and sleep for the rest of the journey. When I get home I'm going to have a HUGE glass of wine to recover from the journey.

Hurrah, now I'm home I'll start on the wine. A little Italian number today.

Mmmm . . . very nice . . . 'fragrant, elegant, dry and crisp' . . . ok, so I cheated and read the bottle!

'Tiger Tom, what are you doing?' (Helly)

'I'm standing on my head.' (Tiger Tom)

'Yes, I can see that, but why? (Helly)

'So I can see whether there's any wine left in the bottom of the bottle.' (Tiger Tom)

'Ahh, I'm lost for words!' (Helly)

I decided to get in the French mood by eating brie . . . and crackers . . . and pickled onions!

I ate lots!

To wash it down I decided to help myself to my favourite French red wine . . . mmm fruity.

Mmm, after several glasses I decided I would share with the cats.

First Maisie:

'Maisie . . Maisie'

Maisie sniffed my wine - I got a little worried, I thought I might really have to share!

Then she ran off!

Next Oscar . . .

I had to climb on the table without spilling my wine - not a mean feat after several glasses.

'Oscar, Oscar'

Oscar looked at me . . . and turned his back.

Still, all the more for me!

Now, where's Murph?