Today, my last Sunday in Thezan before I start for home next Friday, the Dwyers and I set forth to visit local 'vide greniers'.

Those of you who have followed these pages during my previous visits here will know that going to vide greniers (which means 'empty attic') of a Sunday morning is a favourite pastime, not only for the Dwyers, but for many, many French people.

They are, in fact, street markets in which you may find anything.
To be frank, most of what is offered would not have been worth storing in an attic let alone presenting for resale but, of course, one person's rubbish may be another's treasure and there is always the chance of making a significant find.

We went to two enormous vide greniers on my first Sunday here and spotted not a single item of merit or interest to any one of us in either of them.

But today, on the first stall of the first vide grenier of three, Martin spotted a pair of antique cafe glasses which he bought.
I should say here that is is not only the custom but almost de rigueur that one should haggle over the asking price at a vide grenier.
But when that asking price is 50 cent there really isn't anywhere to go hagglingwise is there?!
They are worth comfortably 100 times their cost.

And as I sit here and write this I am drinking a beer from one of them.

As we wandered on I spotted............

.........this little blue and white pot.
It was not on the vendor's table but sitting in a cardboard box beneath it.

It caught my eye because of the particular design and pattern of its decoration.

It is that of the famous Minton Delft blue and white china that we have been collecting for forty years and more and which we use at table on high days and holidays.

Obviously, since I am not at home, I cannot show you our own collection but the good old internet provided me with these images, examples of each of which items we have too.

And, oh yes, my little pot cost me €3.00 and, no, I didn't haggle either!

And this is its not very posh mark.