So it turns out I’m still alive, but my laptop fucking died on me, the fucker. Day 3, the Friday, was using it just fine on the Bordeaux hotel’s net connection, turned it on in the morning and it was fine, carried it out to the car and, et voila, c’est casse (or broken, as less-insane people like to call it). Made it to l’hotel in Avignon thanks to my sending the link to Mr S. Love the night previously, luckily, and him phoning me with the details. Been in Avignon ever since, which is no bad thing as it’s lovely, and I’m now sat in a web cafe in the centre-ville being amused by pretty much every word of this being underlined in red as I type, silly French spell checker.

Next task is to either use this machine to plan the rest of the trip, or do a bit more planning and buy a new laptop off the tubes, if one can be delivered here in the next couple days. Somewhat insane but I’ve come to depend on the thing and it’s so hella useful.