The Argy back to basics.

Yep ixion the pirate boat looks really good - is it the Jolly Roger? I’m not sure about the captain though he looks a bit fishy to me.

I think we’d best take the Admiral with us, he can make sure we get across the channel safely and entertain us with his usual sea shanties, he can share a cabin with Fronc

Trouble is though I’ve no idea when we should set sail as there’s no news of any celebrations yet .. ?

I’ve got Mae Wests ready for us all, a muster drill when the whistle blows!

Jolly Roger, hmm yes I think he and I have crossed paths before
Poor little Norbert, good job he has us to look after him. Alarma is useless.
Well done on the snail front AGA. ixion you have triumphed again. So we can soon set sail.
Perhaps we should just tell grandmafrench we are coming.
Yes Brook I think the Admiral should come too. And Fronc.
If we get washed up on some remote island we may need to eat them ?
How about if we go tomorrow anyway. We can just tell grandmafrench we are coming for a beach party. Is that an idea ?

My contact was very upset that you didn't recognise the illustrious Captain Pugwash with the Black Pearl?.
He comes with a cabin boy (Roger) and first mate (Seaman Staines) but both are mere boys so business, no pleasure, please, en voyage.
Can Muse bring pasties, please? GF may be homesick?

As we have a boat and lots of tasty French food (that's if you like buttered snails) maybe we should set sail in the Jolly Roger. The Admiral is very excited and on board already.

Mighty Maggie is set to look after the llamas, May Hem and the bar. Alarma has been told to look after Norbert, or else no ice creams or nail painting.
I’ve packed the can can outfits. A vat of poteen, my French phrase book, sun cream (!) sea sick pills.
Of course I remember Pugsy ?
When everyone is ready, we can set sail.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202108/medium-26242-53d56c3b-90b0-4408-8f2e-3e1374590430.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202108/medium-894881-9896ec49-a168-4dea-bdde-2dac5d793fb5.jpeg

Fronc is ready for the off.
He is bringing his SO?‍♀️. Another Francophile.

Bonjour mes camarades vilains grans. Muse has been practicing. That's my lot. Norbert ate French/English dictionary. Glad you've got your phrase book Doodle.

Pasties are ready. GR will be pleased. She had a moan at me because she didn't get one at the birthday bash.

Captain Pugwash - it’s been such a long time, sorry I didn’t recognise you .. you look slightly different to what I can remember

Thanks for the pasties muse I’ve put them safely below deck out of sight next to the gunpowder

Coastguard just messaged saying stormy seas forecast tonight and tomorrow so we’d best batten down the hatches and get going soon. Watch out for jellyfish and sharks he said - don’t know why

I wonder what Fronc is going to do with that baguette ?

Norbert is in the hammock fast asleep, think he enjoyed his poteen bottle

Well off we go then. French France, here we come. Oh la la. A ? a life on the ocean wave, a home on ……? where did I put the sea sick pills ?

Just woken up on the deck. No sign of land. Everyone else is asleep including the captain. Who is steering the boat? We shouldn't have drunk that third barrel of poteen.
The sea was very rough last night so we may have gone off course.
I will check that everyone is here. Hope nobody went overboard.
Whew! All present and correct and Pugwash is back at the helm looking worried.

I see no palm trees?
In fact, all I see is one of these fast approaching...

Please will someone get the Admiral and Captain Pugwash below deck so they don't leap into defensive action.
Put Alarma at the pointy end, she's such a goddam misery she may intimidate them like she does most of our clientele
And put some headphones on Norbert - he doesn't like scenes.

On second thoughts, we have baguettes and Muse's pasties.
No offence but they seem lethal enough in the 'weight' department.
And we could use those strings of onions round the SO's neck.
Chew 'em and then breathe over the enemy?‍♀️

All hands on deck. We have strayed into enemy waters. If they open fire hurl whatever you have at hand at them, pasties, onions, Alarma? No maybe not Norbert's mum.
Why do all our trips end up like this?

Phew that was a rough storm and a close call - we almost had to abandon ship but all seems ok now

anyone know where we are ?

More importantly has anyone told grandmafrench we are coming………when we get there?

I’m just going to look for her in the kitchen doodle …

She’s not there brook I’ve looked…..I wonder where she’s gone.?

No worries she’s not far away I’m sure ! We’ll have lots of time to get things ready …
I think a few snails escaped last night so be careful on deck, they’re quite slippery and we don’t want anyone else overboard
Good to see the pasties have survived the journey

My frogs' legs are getting a bit twitchy in these buckets, tbh.
Should I have disconnected them before we left shore??

We’ve arrived!

Land at last. Getting a bit tired rowing since the engine failed.

Please, where are the Ladies??

And yes, I know I should have gone before we left?

Keep those legs crossed ixion we’ve got to clear customs first ..

Quick just remind me - what did we say we’d disguise the poteen as?

Infant formula.
When they see Norbert, they'll put it through on the nod.