Plastic placemats notwithstanding, our breakfast this morning – the first since we skipped it yesterday to leave early for Mont Saint-Michel – was nicely Downton Abbeyesque, and Teko was loving every minute of it. I’m not a fan of communal dining as it forces total strangers into conversation and given how people are so divided these days about current events – immigration, politics, gay rights, etc – I’m more inclined to sit with someone I already know than get into any awkward discussion. Call me old-fashioned but I still think holidays are meant to be fun and conflict-free. Now if only there was a Mr Carson standing by, it feels rather sheepish to have a Count pour my morning cup of coffee.