Driving to France - scary

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Roughly where do you need to go in France? I do so understand about getting in a spin over the 'what ifs'!

Imagine if I weren't in therapy/on Citalopram! I'd be going nuts! As it is, I'm off my food, so I need to be careful I don't let myself spiral.

My mum lives about an hour south of Melun, near Montereau-Fault-Yonne. Usually takes between 3-4 hours from Calais, or it used to with my Dad driving. We're just going to take it easy and get there when we get there

OK, found that on the map. Pretty easy roads all the way, but tolls I'm afraid!

Yep!

There's a route finder at http://www.autoroutes.fr/index.htm, it says I should expect to pay around 25 euros for tolls, so that's not too bad. Cheaper than the taxi fare I normally have to pay to get from the station at Montereau to my Mum's house 9km away!

I'm trying to see it as a learning experience. Once I've done it, it means that if we go on holiday as a couple and hire a car, like we did on honeymoon, I'll be able to share in the driving instead of just navigating.

I'm back!!

Got back Monday night. Driving was actually fine, and the main problem with petrol stations was that they were largely unmanned, which means I had to pay using my card rather than with the cash we got from my mum.

Amazed at how much you can fit into a Renault Megane hatchback.

Had a few problems over the weekend but they were mainly due to friction between my sister's dyslexia and my Asperger's, especially with her trying to get me to talk or do stuff when I'd shut down. I eventually got her to understand that there's no point trying to interact with me when that happens, as I just need to sit quietly until the need has passed.

For any Aspie driving to/from France, I would definitely recommend paying extra for "fleci-plus" tickets on the Eurotunnel. You don't have to queue, check in is easier and quicker, you get a free lounge with "free" food and stuff, and it doesn't matter what time you arrive. Takes out a heck of a lot of the stress, which I'm sure other Aspies would agree is worth every extra penny.

Well survived - both France and your sister!! Glad I was able to warn you re the petrol pumps, but did they take your UK card after all then?

Yeah, the first one I tried didn't but thankfully the one at the big Leclerc at Montereau-fault-yonne did, as did the one at the garage just before the Eurotunnel, at the Cité d'Europe. We were running on fumes by the time we got there on Monday!

On the way over on Thursday, the free Sat Nav on my phone had a crap moment and I ended up driving round Paris, on the old Peripherique, at rush hour. Nightmare. Managed OK though, thankfully. It just added an hour to the journey. Bought CoPilot Live for the journey back and it was much better, we got on the Francillienne

Going back to empty the house in the new year, should be a bit less stressful.

Yeah, the first one I tried didn't but thankfully the one at the big Leclerc at Montereau-fault-yonne did, as did the one at the garage just before the Eurotunnel, at the Cité d'Europe. We were running on fumes by the time we got there on Monday!

On the way over on Thursday, the free Sat Nav on my phone had a crap moment and I ended up driving round Paris, on the old Peripherique, at rush hour. Nightmare. Managed OK though, thankfully. It just added an hour to the journey. Bought CoPilot Live for the journey back and it was much better, we got on the Francillienne

Going back to empty the house in the new year, should be a bit less stressful.