Favourite things (2)

We both prefer mugs that are not chunky. When we started navigating in 2008, we hunted for ages for mugs we liked that would fit in with our new colour scheme of French navy and linen. When we were in Auxerre at the end of July in our first season, we found the perfect mugs. They have a nautical theme which was not a requirement but is quite appropriate. The one with "Captain" on it is Catherine's as both start with Ca; the one with "Skipper" is J's. The other two for visitors have diagrams of nautical knots (because we are the captain and skipper and others are (k)not!). We love these mugs; they satisfy the expectations of holding a good amount of coffee, being fine to drink from and stable; they haven't chipped and have a fabulous white glazed interior that doesn't stain.

We also love our wine glasses - not just for their own qualities but for the memories attached to buying them. The larger glasses in the middle are our everyday wine glasses. We bought them on one of our several trips to Beaune, a beautiful town in the middle of the Burgundy wine region. Like the mugs, we love them because they are fine and because they hold a decent amount of wine.

The smaller glasses, however, are our real treasures. Our champagne flutes needed to be fine (of course) ,the correct shape for champagne and (here was the real challenge!) small enough to fit on the shelves in our saloon cupboards... Not an easy ask. However, Jeanette found these lttle beauties at a Vide Grenier (that's a loft-emptying sale) in Menton in the south of France just before we began navigating in 2008. They are gorgeous to drink from although they don't hold copious amounts. One bottle of champagne = exactly 9 glasses. What makes them a real treasure, however, is the price we paid for them: just five euros for the full set of six.