Mick and I had seen signs for Super Lotto in most small towns we have driven past over the last few weeks. Each poster appeared to be advertising some form of fundraiser for a club or a school, but we didn’t really know what it was all about.

When I saw this sign outside the Salle Polyvalente (multi purpose room) in Fenouillet, I said to Mick I really wanted to go to see what it involved. He was not that keen, but I insisted.

We think this fundraiser was for the Friendship Club (Club Amitié).

I had mentioned Super Lotto to our new French friends (Monsieur D and Monsieur T) at their apéritif dînatoire the other day, and I was very surprised to receive a phone call this morning saying they wanted to join us.

Mick and I were relieved about that because we knew nothing about the protocols for this event. We wanted to go just to see what it was all about.

We arrived about 5 minutes before the start and were so surprised to see so many people there, perhaps up to 300 people.

Monsieur D and Monsieur T found us a seat and Mick bought us each a card for €10.

There were 20 plus games to be played, each with a different prize, and each using the same card.

We soon found out that this was actually BINGO.

Monsieur D and Monsieur T explained (in French) that à quine meant you needed to get all the numbers in one row and a carton plein meant you had to get all the numbers on one card. This card explained the prizes for each game and some were worth winning – up to €350 in cash.

You had to use the same card for each game and we used corn for markers. The more experienced people who were there had special markers they brought in special bags.

Monsieur D tried to explain the rules to me and I could not really understand, and I think he understood that I had no idea.

The man who sat out the front and called the numbers even confused the French people there, so Mick and I had no chance.

At least we thought so.

We had to concentrate very hard to understand the numbers.  We realised this was actually a very difficult French lesson.

But, amazingly…

I won one of the Filet Garni – a basket of goodies.

As it turned out, when I went to collect it, it was two brand new shopping bags filled with goodies.

When Mick and I opened them when we got home, those bags were filled with loads of groceries – most of which we would never usually buy. But, we were very pleased with ourselves.

Initially, we were hoping this activity would finish before 5.00pm because we had a lesson organised with Monsieur R at 5.30pm. But, that did not happen. The Super Lotto went until 6.30pm and we had to reschedule our French lesson until tomorrow.

But, what fun we had.