St Aristide
Yesterday's weather: sunny but windy 22 degrees.
Susie Kelly confessed in her blog the other day that, even though she lives in France, wait for it, shock, horror, she doesn't actually like wine! I thought she was very brave for the admission and told her so. So, today, I thought I would make my own confession.
Some nights, after the BBC Prom concert, we have been watching Big Brother 8.
I can't believe I'm admitting this.
I didn't want to at first, even though Jon did and he claims it is only because he watched one years ago so that he could keep up a conversation with the girls in his office (yeah, right) but I have to admit we got sucked in. Not every day, you understand, we aren't quite that sad, and only the Channel 4 hour long edition not all those other funny programmes they show, including apparently live 24 hour coverage from the house. In fact, we completely missed out 'half way house' week and most of Charley's reprisal week.
So, tonight is the last night and I've been giving some thought to the few characters left in.
Amanda and Sam - squeaky 18 year old twins who were the first in the house, screeching and exclaiming with delight at everything pink. I despaired when I heard that they were both training to be social workers as I thought if they turned up trying to cheer up a struggling family they would probably commit mass suicide. However, now I quite like them. They have no malice to them. Although they started off really dumb blondes, I am beginning to think that it was a bit of an act and there are some grey cells working in their heads. And, neither of them has ever been nominated by anyone else in the house for eviction so they must have something going for them.
Brian - Ahh, Brian, isn't he great? 20 year old data entry clerk from Essex. Claimed he had never heard of Shakespeare and then had to own up that of course he had. Did an amazing impersonation of Charley 'I'm not bein' funny, right; I'm not bein' funny, right; I'm not bein' funny, right' and looked strangely good in a dress! I like Brian and I think it's between him and the twins as to who wins.
Carole - a 53 year old youth health worker from London. Claims to have protested from Greenham Common to any other protest that would have her. She has done nothing but moan and wind the others up for weeks with her cooking and her cleaning obsessions and for some reason deciding that no-one could do either as well as her but complaining that she is always the one to cook and clean. How she managed to survive all the evictions she was nominated for over all these weeks I will never know. Yes I do. Gerry offered to leave in her place. That was a big shame because the house would be a far more interesting place if Gerry were in there this week.
Jonty - 36 year old museum visitor assistant from London. Good grief - what is Jonty all about? A teddy bear loving single virgin who suffers from excessive flatulence and can't hold his drink (he gets the giggles like a 16 year old girl). He's ghastly and one to avoid at parties at all costs - yet at the same time I find him an incredibly interesting character - what makes him tick? Apparently he speaks eight languages so he is obviously intelligent - but then there are those teddy bears. Monkety Tonkety????? I ask you!
Liam - 22 year old geordie tree surgeon. Well he can come and operate on our trees any time. Maybe it's my geordie heritage coming out here, but I think he's a real canny lad bless him, why-aye, but he already won £100,000 on this show when the other housemates had to decide who to give it to, so he won't win. (I don't think)
Ziggy - 26 year old broker and ex boy band member. I liked Ziggy when her first went in but then he started saying he wanted to leave every other day and turned into an unpredictable, miserable, manipulator. And maybe a closet hoodie. When he is being nice he is lovely but I wouldn't trust him. Stay well away when he gets out Chanelle!
So there you have it. I have confessed. After listening to the Prom, some nights we have been watching BB8. All in the interests of watching a psychological experiment, you understand. We'll be there tonight, bottle of wine, box of chocolate watching all the ex-housemates' reactions to the last
evictions. Yes, we are a couple of saddos who are old enough to know better.
Friday 31 August 2007
Thursday 30 August 2007
Everybody needs good neighbours
St Fiacre
Yesterday's weather: hot, rainy, sticky
When I woke up this morning both shivering and sweating I decided that I had better spend the morning in bed - so today's blog is later than normal. Sorry.
When I finally emerged for a lunch of bread and Marmite (well, a girl needs her comfort food when she's under the weather - nursery teas of dippy egg and Marmite soldiers, Cottage Pie, scrambled egg on toast, that sort of thing), a car pulled up outside. This was not what we wanted to hear. We are still waiting for Castorama to deliver the blasted floor for the chalet which was promised absolutely, finally, definitely yesterday at the absolute, definite, no doubt about it latest.... so we wanted to hear a big lorry.
Someone rang the bell that Jon conveniently fixed to the gatepost just yesterday (he must have known we'd have an unexpected visitor so soon) and I coughed and spluttered my way across to the gate, checking that I didn't have Marmite stains on the corners of my mouth - never mind the red, streaming eyes, pallid complexion - you get the picture.
There was a rather scruffy, scrawny looking lady standing by her rather scruffy, beat up car.
'Bonjour' she said and pointed in the direction of the next house on the lane. 'Is that the house that is for rent from the people over the valley?'.
I assured her that it was even though we were unaware that the present young couple are obviously on the move. She then asked me if I had any children because she wanted to know about local schools. I was actually quite flattered that she thought I looked young enough to have children of school age, especially as I probably look more like Frankinstein's younger sister today, and particularly as grandchild number one is heading for senior school in 2008. She looked somewhat confused when I said that I didn't have children but that the people opposite do and went on her way.
Half an hour later she was back, driving up the lane followed by a very noisy little motorbike. We did what all good neighbours do and loitered in the garden until they passed by on their way back down again (about 5 minutes) so that we could try and get another good look at them. We did. Oh dear.
Well you can call me a snob (yes, I admit it I AM a snob) but I don't particularly relish the thought of this scruffy pair who look like they have an IQ the same as their shoe size and their kids and their noisy car and motorbike passing by several times a day. Perhaps I'm just crotchety because I'm not feeling well. The house only ever gets let for 6 or 12 month contracts so it won't be forever. Perhaps they will be really nice people after all and I know I shouldn't judge by first appearance, it's not really like me at all.
Watch this space and I'll let you know.
Yesterday's weather: hot, rainy, sticky
When I woke up this morning both shivering and sweating I decided that I had better spend the morning in bed - so today's blog is later than normal. Sorry.
When I finally emerged for a lunch of bread and Marmite (well, a girl needs her comfort food when she's under the weather - nursery teas of dippy egg and Marmite soldiers, Cottage Pie, scrambled egg on toast, that sort of thing), a car pulled up outside. This was not what we wanted to hear. We are still waiting for Castorama to deliver the blasted floor for the chalet which was promised absolutely, finally, definitely yesterday at the absolute, definite, no doubt about it latest.... so we wanted to hear a big lorry.
Someone rang the bell that Jon conveniently fixed to the gatepost just yesterday (he must have known we'd have an unexpected visitor so soon) and I coughed and spluttered my way across to the gate, checking that I didn't have Marmite stains on the corners of my mouth - never mind the red, streaming eyes, pallid complexion - you get the picture.
There was a rather scruffy, scrawny looking lady standing by her rather scruffy, beat up car.
'Bonjour' she said and pointed in the direction of the next house on the lane. 'Is that the house that is for rent from the people over the valley?'.
I assured her that it was even though we were unaware that the present young couple are obviously on the move. She then asked me if I had any children because she wanted to know about local schools. I was actually quite flattered that she thought I looked young enough to have children of school age, especially as I probably look more like Frankinstein's younger sister today, and particularly as grandchild number one is heading for senior school in 2008. She looked somewhat confused when I said that I didn't have children but that the people opposite do and went on her way.
Half an hour later she was back, driving up the lane followed by a very noisy little motorbike. We did what all good neighbours do and loitered in the garden until they passed by on their way back down again (about 5 minutes) so that we could try and get another good look at them. We did. Oh dear.
Well you can call me a snob (yes, I admit it I AM a snob) but I don't particularly relish the thought of this scruffy pair who look like they have an IQ the same as their shoe size and their kids and their noisy car and motorbike passing by several times a day. Perhaps I'm just crotchety because I'm not feeling well. The house only ever gets let for 6 or 12 month contracts so it won't be forever. Perhaps they will be really nice people after all and I know I shouldn't judge by first appearance, it's not really like me at all.
Watch this space and I'll let you know.
Wednesday 29 August 2007
Too darn hot (not complaining!)
Ste Sabine
Yesterday's weather: hot and sticky
Yesterday was one of those days when just to walk from one end of the garden to the other left one in a very unladylike state of dampness. I remember my mother saying that ladies never sweat or even perspire, they 'gently glow'. Well, I was 'gently glowing soaked' yesterday! So, naturally it was a day for strimming, trimming back overgrown shrubs and wheeling the debris back and forth in the wheelbarrow. A long cool shower made me feel normal again - for about twenty minutes. If I go outside today I will get wet for a different reason. It is still really sticky but there is thunder around and it has rained - only a little so far. Also, someone has stolen the opposite hillside. I can't see it at all this morning. Could be fog, I suppose.
The cats are all grumpy too, which is a sure sign that a storm is brewing. I feel so sorry for them in their fur coats when the weather is so hot and sticky. They all have their favourite places for their afternoon nap. The kitten has taken up residence upstairs by the front door, in the fork of a tree or on top of the garage. All three are hot places even if he finds what little shade there is, so we are always surprised that he settles there. Misty tends to follow us around a bit but usually settles in amongst the rosemary and lavender right by the back door where there is shade in the afternoon and Jazz, who used to be found on a garden chair has now discovered the best place of all, a cool ledge in the cellar. She particularly likes this one at the moment because Figgy hasn't found it yet and even if Misty did discover her, she really can't be bothered to jump all the way up there. So Jazz is quite safe.
Today I will be mostly looking for fig recipes (hoping that Figgy doesn't get upset and think I mean him). The figs are suddenly ripening and there are hundreds of them. Not wanting anything to go to waste, but at the same time not needing to eat too many figs at once, I will be looking for ways to cook them, freeze them and preserve them. Unfortunately they are, as usual, very small. I have been reading up gardening tips to see if there is any way I can prune the tree or thin out the branches to encourage larger fruits but I think the tree is so old, like the apple, that it is probably beyond help. I don't know yet whether we will keep the tree forever, but at the moment it gives us a lot of privacy in the summer. I love the shape of it and it brings the wrens and robins close to the kitchen window (only when cats aren't in evidence) so we would certainly have to replace it with something if it went. But that is a decision for the future.
Yesterday's weather: hot and sticky
Yesterday was one of those days when just to walk from one end of the garden to the other left one in a very unladylike state of dampness. I remember my mother saying that ladies never sweat or even perspire, they 'gently glow'. Well, I was 'gently glowing soaked' yesterday! So, naturally it was a day for strimming, trimming back overgrown shrubs and wheeling the debris back and forth in the wheelbarrow. A long cool shower made me feel normal again - for about twenty minutes. If I go outside today I will get wet for a different reason. It is still really sticky but there is thunder around and it has rained - only a little so far. Also, someone has stolen the opposite hillside. I can't see it at all this morning. Could be fog, I suppose.
The cats are all grumpy too, which is a sure sign that a storm is brewing. I feel so sorry for them in their fur coats when the weather is so hot and sticky. They all have their favourite places for their afternoon nap. The kitten has taken up residence upstairs by the front door, in the fork of a tree or on top of the garage. All three are hot places even if he finds what little shade there is, so we are always surprised that he settles there. Misty tends to follow us around a bit but usually settles in amongst the rosemary and lavender right by the back door where there is shade in the afternoon and Jazz, who used to be found on a garden chair has now discovered the best place of all, a cool ledge in the cellar. She particularly likes this one at the moment because Figgy hasn't found it yet and even if Misty did discover her, she really can't be bothered to jump all the way up there. So Jazz is quite safe.
Today I will be mostly looking for fig recipes (hoping that Figgy doesn't get upset and think I mean him). The figs are suddenly ripening and there are hundreds of them. Not wanting anything to go to waste, but at the same time not needing to eat too many figs at once, I will be looking for ways to cook them, freeze them and preserve them. Unfortunately they are, as usual, very small. I have been reading up gardening tips to see if there is any way I can prune the tree or thin out the branches to encourage larger fruits but I think the tree is so old, like the apple, that it is probably beyond help. I don't know yet whether we will keep the tree forever, but at the moment it gives us a lot of privacy in the summer. I love the shape of it and it brings the wrens and robins close to the kitchen window (only when cats aren't in evidence) so we would certainly have to replace it with something if it went. But that is a decision for the future.
Tuesday 28 August 2007
Should I shut up?
St Augustin
Yesterday's weather: Hot and sunny
I'm sure our French neighbours think that we are mad. After all, we are surely exposing ourselves to risk, I mean, fancy not closing all our shutters as tight as possible at night! Heaven knows what sort of light might escape from the house at night, or into the house in the morning.
We can see less than a handful of other properties from our house and they are all closed tight to the outside world as soon as it gets dark. The only exception is if the household is out for the evening, which is rare. Then they will close all the shutters and leave an outside light on until they return.
We, on the other hand, have windows and shutters open wide all night on the upper floor. Downstairs we do close up the shutters in an attempt to persuade the kitten that until we are up and about, it is still regarded as night. This doesn't work. Just as soon as the sun stretches its arms and gives a yawn thinking that it might consider rousing itself in a while, the kitten gets some sort of uncontrollable urge to scratch on all the doors and yowl until one of us gets up and lets him out. The other two cats, grown up, sophisticated ladies that they are, don't really understand this behaviour at all and would be quite happy for a bit of a lie-in (like us) but as soon as the door is opened, they feel that it would be just rude not to take advantage and pop outside as well.
I love to wake up with the sun, when it is just getting the energy to pop its head over the hillside straight in through the bedroom window, that is when I am ready to wake up and head for the kitchen for my morning cuppa. (By the way, Jim @ Farnham, the UK postal service is obviously worse than we thought because I never did receive that old tea bag you sent me a couple of months ago)'
There is, of course a security aspect of closing the shutters, and we do ensure we are burglar proof when we leave the house for any length of time. Even though crime is a rarity here and a burglary would make the local newspaper it is a requirement of our household insurance that we secure the house when we leave it, so shutters are closed. Somehow though, I feel that this is an invitation to burglers. If someone suddenly decided to take to a life of crime one day, all he would need to do is look for a house where all the shutters are closed all day. Or maybe not, since that is just about every other house around here outside the summer months and all the year-round residents know which houses are closed up for the winter.
Our neighbours are true creatures of habit. We could set our watches (if we wore them, which is one of the great things about being retired) by the sound of their cars leaving and returning every day. We know when to put lunch on by the sound of our neighbour returning every day for his own lunch at 11.45. We know when it is 11.15 on a Thursday and Sunday because the bread van visits the group of houses opposite. We know when it is 7.10 am or pm because the church bells chime for 5 minutes. And lately, I know when it is getting on for 5pm because my young friends come for a walk past the house for young Swanne to play with the kitten. Sadly, they will have to go home soon and probably won't return until next summer, but I'm sure they are now itching to get back home to Swanne's Daddy who is a chef and couldn't take a summer holiday at all.
------
I was reading a blog yesterday that I knew I hadn't read in a while. At first I thought I was going mad because one posting looked familiar and then I realised that it was almost a direct lift from another blog that I do read regularly. I can't believe that anyone would want to do that from my daft ramblings, but if you are considering it, please don't or at least ask me first and give me some credit for writing it in the first place. It is just as bad as theft to plagarise someone else's writing, and if that person has been kind enough to link your blog to theirs (I noticed the link had now been deleted) it is also extremely bad manners.
Yesterday's weather: Hot and sunny
I'm sure our French neighbours think that we are mad. After all, we are surely exposing ourselves to risk, I mean, fancy not closing all our shutters as tight as possible at night! Heaven knows what sort of light might escape from the house at night, or into the house in the morning.
We can see less than a handful of other properties from our house and they are all closed tight to the outside world as soon as it gets dark. The only exception is if the household is out for the evening, which is rare. Then they will close all the shutters and leave an outside light on until they return.
We, on the other hand, have windows and shutters open wide all night on the upper floor. Downstairs we do close up the shutters in an attempt to persuade the kitten that until we are up and about, it is still regarded as night. This doesn't work. Just as soon as the sun stretches its arms and gives a yawn thinking that it might consider rousing itself in a while, the kitten gets some sort of uncontrollable urge to scratch on all the doors and yowl until one of us gets up and lets him out. The other two cats, grown up, sophisticated ladies that they are, don't really understand this behaviour at all and would be quite happy for a bit of a lie-in (like us) but as soon as the door is opened, they feel that it would be just rude not to take advantage and pop outside as well.
I love to wake up with the sun, when it is just getting the energy to pop its head over the hillside straight in through the bedroom window, that is when I am ready to wake up and head for the kitchen for my morning cuppa. (By the way, Jim @ Farnham, the UK postal service is obviously worse than we thought because I never did receive that old tea bag you sent me a couple of months ago)'
There is, of course a security aspect of closing the shutters, and we do ensure we are burglar proof when we leave the house for any length of time. Even though crime is a rarity here and a burglary would make the local newspaper it is a requirement of our household insurance that we secure the house when we leave it, so shutters are closed. Somehow though, I feel that this is an invitation to burglers. If someone suddenly decided to take to a life of crime one day, all he would need to do is look for a house where all the shutters are closed all day. Or maybe not, since that is just about every other house around here outside the summer months and all the year-round residents know which houses are closed up for the winter.
Our neighbours are true creatures of habit. We could set our watches (if we wore them, which is one of the great things about being retired) by the sound of their cars leaving and returning every day. We know when to put lunch on by the sound of our neighbour returning every day for his own lunch at 11.45. We know when it is 11.15 on a Thursday and Sunday because the bread van visits the group of houses opposite. We know when it is 7.10 am or pm because the church bells chime for 5 minutes. And lately, I know when it is getting on for 5pm because my young friends come for a walk past the house for young Swanne to play with the kitten. Sadly, they will have to go home soon and probably won't return until next summer, but I'm sure they are now itching to get back home to Swanne's Daddy who is a chef and couldn't take a summer holiday at all.
------
I was reading a blog yesterday that I knew I hadn't read in a while. At first I thought I was going mad because one posting looked familiar and then I realised that it was almost a direct lift from another blog that I do read regularly. I can't believe that anyone would want to do that from my daft ramblings, but if you are considering it, please don't or at least ask me first and give me some credit for writing it in the first place. It is just as bad as theft to plagarise someone else's writing, and if that person has been kind enough to link your blog to theirs (I noticed the link had now been deleted) it is also extremely bad manners.
Monday 27 August 2007
Feeling sorry for oneself
Ste Monique
Yesterday's weather: Wonderful
There's nothing worse than a summer cold, is there? Jon had one last week and, being the kindly, generous, sharing person he is, he's let me have a turn at it now.
The weather is better than it has been for ages; sun shining, no clouds, beautifully warm and I feel like going back to bed. I hardly slept last night being either too hot, or too cold, or coughing and today I am feeling thoroughly sorry for myself.
So I will pull myself together, dose up with paracetamol and go and keep Jon company putting up the tool shed (which did arrive intact and has a floor). I'll probably take a chair and my latest book with me 'Blood and Sand' by Frank Gardner which is a really good read and will certainly stop me from feeling sorry for myself. For those of you who don't know him, Frank Gardner is the BBC's Security Correspondent and was shot in Saudi Arabia in 2004 leaving him paralysed from the waist down. The book is his autobiography telling of his passion for the Middle East and his recovery from the attempt on his life. And I will send a big 'thank you' to Simon A for recommending it to me.
We have recently received a whole batch of books from Amazon UK which we are hoping to work our way through in the coming weeks, Turkish authors seem to be the order of the day plus a very large volume about Louis Darquier former Mayor of Cahors and Nazi collaborator. Called 'Bad Faith' this book will not make for pleasant reading but has glowing reviews and should be an interesting insight into someone who had great influence locally during WWII - unfortunately not good influence. As one of my interests is the participation of the Resistance in these parts during WWII, I am in some strange way looking forward to this book.
So, it is a public holiday in the UK today. Enjoy the sunshine. We will.
Yesterday's weather: Wonderful
There's nothing worse than a summer cold, is there? Jon had one last week and, being the kindly, generous, sharing person he is, he's let me have a turn at it now.
The weather is better than it has been for ages; sun shining, no clouds, beautifully warm and I feel like going back to bed. I hardly slept last night being either too hot, or too cold, or coughing and today I am feeling thoroughly sorry for myself.
So I will pull myself together, dose up with paracetamol and go and keep Jon company putting up the tool shed (which did arrive intact and has a floor). I'll probably take a chair and my latest book with me 'Blood and Sand' by Frank Gardner which is a really good read and will certainly stop me from feeling sorry for myself. For those of you who don't know him, Frank Gardner is the BBC's Security Correspondent and was shot in Saudi Arabia in 2004 leaving him paralysed from the waist down. The book is his autobiography telling of his passion for the Middle East and his recovery from the attempt on his life. And I will send a big 'thank you' to Simon A for recommending it to me.
We have recently received a whole batch of books from Amazon UK which we are hoping to work our way through in the coming weeks, Turkish authors seem to be the order of the day plus a very large volume about Louis Darquier former Mayor of Cahors and Nazi collaborator. Called 'Bad Faith' this book will not make for pleasant reading but has glowing reviews and should be an interesting insight into someone who had great influence locally during WWII - unfortunately not good influence. As one of my interests is the participation of the Resistance in these parts during WWII, I am in some strange way looking forward to this book.
So, it is a public holiday in the UK today. Enjoy the sunshine. We will.
Sunday 26 August 2007
Musical soirée
Ste Natacha
Yesterday's weather: glorious
We sat outside last night, making the most of a warm evening. Warm evenings have been very rare this summer. We were clearing up at 11.30 when we heard music in the distance and I remembered that the village over the hill was en fête this weekend.
Every village has it's fête weekend; these usually include two petanque competitions, for doubles and trios, possibly a dog show, maybe a car boot sale, a couple of meals and a balle dansant. Last night was obviously the ball. The music had not long started when we first heard it, and it carried on (according to our bleary eyed guests this morning) until around 3am. Tonight the same village is having a concert which starts just a little earlier at 10pm. If it is warm we will probaly sit outside and listen to it after the BBC prom has ended. If the village likes to, it can listen to the prom with us first!
Our own village will be en fête in September after most of the visitors have gone home. It will be the first time we have been here for this weekend which will be interesting.
Our friend the farmer has been making the most of the sudden spell of hot weather and has been cutting hay as much as he can. Hopefully he will get it collected up before the weather turns again as rain is forecast for the middle of this week. The long range forecast brings hot and sunny back again in time for next weekend. It would be nice if 'they' are right for once!
Yesterday's weather: glorious
We sat outside last night, making the most of a warm evening. Warm evenings have been very rare this summer. We were clearing up at 11.30 when we heard music in the distance and I remembered that the village over the hill was en fête this weekend.
Every village has it's fête weekend; these usually include two petanque competitions, for doubles and trios, possibly a dog show, maybe a car boot sale, a couple of meals and a balle dansant. Last night was obviously the ball. The music had not long started when we first heard it, and it carried on (according to our bleary eyed guests this morning) until around 3am. Tonight the same village is having a concert which starts just a little earlier at 10pm. If it is warm we will probaly sit outside and listen to it after the BBC prom has ended. If the village likes to, it can listen to the prom with us first!
Our own village will be en fête in September after most of the visitors have gone home. It will be the first time we have been here for this weekend which will be interesting.
Our friend the farmer has been making the most of the sudden spell of hot weather and has been cutting hay as much as he can. Hopefully he will get it collected up before the weather turns again as rain is forecast for the middle of this week. The long range forecast brings hot and sunny back again in time for next weekend. It would be nice if 'they' are right for once!
Saturday 25 August 2007
Weather the weather
St Louis
Yesterday's weather: Getting better, much better
I'm sitting here this morning watching the sun pop its head over the hillside. It looks like it will be a beautiful day at last, but I don't suppose the weather will stay with us for long. It's very sad that most of the holidaymakers will be going home this weekend having had the worst holiday weather they can remember. Many, especially campers, gave up days ago, fed up with wet tents, muddy shoes and miserable kids who couldn't go in the pool.
Many years ago when we were holidaying in Frejus we had mixed weather, which was only to be expected at the very beginning of June. It was lovely and warm though and even though it was overcast we thought it would be nice to swim, especially as the pool was fairly empty. We gathered up children, towels and water wings and trekked off to the pool. As we arrived it started to rain, which didn't bother us , but the lifeguard said to us 'Oh no, you can't swim now, we are going to close the pool because of the rain'. I never could understand the reasoning, after all we were going to get wet anyway. I suppose he just didn't want to have to hang around in the rain himself, even though he had a nice dry hut to sit in!
On another occasion we were running low on fuel in the car and needed to fill up to get ourselves back to our campsite. It was raining and we had heard one clap of thunder. We pulled in at a garage in a small village in the Dordogne where we were told that they had shut the pumps off because of the storm. We never did get to understand that one. The garage patron took pity on us though and turned them on again just for us. Mad English people that we were, fancy wanting to fill up with petrol in a thunderstorm. How strange.
Yesterday's weather: Getting better, much better
I'm sitting here this morning watching the sun pop its head over the hillside. It looks like it will be a beautiful day at last, but I don't suppose the weather will stay with us for long. It's very sad that most of the holidaymakers will be going home this weekend having had the worst holiday weather they can remember. Many, especially campers, gave up days ago, fed up with wet tents, muddy shoes and miserable kids who couldn't go in the pool.
Many years ago when we were holidaying in Frejus we had mixed weather, which was only to be expected at the very beginning of June. It was lovely and warm though and even though it was overcast we thought it would be nice to swim, especially as the pool was fairly empty. We gathered up children, towels and water wings and trekked off to the pool. As we arrived it started to rain, which didn't bother us , but the lifeguard said to us 'Oh no, you can't swim now, we are going to close the pool because of the rain'. I never could understand the reasoning, after all we were going to get wet anyway. I suppose he just didn't want to have to hang around in the rain himself, even though he had a nice dry hut to sit in!
On another occasion we were running low on fuel in the car and needed to fill up to get ourselves back to our campsite. It was raining and we had heard one clap of thunder. We pulled in at a garage in a small village in the Dordogne where we were told that they had shut the pumps off because of the storm. We never did get to understand that one. The garage patron took pity on us though and turned them on again just for us. Mad English people that we were, fancy wanting to fill up with petrol in a thunderstorm. How strange.
Friday 24 August 2007
A 46-er!
St Barthélémy
Yesterday’s weather: Brightening
The Méhari became a ’46-er’ yesterday. That is, it got its new local number plate, so people don’t look at it (as we do any vehicle without a 46 at the end of the plate) and think ‘Huh! Tourist!’. Although we had made an appointment and given the garage the details of the new carte grise they hadn’t made up the number plates and were embarrassed that they weren’t ready for us. Not to worry, we went for a walk round the village in the meantime and caught up with how it has changed in the last 15 years since we first started visiting.
An English Estate Agent has set up there and, locals complain, this has pushed up house prices in the immediate vicinity. But at the same time, and possibly because of the influx of immigrants from Northern Europe, other things have smartened up. There are now two restaurants, two hairdressers, the ironmongery shop has moved in with the florist and sells all sorts of kitsch and the supermarket has had a huge make over. Unfortunately the dogs haven’t yet learned to clear up after themselves and there are gutters with an overwhelming smell of something unpleasant, but this is France. You cannot go for a stroll in any town or village without watching where you put your feet, unfortunately.
When we got back home with our new number plates, we found that our verges had been trimmed back again. Because of the rain this means that the lane is now covered in wet grass and weed cuttings – and we don’t know where Figgy had been hiding but he was wearing a very fetching green camouflage outfit so that he could play at ‘Commandos’. He decided to stay out last night, along with Jazz, probably because it was the first warm-ish dry night for some time. Misty did come in but got lonely in the kitchen all on her own and at about 3am Jon got up to let her into the rest of the house. Consequently she (who is a very heavy cat), came onto the bed, purred very loudly in my ear for half an hour before going to sleep on my feet.
The weather promises a good weekend but it is still very grey outside. We need it to dry up so that we can mow the lawn, strim, and all those other nice jobs that need a dry day.
Happy Friday everyone.
Yesterday’s weather: Brightening
The Méhari became a ’46-er’ yesterday. That is, it got its new local number plate, so people don’t look at it (as we do any vehicle without a 46 at the end of the plate) and think ‘Huh! Tourist!’. Although we had made an appointment and given the garage the details of the new carte grise they hadn’t made up the number plates and were embarrassed that they weren’t ready for us. Not to worry, we went for a walk round the village in the meantime and caught up with how it has changed in the last 15 years since we first started visiting.
An English Estate Agent has set up there and, locals complain, this has pushed up house prices in the immediate vicinity. But at the same time, and possibly because of the influx of immigrants from Northern Europe, other things have smartened up. There are now two restaurants, two hairdressers, the ironmongery shop has moved in with the florist and sells all sorts of kitsch and the supermarket has had a huge make over. Unfortunately the dogs haven’t yet learned to clear up after themselves and there are gutters with an overwhelming smell of something unpleasant, but this is France. You cannot go for a stroll in any town or village without watching where you put your feet, unfortunately.
When we got back home with our new number plates, we found that our verges had been trimmed back again. Because of the rain this means that the lane is now covered in wet grass and weed cuttings – and we don’t know where Figgy had been hiding but he was wearing a very fetching green camouflage outfit so that he could play at ‘Commandos’. He decided to stay out last night, along with Jazz, probably because it was the first warm-ish dry night for some time. Misty did come in but got lonely in the kitchen all on her own and at about 3am Jon got up to let her into the rest of the house. Consequently she (who is a very heavy cat), came onto the bed, purred very loudly in my ear for half an hour before going to sleep on my feet.
The weather promises a good weekend but it is still very grey outside. We need it to dry up so that we can mow the lawn, strim, and all those other nice jobs that need a dry day.
Happy Friday everyone.
Thursday 23 August 2007
Finalement
Ste Rose
Yesterday's weather: Wet
It would appear that Castorama Direct have found our floor. They say it will be delivered within 2 - 5 working days. They don't tell us where it has been since it wasn't delivered last week, but at least we have something on the way.
I haven't telephoned them, I've been communicating via e-mail and I must say that they have been very good when I have contacted them. I did have to chase them up a couple of times when I didn't get a response immediately but when I told them off for it, they did at least come back with a message saying that they were looking into the matter for us.
I have also heard from Amazon France who had also managed to lose something they were sending us and another copy of Le guide de la Méhari is now on its way to us. They too were very pro-active when I contacted them.
We hope the chalet floor turns up closer to 2 than 5 working days from yesterday because we only have a week to erect the whole chalet before our next guests will need to sleep in it! I don't know how much time I'll have for blogging next week. And we are praying that the rain stops soon.
Yesterday's weather: Wet
It would appear that Castorama Direct have found our floor. They say it will be delivered within 2 - 5 working days. They don't tell us where it has been since it wasn't delivered last week, but at least we have something on the way.
I haven't telephoned them, I've been communicating via e-mail and I must say that they have been very good when I have contacted them. I did have to chase them up a couple of times when I didn't get a response immediately but when I told them off for it, they did at least come back with a message saying that they were looking into the matter for us.
I have also heard from Amazon France who had also managed to lose something they were sending us and another copy of Le guide de la Méhari is now on its way to us. They too were very pro-active when I contacted them.
We hope the chalet floor turns up closer to 2 than 5 working days from yesterday because we only have a week to erect the whole chalet before our next guests will need to sleep in it! I don't know how much time I'll have for blogging next week. And we are praying that the rain stops soon.
Wednesday 22 August 2007
Garlic soup and Bergerac wine
St Fabrice
Yesterday's weather. Very unseasonal!
We had a lovely day yesterday. We dropped in at the garage to arrange for new number plates for the Méhari and made an appointment to have them fitted on Thursday. Then we took a drive up into Dordogneshire to look at the views and have lunch in Domme.
Somehow we managed to miss all the rain and even sat outside the restaurant in the square where we had an extremely nice meal. I apologise to vegetarians now, but I thought I would describe this meal as it is typical of this region of France.
It started with the local speciality garlic soup. This might sound pretty anti-social, especially if you are not a garlic lover but it really isn't, it's a light white soup which always contains slices of pain de campagne and is really delicious. Knowing the health benefits of garlic it is probably very good for seeing off colds. And vampires too. Jon and our friend then had a duck terrine with foie gras, staying with the local speciality theme. I had a very nice smoked salmon and carpaccio of salmon duo. Then we had a speciality of that restaurant, a very rich coq au vin cooked in Bergerac wine served with wild mushrooms which were probably picked locally as it is coming in to mushroom hunting season.
The desserts are to die for! A Dommois is a cross between a mousse and an ice cream, made with walnuts and has a slightly nougat-y flavour. It's very popular in this restaurant. I chose a dish that is translated as 'cork-shaped rum baba with summer fruits'. Mmmmm. On my plate were two small rum babas with a small pot of crème anglaise a strawberry coulis, an apricot coulis, a slice of pineapple, a strawberry and a spoonful of chopped up Calvados jelly.
We aren't really dessert people, but we do enjoy a dessert when we are out for lunch or dinner, it's the only time we really spoil ourselves. That dessert alone would have cost about £8 in our favourite restaurant back in the UK, but here it was included in a set menu which was ridiculously well-priced. We are always amazed how French restaurants can produce an excellent meal for such a good price when back home in the UK the equivalent would probably cost around 2 1/2 times as much. That probably explains why restaurants like this one are always full, not only with tourists but locals too.
After lunch we took a pretty drive back home so that our visitor could collect his luggage before we returned him to the airport. The weather had been very miserable really for August but we had a lovely visit with him and look forward to his return later this year, we hope. On our way back from Toulouse we saw the most spectacular sunset through some amazing cloud formation, but by the time we were half way home the clouds had gathered and it rained heavily all the way. Back here we were greeted by two dryish cats who had obviously found shelter, and one little fellow who looked several pounds lighter than usual and rather spikey with his fur all soaked!
Yesterday's weather. Very unseasonal!
We had a lovely day yesterday. We dropped in at the garage to arrange for new number plates for the Méhari and made an appointment to have them fitted on Thursday. Then we took a drive up into Dordogneshire to look at the views and have lunch in Domme.
Somehow we managed to miss all the rain and even sat outside the restaurant in the square where we had an extremely nice meal. I apologise to vegetarians now, but I thought I would describe this meal as it is typical of this region of France.
It started with the local speciality garlic soup. This might sound pretty anti-social, especially if you are not a garlic lover but it really isn't, it's a light white soup which always contains slices of pain de campagne and is really delicious. Knowing the health benefits of garlic it is probably very good for seeing off colds. And vampires too. Jon and our friend then had a duck terrine with foie gras, staying with the local speciality theme. I had a very nice smoked salmon and carpaccio of salmon duo. Then we had a speciality of that restaurant, a very rich coq au vin cooked in Bergerac wine served with wild mushrooms which were probably picked locally as it is coming in to mushroom hunting season.
The desserts are to die for! A Dommois is a cross between a mousse and an ice cream, made with walnuts and has a slightly nougat-y flavour. It's very popular in this restaurant. I chose a dish that is translated as 'cork-shaped rum baba with summer fruits'. Mmmmm. On my plate were two small rum babas with a small pot of crème anglaise a strawberry coulis, an apricot coulis, a slice of pineapple, a strawberry and a spoonful of chopped up Calvados jelly.
We aren't really dessert people, but we do enjoy a dessert when we are out for lunch or dinner, it's the only time we really spoil ourselves. That dessert alone would have cost about £8 in our favourite restaurant back in the UK, but here it was included in a set menu which was ridiculously well-priced. We are always amazed how French restaurants can produce an excellent meal for such a good price when back home in the UK the equivalent would probably cost around 2 1/2 times as much. That probably explains why restaurants like this one are always full, not only with tourists but locals too.
After lunch we took a pretty drive back home so that our visitor could collect his luggage before we returned him to the airport. The weather had been very miserable really for August but we had a lovely visit with him and look forward to his return later this year, we hope. On our way back from Toulouse we saw the most spectacular sunset through some amazing cloud formation, but by the time we were half way home the clouds had gathered and it rained heavily all the way. Back here we were greeted by two dryish cats who had obviously found shelter, and one little fellow who looked several pounds lighter than usual and rather spikey with his fur all soaked!
Tuesday 21 August 2007
Three drowned rats
St Christophe
Yesterday's weather: Read on...
I said something was bound to happen yesterday. The sand, gravel and paving was delivered just after lunch by Zinadine Zidane. Well, he looked very much like ZiZi so we didn't upset him since we didn't want to be head butted.
ZiZi was a master with the crane and managed to get everything off his lorry safely without bringing down the phone line which is not best placed. We planned to work off the large pizzas I had made for lunch and set to filling the chalet base. Jon and our friend took it in turns to shovel and wheel barrow loads across the garden and I was tasked with raking it all into place.
At that point the heavens decided to open wide and pour gallons of water over us. It didn't stop until after dark so we worked for three hours in the rain. It may sound odd to say that all three of us really enjoyed ourselves and had a great sense of satisfaction when it was done. I have been feeling very sorry for our guest that he has had awful weather and we haven't been taking him out and about to see the area, but he claims he has been happy as we have fed him well (apparently) and he has finished the book he brought with him.
Still no news about the missing floor though. I'll have to chase it up again all day today. And it's raining again.
Yesterday's weather: Read on...
I said something was bound to happen yesterday. The sand, gravel and paving was delivered just after lunch by Zinadine Zidane. Well, he looked very much like ZiZi so we didn't upset him since we didn't want to be head butted.
ZiZi was a master with the crane and managed to get everything off his lorry safely without bringing down the phone line which is not best placed. We planned to work off the large pizzas I had made for lunch and set to filling the chalet base. Jon and our friend took it in turns to shovel and wheel barrow loads across the garden and I was tasked with raking it all into place.
At that point the heavens decided to open wide and pour gallons of water over us. It didn't stop until after dark so we worked for three hours in the rain. It may sound odd to say that all three of us really enjoyed ourselves and had a great sense of satisfaction when it was done. I have been feeling very sorry for our guest that he has had awful weather and we haven't been taking him out and about to see the area, but he claims he has been happy as we have fed him well (apparently) and he has finished the book he brought with him.
Still no news about the missing floor though. I'll have to chase it up again all day today. And it's raining again.
Monday 20 August 2007
Something is bound to happen
St Bernard
Yesterday's weather. Wet with sunny intervals
Well, today should be interesting. I have to wait in to receive the sand and gravel and paving slabs for the final fill of the chalet base. I am also hoping to receive the floor of the chalet IF the transport company still have it. If they don't I have no idea how long it may take to find it and deliver it in the end. It may just be easier to request a refund and go to the local brico shop to buy floorboards ourselves. I have a sneaking suspicion that I may be sitting around until 7pm waiting for something to happen. Again. It could be a long day.
Meanwhile, as it was raining, our visitor introduced me to the delights of Facebook.com. This is a website where you can keep in touch with friends and even play Scrabble with them. That was the attraction to me, so now I have a couple of games of Scrabble going and I just have to check in now and then to play. I love Scrabble, and other board games but Jon isn't so keen. This could be because we can both be bad losers - not always though, but you can get very fed up with playing the same person all the time, especially when they keep winning. I may get like that with Scrabble, but we'll see.
So if you are registered on Facebook and fancy a game, send me a comment after this (or any other blog) letting me know your e-mail address so that I can let you be my friend. I guarantee not to publish any comments with e-mail addresses in them.
Now, what can I make with J, X, Z, Q, A, I, L?
Yesterday's weather. Wet with sunny intervals
Well, today should be interesting. I have to wait in to receive the sand and gravel and paving slabs for the final fill of the chalet base. I am also hoping to receive the floor of the chalet IF the transport company still have it. If they don't I have no idea how long it may take to find it and deliver it in the end. It may just be easier to request a refund and go to the local brico shop to buy floorboards ourselves. I have a sneaking suspicion that I may be sitting around until 7pm waiting for something to happen. Again. It could be a long day.
Meanwhile, as it was raining, our visitor introduced me to the delights of Facebook.com. This is a website where you can keep in touch with friends and even play Scrabble with them. That was the attraction to me, so now I have a couple of games of Scrabble going and I just have to check in now and then to play. I love Scrabble, and other board games but Jon isn't so keen. This could be because we can both be bad losers - not always though, but you can get very fed up with playing the same person all the time, especially when they keep winning. I may get like that with Scrabble, but we'll see.
So if you are registered on Facebook and fancy a game, send me a comment after this (or any other blog) letting me know your e-mail address so that I can let you be my friend. I guarantee not to publish any comments with e-mail addresses in them.
Now, what can I make with J, X, Z, Q, A, I, L?
Sunday 19 August 2007
Excuse me if I scream
Ste Mylène
Yesterday's weather: Lovely
We had a lovely morning yesterday. It was market day so we joined the many thousands of others in our little local town - sitting in a traffic jam. The first since we left the UK. We should have known better on a Saturday in August, but we wanted to show off the area to our visiting friend. We did eventually park and, after a quick tour of the market stalls and realising that if I bought anything (cheese, fish) it wouldn't enjoy the walk we intended to do, we set off up the hill to the viewing platform at the top of the town. From here, you can see for many miles in every direction. It really is a stunning view on a beautiful clear day, which is was. Back down in town we bought the few things we needed for lunch and returned home.
After lunch we tackled the pile of wooden jigsaw pieces that is our chalet, planning to check the contents and then move them all over to the prepared site on the other side of our land.
The floor of the chalet is missing.
I have contacted customer services and we are waiting for a reply from them when they have been in touch with the haulier who, of course, don't work on Saturdays or Sundays. Meanwhile we will sit and twiddle our thumbs. Not patiently! We have already waited six weeks for the chalet to be delivered and can't do anything without laying the floor first. We are all set and ready to go and had planned next week's work. Now we are so frustrated and I just don't feel that my French is good enough to have a real rant on the phone. I mean, I could rant away but then I would be so wound up that I won't understand whatever they say in response. I just want to go to the bottom of the garden and have a good scream like I did in the old days when we had three teenage girls in the house. (Sorry girls).
This morning the boy has got me up bright and early again. I wish it was bright. It's pouring with rain - weather to match my mood.
Yesterday's weather: Lovely
We had a lovely morning yesterday. It was market day so we joined the many thousands of others in our little local town - sitting in a traffic jam. The first since we left the UK. We should have known better on a Saturday in August, but we wanted to show off the area to our visiting friend. We did eventually park and, after a quick tour of the market stalls and realising that if I bought anything (cheese, fish) it wouldn't enjoy the walk we intended to do, we set off up the hill to the viewing platform at the top of the town. From here, you can see for many miles in every direction. It really is a stunning view on a beautiful clear day, which is was. Back down in town we bought the few things we needed for lunch and returned home.
After lunch we tackled the pile of wooden jigsaw pieces that is our chalet, planning to check the contents and then move them all over to the prepared site on the other side of our land.
The floor of the chalet is missing.
I have contacted customer services and we are waiting for a reply from them when they have been in touch with the haulier who, of course, don't work on Saturdays or Sundays. Meanwhile we will sit and twiddle our thumbs. Not patiently! We have already waited six weeks for the chalet to be delivered and can't do anything without laying the floor first. We are all set and ready to go and had planned next week's work. Now we are so frustrated and I just don't feel that my French is good enough to have a real rant on the phone. I mean, I could rant away but then I would be so wound up that I won't understand whatever they say in response. I just want to go to the bottom of the garden and have a good scream like I did in the old days when we had three teenage girls in the house. (Sorry girls).
This morning the boy has got me up bright and early again. I wish it was bright. It's pouring with rain - weather to match my mood.
Saturday 18 August 2007
In the twilight
Ste Hélène
Yesterday's weather: Bit grey, bit sunny, bit warm. No rain.
Yesterday evening around 6.30 I was furious. Depsite the promises of the other day we still had not received the chalet. Then the phone rang.
'Bonjour, Madame' The voice at the other end of the phone gave me the name of a delivery company. 'Oh, here it is.' I thought. 'Excuses and delays again. How many more weeks?' 'I'm in Brive' he explained 'and I have a chalet to deliver to you. Should be there about 9.30 is that OK?'
I thought he must mean 9.30am tomorrow but no, he wanted to deliver at 9.30 last night. Well, it was going to interrupt the curry meal we had been preparing for two days and would disrupt the first evening of our friend's visit, but there was no way I was going to let the delivery slip. Who knows where they might take it and how long it would take to get it back, so we agreed 9.30. His final question was 'Is Madame certain that a large lorry would be able to get close to the house? Oui, Madame is quite sure (again).
We had just finished our poppadums at 8.15 and were thinking of going on to the main course when we heard a large lorry coming up the driveway. It had no trouble turning around and parked next to the gateway. Out hopped two short weedy men and one tall weedy man, two with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths, one had a severe limp. 'I'm wounded', he explained as he shook hands with us all. The other two shook hands too. Now, I'll pause for a minute here. When did the Tesco delivery man ever shake hands with every member of the household when he came to unload the toilet rolls, tins of baked beans and cat litter? Not in my recollection. Nor the electricity meter reader, nor the skip delivery man. Everyone shakes hands here. We weren't too happy about it when it was the chaps who emptied the septic tank but here, c'est normale. Garage mechanics are among the few (butchers included) who don't offer the whole hand. You have to shake their wrist as they don't want to contaminate you with oil or blood and guts. This is a very polite society where you do not address people by their first names unless invited to do so. Everyone shakes hands and children will always address you as Monsieur and Madame and will kiss you on both cheeks when they leave. Swanne even gives Figgy two petit bisous when he has been to visit.
So, back to the lorry. How to unload two sheds, one terrace, a water butt and a shower unit from a lorry. Well, it's simple. No tail gate, no fork lift. You pass out the water butt, followed by the three component parts of the shower cubicle, then you unwrap the rest and pass it down from the lorry slat by slat. Easy peasy. The weedy chaps from the lorry were remarkably fit despite the fact that they looked as though a sharp gust of wind would blow them over. In no time, the chalet and terrace were sitting in the garden in pieces. There was just one shed left. They shifted the lorry and opened another door. There was some dispute about how to remove this shed from the lorry. 'I'll unwrap it again' said the driver. 'That's stupid' said the smallest man (the one with the limp) as he relit his cigarette and he moved two pieces of wood from the pallet and placed them on the ground. Two of them got under the complete packaging of the shed and Jon and our friend rushed to help them (they would certainly have been squashed because their shoulders didn't even come up as high as the floor of the lorry). The last chap jumped out and one shed, complete in its wrapping, was hauled onto their shoulders and placed on the ground. We checked the paperwork, signed for the delivery and after much more hand shaking they clambered back into the lorry.
They wished us bon weekend laughing that their work was over but just look how much we have to do now!
Oh help! Now the fun will start!
Yesterday's weather: Bit grey, bit sunny, bit warm. No rain.
Yesterday evening around 6.30 I was furious. Depsite the promises of the other day we still had not received the chalet. Then the phone rang.
'Bonjour, Madame' The voice at the other end of the phone gave me the name of a delivery company. 'Oh, here it is.' I thought. 'Excuses and delays again. How many more weeks?' 'I'm in Brive' he explained 'and I have a chalet to deliver to you. Should be there about 9.30 is that OK?'
I thought he must mean 9.30am tomorrow but no, he wanted to deliver at 9.30 last night. Well, it was going to interrupt the curry meal we had been preparing for two days and would disrupt the first evening of our friend's visit, but there was no way I was going to let the delivery slip. Who knows where they might take it and how long it would take to get it back, so we agreed 9.30. His final question was 'Is Madame certain that a large lorry would be able to get close to the house? Oui, Madame is quite sure (again).
We had just finished our poppadums at 8.15 and were thinking of going on to the main course when we heard a large lorry coming up the driveway. It had no trouble turning around and parked next to the gateway. Out hopped two short weedy men and one tall weedy man, two with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths, one had a severe limp. 'I'm wounded', he explained as he shook hands with us all. The other two shook hands too. Now, I'll pause for a minute here. When did the Tesco delivery man ever shake hands with every member of the household when he came to unload the toilet rolls, tins of baked beans and cat litter? Not in my recollection. Nor the electricity meter reader, nor the skip delivery man. Everyone shakes hands here. We weren't too happy about it when it was the chaps who emptied the septic tank but here, c'est normale. Garage mechanics are among the few (butchers included) who don't offer the whole hand. You have to shake their wrist as they don't want to contaminate you with oil or blood and guts. This is a very polite society where you do not address people by their first names unless invited to do so. Everyone shakes hands and children will always address you as Monsieur and Madame and will kiss you on both cheeks when they leave. Swanne even gives Figgy two petit bisous when he has been to visit.
So, back to the lorry. How to unload two sheds, one terrace, a water butt and a shower unit from a lorry. Well, it's simple. No tail gate, no fork lift. You pass out the water butt, followed by the three component parts of the shower cubicle, then you unwrap the rest and pass it down from the lorry slat by slat. Easy peasy. The weedy chaps from the lorry were remarkably fit despite the fact that they looked as though a sharp gust of wind would blow them over. In no time, the chalet and terrace were sitting in the garden in pieces. There was just one shed left. They shifted the lorry and opened another door. There was some dispute about how to remove this shed from the lorry. 'I'll unwrap it again' said the driver. 'That's stupid' said the smallest man (the one with the limp) as he relit his cigarette and he moved two pieces of wood from the pallet and placed them on the ground. Two of them got under the complete packaging of the shed and Jon and our friend rushed to help them (they would certainly have been squashed because their shoulders didn't even come up as high as the floor of the lorry). The last chap jumped out and one shed, complete in its wrapping, was hauled onto their shoulders and placed on the ground. We checked the paperwork, signed for the delivery and after much more hand shaking they clambered back into the lorry.
They wished us bon weekend laughing that their work was over but just look how much we have to do now!
Oh help! Now the fun will start!
Friday 17 August 2007
Why dahlias?
Ste Hyacinthe
Yesterday's weather: cooler but sunny
Happy birthday to Joe, holidaying in Crete at the moment.
I'm alone this morning. Jon has gone to Toulouse airport to collect our friend who will be staying for a few days. Unfortunately the weather forecast isn't brilliant. No rain but not particularly warm either. In fact, I thought I detected a sheen of frost on the car windscreen when I peered out at 7am - I do hope not. None of the plants seem to have suffered. Meanwhile, I am waiting here hoping that the chalet will be delivered at last. The delivery company promised to telephone before delivering but said that it would be by the end of this week. So, it's Friday and they don't deliver on Saturdays..... I'm still waiting.
My young friend appeared again yesterday afternoon with a huge bunch of dahlias from her mother's garden. I do hope she asked her mother's permission first! They are just beautiful and it was such a co-incidence that Jon and I had just been talking about dahlias on our way to Brive yesterday morning. We have noticed that many potagers here have a row or two of dahlias growing amongst the vegetables and we wonder if they are particularly good for seeing off any potential pests? We will have to look that up in a book of country folklore or some such book. I know that growing marigolds in a vegetable plot is good for attracting black fly but I haven't read anything about dahlias.
The main reason for her visit, she said, was to check whether Jazz had returned after her three day absence. She had taken it upon herself to tell all the neighbours that she was missing and wanted an update. Luckily I was able to reassure her and she said she would go and tell them all not to worry.
She also asked if we had lost any other cats or if we just had the three as two beautiful white cats had been hit by a car recently. I am so glad it wasn't ours but I do feel for the person who lost them. I wonder if they may have been strays as in recent years we have seen a couple of little white strays cats in the area.
Young Swanne loves to come and ring all our wind chimes. We have three around which can be quite annoying on a windy night but at the same time strangely soothing. Swanne just loves them all and has to make a tour of the garden in order to check them all out. We'll miss them when they return home at the end of August.
Yesterday's weather: cooler but sunny
Happy birthday to Joe, holidaying in Crete at the moment.
I'm alone this morning. Jon has gone to Toulouse airport to collect our friend who will be staying for a few days. Unfortunately the weather forecast isn't brilliant. No rain but not particularly warm either. In fact, I thought I detected a sheen of frost on the car windscreen when I peered out at 7am - I do hope not. None of the plants seem to have suffered. Meanwhile, I am waiting here hoping that the chalet will be delivered at last. The delivery company promised to telephone before delivering but said that it would be by the end of this week. So, it's Friday and they don't deliver on Saturdays..... I'm still waiting.
My young friend appeared again yesterday afternoon with a huge bunch of dahlias from her mother's garden. I do hope she asked her mother's permission first! They are just beautiful and it was such a co-incidence that Jon and I had just been talking about dahlias on our way to Brive yesterday morning. We have noticed that many potagers here have a row or two of dahlias growing amongst the vegetables and we wonder if they are particularly good for seeing off any potential pests? We will have to look that up in a book of country folklore or some such book. I know that growing marigolds in a vegetable plot is good for attracting black fly but I haven't read anything about dahlias.
The main reason for her visit, she said, was to check whether Jazz had returned after her three day absence. She had taken it upon herself to tell all the neighbours that she was missing and wanted an update. Luckily I was able to reassure her and she said she would go and tell them all not to worry.
She also asked if we had lost any other cats or if we just had the three as two beautiful white cats had been hit by a car recently. I am so glad it wasn't ours but I do feel for the person who lost them. I wonder if they may have been strays as in recent years we have seen a couple of little white strays cats in the area.
Young Swanne loves to come and ring all our wind chimes. We have three around which can be quite annoying on a windy night but at the same time strangely soothing. Swanne just loves them all and has to make a tour of the garden in order to check them all out. We'll miss them when they return home at the end of August.
Thursday 16 August 2007
Buying fresh
We went to Grand Frais in Brive again this morning and bought so many fresh veggies it is a good job we have a friend staying this weekend. I may have to invite some others round to help us eat them all up as well.
In the past we have been unlucky in our search for wild mushrooms in the woods behind us. Either there aren't any (unlikely), or the locals are getting up there at the crack of dawn (more likely) and beating us to it! So I bought a few girolles and pleurettes and trompets de mort this morning. I didn't believe the price they were selling loose girolles and pleurottes at, so I just put a handful of each in a bag and took them to the cash desk. I bought the trompets de mort in a plastic box. I think they will be very nice fried in butter with maybe a little sherry vinegar to dress them. I was most surprised when we got home to check the bill and see that the girolles were only 33 cents, and the pleurottes 39! If only I had believed them I would have bought more and made a lovely wild mushroom soup instead (or as well). Anyway, there are plenty for three of us to have a good mixed mushroom dish this weekend and we will enjoy them.
I know I should go out mushrooming early in the morning when the kitten wakes me so early, but I prefer to sit quietly watching the sun come up and writing - well, this actually.
In the past we have been unlucky in our search for wild mushrooms in the woods behind us. Either there aren't any (unlikely), or the locals are getting up there at the crack of dawn (more likely) and beating us to it! So I bought a few girolles and pleurettes and trompets de mort this morning. I didn't believe the price they were selling loose girolles and pleurottes at, so I just put a handful of each in a bag and took them to the cash desk. I bought the trompets de mort in a plastic box. I think they will be very nice fried in butter with maybe a little sherry vinegar to dress them. I was most surprised when we got home to check the bill and see that the girolles were only 33 cents, and the pleurottes 39! If only I had believed them I would have bought more and made a lovely wild mushroom soup instead (or as well). Anyway, there are plenty for three of us to have a good mixed mushroom dish this weekend and we will enjoy them.
I know I should go out mushrooming early in the morning when the kitten wakes me so early, but I prefer to sit quietly watching the sun come up and writing - well, this actually.
Gone shopping
St Armel
Yesterday's weather: Very hot, sticky. Rain overnight
We're off to our favourite food shop this morning. I'll be back later
Yesterday's weather: Very hot, sticky. Rain overnight
We're off to our favourite food shop this morning. I'll be back later
Wednesday 15 August 2007
Introduction to a Swanne
Ste Marie
Yesterday's weather: hot, sticky.
For the last couple of days Figgy has had a visitor. Not many people pass by our house apart from the neighbours in their cars on their way to work or home again. If anyone is passing they are usually walkers making a circuit from the village through the woods on this hill behind us, or maybe mushroomers after some of the cepes which the locals find a delicacy and we find a challenge. So we were surprised to find a young mother and her toddler son sitting outside the gates playing with Figgy the other day.
I went to speak to them. 'Bonjour', I said. 'He's very friendly, isn't he?' 'Oh, Madame, he is too friendly' said the young mother. She went on to tell me that she had been to visit Figgy a couple of times in the last few weeks and that he had followed her and her son down to the main road. She was so worried that the cat would run onto the road that she tried to frighten him away before gathering up her little one in her arms and running home.
Home for the summer, she said, is a house opposite where she and her son are staying with her parents for the whole of August. She pointed it out and we chatted for a few minutes before she and her son went on their way.
They returned yesterday. I was hanging out the washing as they passed and I waved to them. She asked if it would bother us if they stopped to play with Figaro again, but they hadn't seen him as they passed the gate. I went to find him and they came into the garden to play for a while. She had brought with her a bag of beans and tomatoes from her parents potager with a little note inside saying that it was from our neighbours opposite, Monsieur and Madame L. In a way I was disappointed. We've always referred to her as Mrs Veranda (or Mrs Veranda-Flapper thanks to her 'own' contribution to this blog some weeks ago). Now, I have to call them by their real names. But we were also very touched that her daughter had taken the trouble to collect up a bag of what were, I must say, delicious beans and tomatoes. She stopped a while and told us about all our neighbours that we haven't yet met. They all live behind big fences and have big dogs so we haven't been bold enough to go and knock on doors.
The little boy is such a sweetie, the sort of child you want to hug to you. He loves Figgy and was amazed by the size of Misty who he followed around the garden as she tried to get away from this child that she hadn't been properly introduced to. The child's name, we were told is Swanne. We've never heard that one before but maybe he was named for his elegant long neck. We are looking forward to their next visit. Perhaps I will wander home with her to meet the Verandas in the flesh instead of by semaphore as she flaps her tea towel over the veranda after every meal.
Delivery update
I had a phone call yesterday from the people who are delivering the chalet, shed and shower. Is Madame sure that a big lorry can get up our driveway to deliver it? Yes, Madame is sure there will be no problem. No, but is Madame sure that there will be access for a big lorry? Yes, Madame is quite sure. OK, then, how do they find the house? I gave directions. Thank you. But is Madame quite sure that the lorry will be able to deliver to her house?
By this time I was beginning to think, like Terry Wogan, 'Is it me?' Yes, there will absolutely, definitely, for certain be NO PROBLEM to get a big lorry up to the house to deliver the chalet and other items. Well, if Madame is sure then they will deliver by the end of the week. This week? Yes, Madame, this week. I didn't quite hear him say normalement but I'll believe it when I see it. He is going to call me when the delivery is imminent.
It wasn't until I had put the phone down that I began to wonder what he would have done if I had said that he couldn't get a big lorry up to the house.
Yesterday's weather: hot, sticky.
For the last couple of days Figgy has had a visitor. Not many people pass by our house apart from the neighbours in their cars on their way to work or home again. If anyone is passing they are usually walkers making a circuit from the village through the woods on this hill behind us, or maybe mushroomers after some of the cepes which the locals find a delicacy and we find a challenge. So we were surprised to find a young mother and her toddler son sitting outside the gates playing with Figgy the other day.
I went to speak to them. 'Bonjour', I said. 'He's very friendly, isn't he?' 'Oh, Madame, he is too friendly' said the young mother. She went on to tell me that she had been to visit Figgy a couple of times in the last few weeks and that he had followed her and her son down to the main road. She was so worried that the cat would run onto the road that she tried to frighten him away before gathering up her little one in her arms and running home.
Home for the summer, she said, is a house opposite where she and her son are staying with her parents for the whole of August. She pointed it out and we chatted for a few minutes before she and her son went on their way.
They returned yesterday. I was hanging out the washing as they passed and I waved to them. She asked if it would bother us if they stopped to play with Figaro again, but they hadn't seen him as they passed the gate. I went to find him and they came into the garden to play for a while. She had brought with her a bag of beans and tomatoes from her parents potager with a little note inside saying that it was from our neighbours opposite, Monsieur and Madame L. In a way I was disappointed. We've always referred to her as Mrs Veranda (or Mrs Veranda-Flapper thanks to her 'own' contribution to this blog some weeks ago). Now, I have to call them by their real names. But we were also very touched that her daughter had taken the trouble to collect up a bag of what were, I must say, delicious beans and tomatoes. She stopped a while and told us about all our neighbours that we haven't yet met. They all live behind big fences and have big dogs so we haven't been bold enough to go and knock on doors.
The little boy is such a sweetie, the sort of child you want to hug to you. He loves Figgy and was amazed by the size of Misty who he followed around the garden as she tried to get away from this child that she hadn't been properly introduced to. The child's name, we were told is Swanne. We've never heard that one before but maybe he was named for his elegant long neck. We are looking forward to their next visit. Perhaps I will wander home with her to meet the Verandas in the flesh instead of by semaphore as she flaps her tea towel over the veranda after every meal.
Delivery update
I had a phone call yesterday from the people who are delivering the chalet, shed and shower. Is Madame sure that a big lorry can get up our driveway to deliver it? Yes, Madame is sure there will be no problem. No, but is Madame sure that there will be access for a big lorry? Yes, Madame is quite sure. OK, then, how do they find the house? I gave directions. Thank you. But is Madame quite sure that the lorry will be able to deliver to her house?
By this time I was beginning to think, like Terry Wogan, 'Is it me?' Yes, there will absolutely, definitely, for certain be NO PROBLEM to get a big lorry up to the house to deliver the chalet and other items. Well, if Madame is sure then they will deliver by the end of the week. This week? Yes, Madame, this week. I didn't quite hear him say normalement but I'll believe it when I see it. He is going to call me when the delivery is imminent.
It wasn't until I had put the phone down that I began to wonder what he would have done if I had said that he couldn't get a big lorry up to the house.
Tuesday 14 August 2007
Chez Louise
St Evrard
Yesterday's weather: Very nice, thank you.
Last night we met up with some friends and went in search of a restaurant. It was a spur of the moment meeting and as one couple live south of here and another were holidaying north, we ended up on our 'patch', so to speak.
Monday is not a particularly good night to try and find a restaurant as so many close for the day after a usually frantic weekend. We decided to head for the nearest large town but as we passed through a village I suddenly remembered passing a small auberge there so we thought we would give it a try.
Luckily it was open, and if Madame was somewhat surprised to have to find a table for six unreserved on a Monday evening she coped with it very well. Her English was very good and she obviously wanted to use it so we sat back and relaxed, not having to translate everything for friends who find French a little challenging at times. Our friend jokingly asked Madame if she needed a hand with the washing up as she had mentioned to us that she and the chef were working alone that evening, and quick as a flash she responded 'No, it's OK, I have the dog!'
We really did find a little gem there. While not cheap and not plentiful, the food was delicious, served hot (something that is a bit of a hit-and-miss affair especially in the tourist season) and the nougat glace was to die for.
As we were leaving, one of our friends stopped to chat with Madame, saying that he intended to live in France once his children had finished university. He asked what she thought about the influx of English, German, Dutch and Belgians in the area, saying that he had heard that the Dutch are renowned for bringing their own food on holiday with them. 'Yes', she laughed, ' they even bring the cat food with them! It's not so good for the local economy. But we are mostly happy to have people move into the area because they do bring good business to the area and they are friendly too.'
We left the restaurant with that nice warm, fuzzy feeling that you sometimes get after a good meal with good company. It doesn't always happen, but doesn't it make you feel great when it does?
Yesterday's weather: Very nice, thank you.
Last night we met up with some friends and went in search of a restaurant. It was a spur of the moment meeting and as one couple live south of here and another were holidaying north, we ended up on our 'patch', so to speak.
Monday is not a particularly good night to try and find a restaurant as so many close for the day after a usually frantic weekend. We decided to head for the nearest large town but as we passed through a village I suddenly remembered passing a small auberge there so we thought we would give it a try.
Luckily it was open, and if Madame was somewhat surprised to have to find a table for six unreserved on a Monday evening she coped with it very well. Her English was very good and she obviously wanted to use it so we sat back and relaxed, not having to translate everything for friends who find French a little challenging at times. Our friend jokingly asked Madame if she needed a hand with the washing up as she had mentioned to us that she and the chef were working alone that evening, and quick as a flash she responded 'No, it's OK, I have the dog!'
We really did find a little gem there. While not cheap and not plentiful, the food was delicious, served hot (something that is a bit of a hit-and-miss affair especially in the tourist season) and the nougat glace was to die for.
As we were leaving, one of our friends stopped to chat with Madame, saying that he intended to live in France once his children had finished university. He asked what she thought about the influx of English, German, Dutch and Belgians in the area, saying that he had heard that the Dutch are renowned for bringing their own food on holiday with them. 'Yes', she laughed, ' they even bring the cat food with them! It's not so good for the local economy. But we are mostly happy to have people move into the area because they do bring good business to the area and they are friendly too.'
We left the restaurant with that nice warm, fuzzy feeling that you sometimes get after a good meal with good company. It doesn't always happen, but doesn't it make you feel great when it does?
Monday 13 August 2007
Books and reading
St Hyppolyte
Yesterday's weather: Mostly sunny, hot, quite heavy. Until midnight when it clouded over so we couldn't see the meteors.
We had a lovely afternoon yesterday. We met face to face for the first time with our book group. The group is still in its infancy and is quite small. I suppose the official membership is 8 but the group organiser invited us all to lunch yesterday afternoon and we found that, in fact, most of our partners are also reading, so that almost doubles it. Eleven of us met for lunch to choose books for the next three months.
It is much easier for us to buy books in advance as it saves on postage if we can order several at one time from Amazon in the UK. Also, some of us are lucky enough to live close to each other so we can share books too. Which, of course helps keep the paper mountain down.
We had a cull of books before we moved in, but we still manage to have too many, and I've just ordered another 5! The trouble is that three of us had 4 books each to suggest and it was very difficult to select them. I suspect we are not the only ones from the group who want to read more than one book from each selection.
As is normal with us retired folk when meeting others for the first time, our conversations turned to 'the previous life'. 'Do you miss work?' was one of the more popular questions. 'Not at all' was the usual answer. 'All those meetings. God, no, I don't miss those'.
It struck me later as very amusing that we had all just got together for the first time for .......... a meeting!
Yesterday's weather: Mostly sunny, hot, quite heavy. Until midnight when it clouded over so we couldn't see the meteors.
We had a lovely afternoon yesterday. We met face to face for the first time with our book group. The group is still in its infancy and is quite small. I suppose the official membership is 8 but the group organiser invited us all to lunch yesterday afternoon and we found that, in fact, most of our partners are also reading, so that almost doubles it. Eleven of us met for lunch to choose books for the next three months.
It is much easier for us to buy books in advance as it saves on postage if we can order several at one time from Amazon in the UK. Also, some of us are lucky enough to live close to each other so we can share books too. Which, of course helps keep the paper mountain down.
We had a cull of books before we moved in, but we still manage to have too many, and I've just ordered another 5! The trouble is that three of us had 4 books each to suggest and it was very difficult to select them. I suspect we are not the only ones from the group who want to read more than one book from each selection.
As is normal with us retired folk when meeting others for the first time, our conversations turned to 'the previous life'. 'Do you miss work?' was one of the more popular questions. 'Not at all' was the usual answer. 'All those meetings. God, no, I don't miss those'.
It struck me later as very amusing that we had all just got together for the first time for .......... a meeting!
Sunday 12 August 2007
Staying in touch
Ste Clarisse
Yesterday's weather: Not bad at all
Throughout last December and January we spent a lot of time visiting, inviting and eating out with as many friends and family as we could. 'Don't forget to stay in touch' they all said. 'We'll miss you. Promise we'll write', or e-mail, or phone, or visit. That was then and this is now.
We have been surprised by the people who have stayed in touch regularly over the last 6 months. We are touched that they e-mail us or sometimes phone. Many of them are people we didn't really expect to keep in contact. Sometimes we have a surprise call - or indeed visitor, for example the man I found standing in the garden last week. I did think he looked vaguely familiar but couldn't put a name to the face. He said 'Bonjour', so I said 'Bonjour' in return, obviously the creases in my forehead were deep enough for him to spot at a distance so he switched to English and said 'You don't remember me do you?'. Well as soon as he spoke English I did place him. He is an ex-colleague of Jon's who stayed here for a week many years ago, shortly after we had bought this house. He was in the neighbourhood and thought he would stop by to see if we were home. He and his family are thinking of buying in the region so we are hoping to meet up with them again before they return to the UK and when they get back later in the year.
In the same week, Jon had an unexpected telephone call from another guy he used to work with. Again, totally unexpected and out of the blue. It was great to hear from him and he promised to mail us soon. Unfortunately we didn't get his telephone number and so we are waiting for his e-mail so that we can stay in touch!
Suddenly at the end of last week I had two e-mails in ten minutes, one from Spain and one from Italy. They followed on from two others a couple of weeks ago, again, one from Spain and one from Italy. Four different people and I was delighted again, to hear from them and to hear their news. Isn't e-mail wonderful? Looking through my in-box I see that in the last few weeks we have also heard from America and Australia and more friends in Italy.
We are expecting a flurry of visitors over the next three weekends, having been quiet since mid-June. The first arrives at the end of next week and we are very much looking forward to seeing him. We used to go out from time to time to an Indian restaurant in Guildford and I was having a 'Moloncho' moment the other week and mentioned to him in an e-mail that we were having withdrawal symptoms. He agreed so I invited him round for a curry, after all it's only a 90 minute plane trip (plus all the travelling either end.....). He's coming for 5 days so I am looking out other recipes too. Can't be eating curry all weekend - think of the consequences!
The next visitors we haven't seen for, probably, 14 years. They are staying two nights and travelling down from the Home Counties on a motorbike. Now that, I say, is effort! I'll have to prime my vocal chords for that visit. 14 years worth of news will mean an awful lot of talking - we'll need to keep the throats well lubricated of course. Can't damage the voices.
The third set of visitors are my brother and his family, on a flying visit for a couple of days before school term begins again. Unfortunately we've spent very little time with them in recent years. It's always difficult when you live on opposing sides of the M25 to have very much time together, so it will be lovely to see them too. We're getting the table tennis set up and Jon and I will be practicing over the next few weeks so that we can take on our young nephew (and his Dad!).
What is equally surprising is how many people have not stayed in touch. People we thought would be the first to be in touch and those we expected to want to come and visit very soon. It's difficult to know what to do for the best. I wonder how many letters or e-mails it is polite to send without getting a response before one becomes a stalker?
No, of course I don't mean you. You're OK.
Now, a quick update on the carte grise situation. You may remember I said that the process normally takes about an hour but, guess what? We took all the paperwork to the Prefecture where it was checked in. The young lady looked at me and said 'Normalement, Madame' (you know where this is going, don't you?) 'Normalement it will only take one hour. But this is August, and the carte grise department is only open in the afternoon..'
They will be sending it by mail and we should receive it by the end of next week. But of course, there is a public holiday on Wednesday .....
Yesterday's weather: Not bad at all
Throughout last December and January we spent a lot of time visiting, inviting and eating out with as many friends and family as we could. 'Don't forget to stay in touch' they all said. 'We'll miss you. Promise we'll write', or e-mail, or phone, or visit. That was then and this is now.
We have been surprised by the people who have stayed in touch regularly over the last 6 months. We are touched that they e-mail us or sometimes phone. Many of them are people we didn't really expect to keep in contact. Sometimes we have a surprise call - or indeed visitor, for example the man I found standing in the garden last week. I did think he looked vaguely familiar but couldn't put a name to the face. He said 'Bonjour', so I said 'Bonjour' in return, obviously the creases in my forehead were deep enough for him to spot at a distance so he switched to English and said 'You don't remember me do you?'. Well as soon as he spoke English I did place him. He is an ex-colleague of Jon's who stayed here for a week many years ago, shortly after we had bought this house. He was in the neighbourhood and thought he would stop by to see if we were home. He and his family are thinking of buying in the region so we are hoping to meet up with them again before they return to the UK and when they get back later in the year.
In the same week, Jon had an unexpected telephone call from another guy he used to work with. Again, totally unexpected and out of the blue. It was great to hear from him and he promised to mail us soon. Unfortunately we didn't get his telephone number and so we are waiting for his e-mail so that we can stay in touch!
Suddenly at the end of last week I had two e-mails in ten minutes, one from Spain and one from Italy. They followed on from two others a couple of weeks ago, again, one from Spain and one from Italy. Four different people and I was delighted again, to hear from them and to hear their news. Isn't e-mail wonderful? Looking through my in-box I see that in the last few weeks we have also heard from America and Australia and more friends in Italy.
We are expecting a flurry of visitors over the next three weekends, having been quiet since mid-June. The first arrives at the end of next week and we are very much looking forward to seeing him. We used to go out from time to time to an Indian restaurant in Guildford and I was having a 'Moloncho' moment the other week and mentioned to him in an e-mail that we were having withdrawal symptoms. He agreed so I invited him round for a curry, after all it's only a 90 minute plane trip (plus all the travelling either end.....). He's coming for 5 days so I am looking out other recipes too. Can't be eating curry all weekend - think of the consequences!
The next visitors we haven't seen for, probably, 14 years. They are staying two nights and travelling down from the Home Counties on a motorbike. Now that, I say, is effort! I'll have to prime my vocal chords for that visit. 14 years worth of news will mean an awful lot of talking - we'll need to keep the throats well lubricated of course. Can't damage the voices.
The third set of visitors are my brother and his family, on a flying visit for a couple of days before school term begins again. Unfortunately we've spent very little time with them in recent years. It's always difficult when you live on opposing sides of the M25 to have very much time together, so it will be lovely to see them too. We're getting the table tennis set up and Jon and I will be practicing over the next few weeks so that we can take on our young nephew (and his Dad!).
What is equally surprising is how many people have not stayed in touch. People we thought would be the first to be in touch and those we expected to want to come and visit very soon. It's difficult to know what to do for the best. I wonder how many letters or e-mails it is polite to send without getting a response before one becomes a stalker?
No, of course I don't mean you. You're OK.
Now, a quick update on the carte grise situation. You may remember I said that the process normally takes about an hour but, guess what? We took all the paperwork to the Prefecture where it was checked in. The young lady looked at me and said 'Normalement, Madame' (you know where this is going, don't you?) 'Normalement it will only take one hour. But this is August, and the carte grise department is only open in the afternoon..'
They will be sending it by mail and we should receive it by the end of next week. But of course, there is a public holiday on Wednesday .....
Saturday 11 August 2007
Country matters and meteors
Ste Claire
Yesterday's weather - cool, sunny, windy
Our deer seem to have taken up permanent residence in the field just in front of our house. Mummy, Daddy and baby deer come out to graze on a regular basis, either en masse or one at a time - except the baby, he/she is always accompanied by one of the parents. I expect they will be disappearing again once the field has it's second cut which will probably be some weeks yet. In a normal year we have two cuts, one in June and the second usually about now, but this year the growth is still very green and not suitable yet for hay. It won't be long now before the hunting season is back. Early September will bring all the white van men out with their guns and dogs hunting for anything that moves. We hope that 'our' deer may be canny enough to avoid them but there are so many that it seems unlikely. La chasse is part of life out here and something that we are getting used to. But we don't have to like it.
We don't often see Mr D the farmer but he was counting his cows the other day and we stopped to say 'Bonjour' and chat about the weather (which is about his only topic of conversation). We asked if he had had a holiday as we noticed the house closed up for a few days. He very proudly said that they had had a little holiday of 4 days and promptly changed the subject back to the weather again. We were pleased to hear that they had managed to get away even for that short time. Like all farmers his days are long, especially at this time of year.
The sun is out this morning and it has given the valley a glow that is full of promise. I hope it keeps it today. This weekend we will be trying to stay up to see the meteor showers which should be the best for many years due to the new moon and no light pollution. Sunday night/Monday morning are reported to be the best times to see them but they should be visible tonight too. If only we don't get any cloud cover overnight we should be in for a beautiful display.
Yesterday's weather - cool, sunny, windy
Our deer seem to have taken up permanent residence in the field just in front of our house. Mummy, Daddy and baby deer come out to graze on a regular basis, either en masse or one at a time - except the baby, he/she is always accompanied by one of the parents. I expect they will be disappearing again once the field has it's second cut which will probably be some weeks yet. In a normal year we have two cuts, one in June and the second usually about now, but this year the growth is still very green and not suitable yet for hay. It won't be long now before the hunting season is back. Early September will bring all the white van men out with their guns and dogs hunting for anything that moves. We hope that 'our' deer may be canny enough to avoid them but there are so many that it seems unlikely. La chasse is part of life out here and something that we are getting used to. But we don't have to like it.
We don't often see Mr D the farmer but he was counting his cows the other day and we stopped to say 'Bonjour' and chat about the weather (which is about his only topic of conversation). We asked if he had had a holiday as we noticed the house closed up for a few days. He very proudly said that they had had a little holiday of 4 days and promptly changed the subject back to the weather again. We were pleased to hear that they had managed to get away even for that short time. Like all farmers his days are long, especially at this time of year.
The sun is out this morning and it has given the valley a glow that is full of promise. I hope it keeps it today. This weekend we will be trying to stay up to see the meteor showers which should be the best for many years due to the new moon and no light pollution. Sunday night/Monday morning are reported to be the best times to see them but they should be visible tonight too. If only we don't get any cloud cover overnight we should be in for a beautiful display.
Friday 10 August 2007
Normalement, Madame, mais ........
St Laurent
Yesterday’s weather: fine but windy.
We went to the builders’ merchant yesterday afternoon to order a delivery of sand and gravel and paving for the top layer of the chalet base. Thinking it would only be a day or so before they could deliver we did, of course, leave it until the last minute. Well, we are beginning to get the hang of the 'mañana' attitude now. Unfortunately their 'mañana' attitude is more practiced than ours and they can’t deliver for another 10 days! ‘Normalement, madame’, he explained they would deliver bien sûr next week but because of the jour férié on Wednesday 15th it will be the week after.
Assumption is another of the religious holidays celebrated by this secular country! In fact there are so many from April through to the end of August that one really doesn’t have much hope of getting anything delivered, finished or sometimes even started; there always seems to be some holiday getting in the way.
Milly Méhari is now an official member of the family. We just have to get her paperwork in order. This entails a visit to the Préfecture in Cahors. Unlike the UK, in France you have to do everything in person and not by post. We have a huge packet of paperwork to take with us: the old registration document, the proof of sale from the previous owner to the garage, the proof of sale from the garage to Jon, the contrôle technique (MOT), copy of Jon’s driving licence, copy of Jon’s passport, proof of address (electricity bill) and finally a form which we completed yesterday which is just a duplication of all the information on the old registration document (carte grise).
We will have to stand in line at reception to be checked in. A nice lady will check all the paperwork before allowing us access to the office where they issue the carte grise, then another nice lady will check it all again before issuing us with a new carte grise in our own name. Then we will have to go back to the garage and give them the new registration so that they can make up the plates. This will take them a couple of days and we will then take the car back again to have the new plates fitted. As they are a funny shape to fit the car and are held on with rivets it is easier to let the garage deal with it all.
Normalement the whole process will take about an hour. In my dreams!
Yesterday’s weather: fine but windy.
We went to the builders’ merchant yesterday afternoon to order a delivery of sand and gravel and paving for the top layer of the chalet base. Thinking it would only be a day or so before they could deliver we did, of course, leave it until the last minute. Well, we are beginning to get the hang of the 'mañana' attitude now. Unfortunately their 'mañana' attitude is more practiced than ours and they can’t deliver for another 10 days! ‘Normalement, madame’, he explained they would deliver bien sûr next week but because of the jour férié on Wednesday 15th it will be the week after.
Assumption is another of the religious holidays celebrated by this secular country! In fact there are so many from April through to the end of August that one really doesn’t have much hope of getting anything delivered, finished or sometimes even started; there always seems to be some holiday getting in the way.
Milly Méhari is now an official member of the family. We just have to get her paperwork in order. This entails a visit to the Préfecture in Cahors. Unlike the UK, in France you have to do everything in person and not by post. We have a huge packet of paperwork to take with us: the old registration document, the proof of sale from the previous owner to the garage, the proof of sale from the garage to Jon, the contrôle technique (MOT), copy of Jon’s driving licence, copy of Jon’s passport, proof of address (electricity bill) and finally a form which we completed yesterday which is just a duplication of all the information on the old registration document (carte grise).
We will have to stand in line at reception to be checked in. A nice lady will check all the paperwork before allowing us access to the office where they issue the carte grise, then another nice lady will check it all again before issuing us with a new carte grise in our own name. Then we will have to go back to the garage and give them the new registration so that they can make up the plates. This will take them a couple of days and we will then take the car back again to have the new plates fitted. As they are a funny shape to fit the car and are held on with rivets it is easier to let the garage deal with it all.
Normalement the whole process will take about an hour. In my dreams!
Thursday 9 August 2007
And the winner is....
St Amour
Yesterday's weather: a little bit of this, a little bit of that....
It's a Citröen Méhari (pronounced mey-ri). 1978, so the wine goes to A. Nonnie Mouse of Sutton, her who wants the granny seat in the back. So, Nonnie, just book your travel and we'll look after the bottle for you in the meantime.
Although it's described as an off-roader, I don't think we'll be taking it up onto the Causse (limestone hills) around here. It's such an elderly lady (sorry twins, nothing personal, I'm talking car years now not human years) that we will be treating her with the respect she deserves. We were shown a few at the specialist garage we visited, we had our eyes on a particular blue and white model which we thought from the internet might have been a very rare 'Azure' - only 700 were ever made - but it turned out that the garage will customiseMéharis for you, so we opted for the beige one.
Now that brings up the question of beige, doesn't it? We don't want to be labelled as 'beige' so we are thinking of wearing as many bright colours as we can. We have been trying to think of ways to brighten up MillyMéhari (or was it Molly Méhari? Matilda? Maggie? I forget now). Should we buy her some brightly coloured seat covers? Paint pink go-faster stripes along her flanks? We could decorate her in the style of Roxanne the van, who used to belong to friends of ours. Roxanne had flowers and snails, as I recall, in psychadellic colours all over her body. She was a very old French van, the type that French farmers are leaving at the back of their barns for the chickens to roost in.
Well, watch this space. I suspect that she will stay boring beige, not to be confused with her owners.
On the subject of beige, I googled the colour to see what came up and I found the funniest web site I've seen for ages. Do take a look if you aren't easily offended - click here.
Right, we're off to collect Jon's new toy. As she only has a 602 cc engine, we could be gone some time.
Yesterday's weather: a little bit of this, a little bit of that....
It's a Citröen Méhari (pronounced mey-ri). 1978, so the wine goes to A. Nonnie Mouse of Sutton, her who wants the granny seat in the back. So, Nonnie, just book your travel and we'll look after the bottle for you in the meantime.
Although it's described as an off-roader, I don't think we'll be taking it up onto the Causse (limestone hills) around here. It's such an elderly lady (sorry twins, nothing personal, I'm talking car years now not human years) that we will be treating her with the respect she deserves. We were shown a few at the specialist garage we visited, we had our eyes on a particular blue and white model which we thought from the internet might have been a very rare 'Azure' - only 700 were ever made - but it turned out that the garage will customiseMéharis for you, so we opted for the beige one.
Now that brings up the question of beige, doesn't it? We don't want to be labelled as 'beige' so we are thinking of wearing as many bright colours as we can. We have been trying to think of ways to brighten up MillyMéhari (or was it Molly Méhari? Matilda? Maggie? I forget now). Should we buy her some brightly coloured seat covers? Paint pink go-faster stripes along her flanks? We could decorate her in the style of Roxanne the van, who used to belong to friends of ours. Roxanne had flowers and snails, as I recall, in psychadellic colours all over her body. She was a very old French van, the type that French farmers are leaving at the back of their barns for the chickens to roost in.
Well, watch this space. I suspect that she will stay boring beige, not to be confused with her owners.
On the subject of beige, I googled the colour to see what came up and I found the funniest web site I've seen for ages. Do take a look if you aren't easily offended - click here.
Right, we're off to collect Jon's new toy. As she only has a 602 cc engine, we could be gone some time.
Wednesday 8 August 2007
So much to do, so little time.....
St Dominique
Yesterdays weather: fair to middling!
I have to use up the tomatoes today. From my two cherry tomato plants I am getting a small bowlful a day and there is only so much Greek salad a person can eat! I think I will have a go at a tomato and basil soup as the basil plants we bought the other week are also yeilding well.
We are trying to eat up all the dishes we put in the freezer the other week after my accidental defrosting and big cook session, so that we can have room for other things. The plan was that as soon as there is space in the garage (i.e. when we have taken all the junk - two old cookers, broken freezer and other assorted rubbish - to the tip), then we would get a bigger freezer. But that was before Jon fell in love with that vehicle. Now I don't know if there will be enough room in there for a big chest freezer. Hopefully we'll manage to find a space for it.
Because it rained all morning yesterday, I spent the day deep cleaning the ceramic floors (I know how to live it up, don't I?). Jon was busy outside even in the rain, and when the sun came out in the afternoon we spent an hour or so renovating the garden furniture.
Never a dull moment round here, you know!
Yesterdays weather: fair to middling!
I have to use up the tomatoes today. From my two cherry tomato plants I am getting a small bowlful a day and there is only so much Greek salad a person can eat! I think I will have a go at a tomato and basil soup as the basil plants we bought the other week are also yeilding well.
We are trying to eat up all the dishes we put in the freezer the other week after my accidental defrosting and big cook session, so that we can have room for other things. The plan was that as soon as there is space in the garage (i.e. when we have taken all the junk - two old cookers, broken freezer and other assorted rubbish - to the tip), then we would get a bigger freezer. But that was before Jon fell in love with that vehicle. Now I don't know if there will be enough room in there for a big chest freezer. Hopefully we'll manage to find a space for it.
Because it rained all morning yesterday, I spent the day deep cleaning the ceramic floors (I know how to live it up, don't I?). Jon was busy outside even in the rain, and when the sun came out in the afternoon we spent an hour or so renovating the garden furniture.
Never a dull moment round here, you know!
Tuesday 7 August 2007
Early mornings and sandcastles
St Gaétan
Yesterday's weather: wet, wet, wet (They were good, weren't they? Loved that Marti Pellow)
I was up early again trying to stop the kitten from scratching at the door at first light. He doesn't seem to want to learn though and obviously enjoys his shower (it's the method recommended by cat psychologists). I spent nearly an hour reading in the downstairs loo, sporadically showering him every time he scratched, refusing to give in to his demands until I could no longer deny my craving for a cuppa. It seems that this battle will go on for some time, probably until I get fed up with existing on 5 hours sleep a night.
UK television works on UK time, not Central European time, therefore our bedtimes are usually pretty late, often after midnight. By the time we've seen the news it's already 11.30 and there's often something else on that we want to watch after that. Back in the UK we were usually in bed shortly after 10.30 if we'd even managed to last that long, but this new life is rather different. We don't HAVE to get up at 6am - apart from sorting out kitten but we can at least take the rest of the day a little slower if we want to.
Yesterday's weather: wet, wet, wet (They were good, weren't they? Loved that Marti Pellow)
I was up early again trying to stop the kitten from scratching at the door at first light. He doesn't seem to want to learn though and obviously enjoys his shower (it's the method recommended by cat psychologists). I spent nearly an hour reading in the downstairs loo, sporadically showering him every time he scratched, refusing to give in to his demands until I could no longer deny my craving for a cuppa. It seems that this battle will go on for some time, probably until I get fed up with existing on 5 hours sleep a night.
UK television works on UK time, not Central European time, therefore our bedtimes are usually pretty late, often after midnight. By the time we've seen the news it's already 11.30 and there's often something else on that we want to watch after that. Back in the UK we were usually in bed shortly after 10.30 if we'd even managed to last that long, but this new life is rather different. We don't HAVE to get up at 6am - apart from sorting out kitten but we can at least take the rest of the day a little slower if we want to.
Construction
The base for the chalet is on it's way. We're now trying to source sand and gravel to fill the base space, so to speak. None of the garden is level so we've found that although it's just one plank of wood deep in one corner, the diagonally opposite corner is three planks deep. And that is on the flattest piece of garden we can find. There is no soil to speak of so Jon has been digging away recovering as much small stone as he can find but there's only so much time you can spend on this sort of job without either going mad or breaking your back. We're now waiting for a quote from the local quarry for a delivery of heaven knows how many tons of sand.
And still no sign of the chalet being delivered!
Monday 6 August 2007
A very sad sight
St Just
Yesterday's weather: hot, hot, hot
The circus came to a village near here yesterday. It isn't the first circus of the season there are several who tour France throughout the summer months.
They usually arrive with a fanfare of hooters, park up in the village square and generally create havoc in the village for 48 hours before moving on to the next village.
Often they will take a van out to smaller communities and to campsites around the village with a tannoy to let everyone know to come to see them at 9pm that evening. Usually there are clowns and acrobats and sometimes a horse or a llama. The one we saw yesterday was just setting off to do it's tannoy advertising. There was a large truck with railings along it's sides and inside were two gorgeous tigers. They were pacing up and down in the truck, which was just big enough for them to manage about ten strides from one end to the other. I'll admit that they looked well fed, their coats were glossy and they looked well cared for, but I wanted to cry for these two beauties who must spend at least two months of the year going from village to village confined to their truck.
Yesterday's weather: hot, hot, hot
The circus came to a village near here yesterday. It isn't the first circus of the season there are several who tour France throughout the summer months.
They usually arrive with a fanfare of hooters, park up in the village square and generally create havoc in the village for 48 hours before moving on to the next village.
Often they will take a van out to smaller communities and to campsites around the village with a tannoy to let everyone know to come to see them at 9pm that evening. Usually there are clowns and acrobats and sometimes a horse or a llama. The one we saw yesterday was just setting off to do it's tannoy advertising. There was a large truck with railings along it's sides and inside were two gorgeous tigers. They were pacing up and down in the truck, which was just big enough for them to manage about ten strides from one end to the other. I'll admit that they looked well fed, their coats were glossy and they looked well cared for, but I wanted to cry for these two beauties who must spend at least two months of the year going from village to village confined to their truck.
Sunday 5 August 2007
Farewell solanum lycopersicum
St Abel
Yesterday's weather: gorgeous.
I had to give in yesterday in my fight against tomato blight. I had to admit defeat and remove my remaining plants. They will be burned later this morning to prevent reinfection. I managed to salvage a few green plum tomatoes which look quite healthy so there may be some chutney on the boil later, and my cherry tomato plants on the patio are still doing well but looking quite tired now.
There are three baby chilli plants on their way and two bigger plants on the patio which are bursting forth evil looking skinny chillies called 'Java'. I'm waiting for them to turn red before I pick them. The peppers are still doing really well but I've almost given up on the courgettes which have been a failure this year. I think it's me, the green fingers haven't been quite green enough this summer, but it's the first time for years that I've grown veggies and never in this area. Hopefully I've learned some lessons for next year.
Such sad news about foot and mouth in Surrey and it's scandalous to learn the source of the infection. The UK farming community was only just winning back confidence after the last epidemic. Now we hear that England is the main producer of vaccines for F&M - but it isn't used in the UK. I hope that lessons will be learned from this, and quickly.
Yesterday's weather: gorgeous.
I had to give in yesterday in my fight against tomato blight. I had to admit defeat and remove my remaining plants. They will be burned later this morning to prevent reinfection. I managed to salvage a few green plum tomatoes which look quite healthy so there may be some chutney on the boil later, and my cherry tomato plants on the patio are still doing well but looking quite tired now.
There are three baby chilli plants on their way and two bigger plants on the patio which are bursting forth evil looking skinny chillies called 'Java'. I'm waiting for them to turn red before I pick them. The peppers are still doing really well but I've almost given up on the courgettes which have been a failure this year. I think it's me, the green fingers haven't been quite green enough this summer, but it's the first time for years that I've grown veggies and never in this area. Hopefully I've learned some lessons for next year.
Such sad news about foot and mouth in Surrey and it's scandalous to learn the source of the infection. The UK farming community was only just winning back confidence after the last epidemic. Now we hear that England is the main producer of vaccines for F&M - but it isn't used in the UK. I hope that lessons will be learned from this, and quickly.
Saturday 4 August 2007
We went shopping and we bought ......
A car!
Do you know what it is (yes, I know you can see the badge)? A prize of a bottle of Cahors for the first correct answer with the model and nearest year of manufacture (but you'll have to come and collect it). And you are excluded from this competition if you live or have ever lived in France!
I'll give you the answer on Thursday 9th - the day we collect her
St Jean-Marie
Yesterday's weather: Wonderful
Do you know what it is (yes, I know you can see the badge)? A prize of a bottle of Cahors for the first correct answer with the model and nearest year of manufacture (but you'll have to come and collect it). And you are excluded from this competition if you live or have ever lived in France!
I'll give you the answer on Thursday 9th - the day we collect her
St Jean-Marie
Yesterday's weather: Wonderful
Friday 3 August 2007
Cleaning
Ste Lydie
Yesterday's weather: mixed but no rain. Warm.
Warning: You may not wish to continue reading this if you are an arachnophobe.
Yesterday afternoon I decided to 'deep clean' the cellar, or cave in French. Unusually in our house, it is the room next to our kitchen which was created many, many years ago from half of the cave space. We use it as a utility room, larder and general store/dumping ground but returning some cheese to the fridge after lunch I noticed a strange smell, so I thought I should give it a good clean. We have occasionally had a mouse in there, not recently since the cats are such good mousers, but you never know if one of the little critters has managed to get in during the night and popped it's clogs, so to speak.
As our house is built into the side of a hill the back of the cave is bedrock and it's full of little holes. I started at the back to work forwards. I must admit that I don't do a full clean in there very often, but we did do one just a couple of months ago. However, I think the entire spider population of France had heard how infrequently I clean the back wall and they had all taken up residence. Ugh.
I really don't like spiders, although I do appreciate the fact that they help keep the fly population down. I was very gentle with them, I hoovered them up into a bagless hoover and emptied them into the garden from where, no doubt they are making their way back 'home'.
Oh, as for the smell, yes I did locate it. It was the hard boiled eggs I had put in the fridge earlier. I forgot to cover them with cling wrap but I have done now and the fridge and cave smell much sweeter.
Yesterday's weather: mixed but no rain. Warm.
Warning: You may not wish to continue reading this if you are an arachnophobe.
Yesterday afternoon I decided to 'deep clean' the cellar, or cave in French. Unusually in our house, it is the room next to our kitchen which was created many, many years ago from half of the cave space. We use it as a utility room, larder and general store/dumping ground but returning some cheese to the fridge after lunch I noticed a strange smell, so I thought I should give it a good clean. We have occasionally had a mouse in there, not recently since the cats are such good mousers, but you never know if one of the little critters has managed to get in during the night and popped it's clogs, so to speak.
As our house is built into the side of a hill the back of the cave is bedrock and it's full of little holes. I started at the back to work forwards. I must admit that I don't do a full clean in there very often, but we did do one just a couple of months ago. However, I think the entire spider population of France had heard how infrequently I clean the back wall and they had all taken up residence. Ugh.
I really don't like spiders, although I do appreciate the fact that they help keep the fly population down. I was very gentle with them, I hoovered them up into a bagless hoover and emptied them into the garden from where, no doubt they are making their way back 'home'.
Oh, as for the smell, yes I did locate it. It was the hard boiled eggs I had put in the fridge earlier. I forgot to cover them with cling wrap but I have done now and the fridge and cave smell much sweeter.
Thursday 2 August 2007
Storm
St Julien
Yesterday's weather: 35 degrees mid afternoon. Sunny and lovely
We had an amazing thunderstorm in the middle of the night. It was right overhead. Normally we would leave the windows open and enjoy the spectacle but last night we got up and shut them, it was just too close and noisy. Then it was too hot in the bedroom, so you just can't win.
An electrical storm then upsets all the electrics in the house. The power tripped out for a while which means that the satellite dishes both need resetting, clocks and timers need checking, and the internet router which also runs our phone system needed rebooting, so it's lucky that we don't have to rush off to work first thing this morning, isn't it? If we had had to get up for work then the alarm clock wouldn't have gone off anyway so we'd be late.
It's so good not having these little worries any more.
Yesterday's weather: 35 degrees mid afternoon. Sunny and lovely
We had an amazing thunderstorm in the middle of the night. It was right overhead. Normally we would leave the windows open and enjoy the spectacle but last night we got up and shut them, it was just too close and noisy. Then it was too hot in the bedroom, so you just can't win.
An electrical storm then upsets all the electrics in the house. The power tripped out for a while which means that the satellite dishes both need resetting, clocks and timers need checking, and the internet router which also runs our phone system needed rebooting, so it's lucky that we don't have to rush off to work first thing this morning, isn't it? If we had had to get up for work then the alarm clock wouldn't have gone off anyway so we'd be late.
It's so good not having these little worries any more.
Wednesday 1 August 2007
Six months on.....
St Alphonse
Yesterday's weather was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky
Today is our six month anniversary. It hardly seems possible that we arrived here on 1 February when the ground was covered in snow. We unloaded two cars, three cats, a thousand tea bags and two huge pots of Marmite amongst other items. Oh yes, and my Mum who came to help us settle in.
The cats were very good on the journey. I don't know if the herbal remedy I'd been feeding them helped but they were a lot calmer than we expected them to be and when we got here they settled in a lot quicker than we expected them to. Jazz immediately took up residence under the buffet and the other two explored. When Jazz finally came out she took a fancy to a crocheted blanket Mum had brought with her and which she kindly donated to the cats (only we know the REAL reason why Mum didn't want it back and I won't go into that here). It is still Jazz's favourite bed companion.
So, six months on and where are we? Still waiting for the windows to be delivered. Still waiting for the chalet, shed and shower to be delivered. Still waiting for the kitchen units to be delivered........ Even Amazon has let me down this week. I was expecting 6 books yesterday and only one turned up. However, our usual postman was obviously training a temporary replacement to cover the round while he is on holiday and they visited us twice yesterday, having forgotten the book the first time round. Perhaps they still had the rest of them at the end of their round.
We are going to celebrate our six months. We just haven't decided how yet.
Yesterday's weather was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky
Today is our six month anniversary. It hardly seems possible that we arrived here on 1 February when the ground was covered in snow. We unloaded two cars, three cats, a thousand tea bags and two huge pots of Marmite amongst other items. Oh yes, and my Mum who came to help us settle in.
The cats were very good on the journey. I don't know if the herbal remedy I'd been feeding them helped but they were a lot calmer than we expected them to be and when we got here they settled in a lot quicker than we expected them to. Jazz immediately took up residence under the buffet and the other two explored. When Jazz finally came out she took a fancy to a crocheted blanket Mum had brought with her and which she kindly donated to the cats (only we know the REAL reason why Mum didn't want it back and I won't go into that here). It is still Jazz's favourite bed companion.
So, six months on and where are we? Still waiting for the windows to be delivered. Still waiting for the chalet, shed and shower to be delivered. Still waiting for the kitchen units to be delivered........ Even Amazon has let me down this week. I was expecting 6 books yesterday and only one turned up. However, our usual postman was obviously training a temporary replacement to cover the round while he is on holiday and they visited us twice yesterday, having forgotten the book the first time round. Perhaps they still had the rest of them at the end of their round.
We are going to celebrate our six months. We just haven't decided how yet.
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