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.