Our motor car packed up on Boxing Day 2010.
Himself was going to the dechetterie to dispose of a few bottles, cans and plastic and also pick up a couple of baguettes in the village for lunch. We were expecting some good friends to arrive in an hour or so.
Himself had driven around 300 metres and ‘crunch’ the car stopped! The cam belt had broken…..
In the process of the cam belt breaking the pistons continued their journey and totalled the engine…….
Himself stormed back into the house, steam pouring from his ears and his face purple. He was not happy.
I stood and looked at the purple rage and said ‘calm down, I will phone our friends and ask them to pop into the boulangerie on their way. We will think about the car later!.’
And so from then until now we have had no car. We have a tame mechanic (English I hasten to add) who was in the UK at the time so we had to wait for him to come back to his home and job. He came to look at the motor car. Not good!!! I ordered new cam belts and when he arrived to check the engine etc. it was found that the engine was beyond economical repair!!!
Now this cost us 300 euro! New cam belts and consultation……
And after paying out over 650 euro for our ‘total’ diagnostic on the house, I, as the banker was not very happy!!
So there we are 1,000 euro down! And I thought that I was on top of financial things….
I left a financial headache (in my working life) in the UK and thought that things would be better out here. Noooooo.
In the UK, prior to relocating to France, I was checked for irritable bowel syndrome and ulcers as I was being so very ill all the time (Jeez was that job stressful!). I am having the same symptoms now… For heavens sake, I shouldn’t have this, I should be enjoying retirement and living a relaxed, organic life, but no!
Fortunately, we have some very good friends that have come to our aid… God bless them!
Today we have found a car, via le Bon Coin, we had a look at a couple of cars but one really took our fancy, we also had to deal with a new guy in the bank as our lovely Mme Sourire has since left but jeune Mr Huile is not too bad… shame he doesn’t speak English!
So, in a couple of days we will have a motor car that can get us from A to B… what a joy, and, it is a French car (Renault Megane Scenic) and Himself, as the chauffeur, quite likes it!!
Friday, 28 January 2011
Monday, 24 January 2011
January blues....
Just something to say,
Am fed up with the ex-pat community here, except for a couple of couples…. I sometimes feel as though I am out of the loop although I am here.
Is suppose it is because I am not a motorist who does coffee mornings or gossip……
I hear a little here and hear a little there…. But am still out of the loop.
I suppose I would like to be included but I do not want to be ‘central’ to all, like some and I hate to appear to be 'nosy'.
I am happy that I have some really wonderful reliable friends (both English as well as French).
I find that our French friends have no axe to grind, they accept us as we are and, it seems, that our very reliable English friends out here are the ones that have only had one marriage partner (usually of many, many years). Now I am not being ‘marriage-ist’ but it seems that those who have had multiple marriages/partners seem to be the ones that are ‘not on the level’, are up for gossip, and putting down and ‘gossiping’ about their ‘friends’. My experience shows that those who have just have had one marriage are the truest friends (there are, though, exceptions to the rule as in most things – and you know who you are!).
I have done favours for people and a good friend has said that she has done the same but then there are those that who do not reciprocate – funnily enough it is in within the same group..
Incidentally I hate American spell check – favour or favor? – I will go for the English and re-educate my computer.. even down to the number of full stops I put!!! Or even exclamation marks, yeah!!!!!
After nearly 10 years here in the country I love, I am inclined to drop acquaintances and just let them get on with their own devices and live my life without them. When I come to think of it, there were very few people in the UK that I would count as ‘good’ reliable friends, I should follow my instincts as I did then.
Although, coming to think of it, what I hear (discreetly) could make a good book!!
Something to think about……
Am fed up with the ex-pat community here, except for a couple of couples…. I sometimes feel as though I am out of the loop although I am here.
Is suppose it is because I am not a motorist who does coffee mornings or gossip……
I hear a little here and hear a little there…. But am still out of the loop.
I suppose I would like to be included but I do not want to be ‘central’ to all, like some and I hate to appear to be 'nosy'.
I am happy that I have some really wonderful reliable friends (both English as well as French).
I find that our French friends have no axe to grind, they accept us as we are and, it seems, that our very reliable English friends out here are the ones that have only had one marriage partner (usually of many, many years). Now I am not being ‘marriage-ist’ but it seems that those who have had multiple marriages/partners seem to be the ones that are ‘not on the level’, are up for gossip, and putting down and ‘gossiping’ about their ‘friends’. My experience shows that those who have just have had one marriage are the truest friends (there are, though, exceptions to the rule as in most things – and you know who you are!).
I have done favours for people and a good friend has said that she has done the same but then there are those that who do not reciprocate – funnily enough it is in within the same group..
Incidentally I hate American spell check – favour or favor? – I will go for the English and re-educate my computer.. even down to the number of full stops I put!!! Or even exclamation marks, yeah!!!!!
After nearly 10 years here in the country I love, I am inclined to drop acquaintances and just let them get on with their own devices and live my life without them. When I come to think of it, there were very few people in the UK that I would count as ‘good’ reliable friends, I should follow my instincts as I did then.
Although, coming to think of it, what I hear (discreetly) could make a good book!!
Something to think about……
Friday, 21 January 2011
Genealogy
I mentioned in my last post that I am on the trail of my mothers ancestry.
Now this is proving difficult.
I have been in contact with Barnardo's and also a genealogist in Ireland. I have been given the necessary contact name. I have written to the contact name, twice, and have been waiting for a reply... Oh this is so difficult. It seems that the people who have the information that I need are reluctant to give me the necessary.
My dear sweet Mother gave me an address that was given to her some time ago. It was an address in the county that we lived all our lives. In fact we probably passed the address when we went to the coast for our annual bank holiday trips.
I researched on-line and found the name of the family that lived at the address. Mr Xxxxxxxx was married to Miss Xxxxx - the same maiden name as my mothers....
I researched a bit more and found out that they had 5 children, three sons and two daughters. All of the sons have since passed away and also one of the daughters (aged around 16 yrs) but one sister was still living, unmarried and around my mothers age, some 10 years ago..
I have written to the address (to whom it may concern) asking if they know of any family members of the original family at that address in relation to my mother... I am waiting for a reply.
Bless my Mum, she did say, 'Why didn't I give this address to you years ago?' It seems that my Dad didn't think it would be a good idea to follow up the address when it was first given to Mum.
Had she been able to go to this address 30 years ago, it would have answered a lot of questions that she had.. She is now nearly 90 years old and would still like to know why she was given up to the Nuns..
I am hopeful...
Apart from all of that, things are fine... Need to find a new motor car... ours is dead and only fit to be buried.
Another year another vehicular problem!! (third year methinks!)
Politics.....
Well what a mess! Johnson's wife having an affair...hmmm.
Andy Coulson resigning... hmmm.
Tony Blair and his excuses.... hmmm.
'nuff said - it is the UK after all!!!
Now this is proving difficult.
I have been in contact with Barnardo's and also a genealogist in Ireland. I have been given the necessary contact name. I have written to the contact name, twice, and have been waiting for a reply... Oh this is so difficult. It seems that the people who have the information that I need are reluctant to give me the necessary.
My dear sweet Mother gave me an address that was given to her some time ago. It was an address in the county that we lived all our lives. In fact we probably passed the address when we went to the coast for our annual bank holiday trips.
I researched on-line and found the name of the family that lived at the address. Mr Xxxxxxxx was married to Miss Xxxxx - the same maiden name as my mothers....
I researched a bit more and found out that they had 5 children, three sons and two daughters. All of the sons have since passed away and also one of the daughters (aged around 16 yrs) but one sister was still living, unmarried and around my mothers age, some 10 years ago..
I have written to the address (to whom it may concern) asking if they know of any family members of the original family at that address in relation to my mother... I am waiting for a reply.
Bless my Mum, she did say, 'Why didn't I give this address to you years ago?' It seems that my Dad didn't think it would be a good idea to follow up the address when it was first given to Mum.
Had she been able to go to this address 30 years ago, it would have answered a lot of questions that she had.. She is now nearly 90 years old and would still like to know why she was given up to the Nuns..
I am hopeful...
Apart from all of that, things are fine... Need to find a new motor car... ours is dead and only fit to be buried.
Another year another vehicular problem!! (third year methinks!)
Politics.....
Well what a mess! Johnson's wife having an affair...hmmm.
Andy Coulson resigning... hmmm.
Tony Blair and his excuses.... hmmm.
'nuff said - it is the UK after all!!!
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
I have been reading the English press of late, yes, the gutter press.
I read of Elton John and his partner having a child.
I read of Nicole Kidman and her husband and ‘gestational carrier’
What is wrong with the world and its babies??
Elton John and David Furnish both ‘contributed’ to their son…. Oh my Goodness, it makes me feel so, well, nauseous…. The pair of them put their ‘contribution’ (one can only guess the procedure!!) into a pot and it was mixed with some-ones ova to create a foetus then put into another female and then allowed to gestate to full term before being ‘born’. And they want to do it again……
I feel for the child and subsequent children. Will he/they ever know his mother or father??
Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban already have a daughter but they have decided this time to use a ‘gestational carrier’ for their second child. What on earth is that????? Do they mean a surrogate mother, do they mean that they combined his sperm with her ova and then implanted into another person??? Confusion reigns…..
I read of Patsy Palmer and her new son….
Patsy Palmer though (Bianca Jackson in Eastenders) has recently had her fourth child. The little boy was born prematurely and is now home with his mum and dad and brothers and sisters. No surrogacy, Patsy bore the child and gave birth naturally and the pictures I have seen make me smile. She looks wonderful, baby is beautiful and there is no hype….
Dear Lord, thank you for some normality.
Now this is dear to me. I am into genealogy in a big way. I have traced my father’s family back to the 16th century, my husbands’ family, paternal and maternal, back to the 18th century but am stuck with my mother’s family. My Mum was taken into care by some Nuns in Ireland when she was around 6 years old. She would love to know the whys and wherefores of this and I am now on the trail. Mum would love to know her history (she is almost 90 yrs old now), and so would I for my children.
This is why I find it so abhorrent that rich celebrities can ‘buy’ infants, through ‘rent-an-ova’, ‘rent-some-sperm’, rent-a-womb or from a third world country.
I have also read of a devoutly Christian couple who run a B&B in Cornwall who only take married couples in double rooms.
A homosexual couple booked to stay at the said B&B, when they arrived the owners refused their booking and turned them away because they were not a married couple.
The ‘visitors’ took the case to court and have now won their case for sexual discrimination.
Now this is a dodgy arena.
I have run a B&B, albeit in France.
Sometime ago I had an enquiry for two couples for two nights. I took the booking, it was for a local wedding. The guests arrived on the day and they were four men!
I was not aware at the time of the booking that it was anything out of the ordinary, they asked for two double rooms, my natural assumption being two heterosexual couples…
Hmmm, I was a little surprised. I could not, though, refuse to accommodate them.
They took their rooms, had their breakfasts, paid their dues and enjoyed their stay.
At no time during their stay was there any problem. They were really nice guys and I would happily accommodate them again.
Now if I had been a ‘devout’ Catholic instead of ‘selective’ Catholic it might have been a different kettle of fish. It would have been a dilemma for me.
I also remember a young woman booking a room and say that her 'companion' would be joining her later. Yes he did. Twice she booked and twice he arrived later. Some time afterwards I found out that her 'companion' had a wife and many children….
You takes your money and makes your choice!!
Oh thank you Pope John XXIII for giving me the options of a diverse religious life.
But, I do have a problem with people who are ‘in your face’ and push their views. I accept all people and their lives but I don’t want, or will not, be browbeaten into accepting the rude and aggressive, be they black or white, straight or gay. They can go jump!!
Right!!
Got that out of my system….
I read of Elton John and his partner having a child.
I read of Nicole Kidman and her husband and ‘gestational carrier’
What is wrong with the world and its babies??
Elton John and David Furnish both ‘contributed’ to their son…. Oh my Goodness, it makes me feel so, well, nauseous…. The pair of them put their ‘contribution’ (one can only guess the procedure!!) into a pot and it was mixed with some-ones ova to create a foetus then put into another female and then allowed to gestate to full term before being ‘born’. And they want to do it again……
I feel for the child and subsequent children. Will he/they ever know his mother or father??
Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban already have a daughter but they have decided this time to use a ‘gestational carrier’ for their second child. What on earth is that????? Do they mean a surrogate mother, do they mean that they combined his sperm with her ova and then implanted into another person??? Confusion reigns…..
I read of Patsy Palmer and her new son….
Patsy Palmer though (Bianca Jackson in Eastenders) has recently had her fourth child. The little boy was born prematurely and is now home with his mum and dad and brothers and sisters. No surrogacy, Patsy bore the child and gave birth naturally and the pictures I have seen make me smile. She looks wonderful, baby is beautiful and there is no hype….
Dear Lord, thank you for some normality.
Now this is dear to me. I am into genealogy in a big way. I have traced my father’s family back to the 16th century, my husbands’ family, paternal and maternal, back to the 18th century but am stuck with my mother’s family. My Mum was taken into care by some Nuns in Ireland when she was around 6 years old. She would love to know the whys and wherefores of this and I am now on the trail. Mum would love to know her history (she is almost 90 yrs old now), and so would I for my children.
This is why I find it so abhorrent that rich celebrities can ‘buy’ infants, through ‘rent-an-ova’, ‘rent-some-sperm’, rent-a-womb or from a third world country.
I have also read of a devoutly Christian couple who run a B&B in Cornwall who only take married couples in double rooms.
A homosexual couple booked to stay at the said B&B, when they arrived the owners refused their booking and turned them away because they were not a married couple.
The ‘visitors’ took the case to court and have now won their case for sexual discrimination.
Now this is a dodgy arena.
I have run a B&B, albeit in France.
Sometime ago I had an enquiry for two couples for two nights. I took the booking, it was for a local wedding. The guests arrived on the day and they were four men!
I was not aware at the time of the booking that it was anything out of the ordinary, they asked for two double rooms, my natural assumption being two heterosexual couples…
Hmmm, I was a little surprised. I could not, though, refuse to accommodate them.
They took their rooms, had their breakfasts, paid their dues and enjoyed their stay.
At no time during their stay was there any problem. They were really nice guys and I would happily accommodate them again.
Now if I had been a ‘devout’ Catholic instead of ‘selective’ Catholic it might have been a different kettle of fish. It would have been a dilemma for me.
I also remember a young woman booking a room and say that her 'companion' would be joining her later. Yes he did. Twice she booked and twice he arrived later. Some time afterwards I found out that her 'companion' had a wife and many children….
You takes your money and makes your choice!!
Oh thank you Pope John XXIII for giving me the options of a diverse religious life.
But, I do have a problem with people who are ‘in your face’ and push their views. I accept all people and their lives but I don’t want, or will not, be browbeaten into accepting the rude and aggressive, be they black or white, straight or gay. They can go jump!!
Right!!
Got that out of my system….
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
January 2011
It has been about 5 weeks since my last post.
How are things??
No different.
We did receive a cheque from our insurers - tick box.
We have had credit from France Telecom - tick box.
I became ill Christmas Day - don't tick box.
Car broke down Boxing Day - don't tick box.
Mechanic came with necessary to mend car - seems it may be beyond economical repair - don't tick box.
Mental breakdown on the way - tick box.
Breaking any mirrors 7/8 years ago - don't tick box.
Why is this going on??
I wake with a positive attitude in the morning.. but it soon disappears... hmmm.
I do pray and ask "why is this happening?" but I don't seem to get an answer.
We are wanting to sell our house and from the 1st of January this year it is obligatoire to have a D.P.E. (Diagnostique de Performance Energetique) done, so we had a local company come to do ours along with checking for termites, woodworm, lead, asbestos and insulation - tick box.
It took two guys around 2 hours to check our house (250 sq m) the part conversion next door and our barns. They did the lot in one hit and it saved us 100+ euro. Any further visits will be free. Fine, we have no problem with that at all - tick box.
We received the report, all 35 pages, and when I got to the DPE, well, I flipped!!
They estimated our fioul consumption for just central heating and hot water to be 3 times more than it actually is!! - don't tick box.
I contacted our immobilier who arranged for them to come and told him exactly what I thought about their report. There is a set formulae for these guys to follow, laid down by the government, but their result was way out. If my bills had been the amount they had quoted I would have had the whole lot ripped out and other heating installed.
I am waiting on the outcome of my 'complaint' about their findings... will be interesting I am sure...
Maybe a few boxes will be re-ticked.
How are things??
No different.
We did receive a cheque from our insurers - tick box.
We have had credit from France Telecom - tick box.
I became ill Christmas Day - don't tick box.
Car broke down Boxing Day - don't tick box.
Mechanic came with necessary to mend car - seems it may be beyond economical repair - don't tick box.
Mental breakdown on the way - tick box.
Breaking any mirrors 7/8 years ago - don't tick box.
Why is this going on??
I wake with a positive attitude in the morning.. but it soon disappears... hmmm.
I do pray and ask "why is this happening?" but I don't seem to get an answer.
We are wanting to sell our house and from the 1st of January this year it is obligatoire to have a D.P.E. (Diagnostique de Performance Energetique) done, so we had a local company come to do ours along with checking for termites, woodworm, lead, asbestos and insulation - tick box.
It took two guys around 2 hours to check our house (250 sq m) the part conversion next door and our barns. They did the lot in one hit and it saved us 100+ euro. Any further visits will be free. Fine, we have no problem with that at all - tick box.
We received the report, all 35 pages, and when I got to the DPE, well, I flipped!!
They estimated our fioul consumption for just central heating and hot water to be 3 times more than it actually is!! - don't tick box.
I contacted our immobilier who arranged for them to come and told him exactly what I thought about their report. There is a set formulae for these guys to follow, laid down by the government, but their result was way out. If my bills had been the amount they had quoted I would have had the whole lot ripped out and other heating installed.
I am waiting on the outcome of my 'complaint' about their findings... will be interesting I am sure...
Maybe a few boxes will be re-ticked.
Thursday, 9 December 2010
We are now the 9th December. I have been back in La Belle France for a couple of weeks.
It started to snow in the UK as I left, and Normandy all the way to Rouen, was sprinkled with varying depths of snow. I found it really cold. I do not like the cold weather, it makes my joints hurt - not ache, but hurt!
Arrived at our friends home and hubby came to collect me and baggage.
Got home and he had prepared a meal for me - good!!
The next day I started to go through what needed to be done!! (secretary wise!)
Phoned France Telecom and they agreed to refund one months rental and any extra expense I had incurred using my mobile phone providing I sent a copy of the bill with the items highlighted. I did all of that with pleasure...... It even helped improve my French grammar skills..
I am still waiting......
Sent a letter with copy of detailed invoice to Insurance company (bypassing Mme Talon) and am still waiting............
It has been freezing cold here for a few days but then it started to warm up and then we had a lot of rain - the river is looking so healthy I wonder if it will flood..
Dog has been up to his antics. He is only 18 months old and is still a young pup or adolescent. If he sees anything on the move he wants to chase it, trouble is he has (in the past) seen our neighbours chickens moving about and has leapt over their fence and has wanted to play. We have managed to get him away from the chickens without any damage done and kept it under our hats....Oooh, is that a good idea?
So a few days ago the hound decided he would play with the chooks again and our neighbour saw him and chased him off... and then came to see us and let us know what has happened..
Hubby was suitably apologetic and ensured our neighbour that it would never happen again.....
And what happened today? When the hound was being walked this morning he caught sight of a fox! possibly a vixen as it was not a little beast but a larger beast.....
Ah quelle horreur! If this beast decides to take a feast from our neighbours chooks then our dog will get the blame (possibly).
Hm, what action to take - do we let him (our neighbour) know that there is a fox about or keep quiet? We are torn between letting him know and not. Our lovely boy will chase but does not kill - he has caught our chickens but hasn't killed them. Would Mr Sais-tout understand that?
Or am I reading more into this?
Our chickens are not laying at the moment so they are all destined for the pot. Coq au vin, curry, soup etc... poor girls don't know this yet.
It started to snow in the UK as I left, and Normandy all the way to Rouen, was sprinkled with varying depths of snow. I found it really cold. I do not like the cold weather, it makes my joints hurt - not ache, but hurt!
Arrived at our friends home and hubby came to collect me and baggage.
Got home and he had prepared a meal for me - good!!
The next day I started to go through what needed to be done!! (secretary wise!)
Phoned France Telecom and they agreed to refund one months rental and any extra expense I had incurred using my mobile phone providing I sent a copy of the bill with the items highlighted. I did all of that with pleasure...... It even helped improve my French grammar skills..
I am still waiting......
Sent a letter with copy of detailed invoice to Insurance company (bypassing Mme Talon) and am still waiting............
It has been freezing cold here for a few days but then it started to warm up and then we had a lot of rain - the river is looking so healthy I wonder if it will flood..
Dog has been up to his antics. He is only 18 months old and is still a young pup or adolescent. If he sees anything on the move he wants to chase it, trouble is he has (in the past) seen our neighbours chickens moving about and has leapt over their fence and has wanted to play. We have managed to get him away from the chickens without any damage done and kept it under our hats....Oooh, is that a good idea?
So a few days ago the hound decided he would play with the chooks again and our neighbour saw him and chased him off... and then came to see us and let us know what has happened..
Hubby was suitably apologetic and ensured our neighbour that it would never happen again.....
And what happened today? When the hound was being walked this morning he caught sight of a fox! possibly a vixen as it was not a little beast but a larger beast.....
Ah quelle horreur! If this beast decides to take a feast from our neighbours chooks then our dog will get the blame (possibly).
Hm, what action to take - do we let him (our neighbour) know that there is a fox about or keep quiet? We are torn between letting him know and not. Our lovely boy will chase but does not kill - he has caught our chickens but hasn't killed them. Would Mr Sais-tout understand that?
Or am I reading more into this?
Our chickens are not laying at the moment so they are all destined for the pot. Coq au vin, curry, soup etc... poor girls don't know this yet.
I found the following written on the 14th November, the birthday of Prince Charles and also our eldest daughter:-
Sunday
So far we have been without a telephone line for 1 week, sept jours.
That means we have also been without internet.
We do have a mobile phone but that is only for short local calls.
Our neighbour, who is French, lost his line on Wednesday, two days after we lost ours.
He got his line back on Saturday.
Are we happy?
No, no, no, we are NOT!!
We have no idea about our English neighbours, we don’t speak with them.
Tomorrow I, (you do it better than me) will phone France Telecom and ask them if they have a racist policy (yes, I am joking). I will demand that they repair our line and give us recompense for the week that we have lost.
I will ask my dear French neighbour, who has so generously offered his assistance, to phone them and speak to them with our (my) demands, he is so genuinely ‘good’ he will do this for us.
Hopefully it will result in a success.
And we are still waiting for a cheque from the insurance company (Hah!).
We have also had a lot of rain.
Coming through the ceiling of my laundry room.
Why?
Because around 7 years ago a new roof was put on the hangar attached to the house and guttering was not replaced.
Every rainy season I have said to my other half that the guttering needs to be done – he has said “yes, OK”.
Is this a valid reason for divorce?
And so we (I) have, again, water pouring through the ceiling.
Had an immobilier come to visit. “Can you claim on the insurance?” he asked. ‘Not with ours!’ I thought!
We do have someone who will come and do the guttering, we have all the parts needed, and I just want to get it done!
But he (the builder) is waiting for a weather window.
So am I.
Weather: somewhere warm and sunny, without the hassle of house, and land, and husband; just a place where I can relax and be me. Fat chance!.
Went to a local Amateur Dramatic Society production last night.
Absolutely brilliant! (t’was ‘Allo, Allo!) and we knew some of the cast!
And for a bonus, we ran into some people we had not seen for many months, or even years.
At least they now know that we are still around.
Also met another couple that have been here 5 minutes.
I did so want to sell them a yarn:
“Oh yes, we have been here forever and have bought a chateau and have eight children (three of which are in prison – one being a so gay politician) and had won the lottery which is why we could buy the said chateau which needs millions spending on it to make it liveable as well as our properties in Florida, Spain and Tuscany, have a couple of lovers each, his cutie twenties (helped with the blue pill) and my toy-boy, guru, personal trainer, hmm that is why I look soooo young, and umpteen grandchildren between our five marriages” etc. etc….
Have got to get my man into the storytelling mode, I could follow his lead!!!
What business is it of total strangers as to how long we have been here, how would they react if we asked them loads of personal questions?
It really annoys me – not him – just me. I am a private person and will give out info to those that need to hear – mind you, I am writing a blog (anonymously?) but there are the ‘chosen few’ out there who know who I am.
Sunday
So far we have been without a telephone line for 1 week, sept jours.
That means we have also been without internet.
We do have a mobile phone but that is only for short local calls.
Our neighbour, who is French, lost his line on Wednesday, two days after we lost ours.
He got his line back on Saturday.
Are we happy?
No, no, no, we are NOT!!
We have no idea about our English neighbours, we don’t speak with them.
Tomorrow I, (you do it better than me) will phone France Telecom and ask them if they have a racist policy (yes, I am joking). I will demand that they repair our line and give us recompense for the week that we have lost.
I will ask my dear French neighbour, who has so generously offered his assistance, to phone them and speak to them with our (my) demands, he is so genuinely ‘good’ he will do this for us.
Hopefully it will result in a success.
And we are still waiting for a cheque from the insurance company (Hah!).
We have also had a lot of rain.
Coming through the ceiling of my laundry room.
Why?
Because around 7 years ago a new roof was put on the hangar attached to the house and guttering was not replaced.
Every rainy season I have said to my other half that the guttering needs to be done – he has said “yes, OK”.
Is this a valid reason for divorce?
And so we (I) have, again, water pouring through the ceiling.
Had an immobilier come to visit. “Can you claim on the insurance?” he asked. ‘Not with ours!’ I thought!
We do have someone who will come and do the guttering, we have all the parts needed, and I just want to get it done!
But he (the builder) is waiting for a weather window.
So am I.
Weather: somewhere warm and sunny, without the hassle of house, and land, and husband; just a place where I can relax and be me. Fat chance!.
Went to a local Amateur Dramatic Society production last night.
Absolutely brilliant! (t’was ‘Allo, Allo!) and we knew some of the cast!
And for a bonus, we ran into some people we had not seen for many months, or even years.
At least they now know that we are still around.
Also met another couple that have been here 5 minutes.
I did so want to sell them a yarn:
“Oh yes, we have been here forever and have bought a chateau and have eight children (three of which are in prison – one being a so gay politician) and had won the lottery which is why we could buy the said chateau which needs millions spending on it to make it liveable as well as our properties in Florida, Spain and Tuscany, have a couple of lovers each, his cutie twenties (helped with the blue pill) and my toy-boy, guru, personal trainer, hmm that is why I look soooo young, and umpteen grandchildren between our five marriages” etc. etc….
Have got to get my man into the storytelling mode, I could follow his lead!!!
What business is it of total strangers as to how long we have been here, how would they react if we asked them loads of personal questions?
It really annoys me – not him – just me. I am a private person and will give out info to those that need to hear – mind you, I am writing a blog (anonymously?) but there are the ‘chosen few’ out there who know who I am.
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