....best wishes from Susie and family.
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| all the kids cards from over the years.... (will need a much bigger tree at this rate) |
Friday 19 December 2014
Out of the mouths of babes..
We were delighted to receive four gorgeous handmade Christmas cards from Peter, Susie, Sophie and Zach - each card distinctly reflecting the individuality of the artist and we laughed out loud when we read Susie's (age 9) lovely message ending with.....
Thursday 18 December 2014
December - oh what a year
So there we were on 1st December just completed our third move in France in two years and what must be our twentieth move in thirty years. There is gypsy blood in us that's for sure. House buying and selling over the years was usually for work or family reasons and now without ownership ties, it's just because we can - woop, woop hoooorah!!
So here we are for the winter in 'no mans land' house-sitting this lovely wee but 'n' ben in Midi-Pyrenees region about 40 kms south east of Toulouse - http://selfcatering.travel/en-croux . It's lovely to chill in this little cocoon after the most fabulous, interesting (sometimes even stressful) year. Jeff is plinky plonking on his guitar everyday and I am walking a few kilos off me and next door neighbour's dog. Hoping to watch all of 'Breaking Bad' by the spring. I think I am becoming list-less and those who know me will find that just unbelieveable!
Within two weeks of arriving here we had seen several houses for long term rent, and found one we liked!! Yeahhhhh. We have seen some horrors - tiny high ceiling bedrooms with no windows, and grappled with really surly and unhelpful french estate agents (they don't know who they are dealing with!!).
N'importe quoi - we have found something just right for us (an apartment in Bosc Lebat - an 18thC french manoir). It is near the town of Lavaur in the Tarn region and about 40 kms north east of Toulouse.
http://www.tourisme-lavaur.fr/. So we plan to move in there around March at the end of this house-sit....
We went to Toulouse yesterday for the day and we were just thrilled with it. It is a small city - vibrant, prosperous and chic. After two plus years of very rural French living we are looking forward to being able to dip into city life - big time! but still benefit from beautiful rural living. Now plan to spend Hogmanay in Toulouse - it will be DJ Jeff's first Hogmanay night off for about 9 years.
I was speaking to my sage sister and telling her that during the preparation for moving we (me and Jeff) have "...had a few hissy fits, but we keep it quiet". She said "that's life". How true I thought.
So to end this amazing year and wish all our dear family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, la santé surtout! (above all else - good health).
I leave you with this extract from a conversation Jeff and I had the other day:
So here we are for the winter in 'no mans land' house-sitting this lovely wee but 'n' ben in Midi-Pyrenees region about 40 kms south east of Toulouse - http://selfcatering.travel/en-croux . It's lovely to chill in this little cocoon after the most fabulous, interesting (sometimes even stressful) year. Jeff is plinky plonking on his guitar everyday and I am walking a few kilos off me and next door neighbour's dog. Hoping to watch all of 'Breaking Bad' by the spring. I think I am becoming list-less and those who know me will find that just unbelieveable!
Within two weeks of arriving here we had seen several houses for long term rent, and found one we liked!! Yeahhhhh. We have seen some horrors - tiny high ceiling bedrooms with no windows, and grappled with really surly and unhelpful french estate agents (they don't know who they are dealing with!!).
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| Bosc Lebat |
http://www.tourisme-lavaur.fr/. So we plan to move in there around March at the end of this house-sit....
We went to Toulouse yesterday for the day and we were just thrilled with it. It is a small city - vibrant, prosperous and chic. After two plus years of very rural French living we are looking forward to being able to dip into city life - big time! but still benefit from beautiful rural living. Now plan to spend Hogmanay in Toulouse - it will be DJ Jeff's first Hogmanay night off for about 9 years.
I was speaking to my sage sister and telling her that during the preparation for moving we (me and Jeff) have "...had a few hissy fits, but we keep it quiet". She said "that's life". How true I thought.
So to end this amazing year and wish all our dear family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, la santé surtout! (above all else - good health).
I leave you with this extract from a conversation Jeff and I had the other day:
Five little Barrows for Christmas
We were delighted to receive in the post today this delightful picture of Tracey and Joel's beautiful little (!!) brood.
It is the first time that the school have allowed pre-school siblings to be included in the annual school photo - just in the nick of time as next year Peter will be at the big school!!
It is the first time that the school have allowed pre-school siblings to be included in the annual school photo - just in the nick of time as next year Peter will be at the big school!!
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| L to R: Susie (9) Sophie (7) Peter (11) Zach (5) in front Daniel (1 ¾) |
Watch the time!!
It was Jeff's birthday last week and Tracey sent him a lovely watch.
It is amazing this is the first time in 32 years I have ever known him to wear one.
It looks fab and even better he keeps looking at it.
Does this mean we will no longer be late for everything? Hoorah. Thanks Tracey xx
It is amazing this is the first time in 32 years I have ever known him to wear one.
It looks fab and even better he keeps looking at it.
Does this mean we will no longer be late for everything? Hoorah. Thanks Tracey xx
October and November
Oh well what a peculiar month October turned out to be...
In short (!!) we had joined a house-sitting site earlier this year and had various requests which we couldn't fulfil in the summer as we were too busy. Then a house-sitting request came in for a 6 month sit over winter in the midi-Pyrenees - an area we love. At first we thought - no it's too long a period but then again - why not? The notion grew and took arms and legs, so we decided to pack up and leave Deux-Sevres, do the house-sit down south and while there find another to house to rent - as you do. Quite simple really but not for the faint hearted!
Spent the rest of October and November getting ready to move again! Managed to have a really good declutter (topping up a few local charities) and put everything else into storage at our friend's Taff and Angela's house, had a few farewell events (how many of these have I been to over the years??) and set off for the Midi-Pyrenees on 1st December to start yet another adventure!
Decided as well to sell our lovely wee caravan as we had two people interested in buying it and no idea if it could be stored easily in future (we are thinking we might try urban living next... and likely no storage). It went to our lovely friends Lesley and Chris and their gorgeous wee boys - they will have so many lovely adventures in it.
Before we left we also had to find a new home for Barney puss - our lovable stray. He could not come to the house-sit and we had no idea where we would be moving to next, so in fairness, it was best to find him a new family. The chickens had all gone back to the farm to live and finding a good home for puss was hard to bear but fortunately we did find a wonderful kind foster home where he has settled very happily with his new doggy friend. awwww.
The hardest part of leaving (and it never gets any better) is saying good bye to lovely, lovely friends. Not only do we miss people but the Christmas card list just gets longer and longer!!
I will really miss my involvement with GT (not Gin and Tonic!! - the Get Together walking group). I have enjoyed being their Newsletter Editor and meeting so many great people through GT. Working with the GT Committee was often hilarious and always rewarding.
I will also miss AVF (Accueil des Villes Françaises) where I have worked as a volunteer english teacher with my good friend Mary - we have been a great double act in the classroom and I will always remember the time she decided to explain to the class what a sporran was (we were on a scottish theme) and (before I could stop her) she started to draw a sporran on the flipchart with matching kilt and the look of horror on the student's faces wondering what she was drawing a picture of - I was helpless in the corner by then..
I have also loved my drawing class with Mr John Blair and learned a thing or two! It was the most relaxing two hours of the week.
I will miss my weekly Franglais group where we met many kind and interesting french folk and Brits and especially my very good friend Carol (yes another Carol!) who has been an inspiration and always will be. We had many lovely long, long, long, long walks together each time getting hopelessly lost - but who cares. Carol is one of those women who just makes you laugh - what a tonic.
I spotted this picture in an exhibition the other day and thought this will be me and Carol in a few years time....
Our very good friend Joy who runs the Cafe des Belles Fleurs and kindly hosted our Franglais meetings, DJ Jeff discos, games nights will be missed too as will Scary Mary the gorgeous coiffeur du Fenioux (Mrs Bling) and her lovely wee man Gary.
Before we left L'Embruiniere we received an invite (or summons?) to go to the Maire office one evening. We assumed it was to fill in some bureaucratic leaving-the-village forms, but instead it was a lovely little soirée with speeches to say goodbye to their beloved DJ Jeff (and wife). How kind they all are - the French people.
Anyway on to pastures new - just love it!!
In short (!!) we had joined a house-sitting site earlier this year and had various requests which we couldn't fulfil in the summer as we were too busy. Then a house-sitting request came in for a 6 month sit over winter in the midi-Pyrenees - an area we love. At first we thought - no it's too long a period but then again - why not? The notion grew and took arms and legs, so we decided to pack up and leave Deux-Sevres, do the house-sit down south and while there find another to house to rent - as you do. Quite simple really but not for the faint hearted!
Spent the rest of October and November getting ready to move again! Managed to have a really good declutter (topping up a few local charities) and put everything else into storage at our friend's Taff and Angela's house, had a few farewell events (how many of these have I been to over the years??) and set off for the Midi-Pyrenees on 1st December to start yet another adventure!
Decided as well to sell our lovely wee caravan as we had two people interested in buying it and no idea if it could be stored easily in future (we are thinking we might try urban living next... and likely no storage). It went to our lovely friends Lesley and Chris and their gorgeous wee boys - they will have so many lovely adventures in it.
Before we left we also had to find a new home for Barney puss - our lovable stray. He could not come to the house-sit and we had no idea where we would be moving to next, so in fairness, it was best to find him a new family. The chickens had all gone back to the farm to live and finding a good home for puss was hard to bear but fortunately we did find a wonderful kind foster home where he has settled very happily with his new doggy friend. awwww.
 |
| bye bye Barney puss |
 |
| In his new home obviously missing us!! |
The hardest part of leaving (and it never gets any better) is saying good bye to lovely, lovely friends. Not only do we miss people but the Christmas card list just gets longer and longer!!
I will really miss my involvement with GT (not Gin and Tonic!! - the Get Together walking group). I have enjoyed being their Newsletter Editor and meeting so many great people through GT. Working with the GT Committee was often hilarious and always rewarding.
I will also miss AVF (Accueil des Villes Françaises) where I have worked as a volunteer english teacher with my good friend Mary - we have been a great double act in the classroom and I will always remember the time she decided to explain to the class what a sporran was (we were on a scottish theme) and (before I could stop her) she started to draw a sporran on the flipchart with matching kilt and the look of horror on the student's faces wondering what she was drawing a picture of - I was helpless in the corner by then..
I have also loved my drawing class with Mr John Blair and learned a thing or two! It was the most relaxing two hours of the week.
I will miss my weekly Franglais group where we met many kind and interesting french folk and Brits and especially my very good friend Carol (yes another Carol!) who has been an inspiration and always will be. We had many lovely long, long, long, long walks together each time getting hopelessly lost - but who cares. Carol is one of those women who just makes you laugh - what a tonic.
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| Carol studies the map - again!! 'should that have been a right turn?' |
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| 'Come on I am sure its this way |
I spotted this picture in an exhibition the other day and thought this will be me and Carol in a few years time....
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| "...remember that time we went left instead of straight on?" |
Our very good friend Joy who runs the Cafe des Belles Fleurs and kindly hosted our Franglais meetings, DJ Jeff discos, games nights will be missed too as will Scary Mary the gorgeous coiffeur du Fenioux (Mrs Bling) and her lovely wee man Gary.
Before we left L'Embruiniere we received an invite (or summons?) to go to the Maire office one evening. We assumed it was to fill in some bureaucratic leaving-the-village forms, but instead it was a lovely little soirée with speeches to say goodbye to their beloved DJ Jeff (and wife). How kind they all are - the French people.
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| Goodbye speeches at the Maire office.... |
August and September
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| Mary and I on the steam train.... |
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| Back: me, Valerie and Betty Front: Mary, Marguerite and Cynthia |
After Fort William I hopped on the train down to Newark and from there drove back to France with Dave and little Ella and Harry. We had a lovely trip down which seemed to pass in no time via the Chunnel. The kids were so good for such a long journey. Ella and Harry drove us mad though asking (every 20 mins or so) 'are we nearly there? 'how much further is it?' and Dave and I kept them going with 'oh not far, just another 100 miles and so on'. Then when we did finally arrive (after a full day and evening driving) , Ella said 'oh that didn't take long then'.!!
We just got back to our house with a few days to spare before Tracey, Joel and Peter, Susie, Sophie, Zach and Daniel pitched up. Ahhhhhh
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| Bed time stories galore..... |
It was a wonderful week if not exhausting with many highlights...... treasured memories.
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| All ready for the morning..... |
Our idea of perfection would be to have them all live here permanently but since that's not going to happen, this was the next best thing......
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| Peter with his own room (tent pod) at last.... |
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| Sophie likes her wee pod.... |
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| Ella and Susie - snuggly |
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| Harry and Zach cosy.... |
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| Daniel - so cute cot-in-a-pod!! |
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| my wee riding buddies |
It was just so good to see the kids running round and enjoying the garden and the tree house and the pool and riding at the local stables. Ah perfect. We miss them all every day.
Mid September it transpired that I shared this birthday month with several friends so we formed the September birthday club and had a lovely lunch and tea and supper all on one day!
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| The inaugural meeting of the September Birthday Club |
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| One of those annoying tourists..... |
Late in September we went for our annual canal boat holiday in north wales. The journey back to the UK was excellent as we decided to get a lastmin.com deal and stay in Rouen overnight. What an awesome city. We managed to do a whistlestop tour and saw the famous cathedrals of Notre Dame, Church of Saint Joan of Arc, Le Gros Horlage and other
medieval buildings - fabulous! Definitely somewhere we will return to.
The canal boat trip was along Llangollen to the Pontcysylite Aqueduct and we were so lucky with the most fantastic weather for two weeks - blue skies and beautiful autumnal scenes. We even managed to zoom up Snowdon (on the wee train). It was the most relaxing holiday of the year after a far too busy summer.
The canal boat trip was along Llangollen to the Pontcysylite Aqueduct and we were so lucky with the most fantastic weather for two weeks - blue skies and beautiful autumnal scenes. We even managed to zoom up Snowdon (on the wee train). It was the most relaxing holiday of the year after a far too busy summer.
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| Llangollen canal north wales |
June and July 14
Writing this in December as the last few months have left little time for Blogging - many moments of joy and sometimes despair when Bloggy thoughts lurked around corners but couldn't get out. I have kept lots of wee notes though and like to capture highs and lows from the diary.
June - at last we got our car back (only 6 months at the garage) and after one or two further tweaks it has been first class. Enough said about that.
At the end of the month Carol Robinson arrived for her annual holiday. We had a great week catching up and sampling as many wines as possible (!!). It was lovely and warm so Carol made good use of the pool.....
One afternoon I nipped out to get my hair trimmed and when I arrived back heard these shrieks from the swimming pool and could see Carol standing in the pool (she is tall lass) screaming blue murder and Jeff balancing on the pool steps flapping his arms - shouting to me 'get back in the car'. Totally confused I got out of the car (of course) and heard a commotion behind me. There was two huge cows charging round the side of the old barn heading in my direction and another one zooming round the garden near the pool. Did I mention Carol is terrified of cows?
Mind you Jeff and I were not so keen either that day. There were three farmers racing after the cows with sticks. I ran down to the chicken coop thinking to calm them down but they were having none of it. Chicks were leaping about squawking feathers flying, me trying to ssssssh them and Carol now hysterical (still in the pool). One of the cows jumped right through the wooden fence (probably frightened of Carol) Then they all disappeared into the field (cows and farmers). It was eerily quiet for a while and then out came the truck with dare I say, sheepish looking cows on the back. Doubt we will ever see that lot again. It took a few glasses of red to coax Carol out of the pool!
In July (think this might need an all nighter to update for Christmas 'round robin' - sigh) we had our niece Carolyn and Laurence with our two great nieces Erika and Hazel to visit.
They were absolutely joyful and so funny and very well behaved. We were very sad and the house seemed strangely empty when they left......
Not for long though, as the next day Anouk a french student arrived to experience Brit-life. We had a lovely pleasant week going to the circus, horse riding, walking, boating, baking, swimming, hairdressing and yes lots of talking! We hope Anouk will visit us again soon.
With Anouk safely off home we got ready to go to a big summer party with GT (local walking group) before zooming off that afternoon to Amsterdam to pick up the ferry to Newcastle, to go to Bradford, then up to Haddington for the event of the year - Jonathan and Kate's wedding on 2nd August! Phew. It was of course a wonderful fairy tale event with magical moments through the days leading up to the big day and after.
June - at last we got our car back (only 6 months at the garage) and after one or two further tweaks it has been first class. Enough said about that.
At the end of the month Carol Robinson arrived for her annual holiday. We had a great week catching up and sampling as many wines as possible (!!). It was lovely and warm so Carol made good use of the pool.....
One afternoon I nipped out to get my hair trimmed and when I arrived back heard these shrieks from the swimming pool and could see Carol standing in the pool (she is tall lass) screaming blue murder and Jeff balancing on the pool steps flapping his arms - shouting to me 'get back in the car'. Totally confused I got out of the car (of course) and heard a commotion behind me. There was two huge cows charging round the side of the old barn heading in my direction and another one zooming round the garden near the pool. Did I mention Carol is terrified of cows?
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| Escapee cows.... |
In July (think this might need an all nighter to update for Christmas 'round robin' - sigh) we had our niece Carolyn and Laurence with our two great nieces Erika and Hazel to visit.
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| Hazel and Erika collecting our daily eggs |
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| Anouk on Hermine |
Not for long though, as the next day Anouk a french student arrived to experience Brit-life. We had a lovely pleasant week going to the circus, horse riding, walking, boating, baking, swimming, hairdressing and yes lots of talking! We hope Anouk will visit us again soon.
With Anouk safely off home we got ready to go to a big summer party with GT (local walking group) before zooming off that afternoon to Amsterdam to pick up the ferry to Newcastle, to go to Bradford, then up to Haddington for the event of the year - Jonathan and Kate's wedding on 2nd August! Phew. It was of course a wonderful fairy tale event with magical moments through the days leading up to the big day and after.
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