Ben the hoose

Week three (18th Oct)- 
Finally got to the end of unpacking or storing our chattels - a place for everything and .... 
It's a fine old lady of a house with plenty nooks and crannies and there is always under the bed when stuck!    
Top floor is a big light and airy attic space - just need to watch out for those beams - ouch!! It has a delightful guest bedroom/'en suite' (no such thing is France but never mind - its a lovely loo and shower room!)..
Look at that sweet little tartan curtain on the wee window - now where did that come from?

Curtain design by Maggie, stitching by Jeff....

poppies and tartan theme...

snuggly....

en suite....

On the middle floor we have our huge bedroom and another 'en suite' but its a Jack and Jill with an intriguing 'bathroom cabinet'!!    

A recycled sideboard??

Waking view....

Ooooo la, la

my little den....

then back down to the ground floor - a cosy working kitchen and fireside to end the day....

This part of the house dates back to 1520 - reckon it's seen a baguette or two.....

    

today's shell collection....

     

One week anniversary...

8th Oct - 
One week since we moved to Avenue Jean Moulin in Portiragnes and so we took some time to reflect today - good move?     
Yip, this is at last what we always dreamed about living in France.   Kind of wish we had come here 3 years ago, but, it seemed too far away, inaccessible for us and just a step too far.
The house is charmingly old, spreading over three floors,and across a narrow street from the Hotel de la Marie, overlooking a busy village centre.    Yesterday I walked to the hairdresser to make an (urgent!) appointment, then to the well stocked Spar grocery, the post office and home again - in 15 mins!    Fabulous.     
As I peg out here on the front terrace I am lucky to get away with less than three 'Bonjours' as folk pass the gate.    
Jeff loves nipping to the boulangerie some mornings for fresh croissants and at least half a dozen 'Bonjours' there and back.    A friendly place and less than 10 mins drive from lovely beaches, less than five minutes walk from the Canal du Midi.

Went to Beziers today to check out the local Chamber of Commerce, Le Centre de Formalities de Enterprise, the flower market and had few coffees here and there.    Lovely, helpful people and got some pointers about french language courses - tres bon! 

Jeff browsing the flower market - too much choice

Later we drove to Clermont-L'Herault, about half an hour away - a charming town with many cobbled streets, artisan shops packed to the rafters and dozens of antique dealers/depot ventes - would need a week to browse it all.    

The house feels cosy and peaceful - huge high ceilings and not a straight wall in sight!    I love the high french windows and creaking wooden pastel blue shutters - opening them in the morning to bright sunshine and village noises.     

The local beach has been a beautiful and restful pitstop everyday this week - too good to miss as we enjoy gorgeous autumn warmth.    Don't expect it will last.

Came home and Jeff got a parking ticket just yards from the house - oh well back to reality!

Our new place (French abode number 5)...

Looking forward to some beach time without having to drive for hours there and back.   Nearest beach (10 mins drive to the Med) is very quiet and without the usual touristy, resorty clutter - just a couple of little restaurants that open in the summer.  

There are nearby more supported beaches with lots of facilities, so good when the bairns (and their bairns) visit.

peachy on the beachy

Jeff the water baby....

Best bit we think will be being able to walk/cycle along the Canal du Midi only a few meters from the house.    

Canal du Midi -
We are both canal 'anoraks' so hope to be out boat spotting soon.

the new (16th C) hoose at Portiragnes, nr Beziers

my new office

Wondering and Wandering

I like this quote (JRR Tolkien)

Not all those who wander are lost.....

Back in harness!!

In December last year Jeff spotted an advert for English tutors needed at IPSA an air and space engineering university in Toulouse (l’école d’ingénieurs de l'air et de l'espace). 

 In short I started work there as a 'casual' in March and have loved every minute being 'back in harness', back in the world of work. 

The students are average age 21/22 and pleasingly 25% are women. They are lovely and very polite and keen to learn. Most have pretty good English language skills, so its a pleasure to help them improve through the use of good fun activities. There are a pool of about a dozen tutors and we are called the Piscine (french for swimming pool).

One week I thought it a bit funny that little groups of students kept gathering round me at break times asking me questions about Russia - What is Moscow like? emmmm....cold. How far is it from Moscow to St Petersburg? emmm.........about 200 miles?? (no idea). What is the cheapest food? emmmmm....noodles? McDonalds? Vodka??? (no idea)..... Then I found out that upon hearing my accent, most of the 140 first year students on the English immersion course thought I was 'Rooshian!!!'. So I am now Маргарита or Рита Asquith! he he he

Nipped, bobbed and popped.....

We have had batches of visitors and went away ourselves visiting, all within a few weeks of each other so it was a bit busy but just the ticket for catching up....
Between March and June we nipped to Tenerife and in short wished we hadn't.   Least said.

William and Margaret Black talk into the wee small hours....

Then a few weeks later bobbed down to Lloret de Mar - what a pleasant surprise - really nice, busy and spotlessly clean.    Also managed to pop into Andorra and Barcelona - both as ever just splendid.  
Went to the UK to catch up on family especially those gorgeous grandkids and their mum and dad's too of course and then had a week in Aubigny-sur-Nere with Haddington Pipe Band and two bus loads of Scottish folk including my dear sister Mary and her family (invasion of the McMillans) and then most recently have been nipping down to Beziers and getting to know our new home town and beaches (it's a hard life).

David and Rebecca have lunch in Lavaur (only just) - yum yum

Inbetween all our trips then we managed to host our friends the Blacks from Ayrshire,


Taff and Angela from Wales/ Sunderland/ Poitou Charente and the gorgeous and gregarious Rebecca and hubbie David from Deux-Sevres.    

I hope none of our visitors noticed we were either packing our bags or unpacking and in a general state of on-the-move.

Oh well I suppose that's us.

Aubigny - a memorable Scottish week

Happenings I never blogged about...

It has been a funny year one way or another and for some reason I have stopped blogging for long periods and not captured (as my intention) all the notable, interesting, family news and events as they occur.   I like to record visits to and from friends and family and all that stuff.  
I kept a diary for many years and wrote all about family holidays and then the agonies of growing up....    I like blogging for that reason, you can capture forever the who, what, when, why and where - with piccies.    In a fit of teenage rebellion I burnt all my diaries - a huge regret.    I could have another rebellion one day but thankfully have found much better distractions..

Things I missed at the time:

• Our Peter - we are so proud that out eldest grandson Peter has been admitted to Heckmondwyke Grammar School in Bradford and starts there in Sept '15.    

Peter ready for his school Oscar Awards ceremony - yes a star was born!

He is of course bright as a button and already at eleven and a half, a really likable character with a charmingly cheeky giggle.   He will go far.

• Tracey's on the road - at last in March 2015, after 20 years with a provisional licence Tracey passed her driving test - hoorah!    As mother of five, business woman and very, very busy person it will make such a difference.   After all these years - I think Bradford buses might notice a downturn in their revenues!     Well done Tracey - you did it!!

• Zach's First Fish - Zach aged five and a half went fishing with Joel and it seems he is a natural - caught his first fish and can't wait until the next time....

more to add,,,,,,

Moving story...

So here we are again starting to pack up, make lists and enjoy the excitement of yet another move in France - this will be our fifth address in less than three years.  
Why?  
Well just circumstances really, we happened to be researching something in the Languedoc-Roussillon area in May/June and found a nice house for rent that is owned by a lovely Irish couple.  
We went along (just to have a wee look) and loved the house (it's only 400+ years old...) in a nice village (less isolated) with lots of attractions - closeness to the Med, Canal du Midi, access to Bezier/Cap D'Agde airport and awesome big cities of Narbonne, Montpellier, Nimes and very near-by Beziers.     Plus Andorra, Pyrenees and Spain on-the-doorstep.....
This coupled with on-going problems with our internet service in the current place (long story - you don't want to know) and expensive heating there helped us make the decision after only 6 months residence...  
So from 1st October our new village will be Portiragnes.    Don't think we can get much further south....
Will need to send out change of address/phone number soon, but am sure it will be no surprise to anyone who knows us....     Must pack the....pegs!    see 'pegging out' post

Someone said recently about our move to France and frequent house moves (jokingly I think) "what are you running away from?" which got me thinking.... well it is not so much running away, as running towards and this next place just might be 'the one'..... hmmmmm  

Hosting Anouk

Last week we hosted a French student, Anouk, who wanted to improve her English language and gain more insight to 'British' living.     We knew Anouk from her visit last year so we were delighted to welcome her again.   A charming girl with quiet presence.  

Perfect sight and sounds

Anouk arrived on Saturday and with great excitement having scooped her off the train from Paris we dashed straight to a Pink Floyd Tribute concert at Chateau de Bonrepos-Riquet.     It was a perfect starry night after a very warm day and ideal for Anouk to experience being a Rock Chick.  

Rock Chicks!

The Tribute band Floyd Generations were amazingly good (we have seen several PF tributes and this was the best!).    Floyd Generations

Next two days Anouk and I walked for many, many kilometers firstly around the local valley and then on the Voie Romaine from Massac-Seran to Puylaurens.... Well done Anouk!!     We had a great blether in English and gid Scots all the way.    Just glad Jeff picked us up as we would not have fancied walking back!!

Next day we had a lovely visit to Albi including the

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec 1864 - 1901

Toulouse-Lautrec Museum where we had a very interesting look at paintings by one of France's most famous artists and to learn about his life and inspirations.

We also had time to visit the wonderful Cathedral, Saint Cecile.

  

ready for our guests....

 Next day we invited some English and French friends to lunch which we prepared in the morning including a delicious cherry salsa made from cherries from the garden.    Anouk set the table beautifully..   After a splendid lunch of Jeff's home made pie and salad we set off for an art class with Allan Kirk at Tarnincolour enjoying a very relaxing ambiance with good people.    Everyone learned to draw an old door (full of character) and I liked Anouk's dreamy style....

Anouk's interpretation...

  

The day after our art class Anouk and I set off early to go to Julie's and meet again all our friends from yesterday.    This time to make some cakes and learn to create some interesting icing styles with Mandy .    

The girls produced some gorgeous looking and very tasty cakes - yum yum just in time for some visitors who must have heard the kettle boiling - out came the Yorkshire Tea and bone china cups - what could be better!

Anouk's delicious cakes

Tea Time

.... and so on the last day what else could we do?    It was Anouk's very good idea to visit the beautiful old cite of Carcassonne.    A perfect end to the week.     We were very sad to see Anouk leave us and the apartment seemed very quiet without notre jeune fille française.

Cité de Carcassonne

sketching

We have met a lovely couple who are both very talented artists and wonderful hosts.   They run very popular painting courses and we have been lucky to be able to attend a few lessons with Alan who leads the classes.    http://www.tarnincolour.com/index.php/en/

We have been having a go at ink wash sketches and it has galvanized me to get back to drawing too.     I have finished my sketches of all the grandchildren...

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/caef3zirzp5x81g/AAANLXoYnny1viKYC64NqjjBa?dl=0

so then decided to have a go at the Mum's and Dads from their wedding pictures...

Joel and Tracey wedding September 2002

Natasha and Dave wedding day April 2003

Some welsh and geordie moments

Our friends Taff (yes the welsh one) and Angela came to visit for a long (but seemed too short) weekend.   Great company - we were blessed.... (a few times).  

Angela and Jeff in Albi

Shades on for the sun at breakfast or the pink?

Taff and me having a Harry Worth moment....

Pink theme emerging on the terrace

My pink sculpture and the new clown