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!