Outside we hear the delivery driver honking his horn. Seems that the [DHL] guy is just rude, not sure why he can’t get out and ring the door like the normal lovely postie. There’s nothing serious planned for today (i.e that requires help lifting or translation) so Matt is off to deal with that. Good news, the electric heaters have arrived – hopefully that will help to minimise our fuel (oil) use.

I however have a bit of work to do but also have an interview later on so need to prep for that. It’s for some NHS related bid work that helps to reduce waiting times so can only imagine how busy they are and that there’s a strong pipeline of work. Will need to be worked around my Lambeth/KHP work but would help top up the house pot.

Matt’s off doing something, he’s probably down at the Bricos in Luchon again – he can’t get enough of those places. As for Tonia, it seems that she woke up to a rainbow across her wall (sadly no pot of gold at the end of it – maybe we’ll find it under the floorboards?!) She’s soon back doing what she does best… yes, she is stripping again!

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He’d warmed up the living room so I decided to take over that while he was out and pop his laptop in the kitchen. The interview went well and they seemed to like me. I’m feeling pretty confident that I’ve got this – I mean, seriously – Je suis un heros!

Interview done and a bit of research completed. Time for lunch as Matt is hungry and wants to get out to the fireplace showrooms. I’m going to have some of those lovely noodles that Pete sent me 🙂

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Lunch done and I’m given 45mins to work before we have to go shopping. It’s never my favourite task but I know it needs doing and can’t be done without me. Matt’s promised a stop in at the Troc to make up for it – he knows how to twist my arm!

Tonia is doing her best to try and take lots of scenery shots from the back seat… some more successful than others.

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The first stop was pretty successful, they recommended what sized boiler we need for our house and took our details to arrange for someone to come and provide a devis. There was however much discussion still about exactly what we were there for and so we went back in to look at what fires they have which also heat radiators. It very much seems that this is a plumbing speciality and requires a different shop/advice.

We then go to look for another one however it seems that it doesn’t actually exist – either Google made it up or it gave us the wrong location. It therefore became more of a tour of a couple of random rural villages.

There was however a fantastic slalom road, which was made all the more interesting when Matt got distracted by a small plane and almost missed the large speed bump just a couple of meters ahead. Apparently he was testing the brakes, Tonia and I thought it was hilarious.

The next stop was apparently quite familiar to Tonia, as we finally made it to ‘La Foir Fouille’. They’d reported it as being “somewhat rubbish”. However, it seems that the previous 50% sale had become 70% off everything. I’m not one to miss a bargain!

Well that was possibly one of the best shopping trips ever – so much stuff and so cheap – even the Grinch would have been filled with Christmas joy. Just look at that saving!! It was generally uninteresting stuff (apart from a new rug) but the saving was a Christmas miracle – 253 EUR and the final bill 76 EUR!!

Next stop, another fire shop. This one was less eventful, definitely need a plumber apparently, not a fire shop for that. They were kind enough however to give us the number for a plumber that does them. We still need to write the email to our plumber – it’s on the very long list!

Yay! Troc next! We’re specifically looking at beds, lighting, and Christmas gifts for the team (not sure what we get Tonia here that she can take home though). Also just to generally see what treasures we can find but expecting that the new year might be a treasure trove as the French swap the old for new.

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I do so wish that there were Troc’s in the UK – not just the best finds but a more culturally appropriate way to swap gifts post Christmas.

Anyway, I digress. Tonia was on photographer duty it seemed as Matt and I saw a few pieces that caught our eye. There was a particular sideboard/draw unit that really caught our attention. At 2m+ we need to think about where it might go but we’re definitely interested.

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Quite a few other bits too. Most of which are going into the ‘under consideration list’. Some of which are also in the ‘Chan’s not so sure so maybe you need to think longer about this list’ The boars head for the wall idea was kiboshed by Matt, I’m not sure either but it would be a talking point and he was the one that suggested it originally. I think the people pricing it have also seen too much ‘Escape to the Chateaux’ and think that there is a market for them.

By the by, success was found in the form of a little something for Matt and Tonia for Christmas. That said, by far the best find was the side table reduced from €68 to just €5. It may not have been the coffee table that Matt wanted but I wasn’t passing up on that deal. With the weight of it as he carried it – like a big brave soldier and without help (it was offered) – clearly it was worth the money even if eventually it became fire wood [it won’t].

Final stop for the day and we are at the ‘Super U’ to shop for the big Christmas day “company” party. Around 2 hours later, as the shop is starting to close, we think we have finally managed to secure most things on the list. All up it cost just over 344EUR so we should have plenty to keep us going. Tempers are becoming frayed though and patience is in short supply none of us actually like shopping. However we manage to fit it in round the amazing bargain table and we are heading home (with just a couple of minutes to spare before curfew). I think we all deserve a wine – once the shopping is in of course.

Having planned a quick dinner of Tartiflette, it turned out there was not nearly enough for these hungry shoppers. We therefore had to resort to the staples of bread, cheese, pate and meats to supplement.

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Matt’s exhausted having been up early again. I’m back to writing the blog and after Tonia and I catching up on another episode of our show [Money Heist – recommended by my new French friends] before bed.