Thursday

Having had such a rubbish day I’m not really in the mood for writing anything so don’t know how much I will get done today. The day started out ok, calls, work, financial housekeeping (even less exciting than the traditional kind as in France this is really just writing cheques for various people). We did get our temporary social security numbers which was kind of exciting. Now ready to take them up to the Mairie to get them posted.

After a bit more work Matt convinced me to call Castorama. Well I have to say that I really wish I hadn’t. What nightmare!! They are incredibly unhelpful and the whole thing got me quite frustrated and upset. They really need to add this to the GCSE French curriculum as it is so infuriating not to be able to competently argue with them. Apparently, despite having constantly spoken to them about when it would be delivered they won’t deliver it to us unless we go to Toulouse to pay the additional €95 delivery charge, apparently it’s impossible to pay it by phone or on the internet. I mean seriously, it’s an absolute joke.

Amongst all the chaos, and to be quite honest despair, I also managed to miss a work call that I was meant to be on, just to top it off I understand that the PS even dropped into the call for good measure. Today is not my day!

There’s only one thing that can possibly fix a terrible day. Time to get these bulbs planted up. Good use for some of that concrete from the kitchen too.

• 

• 

• 

• 

[18 March 2021]

Friday

So up to Toulouse it is. Seems the predictions of snow weren’t wrong though. At least the pots are all undercover and hopefully the compost is keeping the bulbs cozy.

• 

• 

• 

Seems that there was a crash on the way up. Love the French warning sign though.

Managed to get a load of work done on the way up, including getting the first of many business cases complete. Quick work call from the van while Matt popped to grab a burger king for lunch. Had to scoff it down quick as had the weekly call with the PS.

Calls done and it is time to go and collect the delivery. Seems that the van is more than big enough. Let’s just hope that everything is there so we don’t have to come back again anytime soon.

• 

• 

Finally back home and it seems that Matt has a convenient call so I have to start unloading on my own. Was only so far I could get though. Some of that stuff is super heavy. Thankfully he didn’t take too long so managed to get it into the dining room without too much fuss, apart from another cut on my hand from the worktop. Dropped the van back and grabbed some shopping.

Back at home and finally time to relax. So rang mum.

Wasn’t long before Matt was ready with dinner. Since the ‘reception’ from our civil ceremony was so grandiose we thought that chicken nuggets and chips would be apt. Along with champagne of course, we’re not animals.

After dinner we had a catch up with Lee and Vicky. Finally got to bed super late but was worth it.

[19 March 2021]