Thursday

Lee and Vicky (aka “the kids”) arrive this evening so between work we were busy getting the house ready for guests. They’ll have to share their room with a big stack of insulation but even then it’s bigger than most hotel rooms. Thankfully they are getting the train down too so that buys us some extra time as there is a lot to do and a lot of work to be finished so that we can spend as much time with them as possible – unfortunately we still have to work while they are here, we can’t be off work every time we have visitors.

Once they arrive it’s time to get stuck in. The others are working their way through the gin and some coffee liqueur thing so I decided to make the most of it and finish the last of our loquat gin; it’s going to be at least another 10 years before we can make some more, and that’s if we manage to keep alive my little plant that I’ve grown from seed. It wasn’t overly late by the time that we went to bed but the travellers were tired from replacement bus services and we have work tomorrow.

[18 August 2022]

Friday

Being their first ‘proper’ summer visit our visitors were keen to make use of the ‘proper’ pool – last year they were here in early October and had surprisingly good weather to play in the above ground pool. I think they were pretty happy with the upgrade.

BBQ for dinner this evening, it was even better than it looks and I think it looks pretty good. Quite the feast.

Celebrations of having our friends here went rather later than planned, to the delight of quite a few mosquitoes I might add, but we had fun and largely wrote off any idea of doing anything productive tomorrow.

[19 August 2022]

Saturday

As anticipated today was rather lack lustre. Once we finally dragged ourselves out of our beds we spent the afternoon lounging about the pool nursing our hangovers.

Since we’re all feeling a bit weathered today we decided to treat ourselves to pizza from Lou Casteau.

[20 August 2022]

Sunday

It’s pretty overcast today so time for us to get out and do a few things. There’s a Vide Grenier in St Beat today so after lunch we decided to head over and see what there was. From previous experience it’s unlikely to take long (as with most car boot sales there’s a lot of rubbish) but it’s only 5 minutes away so it’s worth a shot.

Turned out that we actually got a really good find. I spotted a wine rack that we could add to the basement, the seller was very insistent that it was a really good French make – I checked when we got back and he wasn’t wrong, it would have been about €90. Matt went to put it in the car and realised that we can’t all get in with the rack so he went to drop it back in the house while the kids and I kicked back with a cheeky little beer. When he got back we had a quick flick round for another couple of bits I’d seen, a metal champagne bucket and a vase. The whole trip was almost broke the bank – €15!

The afternoon plans had been a ride, run and wheel to the lake but the others weren’t feeling up to it so we decided to walk instead. It wasn’t a bad call and it meant we could just relax and take a few drinks with us. We enjoyed the walk up the river and amazed how low it is, we learnt that Matt is super good at skimming stones – apparently a favourite pastime in NZ – and then we finished with a walk around the lake before heading home. It was much more pleasant with the clouds than it would have been in the blazing sun. We also found a secret climbing area that we’ll have to try one day when we have our harnesses and shoes with us, for today I was only allowed to climb a short way up but I had a lot of fun.

On the way back we decided to check out what on earth the new sign was that had gone up in the village. Turns out that they have set up a little outside bar with a nice outside space, they’re also friends with Kiki, Tita’s sister (the old owners of our house). We introduced ourselves, I had a chat with the locals and we played with the most beautiful Husky.

We checked the opening times on the way out. Sadly it seems that they’re not open again while Lee and Vicky are here but seems much more regular than the pub, which is almost never open. We shall have to come back with our next visitors, or with our village friends. [Tonia was miffed that it hadn’t opened while she was here mind.]

Time for dinner and a short bit of relaxation before bed, it’s been a busy day.

[21 August 2022]

Monday

Went to start working this morning and it seems that I have a companion. He hasn’t however moved all morning so I am guessing he’s dead. Matt and I had lots of work to do but the sun is out and the kids are in the pool. I decided to set up my office outside however in the cabana so that I could pretend I was playing too.

In the afternoon they remembered that we still hadn’t put up the arch yet. My job, of course, was to sit back and tell people where it should go – left a bit, right a bit, step back one, nope, not you etc – while the others tried to get it into the perfect place. It didn’t look overly easy getting the rebar in the ground to hold it up so I was glad we had the post basher (and Matt) to drive it in. It’s not exactly perfect as it’s a bit bendy but we can work out a way to fix that later. With the temperatures and solid ground it’s too early to be trying to dig and add plants, they’d probably only die anyway.

Meow has also been playing around today.

Sushi for dinner this evening, but since we’re in rural France there’s no delivery so we have to make it for ourselves. Thankfully we’d picked up some tuna and salmon earlier and all the rest of the ingredients we’d bought over.

[22 August 2022]

Tuesday

Off to the dentist first thing this morning, finally it’s for me this time. Just a check-up but it’s been far too long since my last one (I haven’t had one since we got here). The dentist was running very late as always but she’s nice and chatty and and did a good job. The cleaning was a bit uncomfortable but entirely necessary so better to grin and bear it.

Back at the house and the kids don’t seem to be up yet, but we have work to do anyway. The weather was much better again today so when they did get up they were happy to play about in the pool and catch a few more rays before they head off. Another French lunch of breads, cheeses and we remembered that we had the pate from the Mayor too (which was very nice). Lee also made a new friend.

As 4pm rolled around it was time for the kids to get packed and get on our way up to Montrejeau to drop them at the station. On our way back we stopped at Super U, Matt started the shopping while I had to take a conference call – tethered from the phone in the car park, pretty classy but it worked, just!

It had gotten really hot in the car so time for a quick dip when I got back before some evening work to get some responses reviewed before a colleague at Lewisham goes on leave. Apparently there are concerns about some other sections of the bid so early call tomorrow to provide reassurance that I can handle it.

Having got the early train Vicky and Lee had time for a quick drink near the station in Toulouse before getting an Uber to the airport and the plane home.

We had some leftover salmon and tuna from the sushi yesterday so sushi again for dinner, not that I’m complaining. It’s been a busy few days again so can’t be bothered to tidy up, instead we decided to go back to watching our favourite series and relaxing. The rest can wait until tomorrow, the cat also seems to agree as she definitely enjoyed cuddling with Matt but clearly wasn’t ready for bed yet when he got up.

Time for cuddles before bed.

[23 August 2022]