After 8 months wait the day is finally upon us.

It started like any other Monday. Matt went for breakfast while I had a lie in. I popped down later for a cup of tea and just to check what was going on. Then a few work calls – the first one crapped out just before the end but the second was fine so all ok. Matt went off to the shops and got back once I was done to hurry me up and remind me to put all my stuff away – nothing new!

About 2pm we headed up to the house but the gates were closed (we were half an hour early) so basically sat in a car park for half an hour – not much doing during lockdown.

Finally at the house to do the final checks before we go to the Notaire’s.

A little confusion over what was left but we ended up with a few extra bits and pieces which was nice. The place certainly feels much bigger without half the crap in it!

The chimney[s] apparently have been cleaned however turns out that actually it is only the one in the kitchen as the others are never used – they probably haven’t been ‘fired up’ for 5 years or more so that will be an adventure.

Then we asked how the boiler worked. Oh dear, the first second hitch in the plan (after finding the hornet’s nest the other day). It was firing fine but not heating the radiators. The ‘plombier’ was duly called and was here within 10 mins (very reassuring considering what we have heard about the lack of available trades people in France). He was very nice but couldn’t fix it so his boss was on his way over to look at it. Again within minutes, there was now a team of no less than 4 plumbers looking at the boiler!

Seems that there is some summer/winter function on it that needs a new switch to be added at some point but it was back up and working and would be fine for the winter. All done just in time to get to the Notaire’s.

A lot of speaking and reading in French as we went through the documents – I got most of it. Some random chat about Teslas and also other sales that had gone badly. I did appreciate the ”Welcome to France; buy everything in Spain, it’s cheaper” comment.

Finally the big moment – the signing of the Acte de Vente! It was electronic so a little less ceremonious but they did a handing over of the keys and the Notaire insisted that Matt take my picture holding them (in English none the less).

Quick stop by the shop to get some wood for the fire [the boiler is basically empty so can’t really run it till we get a delivery]. Unfortunately we couldn’t find any firelighters. We then dropped back to Les Deux Rives (where we stayed last night) to pick up the champagne that they had kindly kept chilling in the fridge for us. They were also so kind as to furnish us with some firelighters – thanks Louise and Ed!

We are ‘home’!

Now to work out which of the doors this key opens – of course it wasn’t the front door that wouldn’t be very French after all. After trying all the doors in the pitch black we almost ended up calling the estate agent but finally Matt got us in.

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Job 1 – Internet.

No surprise that this happened only just after the bags were through the door and plesantly surprised that it wasn’t awful.

Me: Well this really is quite the present to get for our civil ceremony – what are you going to give me when we actually get married?!

And as quick as that Cinderella is put to work.

The floors are clean and time for dinner. Oh, wait, what is this…?

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Well I don’t know what it was but we definitely need to clean the oven before we cook anything. Pizza and champagne for dinner – we are pretty classy!

Once that was done we started to shut up the house for the night. Lesson learnt, it will take over 10 minutes just to close the shutters – and twice that stumbling around in the dark to find the light switches.

Now settling down in our kitchen/diner/living/bedroom for the night with some more champagne, red wine and cheese.

Night all!