Probably time to start thinking about doing a few bits and pieces. After the past few days, it’s time to have a bit of a clean up around the house and start getting it back to some semblance of order. Floors swept, hoovered and mopped. Bathrooms cleaned. Salon back in order and all the rubbish bagged up. That’s better 🙂 Time for some more leftovers for lunch. First thing we
Read moreWe’d set a get up time of 10am for Christmas day and I think we pretty much made it – well Matt and I certainly did, Matt was up earlier of course! It was all looking pretty grey and overcast but with the promise of snow hanging in the air. Matt was on breakfast duty, eggs and bacon, fried for him and boiled for me. No sign of Tonia quite
Read moreDue to an unexpected shift in the space time continuum, this was also Christmas Eve… All the nerves of a first date with the added pressure of relying on GCSE French. Worried that it will be like having a small child over for dinner due to my limited vocabulary and understanding. I’m quite anxious that I also haven’t prepared enough stock phrases to get through the evening. Quick shower as
Read moreBefore we do anything else I think we need to empty the recycling and get the rubbish put out before all the bins are full. Here in France we don’t have our own bins, we have to take our rubbish to special bins located around the area… but of course the recycling ones are nowhere near the general rubbish ones. On the way home we buy a new microwave –
Read moreGot an email from the recruiter this morning to provide various bits of paperwork. The lovely Peter has also agreed to be one of my references. That’s all back with them so time to get on with my work. Big long list of people to contact. It’s certainly interesting working with such a wide range of people, from small local charities and residents associations to the Chairman of NHSE and
Read moreOutside 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
Read moreMatt is up early again as today is the day that my Christmas present should be available from Lidl. I’m busy working trying to get stuff finished off before Christmas but feels as though it’s a bit of an uphill battle. Meanwhile, in the kitchen (not the usual place you would expect to find her) is Tonia. She’t trying to make a start on the stripping. Doing anything at height
Read moreBit’s and bobs for me to to do in the garden this morning. Every time we drive the car by the veranda and, what I assume is a loquat tree, it scrapes on the car. It’s therefore going to need a bit of a trim back. My first attempt is with the standard shears but it’s too strong for that. Matt suggests the long loppers that were in one of
Read moreIt’s a reasonably late start today after yesterday’s decorating and celebrations. I woke up when Matt got up but decided to treat myself to a couple of episodes of Doctors. Meanwhile, Matt is down in the basement dismantling more of the ceiling and creating quite the pile of rubble. Brackets up in the salon, followed by some careful manoeuvring into SaM to take down the curtains, then back to the
Read moreWhile I’m on my first call of the day the delivery guy arrives with the new scaffolding tower. Rather than just come to the door, I can see that he is sat on the other side of the road opposite the house. Seems I can’t ignore the French phone so have to excuse myself to answer it, tell him to come to the house and shout down to Matt to
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