After a lovely 10 days in the UK catching up with people and Phil getting a gold star from the Bristol Heart Institute we returned to La Belle France.
This time the van was loaded with white goods and stuff for the house as opposed to building materials. The exception being some double doors for our kitchen that we have been trying to get since April. The company, SMI doors did these doors at a great price. The website said next day delivery but of course that was only after they had been despatched and therein lay the problem. The site also stated 'In stock' which wasn't true and although the owner talked the talk he certainly didn't walk the walk. He was empathetic every time I called but we were continuously let down. The doors finally arrived having been let down 4 or 5 times and are safe in France.Yet to be unopened so the tale may not yet be over.
We had a good crossing in spite of schoolchildren taking over the boat and being quite badly behaved in the cinema and stopped at the Ibis that night just outside Caen. After a beer, a rest and breakfast we set off.
It was a great journey and fortunately not a hot day as there is no air con in the van.
we stopped at Le Clerc in Ruffec for shopping and were back mid afternoon and the van was empty an hour or so later. We were so pleased to be back and celebrated at L'Etoile D'Or.
We woke up the following morning and the pressure was on. Only 9 days until Rich (my son) was due to arrive and we were determined to get a shower room ready for him and the bedroom prettied up.
We kept our heads down for the next 9 days. As expected the builders didn't turn up on 15th July. It was the Fete Nationale (Bastille Day) on 14th July and I expect there were a few sore heads on the 15th. We celebrated at un repas (basically a huge meal where most of the village show up) at the Salles de Fetes (like a Village Hall) and the tables were set up outside. We took our own plates and glasses although there was a bar as well. Our local bar/restaurant owners and a few French locals turned up just before 7pm at the house to walk with us. A real surprise so we had an aperatif here. We weren't really set up for visitors as we had disconnected the old electrics over the weekend and had moved everything from the kitchen and 'stable' into the front room. The fridge was the only thing we had plugged in so there was cold wine and beer.One of the locals knew the house from 20 years ago when he used to visit the lady who lived here. He said he found a bayonet in the barn which he now has at home. He could see the improvements we are making and seems to think they are excellent.
Anyway, we arrived at the repas and met up with Nadia and Justin and their children and met some lovely new friends - Dee and her beautiful daughter Hannah. We had a great evening. The pompiers (firemen and women) served us with Charentais melon with red Pineau de Charentes (yum yum), followed by BBQ'd pork and white beans, bread and a great chunk of brie followed by a choice of Cornettos. I had lemon, Phil had vanilla and the others had creme brulee flavoured! New flavours to me. There was a 'disco' and everyone was having a good time. As the light started to fade we bought a couple of lanterns - only 50 cents each which were brightly coloured and had a candle in them and then a procession followed from the Salles de Fetes to the Rugby ground where fireworks were going to be let off. The procession was wonderful. Some people had torches instead of lanterns. The medieval variety, not the battery operated sort. I'm sure it wouldn't have been allowed in the UK. The firework display was brilliant! Lots of oohs and aahs and a fabulous end to a great evening. We mozied (is that a real word?) on home but others returned to the Salles de Fetes for more drinking and dancing. But the builders were due early so we sensibly called it a night.
However the builders didn't show until the Wednesday, no surprise there. More news and photos in next blog entry.
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