Progress
Saturday 6th April.
Leak in the roof upstairs beside my desk. Temporary repair via a bucket.
Off to Luke’s bar a short 60 paces. We shall warm up in a nice place. He is a 37year old South African artist. He holds music and art events, as well as Yoga and Pilates evenings. He is a kind and talented soul who helps people with learning difficulties through his art. I am keen to run some writing and poetry evenings there, which Luke is keen on as well. We shall see.
Tuesday 9th April.
Went to see Luke’s art being exhibited in a Chateau West of Riberac. His glass sculptures are exquisite and sell for about 7000€. Flowers, Knights, Dragon Flies and more. The venue was stunning. Lisa the female owner, showed us around, she was an Eventer / Cross Country competitor on horses and a white water Kyak enthusiast. I didn’t ask if she Propped for the local rugby team. It was good to have some time out from the house.
Wednesday 10th April.
I Moved 12 boxes of books from the Garden room to the top of the house. The Spiral Staircase spun me up and spat me out when I came down. 17 and 15 steps in all. 32 x 12. Average weight of a box 10kilos, the weight I need to lose, gained from Pate and Rose. No need to go to the Gymn at the moment, which I promised to join in the New Year.
Meanwhile, Micky arranged the lounge. There was the sound of popping bubble wrap as she unwrapped old familiar lamps, a marble clock, carvings, statues and pictures. In a way, it was comforting.
My reverie was interrupted by a scream. Micky could not find a box full of our confidential financial details; bank, pensions, insurance, passport and driving licences’. This was necessary because a financial advisor is due here to help us through the medical insurance minefield of France.
I calmed Micky down and phoned the owners of the Gite, they had nothing. More panic. I had look around the house, there was nothing. I then looked round the Garden Room which is outside the main house. It is still full of boxes. I pointed to one full of papers, which she had already seen and apparently was not large enough, until closely scrutinised; panic over. Couldn’t see the woods for the trees.
Thursday 11th April, Frank the health insurance man arrived.No pressure. Just a hunk, with muscular eyebrows and tight trousers. Micky drooled silently and I sympathised as you do, as a loving partner at such moments of emasulation. He helped with a form for CPAM. He will come back when they have acknowledged us. Our pulses will have calmed and my heart pills will have increased.
As for the CPAM form, I should apparently have useda different description for Micky, not partner of 27 years, but’Concubine.’ So no doubt another questionnaire will arrive.
Friday 12th April.
I bought a small bottle of Gin, some Limes and found my Soda Stream, a fizzy drink make, including cheap Prossecco, but beware disconnecting before the bubbles have settled. Otherwise the contents explode over the uninitiated. I just added some tonic cordial to the fizz. The three combined effortlessly.
Saturday,
Sainte Foy le Grande. A fab market in an old town. I found my pig farmers wife and spent too much on her gorgeous range of sausages. Had a cup of tea in a lively little épicerie. Too many teas to count, spices, small kitchen gadgets, expensive furnishings, an Aladdin’s cave, with a nice garden in the centre of the town. We parked in a lovely spot next to the river Dordogne, where there are lovely views. We bought some plants on the way
Sunday
No internet or TV since Friday. I tried hard to sort out the Router & Decoder, but to no avail. I disconnected and reconnected several times, cable everywhere . Nothing but confusion. My technical French has improved
Went to the market at St Seurin d’Isle. It was excellent. For the first time in 10 years I bought some Oysters. Last time my whole system rejected these slimy morsels in a big way and almost immediately. I could sprint then. Later there was a taste of the sea and no body memory.
Monday spoke to Orange, apparently there was a problem with signals in the area, but no texts to tell us. So my panic over the weekend about getting connections right was not my issue. However by 6.00pm it was still not fixed. The following day I was told by Orange that the problem at the telephone exchange and that there was a 72 hour turnaround time. We went out. I didn’t even check it in the evening.
The following day I discovered everything had been fixed, So sadly I had to go to Luke’s bar to take the call from orange, to confirm I was satisfied. The call cost me four Ricards’ and three glasses of wine.
Wednesday to Saturday.
Micky worked like a trojan organising the clearing of final boxes and their contents from the Garden Room. Pictures were hung on walls and Micky now knows what a carbon tipped drill head is in French.. I just carried and cooked.
We are both disappointed at the TV and the deal with Orange. So called ‘BBC Entertainment’ is just a series of old programmes and Father Ted. There is a lot of ‘Pay to View.’However, Last of The Summer Wine appeared last nigh and there was more than one episode. Fantastic and then there were Harry’s Heroes making their way to the North Pole in 2011.