More adventures in France Episode 4

Of course, I should have known, when I started with that chest infection, that it was never going to get better without help, but, stubborn as ever, I let it roll on for almost two weeks before giving in and seeing a doctor. Once I had the correct medication, it was a matter of days before I was feeling much better and within another week was back to full health again, although with a niggley cough which will no doubt be around for some time. Thank you to all who sent jokes and other entertaining messages to keep my spirits up and to those who called. All your efforts were very much appreciated.
This past week has been cold, wet and grey, so we have spent most of the time indoors doing odd like chores, reading and watching television. On the one day that we had to go and do a bit of grocery shopping, the sun came out for a about twenty minutes so we took advantage of it to drive around aimlessly until we were lost and then asked ‘Jane’ to take us home via the shortest route. This is always fun as the road ‘she’ chooses usually takes us straight through farmyards, between barn and house and on roads through the vineyards. Incredibly, they are all public roads, can be found on the detailed map and are all tarred.
Along the way we spotted the first signs of Spring – a fruit tree covered in white blossom – which was a very welcome sight. The following day we noticed that a flower box in our garden had also suddenly burst into bloom and we had a brilliant splash of colour from the daffodils which had just opened. The garden hedge which appeared to be a barrier of straight, dry sticks has now also started to produce fat pinkish buds, and we are longing to see what they turn into.
We have also had both the time and the inclination to visit our favourite restaurant in the area, at Bassoues, and enjoy a delicious meal there. The food is traditional and extremely tasty and for €11, one can enjoy a set menu of soup, salad, main course (duck, pork or steak) with vegetables and dessert. Wine is included but coffee is an extra €1. At today’s exchange rate that works out to about R115 which is very good value we think.
Now that we are able to get around again, we intend to do far more of it and hopefully by next week there will be more to tell you about.

More adventures in France Episode 3

Sorry, everyone. No episode this week. I have been really ill with bronchitis , which actually started a couple of days after we arrived here, and got progressively worse. So I have spent most of the past week either in bed or at least indoors. Not very adventurous, to say the least. However, the good news is that I have at last taken the sensible route and seen a doctor, and I am already on the mend.

Just a thought to leave you with though. While travelling back from doing some shopping last week, a clump of trees caught my eye. Although they were winter-bare, here and there among the higher branches were ball-shaped growths of mistletoe, and it crossed my mind that perhaps this was what gave the French the idea of trimming their dogs’ hair into those ludicrous shapes. Well…………what do you think?

More adventures in France Episode 2

A very quiet week. The tickle in my throat that I detected in the plane on the way over, quickly progressed to a full-blown chest infection, during which I lost my voice but managed to fill all the hours of the day and night with coughing!
Our only real outing was our required visit to Auch, about three quarters of an hour’s drive away, to apply for our visa renewals, on Monday. All went well in this stage of the proceedings except that we were short of a couple of documents. These, however, were on my computer so we came home and printed them off. When we made the return trip we took Nicky along with us and the three of us treated ourselves to an afternoon at the movies. We saw ‘The King’s Speech’, with Colin Firth as King George VI, and thoroughly enjoyed it. No wonder he has been nominated for so many awards – it was brilliantly acted.
Apart from that, we have kept very close to home and the warmth of the fire. When we have been forced to go out to shop, we have done only that, although on one day we made a slight detour on the way home. This detour took us through a little town called Manciet, where we were delighted to see the winter version of the ‘knitted trees’ which shade so many town squares in summer. All the wonderfully leafy trees have been severely pruned back to great arthritic knobs on the ends of the branches – so severely, in fact, that it is a wonder that they ever sprout again. In places, longer branches have been intertwined and allowed to grow together so that when the leaves appear, they will make a thick leafy canopy.
When I was describing the house last week, I omitted to mention that we also have two cats, called Geoffrey and Flo. I’m not sure if they are a special breed or not, but they are both very solid and stocky with rather short legs and short thick fur. Considering that they spend most of their lives running wild, they are very lovable and adore being given attention. Geoffrey, in particular, loves to have his photograph taken and will pose beautifully. Flo, on the other hand is far too inquisitive and always has to come and see what one is doing.
Being ill this last week has been a real waste of time as the weather has been quite remarkable. The days have been sunny with clear skies and no wind so it has been a shame that we have not been able to take advantage of them. The forecast for next week looks a bit grim with maximum temperatures hovering in the middle single figures, and minimum’s going down below zero, but hopefully, after that the weather and my health will improve and we can get on with the business of holidaying!

Further adventres in France Episode 1

So, here we are, back again in France. Not at the same house as last year, but another one in the same area. A more compact house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms! It also has a lovely heat-giving stove in the living room which warms the whole house and, as if all that was not enough, we found an electric blanket on the bed, which is wonderful bonus. (The blanket, not the bed!)
Our flight over was uneventful apart from leaving Cape Town in 35° and arriving ten long hours later in Frankfurt to a chilly 0°. It was a novel experience for us to feel the plane skittering down the runway with fresh piles of swept snow at the edge of the tarmac; to watch the workman, standing at the foot of the steps to our onward flight aircraft, kicking at the ice on the ground with his boot and knocking the pieces away; and having to wait to take off while our plane was de-iced. It is definitely not something we see in South Africa.
We were collected and safely deposited at our new abode and although we had had very little sleep the night before, we decided to get ourselves unpacked and settled first and sleep later. Some friends had kindly put some basic supplies in the house and lit the fire, so after a light early supper we fell into a deliciously warm bed and slept for twelve hours.
We woke refreshed and ready to go off to the shops, and there was something very satisfying about being able to find our way to the supermarket without any problem and then, later, to have some lunch at our favourite café. We celebrated our first meal back in France by ordering duck breast with chips and salad, accompanied by a glass of local red wine. Then we felt we were indeed, ‘back in France’. We were delighted to discover that food is still cheaper here than in South Africa and were able to do a fairly ‘big’ shop without getting nervous about the finances.
Everything which is familiar looks very strange to us without the lush green foliage that we had become used to seeing. Suddenly, we can see further; see houses that were previously hidden behind trees. A whole new world is appearing to us in an area we thought we knew so well. The fields, previously green or golden, are now brown or grey and when viewed with the bare trees, show a scene of bleakness which in itself looks cold. Even when the sky is bright blue and there is no wind, as the last two days have been, the chill is still there. The weather experts are saying that by next weekend temperatures should be up to about 18°, and that should be positively warm! Until then, I will continue to wear three layers of clothes inside the house and a few more where I go outdoors.