I just can’t believe this weather! Tuesday was again grey
and rainy but by dashing out every time there was a break, we managed to clear
the last of the nasty creeper weed. No doubt it will return as soon as our backs
are turned but everything looks a lot better now. We also became aware of a rather nasty odour
in one part of the house which we couldn’t trace, so eventually had to go up
into the attic to try to track it down. To our horror we discovered some quite
large heaps of excrement, which had to be identified and removed. Not being
terribly clued up on such things, we had to guess and to use the internet, eventually
coming to the conclusion that it could maybe be attributed to something called
a stone marten, a weasel-like creature, well-known for moving into loft spaces
and making a nuisance of itself. We also found two large possible entrances for
such an animal, which we had to close up with that wonderful expanding foam –perfect
for just such a job. Thinking the day couldn’t get much worse, we were further horrified
to find a puddle of rain water on the kitchen floor and hardly a sign of where
it came from. So we put a bucket down and went to bed!
The next day we discovered via the internet that stone
martens don’t like the smell of mothballs and, although one can no longer buy
the original naphthalene balls, we managed to find something fairly similar,
although not nearly as pungent. We also scattered masses of mouse/rat bait
around, so one way and another we hope we have dealt with the problem. It wasn’t
all bad that day though, because we stopped while driving through Manciet (on
the way back from our mothball hunt) to have a look at the very unusual oval
wash house where laundry was done by hand in the old days. The water is crystal
clear and rushes in at one end from an underground spring and then disappears down
a drain at the other end. I have heard that some people still use it, a fact
which I find quite remarkable in this day and age.
On Thursday we were up with the sparrows and off to Toulouse
to meet the family, help them with their hire-car and lead them back to the
house. What a palaver! They had rented a car from a company that had recently
been taken over by Hertz, but had apparently not informed everyone involved. So
the man in the office in the airport terminal told us where to go to pick up
the car but didn’t tell us that the company had changed name in the last two
months. It was quite a step away, so Neels decided to get our car out of the parking
area and at least put all their luggage into the car. That was when he
discovered that he had mislaid the parking ticket. All he did, though, was to
go to the pay machine, push the ‘Help’ button and tell the lady who answered
what had happened. She was completely unfazed – asked him for the car
registration, told him where it was parked (correctly), told him when we came
in and how much he owed and then when he had paid, reminded him not to forget
to take the card, so that he could get out of the area. Very impressive indeed.
Needless to say, the family was really weary when we got home so it was a light
lunch and a siesta for all. But we couldn’t waste a moment and after all had
woken again, it was off to the supermarket for things like breakfast cereal,
fruit juice and cheese, which we had purposely not bought before their arrival.
About two hours later they were still wandering around gaping at all the
wonderful goodies for sale. We finally prised them out of the shop and went for
a short detour on the way home to re-visit the farm where Andre worked for six
months in his student years. Back at ‘home’, we had a reverse dinner – dessert,
champagne and snacks followed by a main course. Oh well, there’s no accounting
for taste, is there?
We had meant to organise a mobile phone card for Andre at
the supermarket but they were unable to provide him with the type of card he
needed so the following day they all went off to Nogaro to the mobile phone
shop to get one. Needless to say, it took all morning as there was so much to
see that was new and exciting. By lunch-time it was still drizzly and cold so
we decided on an indoor activity some little way away. Our destination was
Chateau Lavardens which was hosting an exhibition of art glass. It was a bit of
a shot in the dark as we really didn’t know how the girls would react. Well, we
needn’t have worried – they simply loved it and were amazed to see what can be
done with glass. What a shame it was all so expensive. By the time we got home
everyone was rather cold, so there was nothing for it but to make a fire. Is it
ever going to be summer??
We had planned a picnic in Aignan Forest for Saturday,
perhaps followed by a dip in the lake. Luckily we had a back-up plan which was
to have a picnic at home in the lounge! And then the weather cleared up so we
went to the forest anyway and went for a walk around the lake. I think the
family were impressed by the ‘beach’, made of imported beach sand, and the
water slides. They were even more impressed by the canopy trail which had been
erected in the trees surrounding the lake and we promised them that we would
return the next day so that they could experience it all, especially the ‘foefy
slide’ (zip line ride) across the lake.
However it was not to be as the next morning was again grey
and miserable. Real socks and jerseys weather. The girls were very disappointed that we couldn’t do
the canopy tour but it would have been horrid in the rain, so instead we took a
huge circular drive which took in Marciac, Bassoues, Peyyrusse Vieille (where
we stayed in 2010) and then home. Let’s hope the forecast for tomorrow is
correct as it has predicted 21 degrees and a sunny day. One can only hold thumbs.
No comments:
Post a Comment