tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25566498572592117582024-02-06T18:28:16.262-08:00softintheheadsoftintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-20240134778490105672012-10-02T12:46:00.000-07:002012-10-03T02:45:58.192-07:00Keeping BusyWell I have to do something with my days while I wait for the elusive job to appear so I have been doing some re-upholstry - remember that <a href="http://softintheheadblog.blogspot.ca/search?q=armchair">sweet deal</a> I got back at the beginning of the year. We have been living with it in it's grubby state for a while but I finally got around to doing something about it. Here is the before, have to admit to liking the previous fabric and it went well with my colours but it was definitely past its prime.<br />
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So I headed out to find a replacement fabric, so hard. I would enter a store with something in mind, but always on a budget, anything I liked was pricey, so I would wander around getting more and more overwhelmed - well this is what I finally settled for.<br />
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I have to say I am pretty pleased with the result. In order to do the work I had to get a sewing machine (all of these things I have in France!!) so found a second hand one for $40, it works perfectly.<br />
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Loving my second hand bargain hunting. I have another couple of projects to get my teeth over the next few days, a dresser for painting (picked up online for $25) and another upholstery project picked up this morning at the thrift store for $7.99 - I am thinking toile de jouy -what do you think?softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-3123181297757919032012-09-28T10:36:00.002-07:002012-09-28T10:36:53.611-07:00Hello.....Again!If anyone out there is interested, let me bring you up to date. Can't believe how from being totalled enamoured of my blog, I just couldn't find the time to post. But back again - must have time on my hands!<br />
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Well I did get that job and it lasted a couple of months, I think it could have gone longer if I had wanted it to and we didn't decide to leave Quebec, but that is what happened. I love the city of Montreal, it has a lot going on, festivals, music, fashion etc. but they don't make it easy for one to settle in. And the French language issue is huge. As you know I lived in France for over a year and admittedly I wasn't looking to work but in Quebec you are definitely prejudiced against by 1. not being Francophone and 2. not being fluent in French. As it turned out the job I got didn't require French at all!!<br />
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Anyway we have now relocated back to where we started, back in the same city as our daughter and grandchildren in South West Ontario, just half an hour from youngest son who is at college in Toronto.<br />
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We have rented a cute little house in the downtown area of the city close to the lake in a lovely leafy neighbourhood. I have spent the last month furnishing the place from consignment shops, charity shops and second hand sites on the Internet and am totally hooked on "thrifting". I am very happy with the end result, it is very cosy. I don't think I will ever pay full price for anything again.<br />
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So now I am back in the job hunt, looking for temporary office work, so that I can take the essential trips back to France several times a year. We were back there for a couple of weeks in late July and are off again at the end of next month. <br />
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So far so good.<br />
softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-21034156437618674002012-05-16T18:06:00.004-07:002012-05-16T18:07:44.929-07:00Good news!Well after all my moaning in my last post, I have now got a little temp job. Not sure how long it will last but am trying to make myself indispensable. At the moment it is just reconciling orders and invoices and filing. They have a big backlog.<br />
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As I suspected, it was more a case of who you know, not what you know!<br />
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So from having too much time on my hands, life has become a little hectic; have had to pass on the French classes for a few weeks, put off the yoga class on Friday mornings, postpone a much needed pedicure (lovely Mother's Day present from daughter :) ) and cancel my dog walking with a new friend.<br />
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Still the money will help finance the flights back to France in July.softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-19756401074674344262012-04-20T11:11:00.001-07:002012-04-20T11:11:12.185-07:00Keeping BusyI am trying to fill my days here in Montreal. I am feeling frustrated at my inability to find a job here. Although I spent a year living in France and felt quite confident in my French there, here in Quebec it is quite intimidating to use one's French when absolutely everyone is bilingual.<br />
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I find it hard to judge just how good/bad my French is when as soon as I open my mouth people realise I am not a francophone and they immediately speak to me in English. However in the job market it is a necessity that you have a good knowledge of French and I do know I couldn't hold down a job in French.<br />
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Ho hum, so (to answer <a href="http://bigbluebarnwest.blogspot.ca/">aims</a>' question) not sure about Quebec mainly due to this issue. We came back to Canada rather than other options as we felt I should be able to work here. I have sent out many MANY applications, these days everything is "online" so my resume is floating around out there in the ether and I have heard nothing back.<br />
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So in order to keep myself from going mad, I have been refinishing some second hand furniture. I got these two side tables from the thrift store located in my old neighbourhood (where daughter and family now lives) for just over $10 the pair and I have painted them. I am very pleased with the end result. I picked up an old sewing machine table at the side of the road and that is my next project.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They look white - but more of a cream colour</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great detail - just one coat of varnish to finish off</td></tr>
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I know I didn't work in France but there was plenty to keep me busy, here I am in a rented house, in the 'burbs' becoming a bored housewife. I have signed up for French classes which start next month.
Sorry for the moaning post but that's how I feeling right now.
PS: France was gorgeous, weather amazing, time there much too short. Roll on July.softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-9651294743934328392012-03-22T08:49:00.006-07:002012-03-22T09:09:00.177-07:00Spring in Suburbia?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYnDLhyWibtp4gd0bIoA34LJMmGop5tBXbnTtKM5UnUyXBunH8Eo4yCs86Y0aQzhzVB8xqTv3nV2W6LiFjd8ucyVdf2x5iQaHnYJvFxK1hWT14UV9zTZi2FDfQLCfffl6PQH9_E58Ggk/s1600/DSC01705.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYnDLhyWibtp4gd0bIoA34LJMmGop5tBXbnTtKM5UnUyXBunH8Eo4yCs86Y0aQzhzVB8xqTv3nV2W6LiFjd8ucyVdf2x5iQaHnYJvFxK1hWT14UV9zTZi2FDfQLCfffl6PQH9_E58Ggk/s320/DSC01705.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722751330753248898" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzNZX39RYXeT1w2vfacpLNIrC1faYE48PWJlVV2Pw0Z-79I20osjDtr3ngC2Ru-ycF3SHPlIAHlrVqV56ig0ybDoyiyJiYN1nQ_6ejFYn0ks-xdPteJSA3TH1AesdK0ZGqWDHkTIxNL4/s1600/DSC01704.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzNZX39RYXeT1w2vfacpLNIrC1faYE48PWJlVV2Pw0Z-79I20osjDtr3ngC2Ru-ycF3SHPlIAHlrVqV56ig0ybDoyiyJiYN1nQ_6ejFYn0ks-xdPteJSA3TH1AesdK0ZGqWDHkTIxNL4/s320/DSC01704.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722751072739552850" /></a> <br />Since my last post and all that snow, "spring" has seemingly arrived. I live in Quebec in Canada now and this is unheard of at this time of year so we are all assuming this is just a blip and trying hard not to get too excited. Although it was 26 degrees C yesterday and today.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So the gardener in me couldn't miss the opportunity to get out there and tidy up. Above are pictures of my current garden here in suburbia - a bit of a blank canvas but backing onto the woods. I think a container garden is required, one that can move with me to the next location - wherever that may be - we are not planning on removing ourselves too far but this is just a rental at the moment.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdB4f8xXRpXj2ScZz1Ve7I6t-Y89ZOfsnMyO6NJuGYWf5LhKq7TPtHEDu8sv6NNwDpvklv7Jp69JMglLUgDF7d4JpDQyRX4AqgXsGBinIkCoWkFiRDVCsAOP58J52iih9iY7s8SgJgf0M/s1600/DSC01388.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdB4f8xXRpXj2ScZz1Ve7I6t-Y89ZOfsnMyO6NJuGYWf5LhKq7TPtHEDu8sv6NNwDpvklv7Jp69JMglLUgDF7d4JpDQyRX4AqgXsGBinIkCoWkFiRDVCsAOP58J52iih9iY7s8SgJgf0M/s320/DSC01388.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722752587149887138" /></a>Tomorrow however we off for a week in France and I cannot wait to be sitting in this garden instead. I am hoping the weather will cooperate and then try not to be too sad when I have to return to Canada, to the work/shopping involved in the new garden project.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ9JoP8s5l6IjBVsV2UUUxI0ybnhvqbZF4KXbM5_HuDfTmwTBTJ_9CVAQqSv1ty5Rk0g_2VEjPQua_6f5-jx_rz9L5sWsBqTczKPDU9sEg3K1VsXaNhQlp1HMhyphenhyphenAhHgG028D6M3KdB0o/s1600/DSC01385.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ9JoP8s5l6IjBVsV2UUUxI0ybnhvqbZF4KXbM5_HuDfTmwTBTJ_9CVAQqSv1ty5Rk0g_2VEjPQua_6f5-jx_rz9L5sWsBqTczKPDU9sEg3K1VsXaNhQlp1HMhyphenhyphenAhHgG028D6M3KdB0o/s320/DSC01385.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722752141586530866" /></a></div><div><br /></div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-90058073718294380622012-03-03T03:47:00.004-08:002012-03-03T03:59:50.548-08:00We've had a little snow!Well here in Quebec nearly a foot (!) is hardly worth mentioning. Last Friday it started snowing around 3pm and by 6pm we decided it was probably best not to drive so decided to walk to the closest restaurant for dinner - from the looks we got when we arrived, we must have looked like snowmen. It was very heavy driving snow and we were pretty much bent double trying to keep it out of our faces. We also had the added joy of trying to avoid all the snow ploughs out clearing the parking lots and sidewalks. We were only doing this as our youngest son was staying with us and he wanted to watch the Hockey game.<br /><br />By morning it had been snowing for over 12 hours and there was a lot of snow! This picture is actually a couple of days later at our next house when we had had a chance to clean off the car.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7dVqjX1Ft-S90N4LCURrzxsVS_-R19iNsJsz4K1g5D3Ni4F8Dlz-in0NpQontXve13DJJ5Ku5PtBaO8_c2pBEsAHu_qk_d3yKPhTkwxCheBJeYmbhORtbsPUdviQvoMexuEBzWixoRo/s1600/DSC01702.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7dVqjX1Ft-S90N4LCURrzxsVS_-R19iNsJsz4K1g5D3Ni4F8Dlz-in0NpQontXve13DJJ5Ku5PtBaO8_c2pBEsAHu_qk_d3yKPhTkwxCheBJeYmbhORtbsPUdviQvoMexuEBzWixoRo/s320/DSC01702.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715637072727867442" /></a>The following picture is of the deck at our new house where no-one has been living for a few months, so there is about 18 inches of snow, not the entirety of the snowfall this winter, as we have had a couple of thaws in between.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnzTYwdOPJrtpaHEKbOfHDAuGtqgJ5vdYzBHdOmlJDDDDF-jrGgbnG8JEYScm87zPX8ZLRh4icXLYVn1E74cdVh5qRbRCnBHEJh4AlYHuA9YGt-kKxmefGicV-ZUcXPpx4jXtnm1QTgk/s1600/DSC01703.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnzTYwdOPJrtpaHEKbOfHDAuGtqgJ5vdYzBHdOmlJDDDDF-jrGgbnG8JEYScm87zPX8ZLRh4icXLYVn1E74cdVh5qRbRCnBHEJh4AlYHuA9YGt-kKxmefGicV-ZUcXPpx4jXtnm1QTgk/s320/DSC01703.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715637914232226162" /></a>Roll on spring - we have confirmed our flights to France for a week at the end of March, and keep receiving updates on the weather there, it sounds wonderful and we cannot wait.softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-1807094345528102722012-02-23T03:53:00.000-08:002012-02-23T04:05:15.864-08:00Sweet Deal!Well son and I did go off to the second hand furniture warehouse (an exciting week with the parents as you can see) and I managed to pick up a sweet deal. A very nice armchair and ottoman for $25!!! They are a little grubby and I will give them a good clean. I intended to get something as an upholstery project but they look pretty good as they are at the moment. There is an oil stain on one corner so if anyone has any tips on removing that, please let me know.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqurdiIRY9G7iTT0Az_F5gzurgw6jfm0FTa5hUrfltMMmUYJGVLa_-mR46Gt1n1WueAqbmZcRW85IFLpbI-oWq2SqYfAd_-95K3nmKHYfo-1y4WwbQqZ0xCWH0q8NLWb6AYBaihJx6amw/s1600/DSC01700.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqurdiIRY9G7iTT0Az_F5gzurgw6jfm0FTa5hUrfltMMmUYJGVLa_-mR46Gt1n1WueAqbmZcRW85IFLpbI-oWq2SqYfAd_-95K3nmKHYfo-1y4WwbQqZ0xCWH0q8NLWb6AYBaihJx6amw/s320/DSC01700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712298991571808162" /></a><br />Most of the stuff there was absolute tat, dusty and dirty with these little gems just sitting there amongst the mess.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzo0roT2M5crdRLXswxD2TpX3fm7wwBbXXERD6V4xMpEnwjwC3kpaLuWChU0XTCOmY1voiuCao-M6aegXsO6U7-JiY_2wnwy7KwsLkelH42dnOa_TgDI71exzs9SnVBLUbLSZTVrBdQk/s1600/DSC01701.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzo0roT2M5crdRLXswxD2TpX3fm7wwBbXXERD6V4xMpEnwjwC3kpaLuWChU0XTCOmY1voiuCao-M6aegXsO6U7-JiY_2wnwy7KwsLkelH42dnOa_TgDI71exzs9SnVBLUbLSZTVrBdQk/s320/DSC01701.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712299208551553666" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> There was also an interesting chest of drawers I might have to go back for next week. At these prices I would be a fool not to. But I will leave that until we have moved, just less stuff to transfer. We move into another rental on Wednesday, this time for six months. Gypsies - who us?!?<br /><br /></div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-56305163768579667112012-02-20T11:49:00.000-08:002012-02-20T12:05:40.443-08:00Family WeekendIt was what is known as the Family Holiday weekend in most of Canada (no holiday here in Quebec unfortunately) so our daughter, son-in-law and the granddaughters drove the 5 hours from Toronto for a few days.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlc2HitKrmXxif_S7tygNBwOdWpCUcRXt0hXx532QGKYEVszwKmemb-G3HzKvJVV9xWAwOKrmRF2xYJwyfBRrnzoh-VofoDnebuWbIU-TI3wwdWQGo3D0WfuJla-Sw170UMESM1uyXKc/s1600/DSC01683.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlc2HitKrmXxif_S7tygNBwOdWpCUcRXt0hXx532QGKYEVszwKmemb-G3HzKvJVV9xWAwOKrmRF2xYJwyfBRrnzoh-VofoDnebuWbIU-TI3wwdWQGo3D0WfuJla-Sw170UMESM1uyXKc/s320/DSC01683.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711311265814761890" /></a><br /></div><div>We had a lovely time but you really do forget how intense and exhausting a young family can be. Annika is now 2 1/2 years old and great fun, tons of energy, talks non-stop with plenty of questions. Elise is now almost 7 months old and when in a good mood, an absolute delight with big smiles and lovely noises. However she likes her routine and it was messed up big time this weekend so she was not always so happy and she makes it known, believe me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway Kate and Mike got to have a nice night in downtown Montreal while we babysat, and then Sunday was a lovely cold but bright and sunny day and Annika got her first go at ice skating downtown on an outdoor rink in Old Montreal and then we all had lunch out in a nice restaurant. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ryoDK6t55AM9n6H42xdTgNNPplMTI7O4ZMa8A23r0zR3LbtimdwiK_ztuCaAstJ9SbBl03DdAJ8wT1_YDQuSLkFsVDel6gqx1wwVGv1LNWaLpcXGdsFhKlEDmAcR-OvA9HwyW1TvXZ0/s1600/DSC01689.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ryoDK6t55AM9n6H42xdTgNNPplMTI7O4ZMa8A23r0zR3LbtimdwiK_ztuCaAstJ9SbBl03DdAJ8wT1_YDQuSLkFsVDel6gqx1wwVGv1LNWaLpcXGdsFhKlEDmAcR-OvA9HwyW1TvXZ0/s320/DSC01689.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711311049137474386" /></a><br /></div><div>They left around midday for the drive back, and I am now sitting here enjoying the peace and quiet. I have changed the bed ready for our 19 year old son to arrive this evening to spend the half term week with us. Not sure what we will do with him, but I am hoping he sleeps a bit more than his 7 month old niece and won't talk as much as the 2 1/2 year old. I have plans to go to a second hand furniture warehouse this week, do you think that is his scene?!</div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-63285086221245104042012-02-14T06:39:00.000-08:002012-02-14T06:49:44.093-08:00Photos!<div style="text-align: center;">I promised photos of my handiwork, so here goes:</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Before</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcs2Y-4TiewONa-logyNcQhGdBExLfNHPpLd1Ooy2wqHI0yDtRJq-jmziQSJOpRJVDSTaz5VT2ZuMa-fhOYumCH9gkwywFl3LjHFXw8-QDuZBmnk9ouXgg3W-b2G2szEwj5kigFwyfmV0/s1600/DSC01362.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcs2Y-4TiewONa-logyNcQhGdBExLfNHPpLd1Ooy2wqHI0yDtRJq-jmziQSJOpRJVDSTaz5VT2ZuMa-fhOYumCH9gkwywFl3LjHFXw8-QDuZBmnk9ouXgg3W-b2G2szEwj5kigFwyfmV0/s320/DSC01362.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709001695575522034" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">During</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWseNU3nZGMbEGh7lESk3VVqZmZynZzOKPuWuVGkrFNhjgjhQzcTc7llndg73_JBnnhBVNhBiNPguV6awxPff2QpSbspJuFVUz8a1iRQnUHUk15xMRS9j8km-f-AQlulgiDmfCyOapKKk/s1600/DSC01595.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWseNU3nZGMbEGh7lESk3VVqZmZynZzOKPuWuVGkrFNhjgjhQzcTc7llndg73_JBnnhBVNhBiNPguV6awxPff2QpSbspJuFVUz8a1iRQnUHUk15xMRS9j8km-f-AQlulgiDmfCyOapKKk/s320/DSC01595.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709001986971174162" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">And after!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYKINRmRU1qVmiZL9beFrCGRxvchK5tZpvb2J4_-15WHMzuo4vGke-9Zb70MoN8Vb87Dj4ipWmzr71xLrtIqbpu9MDuED9McIKHToQAaunJhR1p8ORQaelCQ4Chrv__w6ASeyu_9-HEk/s1600/DSC01624.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYKINRmRU1qVmiZL9beFrCGRxvchK5tZpvb2J4_-15WHMzuo4vGke-9Zb70MoN8Vb87Dj4ipWmzr71xLrtIqbpu9MDuED9McIKHToQAaunJhR1p8ORQaelCQ4Chrv__w6ASeyu_9-HEk/s320/DSC01624.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709002454294466818" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I have to admit to being very proud of myself. It was a lot of work, but so rewarding. We were thrilled to find the corner stones around the windows and door. Quite a transformation.</div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-70735250808105664272012-02-06T12:43:00.000-08:002012-02-06T13:12:31.598-08:00Where in the World....?....have I been for FIVE months? ........am I living now? <div><br /></div><div>Sorry I haven't been blogging - funny because I thought once I got to France I would have lots to say but I guess I was too busy doing to write about it. <div><br /></div><div>Well it was August when I last posted and just off to visit my family in Canada, to meet the new granddaughter ( who is now 6 months old). I had a lovely time, it was very relaxed, well as relaxed as it can be in a house with a two year old and new baby! </div><div><br /></div><div>Once I returned it was back to work in the garden, bringing in my harvest and tidying up.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then I decided to transform the front of the house by taking off all the crepi/cement/gray stuff - a big job requiring a big tool. It took me about four weeks (not non stop as it was very hot) to get it cleaned off and about three weeks to then re-point it. A very rewarding job, I did get pointing injuries but was thrilled with the result. I will post pictures but at the moment am having issues with the internet on my laptop, hubby's which I am using seems fine.</div><div><br /></div><div>That took me through to about November, meanwhile hubby was at the new job and hating it. So decisions had to be taken. Working in France for him wasn't turning out to the be dream he expected, work for me seemed non-existent. After much soul searching we decided we needed to change something. Hence we are now back in Canada! Yep I know! But this is where a job came up, we can be together all week, we are closer to the children (they are in Ontario we are in Quebec - about 5 hours drive apart) and hopefully life for hubby will be much more fulfilling. </div><div><br /></div><div>We intend that France will always be our base, and hope to end up there eventually but for now this seems a much better arrangement all round. So here we are, in a rental amongst the piles of snow and sub-zero temperatures whilst our little house in France sits empty for now. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are planning to go back for a week at the end of March and hope to get back there as often as possible, still getting work done. The main house is pretty much finished, just a few kitchen cabinets to be installed and then Phase 2 can begin. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>I will try to post more regularly, especially now I have so much time on my hands, as I wait for a job to materialise. I am keeping my fingers crossed on that front as even after a year in France I am not sure I have enough French for Montreal!</div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-33302780123719011252011-08-16T13:09:00.000-07:002011-08-16T13:32:51.379-07:00Another two months....<div style="text-align: justify;">Yes amazingly another two months have flown by here in our little village. I honestly wonder what I do with myself all day but the days just whizz by. How did I ever manage to have a job as well!! What have we been up to the? Well we have have a few visitors, the in-laws were here for a few days in early July, it was very hot while they were here and luckily they didn't want to do too much but we did a few bits, took them to Oradour sur Glane, visited nearby Chateau Guillaume, and went to a vide grenier so feel they got an all round taste of life here in the country.</div><div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZkqRiFR2WqinX12SoG9ziK46qqVUcQLvB0zCmu2tlJXOFWNhfbTE0wT4pj48SSB3ItHnfjqaa0qbQVH3fv4H2gIRVSf3whczZyblUZOqsSBzvJOmLF_5FgtAyYpUrNg-wEhtTkSzol0/s1600/DSC01513.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZkqRiFR2WqinX12SoG9ziK46qqVUcQLvB0zCmu2tlJXOFWNhfbTE0wT4pj48SSB3ItHnfjqaa0qbQVH3fv4H2gIRVSf3whczZyblUZOqsSBzvJOmLF_5FgtAyYpUrNg-wEhtTkSzol0/s320/DSC01513.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641552514367451906" /></a>
<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">When they were here the garden was looking very scorched as we had hardly any rain for months. Since mid-July however we have had plenty and all the water butts are nicely topped up....this after several weeks of having to water with the washing up water and from our well as there was a ban in the area.</div><div><div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLMf9i6t8BKlexgDpeo25jwDXxYNwy0CiXoibY17xb-ZlK44VfJlog2Vq5z4Yp-mI8TyqBjka5dlDPsgdk0PLuKd-b6GA3V-wwj09166QcxWcfYdr0mcjXaCecDAD95Dom8TPPS6Skns/s1600/DSC01514.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLMf9i6t8BKlexgDpeo25jwDXxYNwy0CiXoibY17xb-ZlK44VfJlog2Vq5z4Yp-mI8TyqBjka5dlDPsgdk0PLuKd-b6GA3V-wwj09166QcxWcfYdr0mcjXaCecDAD95Dom8TPPS6Skns/s320/DSC01514.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641553503268753026" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also we have made some progress on the kitchen, there is still a way to go but the units using my stripped windows are now in place and we also have a cooker!! Whoohoo - its beginning to resemble a kitchen.</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then just a couple of weeks ago, my brother, sister-in-law and two of their children were here for a week, again took off on the tourist route, trip to Limoges with a lovely walk along the river, a bit of a tortuous afternoon on the Velorail, and a tiny bit of house hunting!!!</div><div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4xEiSD3rHkYIDj5_D_L1r65wxAeryY1s-_KDo7soz8iEJ4W5dZPgSpKnofQnM1cGlK7QeNgjBW2r-k7GFsWoaP5qBO5P8IlqixVVVrEVsnhfcBbSZ7YiK9AagnI9m8DmmV0UQGsZjG8/s1600/Annika+and+Elise+5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4xEiSD3rHkYIDj5_D_L1r65wxAeryY1s-_KDo7soz8iEJ4W5dZPgSpKnofQnM1cGlK7QeNgjBW2r-k7GFsWoaP5qBO5P8IlqixVVVrEVsnhfcBbSZ7YiK9AagnI9m8DmmV0UQGsZjG8/s320/Annika+and+Elise+5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641554129326024818" /></a>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also, big news, second baby granddaughter, Elise Ann, was born weighing in at 8lb 10ozs on July 21st. Everyone doing very well - Annika has taken it all in her stride and I am off to Canada to see everyone a week today. Hubby just started a new job today, still in Toulouse, so not able to take time off to come with me. It will probably just be a couple of weeks of shopping with daughter, and spending lots of time with my granddaughters, I cannot wait.</div><div>
<br /></div><div> </div></div></div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-68622651570803652532011-06-08T02:12:00.000-07:002011-06-08T03:04:46.595-07:00Watching The Flowers Grow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SPVffxysa0ezFQ2J1QGzWo5_6qU3nCJRRbK3mc2QAXNttP3HUJpmuzhcRsZzdTaJ8UFbwQkx1uevOdSNkHU6sFeIkkwkUvhowEoJXUmmXht-HCWphoD7cF0yKla5V3QId0n5jOa07r4/s1600/DSC00736.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SPVffxysa0ezFQ2J1QGzWo5_6qU3nCJRRbK3mc2QAXNttP3HUJpmuzhcRsZzdTaJ8UFbwQkx1uevOdSNkHU6sFeIkkwkUvhowEoJXUmmXht-HCWphoD7cF0yKla5V3QId0n5jOa07r4/s320/DSC00736.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615775325377499170" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Well where have I been for FOUR months, I promise I haven't just been watching the flowers grow, but saying that just look how they have grown - first picture a year ago April, second picture this morning .....</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgJBfl5k3WOiS_i_rmceE-jb6H4Zs0V1pRAPVmPkijJY_NYarKl5LKYJIzSPdHvG-Xw0RrttjRNIj5zpFj-LnFjZadjpmHXDLG0E0JGqV86kMmB1NyK5_9APhqsBUH6nYa68G0hKrFc0/s1600/DSC01395.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgJBfl5k3WOiS_i_rmceE-jb6H4Zs0V1pRAPVmPkijJY_NYarKl5LKYJIzSPdHvG-Xw0RrttjRNIj5zpFj-LnFjZadjpmHXDLG0E0JGqV86kMmB1NyK5_9APhqsBUH6nYa68G0hKrFc0/s320/DSC01395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615776653528330482" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Note the railings and pillars have gone, much nicer and more open now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The concrete pillars actually ended up in the kitchen floor ....... hopefully you can spot the difference.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdhxTMGgsYKxiZ3Kbv2nsJHmZobt81V9JFeuKcZR9H4its364Y2IInJqhygOTysbglr7MtMQWSHF9HvzmShLei3sML3iHOoinNcw3JsAc4Yr41D-RAIoKXEQo0VlX6szJUKk2lNDzwtI/s1600/DSC01354.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdhxTMGgsYKxiZ3Kbv2nsJHmZobt81V9JFeuKcZR9H4its364Y2IInJqhygOTysbglr7MtMQWSHF9HvzmShLei3sML3iHOoinNcw3JsAc4Yr41D-RAIoKXEQo0VlX6szJUKk2lNDzwtI/s320/DSC01354.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615778867709755010" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4i7XLwYiGyGUPU05Xciy2OYD-W084t84gKFjcO9ZhtDCL6IY5rV60_fR6A5ljuM3x-EducwrBCTyiaIS862in1lDcA0Ftg4ZFUxkfC1UMBxfrgq8p8NrGdTCp_lWnmQlh2K4EbgR8ww/s1600/DSC01380.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4i7XLwYiGyGUPU05Xciy2OYD-W084t84gKFjcO9ZhtDCL6IY5rV60_fR6A5ljuM3x-EducwrBCTyiaIS862in1lDcA0Ftg4ZFUxkfC1UMBxfrgq8p8NrGdTCp_lWnmQlh2K4EbgR8ww/s320/DSC01380.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615779458378553170" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I love it, I have a work top - bliss. I have to say I love the tiled floor, all my own handiwork. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are having the cabinets made by a local craftsman on a piecemeal basis, I will eventually get doors, but the next phase is a wall cupboard using the old back door windows and a larder cupboard using the original kitchen windows. I have been busy stripping those</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjxN3uaufRFrjz1RFIcGuj6UAUipsGmkLkMuIdYVoAZ67sRu2kJoQ3uXADDxRe6lw4BUR1q6C282iNKcGKPcjURZohWcVDbavrYD9ewE0d3W5acn6NdZktDq6B6CXERcoYyw-pGJVgME/s1600/DSC01392.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjxN3uaufRFrjz1RFIcGuj6UAUipsGmkLkMuIdYVoAZ67sRu2kJoQ3uXADDxRe6lw4BUR1q6C282iNKcGKPcjURZohWcVDbavrYD9ewE0d3W5acn6NdZktDq6B6CXERcoYyw-pGJVgME/s320/DSC01392.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615780842688601698" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EDwpOtjlVHoHOndQXT_Vz6HQSUDizRpAjiVWJWokIhtumK3vCR5nqRstS-SuNsUMxWzklzqkDh-nR4UGpoSiNv-kXrFQjwfcYWZNNHA65671XEHoKRuq30VzMvMtMTISNwerAVQ4FUc/s1600/DSC01394.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EDwpOtjlVHoHOndQXT_Vz6HQSUDizRpAjiVWJWokIhtumK3vCR5nqRstS-SuNsUMxWzklzqkDh-nR4UGpoSiNv-kXrFQjwfcYWZNNHA65671XEHoKRuq30VzMvMtMTISNwerAVQ4FUc/s320/DSC01394.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615781832450952994" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you can imagine this wasn't too tough a job out there on a sunny afternoon under the shady pergola. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Got to admit many an hour has been lazed away out here.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs2eYTVXdk43yeyHwMVamgM6FqUIRfwlVnarvYPMkOicj8NrzeVR4FlvhUeQxjyDpvlq0ixpej8OjQDaxFaxyPmfKfuToGK8FFa2fL-ocCV_dZj-hkNLOIjbHnJJiuG6K3PD9qv3aChQ/s1600/DSC01388.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs2eYTVXdk43yeyHwMVamgM6FqUIRfwlVnarvYPMkOicj8NrzeVR4FlvhUeQxjyDpvlq0ixpej8OjQDaxFaxyPmfKfuToGK8FFa2fL-ocCV_dZj-hkNLOIjbHnJJiuG6K3PD9qv3aChQ/s320/DSC01388.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615782729676016914" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This was one of our best investments. It is so lovely out there. What with the seemingly endless hot sunny days we have had so far this year, it has been a godsend. It is a little cooler this week and we have actually had a bit of rain, believe me - no-one is complaining.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is another one that is growing like a weed. Thank heavens for Skype. Her little brother/sister is due in six weeks.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLKaANYSZG4DTT47khDEHD_11rIBin9gEv9EgmFNlkEYlzGWamHesTGCH8MuJf4ksjh9Clm-9cmbLyzxAa19ate5L5M5Hf2HsEFrWZ2wbdhdZldmbp2Ra66gGB5YjZUTexlraVLWpPTU/s1600/Annika.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLKaANYSZG4DTT47khDEHD_11rIBin9gEv9EgmFNlkEYlzGWamHesTGCH8MuJf4ksjh9Clm-9cmbLyzxAa19ate5L5M5Hf2HsEFrWZ2wbdhdZldmbp2Ra66gGB5YjZUTexlraVLWpPTU/s320/Annika.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615784308972913698" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-77133740558650672792011-01-24T22:00:00.000-08:002011-01-24T23:06:56.313-08:00A Belated Bonne Annee!Just noticed that it is a month since I last posted. Where has the time gone? To think we are a 12<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> of the way to next Christmas! Ugh!<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well we had a lovely trip to Canada to see family, although with all the travel and rushing about my cold did stick around into the New Year. We left Canada on Boxing Day returning to the UK only to find that a week after the snow the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">carpark</span> where we left our car was still a skating rink. Some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nonsense</span> about if they grit they are liable - how ridiculous. Is this what society has come to?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway we then spent a hectic three days in England visiting friends and relatives and getting in some all important shopping, mostly in B & Q and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tesco</span>. I was actually standing in an M&S where they were having a fantastic sale, but with hubby sitting on my shoulder I couldn't enjoy the experience and we left....with nothing!! Him oblivious to the fact that a trip to M&S (to buy stuff) had been an important part of my holiday!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We arrived back in our village late on the evening of 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> to find that someone (our builder) had kindly set the fire for us. We put a match to it and stood back, only to have the room alarmingly fill with smoke. So badly in fact, we had to throw water on it to put it out. It appears our builder had done exactly the same thing a few hours earlier, hoping to warm up the house for us! Apparently in our absence the chimney had become a little blocked so it was off to a chilly bed for us. Not the best welcome home. Up bright and early the next morning with our neighbour (and friend and wonderful dog sitter) round with her chimney cleaning kit to clean it out and hey presto, it was nice a toasty again.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So what have I been doing this last few weeks, well the builder got the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ensuite</span> installed and I have painted all the woodwork. We are very pleased with the results. Also finally got around to pointing and rendering the feature wall in the bedroom which meant we could finally return the little scaffold tower to its rightful owner. It is wonderful after 6 weeks to be able to negotiate our bedroom to our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ensuite</span> in the middle of the night without having to remember to climb through the scaffold!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A couple of photos of the results......</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWxy7qAIXcSxBy_ke53_hC2w8j0KfhyphenhyphenKTbJSryafDUfnw7Q8AKXh91U-QObBWFz8ZCUMJlI1urb0IgpAYghgfSbWTBJFi3PlhcN3eppf36kbSZdTKzeN-JcNQF9UWj4vw6wQ-sZgNryM/s1600/DSC01268.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWxy7qAIXcSxBy_ke53_hC2w8j0KfhyphenhyphenKTbJSryafDUfnw7Q8AKXh91U-QObBWFz8ZCUMJlI1urb0IgpAYghgfSbWTBJFi3PlhcN3eppf36kbSZdTKzeN-JcNQF9UWj4vw6wQ-sZgNryM/s320/DSC01268.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566004706140827346" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDknufEQnAq3ZioQABJJkl8SOtQGogLj6Tp_0ChA50aCQVuX0qrvkYt9-1Yh6Y_E7kcBdSOpWpgZfrzBqNobz44Echc_m3-hdTXylfgrTYteWEeJ5VLszJhHccTHEYLIBnpYlLRYMNCE/s1600/DSC01314.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDknufEQnAq3ZioQABJJkl8SOtQGogLj6Tp_0ChA50aCQVuX0qrvkYt9-1Yh6Y_E7kcBdSOpWpgZfrzBqNobz44Echc_m3-hdTXylfgrTYteWEeJ5VLszJhHccTHEYLIBnpYlLRYMNCE/s320/DSC01314.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566011471255778258" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A couple of other bits of gossip, daughter and son-in-law are expecting baby number 2 in July! Very exciting news, guess where I will be spending my summer hols.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo16tHCMyGUdAIk6XJIhHrzCxxWwxub_F4QfChO0mpGkOQYKQN21Dkz0fk92FnUn0A7uTT79YR9zEX50PTEc-qlnFKyk2P8PTJ8iXXni9O8Z8KXTWntVlVv_BI007aq5ELg6aviYrgGU/s1600/DSC01315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo16tHCMyGUdAIk6XJIhHrzCxxWwxub_F4QfChO0mpGkOQYKQN21Dkz0fk92FnUn0A7uTT79YR9zEX50PTEc-qlnFKyk2P8PTJ8iXXni9O8Z8KXTWntVlVv_BI007aq5ELg6aviYrgGU/s320/DSC01315.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566012693426374114" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next less happy news is that hubby's job down in Toulouse is just not working out, he is not happy and so we are looking around, will keep you posted on that one. On the positive side it has put a little bit more urgency into my "to do" list.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIjciThPSwcEz5H5QXPWVF-Q_yKHj1RtX81PE4xnS_EGuDmjN-gKu1hNTLE6FLSC1RQvZ7Sh8Cy6M0dzQvv1X8QVtQE9r942TxJthdNxgxftu20hDvjEkM1N_5CYwvbE8YofmXgGuuEs/s1600/DSC01266.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIjciThPSwcEz5H5QXPWVF-Q_yKHj1RtX81PE4xnS_EGuDmjN-gKu1hNTLE6FLSC1RQvZ7Sh8Cy6M0dzQvv1X8QVtQE9r942TxJthdNxgxftu20hDvjEkM1N_5CYwvbE8YofmXgGuuEs/s320/DSC01266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566013753470686306" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQKbNpcDJC_RsIVghm4EeLd0FQtQL3aUrNt5IUxpcDS_5ydSXV3e1_xa5Dyq1tQodoErQyfIJgD3noON109oJHbwz_f5qu45TGuVThpmQ2vwCLXGcMB4mbqd_pTtrzPoLhX6exvA0A3M/s1600/DSC01299.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQKbNpcDJC_RsIVghm4EeLd0FQtQL3aUrNt5IUxpcDS_5ydSXV3e1_xa5Dyq1tQodoErQyfIJgD3noON109oJHbwz_f5qu45TGuVThpmQ2vwCLXGcMB4mbqd_pTtrzPoLhX6exvA0A3M/s320/DSC01299.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566014456049988466" /></a><br />With scaffolding ........<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>and</div><div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>without scaffolding!</div></div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-9688740318028152282010-12-24T03:01:00.000-08:002010-12-24T03:18:37.471-08:00Greetings from Canada<div style="text-align: justify;">Currently sitting in my daughter's living room at silly o'clock in the morning drinking a hot lemon drink as I have managed to catch a nasty cold for Christmas. We set off for Canada via the UK last Saturday morning at 4am, worried about the snow that was forecast and how it was going to impact our journey. However we made great time through France, avoiding Paris, and took an earlier ferry across the Channel. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we reached the English coast however we were in the thick of a snowstorm, so thick you could see the shore at all. We slid off the ferry (yep -absolutely no attempt by Seafrance to grit/clear the ramp or the route out of the port). Good god - these people are in the business of moving cars around. It was shocking. Then a knuckle clenching 5 hour trip from Dover to Gatwick. In that five hours we did not see one gritting truck, plough or policeman. Shame on those who are in charge of these things, knowing that this storm was coming no-one seemed to have made any effort to prepare. Not even hills were gritted, lorries jack knifed all over the place. Anyway we did make to the hotel with minutes to spare, just in time for the Strictly final - yes I have to admit I got totally hooked on this programme in the last few months and missing it was not an option !</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We spent the entire day Sunday at Gatwick airport, i.e. 8.30am to 9.15pm, with thousands of other people on tenterhooks all day watching the departures boards as there was so little information and you really weren't certain whether anything was taking off or not. Once in the airport you didn't even know if it was still snowing outside. It wasn't! Turns out it only snowed for about two hours on Saturday lunchtime! We listened to announcements from various airlines for example Easyjet, just saying X, Y and Z flights are cancelled, will those passengers please leave the airport and re-book online! No apology - nothing. I am amazed there weren't riots!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyhoo finally arrived in Canada at 5am French time - picked up the rental car and made our way home and collapsed into bed. Never going to travel to Canada via UK again, too much margin for problems all around.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But we are safely here and I know many hundreds of people haven't been as lucky so we are duly grateful. It is wonderful to be with family again, Annika has grown up a lot in the past three months and we are taking every opportunity to babysit. Our daughter is loving the in-house babysitting service.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wish everyone else a wonderful Christmas and happy and safe New Year. Back in 2011.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-24556275928227362182010-11-27T01:49:00.001-08:002010-11-27T02:01:04.976-08:00Winter has arrived!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSFkarDb5HtBMxlOXnC2Su_zIwd3Y7xPSzhCdnfCeV8kgf_SA_r8UGbDVOKZXzutxATycZ68p3uGZ4YibQG4EU8NZC_PKp5uT5yAh0zgUAGO0s_T_e_VPLGFPHx4ovZFVjDLRrLHwuGk/s1600/DSC01233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSFkarDb5HtBMxlOXnC2Su_zIwd3Y7xPSzhCdnfCeV8kgf_SA_r8UGbDVOKZXzutxATycZ68p3uGZ4YibQG4EU8NZC_PKp5uT5yAh0zgUAGO0s_T_e_VPLGFPHx4ovZFVjDLRrLHwuGk/s320/DSC01233.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544165322740966226" /></a><i><div style="text-align: center;">A couple of pictures to tell the tale....</div></i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Yesterday we had a little dusting, but it was bright, sunny although definitely on the chilly side - that's our little house with the blue van out front</i></div><div><i><br />Then today the snow is really coming down, it is grey and wet out there</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJSSGxcVY4WZ8zxKN6ZOU3mhM6ZBZQ1xhS9wBB1W4BkXEnszzIGhmLjOphyphenhyphenQARtgPDw_VaPQxxBQLU9O78_pF86UM5OxJyLPG3cqk-JquusEKWlkFyyPseC-LJdI8p7HXXLZVPeF-gVk/s1600/DSC01234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJSSGxcVY4WZ8zxKN6ZOU3mhM6ZBZQ1xhS9wBB1W4BkXEnszzIGhmLjOphyphenhyphenQARtgPDw_VaPQxxBQLU9O78_pF86UM5OxJyLPG3cqk-JquusEKWlkFyyPseC-LJdI8p7HXXLZVPeF-gVk/s320/DSC01234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544166141512723714" /></a><i>It is very hard to tell, but there were huge fluffy snowflakes falling when I took this. And to think I thought I had left this all behind on the other side of the Atlantic! I think it might be time to put away the sunbed........ </i>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-28271245954125272812010-11-23T22:17:00.000-08:002010-11-23T22:39:27.491-08:00Early Riser<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yWYUl0Tm1NIT3bTvmzC4xvCYAyLTD7weTsmdsdliWF-ca-G69zJGxlZwrA9x12DDiRtNIg21Gy7cpu8NuiV87AxNKPMSQUXmQKeSn84fTFafWjkpACE-tPbC-p-VWHX-SlGeAbrwuCg/s1600/DSC01227.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yWYUl0Tm1NIT3bTvmzC4xvCYAyLTD7weTsmdsdliWF-ca-G69zJGxlZwrA9x12DDiRtNIg21Gy7cpu8NuiV87AxNKPMSQUXmQKeSn84fTFafWjkpACE-tPbC-p-VWHX-SlGeAbrwuCg/s320/DSC01227.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542998376415779490" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">I find that the older I get, the earlier I wake up. I have always been an early bird rather than a night owl but it is getting worse. Usually I am awake and up (because I cannot stay in bed!) by 6am. Here in deepest rural France it is very dark at 6am, currently I think sunrise is around 7.45am.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was just letting the dog out and opening the shutters when I heard the 7am carillon from the church bells here in the village and it struck me that I have already done the following:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Re-set and re-lit the fire</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hung up the overnight wash (indoors as more rain/damp is forecast)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Swept through to get rid of all the firewood mess and dog hairs, a daily if not twice daily chore</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Checked my emails</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Made the first cup of tea of the day</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh yes....and written this blog</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Is this sad or industrious?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I mentioned in my last post I have started on the bedroom and here are some photos of my progress:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideCDR3tY07m7XntvqXnateVx9gcKhCcbT2lBZLvbqVOyfysRDiyTL7v5xgagTCaXP98M2lHeV74cQbc5m7r4n9GH20JGkfzBytmGy6TtC5SVxaP1glZI2dCkkRPmj0aJHywdmP8_Ygxs/s1600/DSC01224.JPG"><img style="text-align: justify;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideCDR3tY07m7XntvqXnateVx9gcKhCcbT2lBZLvbqVOyfysRDiyTL7v5xgagTCaXP98M2lHeV74cQbc5m7r4n9GH20JGkfzBytmGy6TtC5SVxaP1glZI2dCkkRPmj0aJHywdmP8_Ygxs/s320/DSC01224.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542999281671596386" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">The before shot, lots of mud and dust everywhere</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The during shot. I love the look of the stone in this state but due to structural, cleanliness and insulation reasons we have to point it. That will be a learning curve for us so stand by for the after photos. The brick on the chimney is not very attractive so we are going to render that to give some contrast.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZvxaLemOFs5tsXbyuvAXVa0xv3xfRzQ5uC9QL0_zJ0R2CuCKdcsxxGMbYvOyhor1zVqiMgMvydp0BoQYCqWZFSC02qmryQ3vbhHBgWzo7kyNwkHTiTlDJn9NAC_DIxYo-ze5g-AOyO8/s1600/DSC01228.JPG"><img style="text-align: justify;float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZvxaLemOFs5tsXbyuvAXVa0xv3xfRzQ5uC9QL0_zJ0R2CuCKdcsxxGMbYvOyhor1zVqiMgMvydp0BoQYCqWZFSC02qmryQ3vbhHBgWzo7kyNwkHTiTlDJn9NAC_DIxYo-ze5g-AOyO8/s320/DSC01228.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542999977518011282" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rest of my day shapes up as follows:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shower, dress, breakfast, walk dog, post Christmas cards, drive to next village for bread, maybe pop into neighbour on way back for coffee, then back upstairs to carry on painting the bedroom.</div></div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-52730203526436187102010-11-15T03:26:00.000-08:002010-11-15T03:58:30.586-08:00Little by LittleI cannot believe it has been a month since I last posted! I have been keeping myself busy so I thought I would post a few pictures ...... I painted the living room before all our "stuff" arrived on 2nd November. It is a warm cream colour and just having all the walls the same colour made a big difference. Here is the before.. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUZxBJdpAX2SL57hedXgvQbRB8ygjjzNjetuxZwCQpJzWgO3clWA_3Ruf1kzRe_dmwbX0CD9f4YSeLcyB-qD3uyjmarBYI9zT9EfJuhDjiC_Z7njMK4yXW1KT-NDJ9kDQjPLVZPPT4-U/s1600/DSC01186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUZxBJdpAX2SL57hedXgvQbRB8ygjjzNjetuxZwCQpJzWgO3clWA_3Ruf1kzRe_dmwbX0CD9f4YSeLcyB-qD3uyjmarBYI9zT9EfJuhDjiC_Z7njMK4yXW1KT-NDJ9kDQjPLVZPPT4-U/s320/DSC01186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539737998994213810" /></a><br />And after...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVKVJiWGTnVoHZ0-YLmAsRGsyFN-vUirb_s_xrAWLUpaOr8nabgncG59R1YaCLr5h9C3iaUgajA2WS4Ga2Q8ABpfqxBalvyhZnyMxzmbL_v01r4ndwbUXHu7OLaqiWvLqChyphenhyphen8ZV-E2F8/s1600/DSC01221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVKVJiWGTnVoHZ0-YLmAsRGsyFN-vUirb_s_xrAWLUpaOr8nabgncG59R1YaCLr5h9C3iaUgajA2WS4Ga2Q8ABpfqxBalvyhZnyMxzmbL_v01r4ndwbUXHu7OLaqiWvLqChyphenhyphen8ZV-E2F8/s320/DSC01221.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539740310171555458" /></a><br />It is a lot nicer snuggling down here after a hard day! I have to say the black and white checkerboard tiles are getting me down though, just too busy so we are going to change them for a uniform terracotta tile. So as usual two steps forward, one back!<br /><br />My next job is to do the bedroom, which needs the un-plastered chimney wall taken back to the stone for rendering and pointing. A very messy job. So I have today packed up the bedroom ready to start that, then the beams and A-frame need brushing down with a wire brush, treating against infestation and then oiling with linseed oil, before I start the marathon job of painting all the walls and varnishing/waxing the floorboards. Somehow I don't think we are going to be sleeping up there for a while but there is still a bit of a deadline as our builder is due back around Christmas to install the ensuite bathroom fittings and fixtures. <br /><br />This is the bedroom before .....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_qk-v4DPbZcV_7n8_OsH9DA-UhUcDSFZu_oEayM3racQ_SkL-yWns6JgFrxPCUTqQ8pGCOx2-v4WKpA0Ino-Qohzpsik-QqNLZXTOIN1YQqPmdzzDG93MKGLSBjrIU3MzctHy8DHyGI/s1600/DSC00996.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_qk-v4DPbZcV_7n8_OsH9DA-UhUcDSFZu_oEayM3racQ_SkL-yWns6JgFrxPCUTqQ8pGCOx2-v4WKpA0Ino-Qohzpsik-QqNLZXTOIN1YQqPmdzzDG93MKGLSBjrIU3MzctHy8DHyGI/s320/DSC00996.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539741128204524466" /></a><br />Let's see how long it is before I can post the after photos.<br /><br />As I mentioned all our stuff arrived safely, goodness me, two weeks ago tomorrow. We had shipped our car as well as some furniture and belongings and getting the car OFF the container was causing a bit of a headache. It had been driven on off a loading bay in Canada but no such thing exists within 20 km of our village so we had to improvise...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iQW2REKDwtgEU64DrEL02UhOFRhvsoERNyhHqLj68CEWECNR_UyL2k9dbRuhhPIKEltrSPI3tYiuYZ3noJQBNLMOEbLdm5-4XBcL_ivbSYQaZ0qtIbg9y9jhoHZZjkKZKEYIZddSHvg/s1600/DSC01212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iQW2REKDwtgEU64DrEL02UhOFRhvsoERNyhHqLj68CEWECNR_UyL2k9dbRuhhPIKEltrSPI3tYiuYZ3noJQBNLMOEbLdm5-4XBcL_ivbSYQaZ0qtIbg9y9jhoHZZjkKZKEYIZddSHvg/s320/DSC01212.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539742392387915666" /></a><br />As always our great friends came to the rescue and we managed to borrow a low loader from the local builders' merchants and some 3 metre long ramps, those together with some planks and lots of ingenuity, the car made it safely onto French soil.<br /><br />Now just the registration to get.....remember - this is a vehicle which has come from Canada and was constructed in Mexico!! Fellow importers will understand my trepidation. :)softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-61276428844569201682010-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:002010-10-14T08:20:22.188-07:00Keep Busy!That is going to be my mantra over the next few weeks and months while I get used to life here in rural France. As you know there is LOTS to do on the house, but just on an everyday basis, there are plenty of things to keep me busy.<br /><br />My new schedule starts each day a lot later than I am used as it is so dark and quiet here! After breakfast I take the dog for a good walk, usually around 45 minutes. The first few days here the weather was gorgeous, starting a little cool but perfect for a walk (always uphill as we live in a valley) but by midday it has been in the 20's so no complaints there. Then I have to clear out the fireplace and lay the new fire, as it cools off quite a bit again in the evenings.<br /><br />Then there is laundry, or cooking or gardening to do. I am trying to be disciplined about shopping, not wanting to be constantly driving back and forth to the shops, the nearest of which is a 15 minute drive away. So I stocked up well and got gas. This new lifestyle is all about downsizing and becoming more thrifty and green.<br /><br />Then in the afternoons I have been attacking the very long list of jobs that need to be tackled. The first day I just cleaned the house from top to bottom in an effort to get rid of a lot of dust and cobwebs. <br /><br />I have sealed the old oak floor in the kitchen, it is not staying in the long term but was in a bad state and never looked clean, it is definitely an improvement.<br /><br />Yesterday I spent most of the afternoon cleaning up some of the walls in the living room, getting off some very stubborn wallpaper backing, sanding down some beams and getting them ready to paint. I can see the prep work is going to take a while but my goal is to get this one room decorated before our belongings arrive towards the end of the month.<br /><br />Today I have had a lazier day, after the walk with the dog, I drove into the next town to pay some taxes, and have quick look in the local brocante, it is a great one. Whilst there I spoke to the owner about a broken finial on my lovely old bed and he thinks either will have a spare or be able to make one for me so that was a good morning. <br /><br />It was very very misty this morning and only 4 degrees and it has taken until mid afternoon for the mist to burn off. It wasn't a lunch in the garden day as it has been the rest of the week.<br /><br />This afternoon I got the fire going, I do seem to be using a lot of logs - even though I have the woodburner shut right down, about one an hour - can anyone tell me if this is normal? And of course a lovely conversation via skype with daughter and granddaughter (who thinks it is hilarious that Nana is in the computer).<br /><br />So my next chore it to get some more logs in for the evening! Hubby will be back tomorrow and we have been invited up the road for dinner. And so goes my first week in my new life.softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-15420786378584921512010-10-11T05:43:00.000-07:002010-10-11T06:01:37.156-07:00Fait Accompli!!And it feels a little strange. It is hard to get over the feeling that I am not on holiday and that this is my life now. <br /><br />As expected it was a very emotional few days, in fact I must admit to feeling a little panicked as the minutes ticked away. But I got my goodbyes and tears done and here I am.<br /><br />The mission with the dog went a lot smoother than expected, although, as I thought, it is actually IMPOSSIBLE to move between Terminals 3 and 2 at Charles de Gaulle with more than 2 suitcases etc. as it is forbidden to take the baggage cart/trolley/chariot from one terminal to another!! I thought these items were for the convenience of the passengers - apparently not. So I did have to wait for my son in the station between the two terminals so we could take everything off the cart and carry it down in the elevator and get the shuttle train. This was the biggest hurdle in the whole proceedings and why I could not possibly have done it alone. There doesn't appear to be such a thing as a porter at CDG. Anyway it was done and we made it safely down to the house. <br /><br />My son who works in a nightclub in London had worked til 4am and gone straight to the airport, whilst I had managed to get a little sleep on the plane, so between the two of us we almost made one functioning human being.<br /><br />The drive down although long due to exhaustion was glorious due to the fabulous weather we are experiencing here. We have had a bit of rain over the last couple of days but Saturday the temperature was in the high 20's. Perfect for lazing about which I intend to do a fair bit of over the next few days, I feel I am entitled after the last few very stressful weeks!<br /><br />Our son as always is very handy and helpful and yesterday we spent a couple of hours dragging a couple of trees which had fallen over the river back on to our land by chain sawing them into more manageable size pieces. Still no good for the fire yet as very green wood, but in a year or so....<br /><br />As so life in rural France begins.softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-47403931396831944572010-10-05T12:59:00.000-07:002010-10-05T13:14:02.487-07:00The Long Goodbye!<div style="text-align: justify;">That's how it feels. I leave the day after tomorrow. It has suddenly crept up on me. I am getting more and more emotional as I think about it. In a way I just wish it was Friday afternoon so that I can be happily ensconced in France with a glass of wine and all of "this" behind me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know that it great that my husband and I have this great adventure to look forward too, I know it is going to be great fun and we will get a lot of satisfaction out of it, but right this minute I am truly asking myself "why the hell am I moving to France and leaving behind my daughter, son and granddaughter?!".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Can you tell I am getting a little stressed? I am dreading the goodbyes. My daughter and I were in tears when we said goodbye when they left the house in France in the summer and I was going to be seeing them in little over a week! I just keep telling myself we will be back at Christmas (and blocking the fact that I will have to go through all over again then!).</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRuZ9gxaTOvBvw2yByRlTI2TSSXMaVfZx00ZGCfG8YD1uNoMugDhWBWew8sBgC0whYklDiIBXpZqgfLnxkVQ9qT8xwo95kiV5xB5G9tAK6NAb2aLYkysmgLnSwsGkKwoFrdcyldqHDJ0/s1600/DSC01167.JPG"><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRuZ9gxaTOvBvw2yByRlTI2TSSXMaVfZx00ZGCfG8YD1uNoMugDhWBWew8sBgC0whYklDiIBXpZqgfLnxkVQ9qT8xwo95kiV5xB5G9tAK6NAb2aLYkysmgLnSwsGkKwoFrdcyldqHDJ0/s320/DSC01167.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524656318717797554" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">If I am honest it is my granddaughter I am going to miss most. Watching her grow has been an absolute delight so I will treasure the close bond we have formed and will do everything in my power to ensure that bond continues in the years to come, no matter how many miles between us. Thank goodness for Skype.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course I will also miss my daughter but she is grown and we have been apart before, but we have become close friends over the last few years, especially since she became a wife and mother. We do spend a lot of time together so that is going to be a big wrench also.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bO-eD7mmu1SpB4XCQQmr-4XmEJ_hbLgKRD7viL1B7zL7Q5M78gr_X_lEKlQ14jXK9yFIuy7guqjEiUEn_hcJRuaq4_oA3HZjIkcA02hKVxBTDnVp1Pcl5shcUL03dquoRKeV941tHpk/s1600/DSC01172.JPG"><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bO-eD7mmu1SpB4XCQQmr-4XmEJ_hbLgKRD7viL1B7zL7Q5M78gr_X_lEKlQ14jXK9yFIuy7guqjEiUEn_hcJRuaq4_oA3HZjIkcA02hKVxBTDnVp1Pcl5shcUL03dquoRKeV941tHpk/s320/DSC01172.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524656743939296690" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">And youngest son ....although I understand he is setting out on his new adventure an that he would have been going his own way anyway. Still it is not going to be painless.</div></div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-67107023898701667342010-09-23T07:17:00.001-07:002010-09-23T11:31:06.113-07:00Two Weeks and Counting!In a very strange place emotionally at the moment. Basically got too much time on my hands, but too much stuff spinning around in my head. On the one hand I wish I was in France and could get on with my new life, but on the other hand not wanting to say goodbye to friends and of course, family!<div><br /></div><div>I have been babysitting Annika as much as possible and I am having her overnight on Friday, maybe for the last time for quite a while. I keep looking at the Pack'n'Play (portable cot) and thinking should I fold it up and hand it back, and I guess after the weekend I will. Another milestone. Just writing about it makes me tearful.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisiZ_SLFdXMo8c5_6g8yeeyHd1kRz1Ge4Xm1Ql1afRe69JsUf1maEbuPqRGUtVTOitGu6dKyIHn3OlezVcL-W4IBqdVFVm6riQKZ9yOZPdqFbQKm5rzEjv0pwZNV_PQ_YTqavNNj4ia4/s1600/DSC01120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisiZ_SLFdXMo8c5_6g8yeeyHd1kRz1Ge4Xm1Ql1afRe69JsUf1maEbuPqRGUtVTOitGu6dKyIHn3OlezVcL-W4IBqdVFVm6riQKZ9yOZPdqFbQKm5rzEjv0pwZNV_PQ_YTqavNNj4ia4/s320/DSC01120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520115818419698978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Annika and her pal, Ralph ....""aaaww walph"</span></div></div><div>I have done pretty much as much packing as it is possible to do until the last minute, I mean - I still have to function. However in an effort to save money - and because I am not exactly rushed off my feet at the moment, I am - with a little help - loading up a truck with our bits and pieces, and a few items of furniture I cannot part with, and all my garden "stuff" and driving it to the shipping warehouse somewhere in Toronto a week tomorrow and then I will drive the truck all the way back, probably a 3 - 4 hour round trip allowing for unpacking. On the following Monday I will drive our car, with daughter following, all the way to the warehouse and my daughter will drive me back. I will then have to function with the absolute minimum - one couch, one airbed, one TV, and few dishes etc. until the Thursday when I fly. Fun eh?</div><div><br /></div><div>Between now and then I have various "last" lunches, coffees and dinners with various friends. Also doing quite a bit of knitting and reading. Have been totally addicted to the Stieg Larsson books and am currently on the last of the trilogy. Also found another good author who I have enjoyed, Kate Atkinson, just in case anyone wants a recommendation.</div><div><br /></div><div>On my last weekend it is my youngest's 18th birthday - one of the reasons why I haven't gone sooner. So all in all a very emotional couple of weeks on the horizon. I just keep telling myself I''ll be back at Christmas.......</div><div><br /></div><div>PS: Youngest son seems to be settling in well at college and making friends. That is a big weight off my mind.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-72753892358699829202010-09-09T05:05:00.000-07:002010-09-09T05:36:45.689-07:00Running Around in Circles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRTO4NZx5gwJMnfE2XhDezTzGGzYqPV0sLbMvZLodXvoaMXQL1Q22OOEdS4QucIzFTszdCjIP-BNn1S5yYyyKn-QYFheD5o93xYRq8wgcdxs34Z5GAvMNKk0rIFfCbV8Cdms3HhdnuxU/s1600/DSC00917.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRTO4NZx5gwJMnfE2XhDezTzGGzYqPV0sLbMvZLodXvoaMXQL1Q22OOEdS4QucIzFTszdCjIP-BNn1S5yYyyKn-QYFheD5o93xYRq8wgcdxs34Z5GAvMNKk0rIFfCbV8Cdms3HhdnuxU/s320/DSC00917.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514887257670617538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yes, this is where we will live!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know I promised photos and I have been very slow to oblige but I feel like I am running around like an idiot. When in actual fact it is just my brain cells that are on overload. So here are a few more photos of our wonderful holiday, it is very hard to believe this is now to be our life!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ-lhMftpoT0wV4A8k80j0cziwe44ptKfoQQowwh5CizZTwPTRxWnWb1GKQc3ogpibreosoAMWpthJqPn7wNZ1IHou665wMmQvP56jOi3WJ4yDL8CItQbTsoxGvVOHqrjFGLs3L3NaE8/s1600/DSC00952.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ-lhMftpoT0wV4A8k80j0cziwe44ptKfoQQowwh5CizZTwPTRxWnWb1GKQc3ogpibreosoAMWpthJqPn7wNZ1IHou665wMmQvP56jOi3WJ4yDL8CItQbTsoxGvVOHqrjFGLs3L3NaE8/s320/DSC00952.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514886759900863298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some interesting rooflines on the Chateau at Le Blanc</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As you can imagine there are a 101 things to organise, sell, pack, many lists have been made. Hubby is off to France this weekend to start work in Toulouse next Monday. Our youngest son has moved into residence and college and seems to be settling in well and his room-mate is a pleasant young man from Indonesia studying International Business. It is very strange to think that our youngest might never live at "home" again. Very tough :(</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBi-PWA_BiElGILifzJoN6EI5Ob8D_L_0NRPA3bzvpBvYdeVtr0Pl0wdp-h4geza5PGq8j7m75WU6S1K5S_ER4dSbY8UxR0pySMTATROgw4hs2ei-IO75BEBoxGNHRKnL86eXdK5t2rE/s1600/DSC00971.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBi-PWA_BiElGILifzJoN6EI5Ob8D_L_0NRPA3bzvpBvYdeVtr0Pl0wdp-h4geza5PGq8j7m75WU6S1K5S_ER4dSbY8UxR0pySMTATROgw4hs2ei-IO75BEBoxGNHRKnL86eXdK5t2rE/s320/DSC00971.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514890171268486930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Eldest son meets the newest member of the family!</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">So down to the actual logistics of getting us, that is, me, the dog, car and all our stuff over the Atlantic. The dog has been stressing me out, he is a large labrador, so needs the largest pet carrier, and the thought of getting to, being at, and getting from the airport with him, carrier and luggage is daunting. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxhuJDB58bDAP-PjDnZrfgXWmmjyygTTZPo4bL5mLnV7r8b-q8JFEwrbbwFJxzVQW6RR5tlnzN2guKWgPT_0a7vgr0EzshMfO3-K82_PlG_M4TxRYYvhccC30F1JPKirt1aiMHpQVg8g/s1600/DSC01002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxhuJDB58bDAP-PjDnZrfgXWmmjyygTTZPo4bL5mLnV7r8b-q8JFEwrbbwFJxzVQW6RR5tlnzN2guKWgPT_0a7vgr0EzshMfO3-K82_PlG_M4TxRYYvhccC30F1JPKirt1aiMHpQVg8g/s320/DSC01002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514891173289009586" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Holiday fun in rural France</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Youngest son will assist me this end, and eldest son has kindly agreed to fly to Paris from London to meet me and help me get from the airport down to the house (4+ hours south of Paris) while jet lagged. The added bonus of course being this means we will be seeing him again very soon.</div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-44723078435566173652010-08-30T01:03:00.000-07:002010-08-30T01:19:09.636-07:00Big Announcement<div style="text-align: justify;">It's all a bit overwhelming. As you are probably aware the plan has always been to eventually move to France and to this end hubby has been keeping his eyes open for a job in France. Well it has happened, out of the blue - a job in Toulouse! Yes, the plan is now becoming a reality - and to be honest - it is a little scary - not to say, emotional. We now have to follow through.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszkbVmwSJLUQZQP3WVtfIlVObydZNUKfeS90BjV4ZSq3ROnz5CcddNk2UOc-3ikmW2JuFaMZfH57GrlZtUOLgvrie-FSqnaOovcABcXOF9lUk_5ZVaeV-YMuw0qYTVbEa13_QHLKEr3A/s1600/DSC00943.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszkbVmwSJLUQZQP3WVtfIlVObydZNUKfeS90BjV4ZSq3ROnz5CcddNk2UOc-3ikmW2JuFaMZfH57GrlZtUOLgvrie-FSqnaOovcABcXOF9lUk_5ZVaeV-YMuw0qYTVbEa13_QHLKEr3A/s320/DSC00943.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511114131471549442" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As always with us, we never say "this is it, this is permanent", I think you have known me long enough to understand why :) But even so, there is a sense of "what if it doesn't work out", "say he hates the job", "will we like actually living there". We have moved around a lot, lived in many places but never have I had this kind of uncertainty. I think it is because there is every possibility this might be the last move, but I cannot think that way, it just isn't in me, that would seem like a life sentence, far too much commitment there.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq-t2BKT-YzUxlgoCM-nZrMb3Gu86J2cIU30wgU46qP0I7Ith2Wdohwyx4vUxVvd7Vs2hGRY2iVfv6GMed6_KOlEfo2gTg4IXEpcZiRpQRMd1k-UT2Q2M55vKir_RC_k9u5HFoM9FXNk/s1600/DSC00981.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq-t2BKT-YzUxlgoCM-nZrMb3Gu86J2cIU30wgU46qP0I7Ith2Wdohwyx4vUxVvd7Vs2hGRY2iVfv6GMed6_KOlEfo2gTg4IXEpcZiRpQRMd1k-UT2Q2M55vKir_RC_k9u5HFoM9FXNk/s320/DSC00981.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511113727909625314" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So as ever we approach the next step in our lives with a "suck it and see" approach. If this doesn't work out, revert to plan B, whereby we just move as the job demands, using France as our base. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzzTkSP14BDfFpoiHcV02OL8YKxzB1bVZLr6j-vPuM5kODGBCIV_RNBUk_fjvnq3yEtwamqLHaoQbQscLYlnCkdh5mH3lq8vgn9FXrgX983jEwH3NCESjZNF-vT4eDn9OCoLmhIyQs3A/s1600/DSC00936.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzzTkSP14BDfFpoiHcV02OL8YKxzB1bVZLr6j-vPuM5kODGBCIV_RNBUk_fjvnq3yEtwamqLHaoQbQscLYlnCkdh5mH3lq8vgn9FXrgX983jEwH3NCESjZNF-vT4eDn9OCoLmhIyQs3A/s320/DSC00936.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511113303393238594" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course there is also the very emotional aspect, leaving behind my daughter and granddaughter, and of course, youngest son, who is moving into residence at college tomorrow here in Toronto. Lots of upheaval, lots of emotions. Hubby leaves in a couple of weeks and I hope to follow early in October, taking the dog with me. </div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-1782774830985350032010-08-21T08:02:00.001-07:002010-08-21T08:23:26.314-07:00Back to Life ....Back to RealityAfter five whirlwind weeks in mostly sunny France, I am back to earth with a bang. Where did those weeks go? We didn't manage to get the satellite broadband working until Wednesday of this past and final week so sorry for the lack of updates. Suffice to say I wouldn't have managed to find the time anyway, the first couple of weeks where manic getting ready for the visitors, baby-proofing house and garden, labouring for our landscapers in order to get the pergola finished in time and enjoying the best two weeks of our time there, weatherwise that is! The next two weeks were a frantic round of making meals, chasing the granddaughter and doing the tourist sights with all our visitors. Hubby returned to work last Monday and eldest son left Wednesday evening which left me just one day to close up the house until our next trip. So now home for a little rest.<div><br /></div><div>A lovely time was had by all, we were thrilled with all the changes that had taken place since April, at first disappointed that the landscaping hadn't even started when I arrived, but later enjoying the opportunity to have input in the process. So for some photos.......</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwMSr_p2GZLJH4ofERqT-ZQUoniei9Ip8XFf4GcOUj1LoSNxptnJcJbQDXSUYHxtvgOYkSKn3rYOKTpZunIbR88SoKC6LxvQE7yREqLJ2X3UF7wGCKc7iotP3XtB-iNLt49bCLturfsA/s1600/DSC00897.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwMSr_p2GZLJH4ofERqT-ZQUoniei9Ip8XFf4GcOUj1LoSNxptnJcJbQDXSUYHxtvgOYkSKn3rYOKTpZunIbR88SoKC6LxvQE7yREqLJ2X3UF7wGCKc7iotP3XtB-iNLt49bCLturfsA/s320/DSC00897.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507880392765871858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH2jNalhjl03pJ6ooMocFUP7oBPzu5NyZj2Aj3_-FYsivafb6Y12JTzXKpzbLoRYnYFGkUxq1pTWDcCVx-adqCi44HovYscx7hBloYcz0QhRswaAdWGbLqs9oQhfbD-mXFZNa-8s8lS4/s1600/DSC00991.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH2jNalhjl03pJ6ooMocFUP7oBPzu5NyZj2Aj3_-FYsivafb6Y12JTzXKpzbLoRYnYFGkUxq1pTWDcCVx-adqCi44HovYscx7hBloYcz0QhRswaAdWGbLqs9oQhfbD-mXFZNa-8s8lS4/s320/DSC00991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507880954294178338" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A waist high meadow greeted me on my arrival. Later transformed to something a little less like a jungle.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_JJePfHw3qUzIWWz_R5Yhpp-ulHH487bC6HIDyLQOdrj9CKgswRwDBE0PsuGM3h6o8SD7BgJIv7kdBDN1w2iAQ8bjeeKV0m6SoIm8IyoNOlbD024fRlb-oj9leNn6APpIZVoRMT0vcQ/s1600/DSC00909.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_JJePfHw3qUzIWWz_R5Yhpp-ulHH487bC6HIDyLQOdrj9CKgswRwDBE0PsuGM3h6o8SD7BgJIv7kdBDN1w2iAQ8bjeeKV0m6SoIm8IyoNOlbD024fRlb-oj9leNn6APpIZVoRMT0vcQ/s320/DSC00909.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507881799449112882" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FPpDQ91Edsza2MHwsITMiBLoUO7cXJcYeUoRMa60sHfZ9UTLALFLCjkayU9WHcfoz4B5ukh2DqkMoUrfEN-aNa4rfhcd0K5FL8Ec46JQfUSSjoNnz5U2dsu_0Dr2m-AtGYs9eA64PhE/s1600/DSC00995.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FPpDQ91Edsza2MHwsITMiBLoUO7cXJcYeUoRMa60sHfZ9UTLALFLCjkayU9WHcfoz4B5ukh2DqkMoUrfEN-aNa4rfhcd0K5FL8Ec46JQfUSSjoNnz5U2dsu_0Dr2m-AtGYs9eA64PhE/s320/DSC00995.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507882313338260210" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A room under construction when I arrived was whipped into a bedroom fit for guests just in time for their arrival.</div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556649857259211758.post-86664235992138793172010-07-15T18:18:00.000-07:002010-07-15T18:44:51.132-07:00A Sneak Preview<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LfLiZ2WMpRIrcW3jmzwu_vaNZ_3f71Ka6GsBdc6eRvp6drXsuC-SvNC3i5mBbANVhjLmH8kTeri66XeeSCksfVBpRJNXN6sZd7TmK2D6tLeESqup5XVx-88SDjrnj2Qw3RJtXK88bzg/s1600/attic+progress.jpg"><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LfLiZ2WMpRIrcW3jmzwu_vaNZ_3f71Ka6GsBdc6eRvp6drXsuC-SvNC3i5mBbANVhjLmH8kTeri66XeeSCksfVBpRJNXN6sZd7TmK2D6tLeESqup5XVx-88SDjrnj2Qw3RJtXK88bzg/s320/attic+progress.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494310215000075458" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's a little taster for you, as for me, of what's been happening in France. My great friend and neighbour took these couple of teaser shots. Apparently her camera was full and she couldn't take anymore! She also assures me that there has been more progress since these were taken, which is reassuring because my daughter, her husband and my one year old granddaughter are due to be sleeping and possibly bathing here in three weeks' time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first shot shows the construction of the closet and the formation of an attic space above. As you can hopefully make out, the wall dividing the space will run behind the A frame leaving the lovely oak construction exposed.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhssJ9JLw1g58lOWZTb9zvVUBeFlCPulmgmFCOV22L9x0fwsWd412-T6CrFiFsfH6wxTZCUpm3fPW-5ltLTFemwdrT8x2BCDGb-ni7o_p_arYagwOFXGVR3ZYCw4L75rxFwD2ru7Hh4U/s1600/attic+progress+2.jpg"><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhssJ9JLw1g58lOWZTb9zvVUBeFlCPulmgmFCOV22L9x0fwsWd412-T6CrFiFsfH6wxTZCUpm3fPW-5ltLTFemwdrT8x2BCDGb-ni7o_p_arYagwOFXGVR3ZYCw4L75rxFwD2ru7Hh4U/s320/attic+progress+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494310629747367922" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The second one is another gratuitous shot of the lovely wood framework.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I leave on Sunday, hubby follows the following Friday. We have a very busy time ahead of us before our visitors descend. Job one for me is a French MOT (sort of road worthiness test for those who do not live in UK) for the van, day two the satellite broadband is due to be installed to get us online. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then I have to research and purchase wooden flooring for the attic space, bathroom fittings, also find a bed for our visitors to sleep on, get more plates, child proof the building site (our granddaughter is now walking!) ......the list goes on endlessly. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, not so much a holiday as bootcamp, but I just cannot wait. There is so much STUFF I want to take with me, I think I might alternating the same two outfits over the next five weeks. Thank goodness we have a washing machine. Believe it or not I am actually transporting a small 4 man tent in my suitcase. Yes, the suitcase that I have to slog across Paris to catch the train down to the house.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hopefully will be able to report back once I am online en France.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A bientot mes amis</div>softintheheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01365562754859033869noreply@blogger.com4