There was very little air last night and for some strange reason we didn't have a dawn chorus. I woke up feeling very groggy and every bit my age and not full of the joys of spring like yesterday. What a difference a day makes.
After a good bath I felt a different person and decided to search for my 2003 journal to see how accurate my memory was of buying our house in France...here are the results.
It wasn't Summer when we decided to buy a place in France. We set off on Thursday 22nd May 2003 for Poole to catch the Condor ferry to StMalo. We met up with Phil & Pat in the B&Q car park and then drove straight onto the ferry.
Our friend Jill and her husband met us as we docked and we followed them to their place (actually they had two properties) near Guilliers. We had something to eat in Guilliers itself.
It wasn't until the Saturday (rainy) which was the 24th May that we saw Bel-Air and signed the agreement before going off to Mohon to celebrate at Brumbilly's ( I think that's what it was called...I'm feeling groggy again!
Eileen has just emailed me her account...she is always more accurate!
On the day we bought Bel-Air, it wasn't quite like you said. We got the addresses of two properties to look at. We went to Bel-Air first, looked through the windows because we didn't have the keys and fell in love with it, then looked at the other property until it was time for the estate agents to reopen at 2. We managed to get the keys and at that time we told them we definitely wanted to buy the property for the asking price. We all felt anxious at lunchtime that we might lose the house and decided to go for it there and then before we had gone inside. I remember the discussion. I also remember thinking - that's two houses David and I have bought before we've actually gone inside - did the same with 124 Davies.
We went back to Bel-Air with the keys and had a good look round. We then went back to Josselin to sign the paperwork.
Thanks for that Eileen.
The weather dramatically improved after this and we still went to see other properties while exploring the area. We visited Vannes, Auray, Lac au Duc, Cruguel, La Gascilly and Roche Bernard and Gary's place at Radenac. Goodness knows how many villages we passed on the way.
We also experienced our very first Fez-Noz, although our poor command of the French language resulted in the locals at the door thinking David and I were gay. You must think carefully before opening your mouth.
Anyway, that's the official record but the feeling was the same...it was fantastic to have a house in France after all the dreams, plans and 'What if's'. It was the real deal!
The real deal right now is dealing with the here and now. Karen's (she sits next to me) friend had a brain haemorrhage last night and therefore will be leaving at lunch time today to help out. She was out shopping with her last weekend and is understandably upset at how sudden and unexpected it all is.
Apparently they were buying clothes and things for the forthcoming holiday...a holiday that will never now materialize.
I'm starting to change my attitude for today as I've a lot to be thankful for...excluding our greedy politicians of course, who currently occupy front page status for awarding themselves allowances and pay rises beyond our capacity to understand. My blood boils. Perhaps the French weren't far off the mark with the guillotine! Somebody should give them the chop, that's for sure!
A vigorous reality shake in the hope their heads might roll off is my unrealistic and unkind thought of the day. Better still...let St George's dragon slay the greedy beggars on this 'proud to be English' day that no one is allowed to celebrate in case we upset someone.
Don't worry, I've already repented and am ready to stand in line and be good...until tomorrow!
The French for Accurate information is...les reseignements precis (with accent)
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