We Have a Visitor and Footings!

The weather here is so variable - it's just like the UK - of course we are not that far away, but the Summer of 2011, our first full Summer here gave us all sorts that we needed to work in and through. We had such hot days that we just sat, or dozed, trying to get things done before it got too hot, or as it cooled down, and then days when the rain cascaded down the road, so much so that we thought about buying a canoe.

Our first 'proper' visitor was Tom, one of our sons, who flew into Dinard to stay for a week. That's one of the problems now that Ryanair no longer fly into Brest - the journey time to Dinard ! It takes just over two hours from here, and it's not the most exciting drive either. Brest was a lot more accessible, with a drive of about 45 mins or so. Never mind - it's lovely that people want to visit us, so we are of course very pleased to see them.

I'm not sure what Tom was expecting though - I'm not sure that he was expecting a blow-up bed and a toilet in a huge open room ! Never mind - he is very placid and easy going, although he would probably be the first to admit, not much use with the DIY !

We took Tom out to show him the local area, being mindful of the fact that we had to continue with the on going work here too. We went to the local market in Huelgoat, walked round the lake, and sat drinking coffee on the pavement (not literally of course !). We went to the beach and to Carhaix, the nearest town, and Tom even came to my weekly French lesson - I'm not sure whether I asked him what he thought of my French, but maybe that's because I didn't want to know the answer !

Meanwhile, we measured out the footings for the extensions and had them dug out.

I took Tom back to the airport on the day the concrete was poured for the footings, so that was a busy day for us all, but we were out of the way I suppose, which is often a good thing. We left Craig loading out three pallets of blocks ready for the new walls.

I think that it's visits like this from close family, that have made us realise from early on that this isn't our 'forever' home. It's an adventure for NOW, while we are still young enough and fit enough to be here, but in another year or two, or maybe longer, we will be looking to be nearer the family.