Up To Date.

Well, this is a first ! I am up to date with the Blog, and am going to be writing about things that have happened in the last few days/weeks, instead of playing 'catch up', and writing about things that happened several years ago.

I do appreciate those of you that read this, but I am pleased with myself as well, that I have managed to create a record for ourselves of our French adventures - with all it's trials, but rewards too.

I have been home now for nearly two months - I have been able to have the Summer here in France - although to be honest, the weather hasn't been very 'Summerish'. It has meant that I can relax a little, and enjoy my time here, without the constant thought at the back of my mind that it's nearly time to think about going back to work.

We've also been lucky enough to receive family visits. Two of our grandchildren, Charlotte and Henry came with their Mum, Becky, to stay for a few days. Last year they flew into Dinard, but the drive from there is quite long for two small children (and for us, as of course, we had to do the journey, there and back !), so this year, they flew into Brest. This was much better, and we were very excited to meet them there. In fact, Craig hadn't seen them, in the flesh, for over a year, so he was a little emotional. We watched them come off the plane, and walk across into the airport, and then along the glass walled corridor, and into the Luggage Reclaim.

We had a lovely time with them - we went to the beach a couple of times, we went to the Trembling Rock,

 to the Fair in Huelgoat,

 and visited friends with horses and goats. They fed our rabbits, and the chickens, and walked Arthur - not sure whether Arthur was very impressed, but he played along very well ! Craig enjoyed some male bonding with Henry, while the girls were baking.....

We even had a Birthday party for Charlotte, who turns 5 in September, and wanted us to go to her party. Of course, we can't, so the party came to us ! We had a barbecue, balloons, banners, and of course, a Birthday Cake. Even if it was a 'pretend birthday - you have to have a cake eh ?

All too soon, it was time for them to leave, and for the next set of visitors to arrive. Tom and Jo arrived by train into Morlaix.

They had travelled from London, to Paris, to Rennes, and were completing their trip with a short visit to us. Their time here was a lot less tiring than the visit from the grandchildren, but no less pleasant. A slight disappointment, was the fact that I developed an abscess on my tooth, and had to pay a visit to the dentist, and had three lots of antibiotics to contend with. I looked as those I had gone three rounds with Mike Tyson - my face was that swollen. Of course, I was told that it wasn't very noticeable. But I knew it was !!! Nevertheless, Tom and Jo were able to explore the area a little, we visited the market in Carhaix, and had a meal in Huelgoat to celebrate Tom's birthday. I wasn't well enough to make a cake for him this time, so we made do with lovely cakes from the Patisserie - it wasn't too much of a hardship !

Visits from family are great - but it's sad to see them go, and makes me even more determined to return to the UK to be nearer them all.

The Big Decision.

After a month away working, we both came to the same conclusion - we can't go on indefinitely like this. We didn't sign up for this ! The idea was to be less stressed, more relaxed, spend more time together, and generally enjoy life. At the moment, we are spending less time together, and the time apart is quite stressful, in as much as Craig is so isolated, and also we are not enjoying what we are doing. So......we have come to the decision that we need to move on.....and do you know what ? Now that the decision has been made, we both feel that a great weight has been lifted, and we are enjoying life more again. I feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The possibilites are endless - well, maybe not endless, but there are options certainly. Where shall we go ? What will we do ? When ?

First things first.....we are not in a position to do a lot until the house sells, and here we know people who have been trying to sell for years, yet others who have sold within weeks. There is not a lot of rhyme or reason sometimes, so it is something we are aware of.

With this in mind, we know that we need to get the house in a more sellable condition. It is at this point, a very large one bedroomed house ! However, Craig now feels he has an objective - a target maybe. So, while I am away he needs to work on the house, with the target to be, that next Spring we are in a position to put it on the market. He knows what he has to do, and we are both determined that we will be ready. Some of the plans we have for the house will be modified, as of course, they were for our benefit, and would not suit others.

We are very proud of our successes here, and feel that the adventures were worth it, but time to go now.

I do love it here, and I appreciate it more so, as I am not here all the time. On my return this time at the beginning of May, there is noticeable more greenery than when I left. The fields and hedgerows are blossoming, the grass is growing, and the wild flowers are blooming.

Craig has done so much work too. With longer warmer days, the incentive is there so much more so than when it is cold, wet and dark. He has painted the front porch - this was to be knocked down and rebuilt, but now we have decided to renovate it - paint, replace the broken panes, and replace the glass roof, with a slate one. One step at a time - he has painted it, and what a difference already.

He has put the fascia and guttering up at the front of the house,

dug out, and stoned the front,

 and even started the decking at the back.

He has tiled in the Utility room too. He has even had time to add to the wood pile.

One big decision we made was that we would not move things from this house to another that we don't use or need. Over time, we have sold or disposed of things as we found them, but now we started to actively sort through things. We made a couple of trips to the Scrap Yard for example, a couple of trips to the Tip - (this will be an ongoing job I think !), and advertised items for sale. It's surprising what you can find if you want to !

With a renewed vigour, Craig attacked the gable end wall, and with some more borrowed scaffolding, managed to finally complete the slating. He even manged to get the fascias up as well, before the scaffolding came down, and we returned it.

We bought another batch of day old chicks to raise/fatten for the table (sorry folks if you are a little squeamish about this type of thing !). The disappointing thing for me, is that I realise that it is another job for Craig to do while I am away. I feel that I am giving him more work, instead of making it easier for him.

We also bought some more hens, for eggs, from the market - if you remember, we lost our last lot to a pine martin over the winter - these need to grow a little before we get any eggs though.

The television in the bedroom was annoyingly only working periodically. Craig finds this TV very necessary, especially when he is on his own. It gives him company, and a bit of life, and if it is very cold, it means that he can be warm, without having to be too isolated. However, he very cleverly, has hidden all the wires, which meant that to remove and mend it, proved to be quite difficult. I did a little research on the problem on the Internet, and came up with the fact that the wires may be loose, so we spent a good afternoon, lifting the TV on and off the wall, and re-threading the wires through the plaster, insulation and batoning !! There were a few choice words uttered during this time, BUT it now works again !!!

Poor Arthur had to have his annual check up, and injections - I'm not sure why I said 'poor Arthur'. He doesn't do too badly living with us. He has a lot of comforts that other dogs in the area certainly don't have - a bed inside (two in fact, one upstairs, and one downstairs), regular walks, treats, good food, and caring owners. Bless him !

We had four - yes, FOUR - Public Holidays here in May.....all deliberately set to trip up the unsuspecting visitors of course !! No shops open - well, aside from the bakers !

Although the month home goes so quickly, I know that Craig will be busy getting the house sorted to move on to our next adventure while I am away again.