tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46979504808313589922024-03-05T03:27:45.966-08:00French AdventureNew beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-18203786717192522632016-12-09T03:43:00.001-08:002016-12-09T03:43:19.726-08:00Highlights and Holidays<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<b><i>December is here and already another year at Maison Driscoll is behind us. Once again we have been blessed with many guests from many countries with many stories to tell. That's the fun in doing what we do, you never know what to expect when the door bell rings and a new customer arrives. In the past twelve months we've had a Romanian pop singer, two Dutch, with a vintage Land Rover, Fishermen and of course the usual array of impressive motorcycles from all over Europe. I very much hope that mother fate has a similar adventure mapped out for us in 2017........Very much looking forward to it.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>One of the main highlights of 2016 was the bi-annual festival held in the nearby town of Josselin. This is a huge event for the area, which attracts many visitors from all over the world. If you dress in costume entrance is free. We were lucky in that the weather was perfect, warm and sunny. All manner of entertainment is on hand, Jousting, sword fighting, fire-eating and dance to name but a few. If Ferrets are your thing then you are catered for. I personally was very impressed by the birds of prey, especially the Bald Eagle that refused to play and disappeared up to the top of the Church spire and wouldn't come down for sometime, smart bird.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The grounds to the chateau are free to enter during the festival which is a treat in itself. And the bars and restaurants of course are open all day and there's nowhere better to sit and watch the weird and wonderful sights wander by.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The day is rounded off with a grand firework display over the Chateau and the adjacent River Oust. Unfortunately those of us that run a chamber d-hote and have to get up bright and early to make breakfast for our wonderful guests have to be in bed long before all that happens, so we just have to take other peoples word that it is quite a spectacle. Tough life, but someone has to do it. :) </i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7Opr0_n3zqG1jrb2oilfNnKvonpxQlnCqZRDmYk91MKbyQZlmmQmUDYAcoNU0KLAgsU7VJgqN8UcprqLaAy7zQlzUD5rX4fh8lP6XwtWZkKw3DU1WL5bh5tvptqOTeJZZZFox1JPhvw/s1600/DSC_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7Opr0_n3zqG1jrb2oilfNnKvonpxQlnCqZRDmYk91MKbyQZlmmQmUDYAcoNU0KLAgsU7VJgqN8UcprqLaAy7zQlzUD5rX4fh8lP6XwtWZkKw3DU1WL5bh5tvptqOTeJZZZFox1JPhvw/s640/DSC_0139.JPG" width="640" /></a> <b><i>November saw the staff of Maison Driscoll (Karen and myself) get it's first proper French break since we opened for business. We took a gite for three days up on the Normandy coast, very close to the D-Day landing sites. Although the weather was pretty windy and a tad chilly, we wrapped up well and took in the sites.</i></b><br />
<b><i>As it was a short stay we only got to see two of the beaches, Utah and Omaha. Utah, out of the two I found the most moving, apart from the presence of a very good visitors centre/museum and small bar come restaurant, very little seemed to have changed, I was very impressed.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Granted, my birthday lunch in that very restaurant was washed down with a D-Day beer, but I can forgive them that, it didn't come across as tourist trap just out to grab your Euro, I think they had the balance just about right.</i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Christmas is now approaching, a period that Maison Driscoll is very much looking forward to, as our (young adult) children will be spending it with us here in France for the first time. It's only for a couple of days but it will be great to all be together again on the special day.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: small;">So now it's all eyes on the new year, lets hope it's a good one, and if you fancy seeing what Bretagne is all about, you can always book in with us. </span></i></b></div>
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<br />New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-6849211711436016202016-04-07T01:38:00.002-07:002016-04-07T01:38:48.107-07:00Third Season Cometh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Trinite Porhoet<br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Our second year of business at "Maison Driscoll" is almost up and the new season beckons. What will it bring? Well, in some ways, the fact we don't know makes the coming year that much more intriguing.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Last year we had the big drawer of the Tour de France and the totally potty Paris/Brest/Paris race to give us an extra boost, this year sadly not, But we do have the biannual Josselin Festival, so perhaps that may bring in a few more guests to fill that void.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">We've done all we can, the garden looking pretty good (if I say so myself) and the large garage has been readied for bikers bikes and the like, so all we can do now is wait. </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">What we do know for certain is that we will meet a whole lot more new people, from many different countries, and that's a good thing.</span></em></strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest Terrace<br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">As for ourselves, we survived the winter pretty much un-scathed, to be honest it was very mild here, with no snow what-so-ever, and only a few minor frosts.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">We were kept pretty busy with a good smattering of guests throughout the dark months, so that was gratifying.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Another plus is that we can now leave our English cat, Arthur, and our French foundling cat, Percy, in the same room together without feline Armageddon ensuing. Which is always a plus when you have paying guests in proximity. Didn't think it would ever happen at one point.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">The social side of La Trinite life is now beginning to pick up as many of our friends return with the Swallows from sunnier climes, not that us "stop-at-homes" don't have good time, whilst they're tanning themselves, we just have to wear jumpers whilst we're doing it.</span></em></strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owl<br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">During the winter we purchased this rather splendid owl for use on the front terrace, In my mind it's a bit of a good luck charm for the coming months and I hope the guests get some pleasure from it too.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">As yet it is unnamed, suggestions on a post card to............</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em></em></strong><br />New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-42351307046492264742015-11-30T03:29:00.001-08:002015-11-30T03:29:52.051-08:00Living in La Trinite Porhoet<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">We have now lived in La Trinite-Porhoet for exactly two years and are pretty much settled into the ways of the village. We have come to look forward to the various festivals and events that crop up at certain times of the year. Where as before, coming across Papa Noel arriving on a tractor hurling sweets at (or should that be to) excited children was a surprise, as we were on our way to the supermarket, it's now a must see event. The fact that we know there will be mulled wine helps as well.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">The putting up of the Christmas lights also actually heralds the beginning of the Christmas period, not the end of October as in the UK.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>As we push into Winter the dark mornings are beginning to have an effect. Getting up in the dark is always difficult, for me anyway, and as it doesn't even become lightish until at least 8 o'clock I don't stand a chance. When we have guests the effort has to be made, but when we haven't.......... zzzzzzzzzz.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The one down side to this time of year, apart from the lack of paying guests, is the fact that a number of our good friends from hereabouts disappear off to sunnier climes, or back to England, for the Winter. Not that I begrudge them their time in the warmer parts of the globe, but the place isn't quite the same without them. But with the hardy soles that remain we do our best to take up the slack and make sure the wine consumption stays above agreeable levels.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>In the meantime it's time to put another log on the fire and hunker down with the cats and make plans for next season, but please remember that Maison Driscoll is open to guests all year so please come and see us whatever the season.</em></strong>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-58313230176381605292015-08-01T02:22:00.000-07:002015-08-01T02:22:36.819-07:00As time goes by<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paimpol<br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Time marches on here in Bretagne, It only seems five minutes ago we arrived with our "plan," or no "plan," depending how you look at it, not knowing a soul, and, in my case, no French. Well, my French hasn't improved much, a little but not a lot, but on the plus side we have many friends, and the "plan" seems to be trundling along quite nicely thank you very much.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">This summer, as people who watch us on Facebook will know, we've upgraded the seating arrangements at the front of the house. This, I think, has made us look far more professional and made the house look much more attractive.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Our guests this summer, so far, seem to be more varied than last year. We've already had people from America, Spain, Ireland and Belgium as well as the usual French and British. It's really only when you meet these people at close quarters that you come to realise how they differ from each other and what traits they have in common. It's fascinating stuff, maybe I should write a book on "Europe at the breakfast table", a sure fire winner.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Spring saw us get a fair amount of British house hunters visiting us, obviously spurred on by the favourable exchange rate.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Our way of life does make it slightly awkward to get out and see the country we now live in. When we are busy we don't have the time, and when we're slack we don't feel we should be spending the money. I'm sure as time passes and we have more confidence in our position that will change. However we have got out a little. Early in the year some friends took us to the Saturday market in Rennes, apparently the second largest open market in France. It was well worth it. No tourist tat here, all fruit, veg, fish, meat, cheese and flowers. Oh and not forgetting the bars, coffee shops and street entertainment. A pretty decent day out.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">We also have ventured to both the north and south coasts, about an hours drive either way. On the north coast is the beautiful town of Paimpol. It boasts a very pretty harbour surrounded by restaurants, and full of both yachts and fishing boats. Small windy streets with bars and such are worth a look or two as well. It also has the most beautiful sandy beach. </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">The main new addition this year is the potager in our private side garden, we grew vegetables back in the U.K. so we had a little knowledge, but are total novices compared to all our French neighbours. They grow stuff on an industrial scale, and not a weed in sight.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Considering this time last year it was all lawn I think it's done pretty well, we now have broad, runner and French beans in the freezer with lots more to come. Leeks, spuds and the rest also growing well, all we need now is the 1000 ways to cook a courgette book and we'll be fine. </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">If you haven't been on Mars for the last month, you couldn't have not noticed that The Tour de France has been happening. I knew nothing about this sport at the outset, but by the end I was hooked, the sheer enthusiasm of the crowds, the flags, the whole thing was wonderful. I would try to use my new favourite word, peloton, as much as possible, even if it didn't fit into the sentence.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">The "tour" was also good for us, as it passed quite close, so we were full for four days, some guests picking their spot to watch the race then dashing back to ours to watch the end of the stage on the TV, then watching the highlights.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">The various parts of the country the race passed through obviously took the chance to sell their area to the viewing public, and quite rightly so. Brittany, which is after all the home of French cycling, came over very well..........But I would say that wouldn't I.</span></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><em></em></strong><br />New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-59628206805279672172015-02-23T04:24:00.001-08:002015-02-23T04:24:44.662-08:00Long time, no post. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong><em>It's been a while, hasn't it......Life in France seems to plod along and before you know it Bonfire night (my birthday), and Christmas have been and gone and we're headlong into a new year.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Our one year anniversary in La Trinite Porhoet was passed at the end of November, so we can no longer use "being newbies" as an excuse for getting things wrong, and my poor French. But looking back I am amazed at how quickly we've become accustomed to the French way of doing things. Nothing being open on Sundays, fine, in fact I like it. Shops closing for lunch, not a problem, having the cheese course before the sweet, comes naturally now. Actually I'm a little concerned that if I went back to the U.K. and went into a pub I would wander about trying to shake hands with everyone before I bought a drink. And parting with money for each individual round....I think not.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>The only thing I still find slightly alarming is French drivers. Their habit of drifting on to my side of the road when negotiating even the slightest bend, and needing to over-take me no matter how fast I'm going, I don't think I'll ever get used to. And as for those strange little 50km per hour "cars", don't get me started. </em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>One of the major additions to Maison Driscoll this year will be the introduction of our vegetable patch. We prepared the ground at the end of October last year and then covered it over for the winter. The plan is to rotovate the plot once more at the beginning of March in readiness for planting. We did have an allotment in the U.K, which we kept for three years, so hopefully that should stand us in good stead for this coming summer. But even if our crop fails the plus side is I have less grass to mow.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>The end of last year also saw the arrival of a rather lovely piano. It used to belong to my Grand mother who died back in the late 60's. I, unfortunately never heard her play, but word has it she was very good, and my Mother and Aunt would sing along with her. I'm not sure what they would have made of it being transported all the way out here but hopefully they approve.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Bookings for this year seem to be going fairly well, helped by the presence in Brittany of the Tour de France. Also this year the Paris-Brest-Paris is being staged. Held every four years competitors have to complete the 1200k distance in 90 hours or under. Sleeping and eating wherever they can. Happily several of them have chosen to do that with us and we are fully booked for two nights. One chap is coming all the way from the U.S.A. Bizarrely there is even a sweet pastry named after the event, anything to make a euro.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>One note of sadness blotted an otherwise perfect year. One of our two cats, Riley, was knocked down and killed outside our house. I'm not sure how he managed it, considering how much traffic we see, but manage it he did. I find it even more sad as we brought them here to enjoy the French country life with us and he didn't get much time to do that. His brother Arthur took a while to adjust to not having his playmate about, but he's settled down now.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>We miss Riley much.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em> </em></strong>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-37683845313807976542014-09-17T03:16:00.000-07:002014-09-17T03:16:43.611-07:00Busy Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Summer is still clinging on valiantly in our part of Brittany and we are still getting a small number of guests coming to enjoy the beauty and peace of the area now the schools have returned. </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">July and August have been really good for bookings, considering this is our first year, and we're on a big learning curve I think we've coped quite well. Of coarse "you can't please all the people all the time" but in the main customers have gone away pretty happy. Reading reviews placed on web sites such as Booking/Trip advisor etc. can be a torrid experience, and over time your skin becomes a little thicker. And when the good ones out weigh the more negative ones it doesn't seem to matter so much. </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">On the whole I think my assumption that B&B'ers are pretty likeable people has been proved correct. Since we opened we've met some real characters, from pilgrim walkers to Belgian bikers to enthusiastic wedding parties, and all, in one way or another, have made their mark on our French life, and hopefully have made us better at what we've chosen to do.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Vide Grenier's, we have discovered, are a big part of the French summer, and are a great social occasion. They knock the British boot fair into a cocked hat, in my opinion. You just never know what you're going to find at the next stall. The food is great and there's usually a bar, which the French men make good use of due to the fact that, unlike England, the regular bars are mostly shut on a Sunday.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;"> The garden has been full of surprises this year, due mainly to the fact that we hadn't a clue what the boarders contained or, more importantly, what kind of trees we had. One of which, as shown above, turned out, in the end, to be a plum. We had pounds and pounds of the things, people weren't allowed to leave our house without taking a bag full with them. We also have many apple trees and one pear and a peach which this year we don't seem to be making best use of, hopefully next year we will be better organised and perhaps make some cider.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Mind you the whole community seems to grow vegetables on a vast scale and we have been kept well supplied with Courgettes Lettuce and the such by our lovely French neighbours. Next year, with the help of our friend Pete, and his rotavator, we hope to have our own vegetable garden to tend.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Karen has put some of Maison Driscoll's home grown produce to good use by making raspberry and plum jam</span> <span style="font-size: small;">which seems to be going down well with the guests at breakfast.</span></em></strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Life here, I have to say is pretty idyllic, and we are very lucky</span></em></strong> <strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">to have picked a location that has given the chance to hopefully make a go of this hare brained scheme, and make good friends along the way,. However this year has been made so much easier by the occasional visit of friends and family from the U.K. Thanks to everyone.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">So now we have to knuckle down and see what trade the Autumn and Winter months can bring us, to make this work we can't rely on just the summer rush. November in Brittany is the next big thing....Tell your friends!!</span></em></strong></div>
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<br />New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-44917303151520541772014-07-05T02:35:00.000-07:002014-07-05T02:35:22.026-07:00Village life<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Home sweet home.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Summer is now here, well it was yesterday anyway, and we find ourselves settling in to village life. Bookings have been steady, if not over whelming, but I think it gives us hope for the future.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">We have now been inspected and accepted by the local tourist board, so we can now place our fliers round and about in other towns with a view to pick up more trade. Add that to "Booking.com", "Bike Stay" and the rest, we've done about all we can on the advertising front. </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">I've made two signs proclaiming our existence, one for the front and one for the side of the house, hopefully they look the part, at least people will know when they get here.</span></em></strong> </div>
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Beach life.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Up to this point we have been so busy with builders and then guests that we have rather been neglecting our surrounding area. So we have taken on the task of exploring a little more. Due to the fact that when we have guests it tends to be at the weekend, our time off tends to be at the middle of the week. Karen had mentioned on a couple of occasions (hundreds) that we hadn't seen the sea since we left England. And she was right. A couple of Sundays ago the weather was gorgeous, 27 degrees and sunny, this was to be the day. I insisted that it was going to be busy and that we should leave early to ensure a parking space. It takes about an hour and twenty minutes to reach the northern coast of Brittany from Trinite, and we arrived at ten thirtyish to an almost empty car park, and a huge, drop dead beautiful beach that we had almost to ourselves. Clearly I have yet to grasp the kind of country I was living in. So much space for so few lucky people.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Also we stopped by the very eye catching town of Rohan this week, with the canal and lake and pretty building, a nice place to visit.</span></em></strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Village Life.<br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Seven months have now past since we took the plunge and moved over to Brittany and I am amazed at how quickly time has gone. I am also amazed by how well we seem to have fitted in. We already have a sizeable group of friends that we see regularly, "Brits night " at the local tabac, on a Tuesday evening, is always fun. The local French also enjoy the spectacle of us trying out our appalling language "skills", they are so patient.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">There is also a very fine bar in a nearby village that has live (very good) music weekly, so that's catered as well. The owner is trying to persuade me to bring along my guitar one night.....But it's taken him a while to build up a good reputation.....I don't want to ruin it for him.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">One of the most important days of the La Trinite calendar is the "pardon of St Trinite" a day that consists of much eating and drinking, fairground rides and general merriment, followed by a church service. Then there's a procession through the streets down to the bottom of the village, where the vast bonfire is lit and a lot of chanting takes place. Then more drinking. I was told it was all to do with cleansing of sins, and wishing for a good harvest, either way almost the whole village turned and everyone had a grand time and it made me feel even more a part of things and of the community.</span></em></strong></div>
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<br />New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-72468270540809398462014-05-30T05:08:00.001-07:002014-05-30T05:08:56.863-07:00Bookings<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSpXN3tC6dUGbHNSQzOHSSN-Q-g1CBA4YzhOMe8T4HWtUrs5IBK2mjsPJernNio3d9ykSj9W-tlxfDiDJ2srrU32YZtrFsmyo8vQkkoIGMVLXch_EanMlMPBhibPkYmyl2SaTk7_RXEQ/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSpXN3tC6dUGbHNSQzOHSSN-Q-g1CBA4YzhOMe8T4HWtUrs5IBK2mjsPJernNio3d9ykSj9W-tlxfDiDJ2srrU32YZtrFsmyo8vQkkoIGMVLXch_EanMlMPBhibPkYmyl2SaTk7_RXEQ/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le Petit Dejeuner<br />
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<strong><em>Maison Driscoll is now open. Sounds strange. To think, this time last year we hadn't even set eyes on the house, and now it seems we've been here for ever. All the planning, re-planning, worrying and hoping is all over, (well perhaps not the worrying). The people we now call friends we didn't know existed a year ago, and now I'm not sure how we ever did without them quite frankly.</em></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen an the Mairie<br />
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</em></strong> <strong><em>We held a opening soiree on the 17th April and invited everyone we could think of. All our French neighbours, all our ex-pat friends (moral support), the Mairie (grovelling) and the great and the good of the village. We were told the French would never turn down an "apero", and we weren't disappointed. It turned into a very busy evening, and by the time the last guest left we were exhausted. Our French teacher, the lovely, and patient, Angela also came along to help us and apologise on our behalf, for our crap language skills.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>But the all the effort did have a positive outcome, as subsequently we have been picking up bookings from people in the village who have relatives and friends visiting but don't have the room to accommodate them.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Although we are by no-means snowed under with reservations as yet, we have been quite encouraged by what we have had. Two weekends, one in June and one in August, we are fully booked, and this coming weekend we have three rooms booked. We also have a couple of other bookings dotted about so it's been a good start.</em></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maison Driscoll (Furthest Right)</td></tr>
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<strong><em>So now it's just a matter of making the guests feel as welcome as possible in the hope they may come back, or tell their friends about beautiful Brittany and a very nice B&B to see it from. We are doing our best to get our name out there by various methods, "Motorcycle News", "booking.com" etc., all we can do now is wait............easier said than done. </em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-71421677950614712802014-04-17T02:05:00.000-07:002014-04-17T02:05:28.582-07:00The Finishing Line<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Plates<br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Things here at Maison Driscoll have been a little hectic of late to say the least. With the building work complete it was down to Karen and myself to get the place decorated, furnished and looking pleasant enough to attract paying customers. And the time we had disappeared very quickly indeed. Free paint (left by the previous owners) ran out and due to the extortionate price charged in France we had to rely on friends of friends importing it for us from the Channel Isles, and visiting friends smuggling tins over from blighty. But yesterday the last of the doors in the main hall way were finished and I can safely put away my brushes for a while. Saying that I still have several windows to gloss, but I can pick and choose when that gets done. Pheeeeew!</span></em></strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Log Burner<br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">The last of the major jobs was also completed recently, the installation of our new log burner. (Just in time for a prolonged spell of beautiful warm weather). The old one was in quite a sorry state and was badly sited, with a huge false chimney breast almost boxing it in. Prompting the sweep, back in November , writing DANGER!! on the report he gave us, but it got us through the winter alright. The new one is quite splendid and taking everything back to the wall has made, I think, a much better looking feature of the whole thing. In fact if we are lucky enough to have any guests during the winter, I may be a little envious of them sitting toasting in front of it, whilst we are upstairs with our radiators, but you can't have it all.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">As is plain from the first pic, the French number plate issue has now been resolved . It took a while and a lot of miles but it got done. I even drove into Vannes, the largest town in our area, which I was not looking forward to, but as it happened, was a piece of cake. Mind you, we had to pay to park the car, would you believe it, the first time since we've been here.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">So when we got home I treated the car to a wash and brush up, and how splendid she looks, or looked she's filthy again now but what the hell. </span></em></strong></div>
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Last bedroom Complete</div>
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<strong><em>Last weekend we trial ran the rooms in final preparation for our opening. My sister and her husband, and four very good friends from the west country came over and, all things considered, I think it went quite well. There was the "toilet seat incident", which involved a quick dash to where else but Mr. Bricolage, but otherwise fine. I'm not sure our usual guest will require us to go to the bottle bank with quite such a large bag(s), but the tradition of beer o'clock had to be upheld.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Lastly, big news, we had our first real booking tis week, and we're very excited, only one person for two nights, but you have to start somewhere. It came through the add we placed on "Bikestay," a motor-cycle friendly b&b site, lets hope we get lots more! </em></strong></div>
New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-55072586317141495892014-02-17T03:44:00.001-08:002014-02-17T03:44:34.477-08:00Edging Closer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
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Village Square</div>
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<strong><em>Things have been progressing well here in La Trinite Porhoet. we've had our fair share of problems and mishaps, but nothing that a quick re-think and a re-design didn't fix. Of the three identical shower cabins we purchased only one now remains, on account of the others wouldn't fit. The other two were taken back and exchanged for ones that would. I'm not sure how popular we are at Mr. Briclolage but never mind. However, with those now fitted, and the tiling done, the overall feeling is that they look OK and we're very pleased with the final outcome. All that remains is for the electrics to be completed and then it's down to me and my paint brush.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>French and English T.V. are now installed in the downstairs salon, so that's another box ticked. And we also managed to get ourselves a 50" 3D T.V. into the bargain for a very reasonable price, so that's us sorted upstairs.</em></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lower Village<br />
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<strong><em>Getting the car French registered is causing us a few headaches. In the first place we were told we had to get ourselves a certificate of conformity. No problem...We thought.... We told Ford we were exporting the car to France and could we please have one, they said yes, that will be £85. They then duly despatched said document to us here in La Trinite. All was fine until we showed in to the man at the "control Techniques". Who told us "this is no good, this is an English one, you need a French One". "I didn't know there were different types" I replied. "And why would Ford send me an English one when I told them I was taking the car to France". "Because they're idiots" he replied. And on top of all that the car failed the control technique because of an imbalance in the back brakes. But the up shot was once we have the brakes fixed we can take both the car and our paper work back to him and he'll sort it..........I do hope so. </em></strong><br />
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Lower village</div>
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<strong><em>Along with the UK, Brittany has been having the most awful storms since the beginning of the year. It's not been as bad here as back in Blighty but pretty grim all the same. The houses in the lower part of the village have had to cope with flooding more than once. And our hanger garage is still suffering from the over high water table and has half an inch of water covering half the floor space. But on the whole we've got off lightly, I can't imagine how I'd cope if I had the problems that a lot of poor folk in England have.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>The most exciting news however is that our official website is now active and anyone can view it. The French translation option should also be ready this week. We can be found at......</em></strong><br />
<strong><em><a href="http://www.maisondriscoll.com/">www.maisondriscoll.com</a></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>We have also got a facebook page of the same name, so if anybody wants to have a peek please do, and if you could hit the like button that would be good too.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Next time I hope to have photos of a completed room or two and a pair of shiny Breton number plates.</em></strong>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-77715803135534010612014-01-13T05:39:00.000-08:002014-01-22T23:44:25.353-08:00First Fixing Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Home<br />
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<b><i>Christmas and the new year is now behind us and work has re-commenced on trying to turn our house into somewhere people would like to spend a day or two whilst touring the many delights that this part of the world has to offer.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>We managed to weather the storms that affected Brittany over the holiday period and came out pretty much un-scathed.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Our "hanger" is still partly flooded, but considering the amount of rain that fell, thats only to be expected. The worse thing was losing the internet, and therefore our land line, for the best part of five days. I Know many people had a lot more to cope with than that, but we found being out of contact with our children and other loved ones during our first Christmas away quite hard. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>On Christmas morning we actually showed our faces at the village church, the first time either of us had been for an occasion other than a wedding or a funeral for a very long time. It also helped by the fact Karen had heard that the priest was, quote, a bit of a dish, and she wasn't dis-appointed..........Apparently.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Our good friends Dave and Sue Price made the long trip to come over to see us over new year, unfortunately their arrival coincided with another batch of awful weather, and the staff at the local tabac going on holiday. But we did manage a few hours in Josselin before heading home for food wine and ping pong. </i></b></div>
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First Fixing</div>
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<b><i>The en- suites are slowly taking shape, however the "first fixing" stage seems never ending. And being I can't begin any real decorating until they're complete, it,s quite frustrating. We have purchased Three shower cubicles, one of which wont fit properly in the space allowed and has to be changed, three loos and three hand basins. Also we have a huge pile of both wall and floor tiles. The second boiler is in place and being tested as I write this.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Our poor plumber did manage to drill through our phone line at one point, depriving us of phone and internet yet again. But fortunately the very resourceful French "sparks" fixed it before we had to pay Orange shed loads of euros for doing the same thing. </i></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More First Fixing.<br />
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<b><i>We have made a start on the garden, mostly to get away from the noise and the mess in doors I'll admit. Now we seem to spend half our days at the dechettirrer (the dump) and my car, both inside and out, is so filthy even a French farmer would be embarrassed to be seen out in it. Two days ago Karen discovered a path running across a large flower bed at the back of the house we didn't know existed. Uncovering it was hard work and involved another two trips to said dechettirrer.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Last Saturday we went down to the community hall where the Marie and other notables spoke of how the commune had fared over the last twelve months and what they felt was in store for 2014. Of coarse we couldn't understand a word of what anyone said, but we were introduced to many people, got to meet more of our </i></b><span style="text-align: center;"><b><i>neighbours and had free drinks and nibbles, so an evening well spent in my book. We were surprised to find just how many people knew who we were, where we lived and what we planned, and they all were all so friendly, I think we picked the right place.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Well, next post I hope to have pics of some tiling and maybe even a fitted shower......Bet you can't wait.</i></b></span></div>
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<br />New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-90829464052175811312013-12-19T04:40:00.001-08:002013-12-19T04:40:39.670-08:00First Few Weeks<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French countryside</td></tr>
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<b><i>Well, at long last we are here. The long wait and all the hassles are behind us and we are in our French home and can begin the latest chapter.</i></b><br />
<b><i>As our furniture wasn't going to join us for two weeks we were able to relax a little and take time over rearranging what the previous owner had left behind and making it as comfortable as possible for that period. We had a bed, sofa, oven and hob, plus various wardrobes and such, so it wasn't exactly camping. The electric radiators and the hot water all worked, so we wasn't going to freeze to death either. The only appliance that refused to work was the TV, no great loss.</i></b><br />
<b><i>One job that did cause a certain amount of stress was getting the internet and phone operational. We had collected our Orange "livebox" during our stay at the gite, but we still had no idea how it worked. After connecting it up and a bit of faffing we got the computer internet going but the phone was still a mystery. Luckily our new friend Peter, owner of the gite, popped round for a coffee and he managed to sort it. In Fact they have managed to point us in the right direction on more than one occasion.</i></b><br />
<b><i>We also were reunited with Howard, who we met on our buying trip, and he was able to take us to a house which had some furniture for sale. There we managed to purchase an eight seater dining table and chairs, a dresser and several other decent bits and pieces for a very good price.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Our furniture duly arrived on December 10th, Karens birthday, delivered by the top blokes from Wheadon removals. It all went well with only one vase broken, but that was probably due to my packing. And since then our feet haven't touched the ground. Sorting through stuff we'd forgotten we owned and trying to decide where to put it. It's amazing how many books we have that have no relevance out here. "Weekend walks in Britain" and "Footpaths of Britain" to name but two.</i></b><br />
<b><i>But we seem to be on top of it now, the Christmas tree is up and the place almost looks like a home. I say almost because we now have the builders in......</i></b><br />
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<b><i>It was always our intention to begin the work on the en suite bathrooms after new year, with only a couple of minor bits done before. Unfortunately as the builder has other commitments in January, and we wish to open for guests at Easter, the stud work at least has to be done now. </i></b><br />
<b><i>So I now have bags of rubble and such to transport to the"Dechettarie" and a previously tidied workshop, in need of a tidy. But they seem to be doing a good job. We've lost a little more space out of two of the bedrooms than I would have liked but I'm sure when it's done it'll be fine. </i></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at our local lake</td></tr>
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<b><i>As I said we seem to getting on pretty well in the village. We get handshakes in the Tabac and we are known in the Boulangerie. Our French neighbours are very nice, and the ex- pats are a cheery bunch. The only blots so far is the failure to find a key to fit the side door into the basement, and as we can't open it, getting a new lock fitted is proving a problem.</i></b><br />
<b><i>And the fact that the log burner isn't up to French standards and has to be replaced at some point. We can use it for now so it's not too bad. </i></b><br />
<b><i>Yesterday we took delivery of a "cord" of logs (3 square meters apparently) and spent over an hour stacking them in our wood store in the rain. But I'll be glad of them come Christmas.</i></b><br />
<b><i>So here's to the new year and whatever it brings. </i></b><br />
<b><i>Joyeux Noel et une Bonne Annee</i></b>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-56823161219106734872013-11-21T06:43:00.001-08:002013-11-21T06:43:37.173-08:00Arriving in France<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Our Way</td></tr>
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<b><i>November 16th 2013, at last the day had arrived and we loaded the cats in the car and headed off to Le Shuttle to start our new life in France.</i></b><br />
<b><i>It had been a long haul since 6th September when we moved out of "Melrose" and trundled down to Folkestone to spend the weekend at our son and his girlfriends flat, the first of many temporary homes we would have over the next period of weeks.</i></b><br />
<b><i>I cannot over emphasize the debt we owe these wonderful people who put up with our moans, moods and my guitar "playing". We couldn't have done it without their generosity. We thank them dearly.</i></b><br />
<b><i>At present we are exactly one week away from taking possession of our new house. We have rented a very comfortable gite just outside Meneac, a village which is about fifteen minutes drive from La Trinite Porhoet, our village. The owners Peter and Karen are very nice people, inviting us to dinner on our first night, and a mine of useful information. </i></b><br />
<b><i>The house insurance is now in place after our appointment with the wonderfully named Monsieur Phillippe Cool, so we now have all we need before next Wednesdays meeting with the Notaire to collect the keys. Tomorrow we collect our live box so we should have broadband and phone as soon as we move in.</i></b><br />
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<b><i> We have a house sale to attend this coming Saturday, where we might find something of use for a reasonable price. Also on Monday we're going to meet up with Howard, the really nice man we met in August, as he has a friend who is moving back to the Uk and has some furniture to sell. We actually viewed this house back in the summer and it has some really nice bits and pieces, so if the price is right we may find our dining table quicker than we thought.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Today we met the present owner of our house so he can put us in the know on how the heating works, what switch does what etc; wrong. It was quite strange how little he actually knew about his own house. When asked if the side door opened ok the reply was "yes if I knew where the key was". We then said that we thought we had some mail in his mail box and may we have it the reply was "yes if I knew where the key was". I was also slightly surprised to see he was having a bonfire in the centre of what was a fairly nice lawn. Oh well I'm sure it'll grow back.</i></b><br />
<b><i>He was in fact very pleasant and again very helpful. The tools he is leaving behind will save me a fortune alone and many of the other things we may be able to sell at the local brocante.</i></b><br />
<b><i>So we are going to treat the remainder of the time until we get the keys as a mini holiday, because I can see there will be plenty to keep us busy between then and the spring.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Bonjour Peeps!</i></b><br />
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New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-43055064783032173802013-10-09T07:46:00.000-07:002013-10-09T07:46:10.568-07:00Bureaucracy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>France is well known as a place that takes it's time. It takes it's time over lunch, it takes it's time over breakfast,</i></b><b><i> and it takes it's time</i></b><b><i> when you are trying to pay at the supermarket. Which is fine, in many ways it's the very reason we want to move there. A slower pace and a more gratifying way of life. However, when it comes to buying your dream home it starts to wear slightly thin.</i></b><br />
<b><i>We waited four weeks for the "compromis de vente" to reach us which we then had to go through over the phone with the Notaires office. The power of attorney then had to be witnessed (another £10), before being sent back. Then and only then did the THREE MONTH procedure commence!</i></b><br />
<b><i>During the conversation with the Notaires office we were quoted a preliminary completion date of 15th of December, well as you can imagine this was a bit of a shock. I know it was a worst case date, but even so! We knew that most of the searches had already been done when the house was almost sold previously, and were still valid. Also the fact that we were not seeking a mortgage would help things along a little. But as I said it was a worse case date and with any luck we'll get the keys a little earlier.</i></b><br />
<b><i>We have made tentative enquiries with the owner to see if we could rent the house for a couple of weeks prior to the signing of the final papers, if only to rid of the payments being made to keep our two cats in our local cattery, which is more expensive than storing all our worldly goods. Still awaiting a reply on that one.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>So at present we are in our third week lodging with our (still) good friends Paul and Pauline, constantly scanning the email for the elusive completion date. It seems a long time ago we left "Melrose" and began the big wait. But were getting there. Hopefully by the next post things will be clearer and we'll be getting stressed about the Christmas shopping that will have to be done before we go.</i></b>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-65383339658021434312013-09-17T08:29:00.000-07:002013-09-17T09:34:55.610-07:00Life On The Road<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting For France</td></tr>
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<b><i>Well it's been a week and four days since we packed the last box and dragged ourselves exhausted out the door of "Melrose" and into the wide unforgiving world. Well that's what it felt like anyway.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The first weekend was spent in sunny Folkestone, and very pleasant it was too. The sun really did shine and it was almost like having a little holiday. We took strolls by the sea, drank coffee by the harbour and had a very pleasant night out with my good friends from times gone by. Not a bad way to begin our life on the road.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The next port of call was back in Ashford at my sister and brother-in-law's house.They are having a two week holiday in Turkey (lucky things) and we are house sitting for the duration. And that is where I find myself at the moment, listening to the rain falling on the conservatory roof while I tap away at this computer.</i></b><br />
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<b><i> The wheels of French bureaucracy seem to be turning even slower than I thought it were possible. I was warned that this would be the case but even so........</i></b><br />
<b><i>It has taken the notaire almost three weeks to get the draft copy of the "compromis de vent" to us along with the "power of attorney", and that was by email. Mind you good job it did come through the ether as Karen muddled up the numbers on our forwarding address which caused no end of trouble and confusion......Bless her.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The power of attorney has since been witnessed by a very attractive solicitor and has been sent back to France, so that's out of the way, and the notaire can sign the "compromis de vent" on our behalf saving us another expensive trip across the water.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The other thing that has come to light is the existence of a French organisation called "Safer". It is well known that when buying a house in France that the local Maire has the authority to buy the house that you are purchasing if he, or she, decides it can fulfill a need in the community. Seldom is this power used, but it has to be gone through as part of the process.</i></b><br />
<b><i>But it also transpires that the people from "Safer Fr" have the same right, and have to be informed of the house sale so they can make a judgement on weather they would like to buy the dwelling. On reading up on the organisation it seems that, in the main they only deal with farmland and rural properties with a good deal of land attached, so there shouldn't be any problem.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Being the house we are buying has been on the market for over two years, common sense would say that these two bodies could, long ago, have decided if they had any interest in the property at La trintie Porhoet and saved us all a lot of time and heart ache. But that's not how it works, they wait until some one shows an interest, puts in a lot of time and effort, not to mention money, transfers the 10% to the Notaires office, then they send off the details to these two concerned parties and they let you know in due course. How long French due coarse is who can say?</i></b><br />
<b><i>At this moment our new life in Brittany seems a long way off......Keep the faith or "</i></b><b><i>garder la foi" ( Thank you google translate).</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><b><i>Au revoir for now. </i></b><br />
<b><i> </i></b>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-5023135680436352982013-09-07T07:43:00.000-07:002013-09-07T07:43:54.152-07:00Packing Madness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nightmare<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Packing must be like childbirth, if you remember how long and painful an experience it is, you wouldn't do it again. Mind you the last two weeks will not be forgotten in a hurry.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>To start with it was hot, very hot, pushing 30 degrees for the most part, not making working conditions easy. Two weeks sounds along time but it very soon disappears and everything becomes one big rush.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>We started on our books, that probably accounted for the first three days, I didn't realise we had so many! Piles of them being crammed into boxes which we then found difficult to lift. That's without the two large holdalls full I lugged up to the cancer shop.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>With Karen's assistance (supervision) week one went fairly well, at the end of each day we would look around the house, nod sagely, and proclaim "we were getting there". How wrong we were.</i></b></span></div>
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<b><i>At the start of the second week it was obvious we were getting behind. Karen had to return to work leaving me on my own franticly packing and transporting and stacking all our stuff into Lok n Store. But at least the size of our storage unit looked to be about right. that assumption proved to be a little off the mark as well.</i></b><br />
<b><i>More troops were required and in the shape of my esteemed brother in law, Mr Terry Abbott and a very good friend Norman Drewitt I found them. Also Karen driving to Tesco at 7am every morning to keep us supplied with fresh boxes was crucial.</i></b><br />
<b><i>So we worked and worked, and on Thursday evening, having rented another small unit, we finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. The packing did become a little frenzied towards the end and box labelling went out the window, but needs must. Good thing too as we had to be out of Melrose by lunch time the following day.</i></b><br />
<b><i>So on Friday morning we took the cats over to the cattery that was to be their home for the next eight weeks or so. Dismantled the bed and took it with the last few bits down to the store. Even then, when we finally packed the car to leave we could barely get it all in.</i></b><br />
<b><i>But it was done, we were out, with about an hour and a half to spare, and it wouldn't have happened without the help of Norman, Terry and Mr. Colin Newton who drove the van for the large pieces of furniture at the beginning and looking after our bicycles and a double mattress that wouldn't fit in storage.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Well that's it we are now homeless and will spend the next part of this adventure dossing with various friends and relatives. I hope were not going to be too much of a nuisance. </i></b>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-40286489742043407092013-08-30T03:34:00.002-07:002013-08-30T03:34:40.436-07:00Right Move<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">38 Rue St. Yves La Trinite Porhoet</td></tr>
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<b><i>Wednesday was always going to be special because that was the day we were to view the house in La Trinite Porhoet. We found the place on E Bay of all places and had been in constant touch by email with the owner, Jim Allen, ever since. He had supplied us with many photos, plan drawings and ideas for what was possible to make the house fit for our purpose. The only problem being it was quite a lump over our budget, but we just had to take a look.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>But first we had an appointment in Saint Gilles (or village flowery) and it certainly was. Very, very pretty place with a large lake.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The property in question was an old hotel/ bar with twelve, yes twelve bedrooms, four bathrooms and four toilets. The bar it's self was still there complete with pumps and everything. I know I've used the word huge on many occasions, but this place was simply.....Huge. And all for 74,500 euro, but you would need twice that again to get it looking anywhere near it's former glory, evidence of which was all around in the shape of photos of the former proprietors standing proudly outside their flower festooned establishment. Quite sad really.</i></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downstairs living room</td></tr>
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<b><i> Then it was on to La Trinite Porhoet where we had an hour to wait for the estate agent to finish their lunch (we were beginning to get into the laid back way the French fill their day) So we took the opportunity to check out the local bar and sample their coffee.</i></b><br />
<b><i>That done we went off to view the property, and immediately fell in love with it. Lovely entrance hall with marble staircase, big front room, big kitchen and four bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor. Self contained two bedroom apartment with fitted kitchen and bathroom and a large lounge on the second floor. Then a basement with double garage, games room office another fitted kitchen, shower and loo. Also there is a large detached garage at the rear of the house. Now if that isn't perfect for a B&B I don't know what is.</i></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake at La Trintie Porhoet<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<b><i>Another little bonus was the beautiful lake three minutes walk away down the lane to the side of the property where you can fish or stroll, there is also a sailing club. So all in all we think we have found the place of our dreams. Four en suites to install and we should be good to go. The estate agent contacted the Marie and they have no problems with our plans and also gave us the thumbs up for solar panels if we can afford them.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Now it was back to blighty to pack our stuff and prepare for France.</i></b><br />
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New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-89931802991236581472013-08-29T02:25:00.000-07:002013-08-29T02:25:31.722-07:00Buying Trip Deuxième partie<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long house featuring Howard<br /></td></tr>
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<b><i>Day two of our viewing trip saw us head off to the village of St Nicolas du Pelem where we were to meet Doug, our agent for the morning. We arrived, parked up, and made our way to the village centre to find the rendezvous.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Whilst waiting this chap came along and remarked, "you look busy", to Karen who was stood there with her clipboard and pen. Well, we got chatting, as you do, and it transpired he knew Doug well, and gave us lots of good tips and advice to help us in our quest. Doug duly arrived, we said our goodbyes to our new friend Howard and set off to the first property.</i></b><br />
<b><i>This was a huge townhouse in the village of St. Nicolas du Pelam which was at one time a wine merchant. Hence the presence of a number of massive oak barrels in the store at the side of the house. We looked round with interest, and I must say I liked it alot. But it would have needed more Euro than we had to restore it to former glories.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The next house Doug took us to was far too small for what we needed, and to be fair Doug told us as such before we went, but the owner was expecting us so off we went. On the plus side we got to drive through some beautiful countryside.</i></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAUpDG_X_MXo-qHSV6pUh3t7RJkoa8x0Nzsy-xKdy84SGU4VvLpmZ3wo1seFhkK00zpF_ukw_qPmgKv9Rympduu2sS0QszGWDZohdQOmO2QjT4oWCVK1oVJtv_cblLEvGu-ZguTlEiSY/s1600/DSC_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAUpDG_X_MXo-qHSV6pUh3t7RJkoa8x0Nzsy-xKdy84SGU4VvLpmZ3wo1seFhkK00zpF_ukw_qPmgKv9Rympduu2sS0QszGWDZohdQOmO2QjT4oWCVK1oVJtv_cblLEvGu-ZguTlEiSY/s400/DSC_0159.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the longhouse</td></tr>
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<b><i>For the afternoon appointments we travelled to Gouarec a particularly nice little town with some beautiful buildings. Here we met Eric, who took us to see the longhouse pictured above.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The biggest surprise of the day was that having arrived at the property the key holder was none other than our new friend Howard who we had met previously that morning. He was good friends with the owner and again was very helpful.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The house itself just blew us away, it was achingly beautiful was almost perfect for our needs. In reality it was two cottages made into one, with four bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs, two in each cottage reached by two staircases, and a large double downstairs with it's own bathroom. It would photograph well and was on the edge of a village, we were very tempted.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAoqRDk9iyTRXluv1aUOtaFPHQvpuJpzEH0jSET7VArKsQ-2QoQFBOVmU1qCNPqO1yubdf8E6WSCuvGxpQY92CWTYvsXWMerD0VUiFXAIryph0otFPDr606MZD1q1TrLHHlH0NtTKvwk/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAoqRDk9iyTRXluv1aUOtaFPHQvpuJpzEH0jSET7VArKsQ-2QoQFBOVmU1qCNPqO1yubdf8E6WSCuvGxpQY92CWTYvsXWMerD0VUiFXAIryph0otFPDr606MZD1q1TrLHHlH0NtTKvwk/s400/DSC_0168.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The field</td></tr>
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<b><i>There was one slight problem, the field. The property came with the field included in the price. And what a view it provided, you looked straight over it from the garden, but what could we do with it. At present the owner lets it to local people to graze their horses on, but how much income that would generate I'm not sure? Also I believe in France you are taxed by the amount you own and this is a lot of land. The lack of any outhouses was also a concern, but that didn't stop us mulling over the various options as we made our way to the last property of the day.</i></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEYbqKw5SbDAJZUIBX5NOV7AP7itRy02GLV0nBtk1aW9rZA5ijLAbsore0IFiOL7tqQ_NHgwGEzjuUD95xmK81IFfET4sqCZDlCfRhI4lj3gLdveXdzWMFqOuP7yFhE0jFGCzKQKG3YI/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEYbqKw5SbDAJZUIBX5NOV7AP7itRy02GLV0nBtk1aW9rZA5ijLAbsore0IFiOL7tqQ_NHgwGEzjuUD95xmK81IFfET4sqCZDlCfRhI4lj3gLdveXdzWMFqOuP7yFhE0jFGCzKQKG3YI/s400/DSC_0172.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plounevez Quintin<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<b><i> </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><b><i>Plounevez Quintin surprised me big time. Looking at the details before we left I wasn't too hopeful. however I was quite wrong. The house was, and still is deceptively big, in good order and overlooks the village church. It was one of the cheaper places we would look at, and as such was terrific value. If our budget was more limited this could well have been the place. Karen even found a rifle in a cupboard, how weird is that. </i></b>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<b><i>So that was day two over and we had the longhouse on our radar along with the first house from the day before, we had also met Howard, which was a major plus. Things were going pretty well....Roll on tomorrow.</i></b><b><i> </i></b><br />
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<br />New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-70054398106887194052013-08-28T04:49:00.000-07:002013-08-28T04:49:09.802-07:00Buying Trip<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3TWuAdNmPZ29GIujy2j6SR5Ag5LMChZzgRk8tJ_Usqsu4jKUAj5XqZ6L4pqSlHwv7NuGFPJ_xrLcVnNDjL7d97XZPGlOkSIbhDgJQHgMNWTrS1DkudRwFNmyVrX9SNWDQedowALrJJk/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3TWuAdNmPZ29GIujy2j6SR5Ag5LMChZzgRk8tJ_Usqsu4jKUAj5XqZ6L4pqSlHwv7NuGFPJ_xrLcVnNDjL7d97XZPGlOkSIbhDgJQHgMNWTrS1DkudRwFNmyVrX9SNWDQedowALrJJk/s400/DSC_0221.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Base Camp<br /></td></tr>
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<b><i>Well here we are back in Brittany for perhaps the most important visit of them all, for it is on this trip we hope to decide on the property that our future will depend. No pressure then.</i></b><br />
<b><i>We based ourselves about 2k north of the town of Huelgoat, where we stayed on our first trip way back in March. In fact, it really was too far west for our purpose but it was cheap and available, so beggars can't be choosers.</i></b><br />
<b><i>As it turned out it was very pretty and comfortable, so we unpacked and made ready for the weeks adventure.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0i07ArTJpwh_3GY3cYOeuF5ii0FPxNDGuIlqbG2EeIrLGQJgWElkGJ5NFwPg0GEkwe3DnLUNrSxCl4QSh__cdcY-RZN4mi19aXZDcXWXi7-i4sivEM-BvrzsbzP3i0mingULou_W0z0/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0i07ArTJpwh_3GY3cYOeuF5ii0FPxNDGuIlqbG2EeIrLGQJgWElkGJ5NFwPg0GEkwe3DnLUNrSxCl4QSh__cdcY-RZN4mi19aXZDcXWXi7-i4sivEM-BvrzsbzP3i0mingULou_W0z0/s400/DSC_0031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mael Carhaix</td></tr>
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<b><i></i></b><br /><b><i></i></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUd8B-gkxA-dey4HzvhUraA9FmF2LxyNxBImRswLwNt1ALpJCJjBH62eNGA-HNFdpbLx3deCzgfDsZS6sMkh5neqBibGkT_Do_uLhVHRvesMQmGfMeiNsVtuBbOwQruoBu_rlXNxiHCT0/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUd8B-gkxA-dey4HzvhUraA9FmF2LxyNxBImRswLwNt1ALpJCJjBH62eNGA-HNFdpbLx3deCzgfDsZS6sMkh5neqBibGkT_Do_uLhVHRvesMQmGfMeiNsVtuBbOwQruoBu_rlXNxiHCT0/s400/DSC_0035.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><i>The very first place we saw set the bar pretty high. Just outside the village of Mael Carhaix was this splendid pile. Five bedrooms, the top two already boasting en suites, the rest of the house in good nick, this place had "P" big time. and the view from the gardens wasn't too shabby either.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Also there was a stone cottage to "renovate" (spend lots of money on) and a very large barn for storage, presumably my combine harvester it was so big.</i></b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Well if this was the kind of stuff we were going to be viewing the next few day would be very interesting indeed.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ndvi5iJX-Uy4e6v1PP1GGNbp5Oiksc_5v5boaigLKysa5cvrG8dobtY4MaqMxv29O9ZCOlAMYTqA-ekfZKTknaTwcKDI3zwXAkRlQTVscvS4iafaH11sPp6h4KEe45xWeMrWUCW-fTw/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ndvi5iJX-Uy4e6v1PP1GGNbp5Oiksc_5v5boaigLKysa5cvrG8dobtY4MaqMxv29O9ZCOlAMYTqA-ekfZKTknaTwcKDI3zwXAkRlQTVscvS4iafaH11sPp6h4KEe45xWeMrWUCW-fTw/s400/DSC_0074.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Feuillee</td></tr>
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</i></b><br />
<b><i>We saw four properties in all on Monday, and they were all pretty good but we had to discount them for one reason or another, either too remote, too much work or queries on land boundaries we didn't want to get mixed up in.</i></b><br />
<b><i>The house at La Feuillee was one we were really looking forward to before we left England, and was our last appointment of the day, but on inspection I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong the house was fine, nothing particularly wrong with it, it just didn't grab me. Karen on the other hand was much more impressed, and I must admit, for the price it was a lot of house. Situated on the outskirts of a pretty village it was very well placed as well, so it ticked all the boxes except the "you have to buy me" box......Oh well.</i></b><br />
<b><i>We did get convinced to have a look at one more place which, as it happened , was back in Huelgoat near where we were staying, so in for a penny.....</i></b><br />
<b><i>The house turned out to be a huge money pit and far to bigger task for us or our budget.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>So with day one done and one contender in the bag, we set off back to our gite, for a cold mistakenly purchased non alcoholic beer, food and wine (alcoholic).</i></b><br />
<b><i>Roll on tomorrow, when we would get to meet our new Brittany best friend, the venerable Howard, top man.</i></b><br />
<b><i> </i></b>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-70310828245211201632013-08-17T03:06:00.002-07:002013-08-17T03:07:53.189-07:00Done Deal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUdImsT6C5SeAZ6j27mTw8LfwxUkuVsRqUbq0SFVz2mkf0RufZvYZVkF0eW6451ITm3CfqvuJ2iq3AzsyiEC9KzgK9_7TO-5bRZIVgpmHWAVIwbHSXOu274khUnruJ4hxoUc2aEGXNZo/s1600/Blog+Pics+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUdImsT6C5SeAZ6j27mTw8LfwxUkuVsRqUbq0SFVz2mkf0RufZvYZVkF0eW6451ITm3CfqvuJ2iq3AzsyiEC9KzgK9_7TO-5bRZIVgpmHWAVIwbHSXOu274khUnruJ4hxoUc2aEGXNZo/s400/Blog+Pics+001.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuMvTL3sj8iwGr8tXJtIZP9SmT75OsBuTCi6-OFynMcbOulL3QlrwmnQ-8ZRcY4tbKFDbw0UcXCPvJUBr6P_aWpolqN1GTgk6ElE2nYSbUEsH6XC2ztazl51pDPlUqkw7hZqigLOM8BM/s1600/Blog+Pics+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuMvTL3sj8iwGr8tXJtIZP9SmT75OsBuTCi6-OFynMcbOulL3QlrwmnQ-8ZRcY4tbKFDbw0UcXCPvJUBr6P_aWpolqN1GTgk6ElE2nYSbUEsH6XC2ztazl51pDPlUqkw7hZqigLOM8BM/s320/Blog+Pics+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Well, yesterday evening at 6-30 pm it actually happened, we exchanged contracts on our house sale, that's it done and dusted, farewell to "Melrose".</b><br />
<b>I'm not saying those words don't come with a certain amount of sadness on my part, but our future doesn't lie here anymore. Our time in Victoria Crescent has been, on the whole, very happy, it's the house that Sophie and Tom grew up in and I'm sure they will always remember it as their home. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>When we first moved here it was never our intention to move again, but after the children moved on it seemed to lose a little bit of soul and the lure of a fresh start, when we are still fit enough to make a go of it, seemed too good a chance to give up. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The last couple of weeks has been pretty stressful. The information going backwards and forwards between the various solicitors and estate agents was really beginning to make my head hurt. And having to cough up £300 for an insurance policy that I know no-one will ever need, just to make our buyers solicitors happy, was annoying to say the least. But we paid up just to try and keep the cogs turning. The thought of anything going wrong, and having to go back to square one was not on the agenda.</b><br />
<b>Well, as I said, it's all signed off now and we can go to France tomorrow as cash buyers, and as so have a little more clout in the bargaining arena.</b><br />
<b>And lastly a massive thanks to Richard Ottaway and his pals at Martins Estates and all the hard work they've done on our behalf, money well spent.</b><br />
<b>So it's on to Le Shuttle tomorrow with 17 houses to view next week....Wish us luck. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The next post should have lots of news and pic from our week in Brittany and maybe even a new address!!! </b><br />
<b><br /></b>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-85023114430968481082013-07-18T02:46:00.000-07:002013-07-18T02:46:08.186-07:00Progress!!!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCicLngZMZsKftTRD-wpuGAtigPWfVFFtAif3K_kYZWE5Z88ZU6s5ZEAMRL99iAktPJkxBCjHLOUbbEf0kmdeRBrU07FPX2_GRplp6RYN8S4KMbvC07L2Oqq5AMXO9D0VWC-TgkrKsDDA/s1600/Ashford+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCicLngZMZsKftTRD-wpuGAtigPWfVFFtAif3K_kYZWE5Z88ZU6s5ZEAMRL99iAktPJkxBCjHLOUbbEf0kmdeRBrU07FPX2_GRplp6RYN8S4KMbvC07L2Oqq5AMXO9D0VWC-TgkrKsDDA/s640/Ashford+1.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashford Parish Church<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Well, the last month and a half have been pretty tough going. We still had a steady flow of viewers but no-one seemed to want to put in an offer. With my "job seekers allowance" rapidly coming to an end things were starting to look slightly desperate with financial limitations being added to the stress of not seeing an end to our situation. Leaving Ashford looked along way off.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Just making sure the house ad garden was spick-and-span was becoming a real chore and I was becoming increasingly restless around the house and finding it difficult to concentrate on anything apart from willing the phone to ring. Even my beloved guitars were being neglected.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Then, out of the blue the middle of last week, the tide began to turn.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>We had a viewer last Tuesday who obviously wanted the place badly. He had grand plans to keep birds of prey and the house and garden suited his purpose perfectly. They were young, but you got the impression that the price wasn't a problem. So you can imagine our disappointment when they put in an offer a full 30 grand bellow the asking price. But we thought we'd end up agreeing a price somewhere in the middle and all parties would be happy..........Wrong.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>They did up the anti but only by 5 grand and said that was as high as they would go. So we had a weekend agonising over weather we could take the hit and so put an end to the saga. In the end we decided to give it a week, and if there was still no interest we would, (working on the premise happiness is more important than money) begrudgingly, concede and get on with life.............This turned out to be one of our better ideas.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Along came a wonderful lady that quite obviously felt exactly the same about the house as we did fifteen years ago. When she asked if we'd had any interest I told her of the low bid on the table and that we were going to run with it unless another one came along by the weekend. She told me not to agree to anything and she would bring hubby round that evening. Next day we had a very nice offer on the table to which we said YES PLEASE!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Now I know that nothing is over 'till the fat lady sings, (this particular fat lady being "exchange of contracts") but at least we can see a light at the end of the tunnel, and we can begin to look at French properties and plan another viewing trip in August.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Our lovely buyer is off to Marmaras for a holiday and we told her all about Turunc, so if any of my Turkish friends read this look out for an English couple who are excited about a new home, be extra nice to them they might be our newest friends. </i></b></span>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-87151331346296469572013-06-11T03:30:00.000-07:002013-06-11T03:30:12.213-07:00Killing Time<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFjzmzyJkvRJqSmLyCs_GJifYFTLsdtn15FKYW5Z4VtcLo-IaFd4P651vGxXwebqV7aP4Vj3Fs27AARXwpLWhN2HA8bcRRrRvuNSoYe4c6QIIWO-eDorqiwLsNdHv3rh1QihSk2ghP7w/s1600/turunc+2013+192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFjzmzyJkvRJqSmLyCs_GJifYFTLsdtn15FKYW5Z4VtcLo-IaFd4P651vGxXwebqV7aP4Vj3Fs27AARXwpLWhN2HA8bcRRrRvuNSoYe4c6QIIWO-eDorqiwLsNdHv3rh1QihSk2ghP7w/s640/turunc+2013+192.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backgammon </td></tr>
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<b><i>As I said in the previous post, waiting for an offer on your house is a pains taking exercise, and I'm afraid I'm not very good at it. So as a way of re-leaving at least some of the boredom I've taken to learning the art of Backgammon.</i></b><br />
<b><i>This is a game that rather past me by when I was younger, and apart from a couple of games with my friend Matt, whilst cruising down The Nile, (how posh is that), I've never really played. But I know it's very popular on the continent, including France, see where I'm going with this? And it's my thinking, it would be a good thing to be able to take on the locals and not look a twit. Thus helping the integration process, and making new French friends.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>We purchased this board whilst on our Turkish holiday, and it's very beautiful, and by English standards well priced (read cheap). It's hand made and was ours for a little under thirty English pounds. It will also be good to have around the B&B for our guests to use along with Scrabble, Cluedo and whatever else we can gather together.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Last week we had three more viewings, but nothing more this week. But to keep us interested we've decided to have a bit of a move round with the bedrooms. At present we sleep in the loft room which, to be honest was always going to be best with either one or two single beds. And when we (finally) get to France we are going to need a twin room. So we've ordered a bed to match the one we already have in the box room, and we are going to move down to the second floor into the room vacated by our lovely lodger Betsy. The thinking is it will make the house look more balanced.</i></b><br />
<br />
<b><i>That does however mean putting away my beloved Scalextric that has had pride of place in that room for the past month. Oh well, you can't have it all.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVS9vnY93UZN4vJot5L8f8zUUWWUqrdFNrX7KqW6sqCzQei-xwc67DioSJP-YNiO2dnMMMPRi1T28k_4uIx4UbYmhV4vAM_byCkZuSEy7AFBR4mT_K_3vLgL00H4QbBOVgWGcwjNxs0I/s1600/Maison+Driscoll+Grand+Prix+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVS9vnY93UZN4vJot5L8f8zUUWWUqrdFNrX7KqW6sqCzQei-xwc67DioSJP-YNiO2dnMMMPRi1T28k_4uIx4UbYmhV4vAM_byCkZuSEy7AFBR4mT_K_3vLgL00H4QbBOVgWGcwjNxs0I/s400/Maison+Driscoll+Grand+Prix+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scalextric</td></tr>
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I hope the next time I write on this blog I will be talking about an offer and that things going forward...........Fingers crossed.</i></b><br />
<br />New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-55378730417054800832013-06-03T06:06:00.003-07:002013-06-03T06:06:39.915-07:00Still Waiting.<b><i>This house selling, or not yet selling, is much more stressful than I thought it was going to be. We came back from France full of what we want to do, and how we are going to do it, and it's difficult keeping the levels of excitement up whilst waiting for the call from the estate agent.</i></b><br />
<b><i>We haven't been short of viewings, I think, after tomorrows appointment we must be up to eleven or twelve, which we are told is very good for the current climate. But it's still hard when it's not just another house we are looking forward to, but another way of life, and a dream of a new start, that seems to be on hold.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Karen finds motivating herself for work more difficult, and filling my day is not easy, (you can only hoover and cut the grass so many times). And every time the phone rings I can't help but think,"this might be it" only to find it's a dental check up reminder or some-one trying to tell me that I'd had a car crash in the last two years and would I like to claim, which I haven't and I don't.</i></b><br />
<b><i>I know there are many things to get sorted before the big day, furniture storage, transport etc, but until we at least get an offer, I feel we can't get too deep into the move planning, if only not to jinx things.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>So as a de-stress exercise we took ourselves away for a short holiday........to Turkey??</i></b><br />
<b><i>Yes I know it should have been France, but we have been visiting the pretty seaside village of Turunc for the past seven years and have many Turkish friends out there. And our plans being what they are we will not be getting a holiday for a good few years, so it was a case of "now or never", and we chose now. So we went back for eleven days to drink Efes and say goodbye to some fab friends and make a couple of new ones. And thanks to the wonders of face book we can keep in touch and maybe one day one or two of them may decide to come and visit us in France and we could show them some of the hospitality they've shown us over the years.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgAM7-pMs1_wm7ymeqwIDk1xT6ygDZXZpNwMDH-dCu62-Hxr7T-35YJZA-sAiUZltEXhbMXteZpXIQ6hw9WRRkk-X-cZFBciksFQoL8QXALknFGB1Mr6_NFlVQj0UzAoxn2uvyqLNOi4/s1600/turunc+2013+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgAM7-pMs1_wm7ymeqwIDk1xT6ygDZXZpNwMDH-dCu62-Hxr7T-35YJZA-sAiUZltEXhbMXteZpXIQ6hw9WRRkk-X-cZFBciksFQoL8QXALknFGB1Mr6_NFlVQj0UzAoxn2uvyqLNOi4/s400/turunc+2013+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turunc Turkey</td></tr>
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</i></b>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-40658058608314832782013-05-02T03:34:00.000-07:002013-05-02T03:34:01.142-07:00Waiting for the sale
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWskPUcEEQ7q51uL6yoADDtgmq6SKWJAq5uS0_lm5eQH5tYSjPsx8jdF5yDaBYDvDoc0T59iHbb4SEqrB1KaxUt3XyRzn-XXv6oO7kOpdwhPpUlu6qkncm04rdzPU7Wwr8BZ4HybVBaI/s1600/DSC_0027_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWskPUcEEQ7q51uL6yoADDtgmq6SKWJAq5uS0_lm5eQH5tYSjPsx8jdF5yDaBYDvDoc0T59iHbb4SEqrB1KaxUt3XyRzn-XXv6oO7kOpdwhPpUlu6qkncm04rdzPU7Wwr8BZ4HybVBaI/s640/DSC_0027_edited-1.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For Sale</td></tr>
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<strong><em>It has now been just over a month since we returned from France. And after a few frantic days finishing off the decorating we finally got our house on the market.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>As the thing that will hopefully make our property stand out is the garden, we decided to place an extra "for sale" board against the willow tree hoping to garner interest from the people using the path on the other side of the river.</em></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLR1mw8g56Ok3P1httTi_62nHTtW6vQ8bCCPhgV_2X3HEgnAfxqzLkrGmAAg5p6KSXtVXRT4is5FgODrJxi4HOcAWzi9woM31vJTUTcRtTxEcQxyGLECVPZpFDNCU_Zyo6lPtjE1YzTlY/s1600/DSC_0008_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLR1mw8g56Ok3P1httTi_62nHTtW6vQ8bCCPhgV_2X3HEgnAfxqzLkrGmAAg5p6KSXtVXRT4is5FgODrJxi4HOcAWzi9woM31vJTUTcRtTxEcQxyGLECVPZpFDNCU_Zyo6lPtjE1YzTlY/s640/DSC_0008_edited-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View North</td></tr>
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<strong><em>Over the past three and a half weeks we've had seven or eight viewings which, everyone tells me is pretty good. However, as always with these things, you seem to get an inital surge of interest, which tapers off after a while. Which, unfortuneatly, is where we find ourselves at present.</em></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSUqBgthyVHRgQZfcBGOqRKnv2HVj5KOh8QHWIwR_V8Xwdb3RTHmysDKy_EvQ_dLslakADtWIDbLsS1iFodNmVOm6-lniGWyTmFyVtUbP9rJRPTRpp0PJTS9zxz23AewZ7nJ7NrIBBSU/s1600/DSC_0010_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSUqBgthyVHRgQZfcBGOqRKnv2HVj5KOh8QHWIwR_V8Xwdb3RTHmysDKy_EvQ_dLslakADtWIDbLsS1iFodNmVOm6-lniGWyTmFyVtUbP9rJRPTRpp0PJTS9zxz23AewZ7nJ7NrIBBSU/s320/DSC_0010_edited-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View to river</td></tr>
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<strong><em>Having been unemployed since the new year, and having completed all the cosmetic work on the house, I now find myself constantly awaiting the phone to ring. I'm not coping very well with all the sitting around waiting for our new life to begin. ( You can only hoover,polish and mow the lawn so many times).</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Let's just hope our buyer will find us soon and we can get this thing moving again....Fingers crossed.</em></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganr54O1D5MWO8iLPRZ1sdWaGzA6QGtfTBZUNdbij0Gc9A8QroSS6MEAFFuQzy8jIull7lM5uhyYUTF6UdweUhFXizoeIh3B0HRI_5nHANc4AWnE5N9LRyzca7s1JICb5qb2WfA9RxXag/s1600/DSC_0007_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganr54O1D5MWO8iLPRZ1sdWaGzA6QGtfTBZUNdbij0Gc9A8QroSS6MEAFFuQzy8jIull7lM5uhyYUTF6UdweUhFXizoeIh3B0HRI_5nHANc4AWnE5N9LRyzca7s1JICb5qb2WfA9RxXag/s400/DSC_0007_edited-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Pond<br />
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<strong><em>P.S If anyone wants a look inside they can find the deails at the right move web site.</em></strong></div>
New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697950480831358992.post-77918900722176460452013-04-19T05:03:00.001-07:002013-04-21T01:19:07.859-07:00Homeward Bound<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYd2NOeR0JqxXO6ZUQQML86IPWxGrlwXzydkgBR1OX7ntdg4OZzDnjlWurm34_Iqvz9rznT2zu_hNWh8MqfSepI7_OCW-OzelIHIl3E5nXANyfubo0ER8sLK3ioVOly4fR35gktWUGTU/s1600/french+adventure+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYd2NOeR0JqxXO6ZUQQML86IPWxGrlwXzydkgBR1OX7ntdg4OZzDnjlWurm34_Iqvz9rznT2zu_hNWh8MqfSepI7_OCW-OzelIHIl3E5nXANyfubo0ER8sLK3ioVOly4fR35gktWUGTU/s640/french+adventure+047.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French Roads<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>When we are in another country we do try to "go native"as much as we can. But given the length of journey in front of us we decided to go for the "full English" option offered by our host. Having looked at the B&B details that we had downloaded prior to the trip, it seemed there was no extra cost for this service..... Wrong! Having consumed said breakfast and paying the bill it seemed that an extra 24 Euro was now required. The first time we thought we'd been had during our trip, and it took another Brit to do it. But as true Brits ourselves we didn't make a fuss and paid up and went on our way. But that particular B&B will not be getting any recommendations from us......so there!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Having a navigation nightmare in Rouen last time we were over here we decided to make our way back to the tunnel via Caen, this would be a longer route, but we were in no real hurry and it had two big pluses, 1 we would get another go at the magnificent Pont de Normndie and 2 we wouldn't spend hours lost and going round and round Rouen's one way system. I still have the vapors about the place, one day I'll go back and face my demons, but just not today.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The first hour and a half or so of our journey was spent touring through the beautiful Normandy countryside. I've never seen so many dead straight, empty roads. It's like driving in England thirty years ago, but without your car breaking down every few miles obviously. Though we did wonder quite where Declan was taking us every now and then we stuck with him and just followed the road.</i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvx6sPHi8-AXq6W5V3zpxAc7dg2DOfT_OdoflY1DYHDj5rEBGm4-6qlG8d5JYrOs5rylSGZt2JWI4f7mHOn9f_WYrSg2VrR8_SFFA6i9N53HX4XKhLkCPujfb035t4vWjA8C19GVj0eE/s1600/french+adventure+050+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvx6sPHi8-AXq6W5V3zpxAc7dg2DOfT_OdoflY1DYHDj5rEBGm4-6qlG8d5JYrOs5rylSGZt2JWI4f7mHOn9f_WYrSg2VrR8_SFFA6i9N53HX4XKhLkCPujfb035t4vWjA8C19GVj0eE/s320/french+adventure+050+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pont de Normandie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IOK951Mb9H0ZsSw_h0lMxLaFJi0qH-KKUJLvpcdgB_-IemU4Xn-_W45ansh2ydx_DkrPTIebW-awKI0YsrQLlilEw_CrO4mj7OC_L-B-uMlYn4MDAAcqe-n7sD2WHDu-cYTiLmC7xjw/s1600/french+adventure+052+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IOK951Mb9H0ZsSw_h0lMxLaFJi0qH-KKUJLvpcdgB_-IemU4Xn-_W45ansh2ydx_DkrPTIebW-awKI0YsrQLlilEw_CrO4mj7OC_L-B-uMlYn4MDAAcqe-n7sD2WHDu-cYTiLmC7xjw/s640/french+adventure+052+(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going up</td></tr>
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<b><i>The Pont de Normandie is quite a sight, you can't help but be impressed. In fact one day I would like some-one else to drive me over so I can get a better look. It spans the Seine between Le Havre and Honfleur, and even on a murky day like this one was it looked great.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Apparently there's even a cycle and foot path as well which I found surprising.</i></b><br />
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<b><i> It's a pretty steep climb up and over but I would pay good money for the experience, oh come to think of it I did.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful, just lots of well surfaced, uncrowded motorways, just like England...Not. We did have one diversion off coarse, by taking a wrong exit but Declan came good and soon had us back on the rails.</i></b><br />
<b><i>We arrived at Calais with enough time to take in City Europe and all it's delights. So stocked up with wine beer and this evenings dinner we set off to find the terminal. This proved to be Declan's downfall, he was totally bewildered. So we had to turn him off and us the signage. What a come down. </i></b><br />
<b><i>So I totally blame Declan for missing the VERY LARGE STOP sign and thus incurring the wrath of, I must say,over zealous gendarme. Ooops.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Well that was it. We are now home and stacked with information and dreams. The house has been on the market for a week and a half and we've had six viewings so far, not bad.</i></b><br />
<b><i>As soon as we get a buyer we will be back to France to view more places and if any of these are still available we will have a second look mat those.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Watch this space. </i></b><br />
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<b><i><br /></i></b>New beginningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00350477089717437633noreply@blogger.com0