In short (!!) we had joined a house-sitting site earlier this year and had various requests which we couldn't fulfil in the summer as we were too busy. Then a house-sitting request came in for a 6 month sit over winter in the midi-Pyrenees - an area we love. At first we thought - no it's too long a period but then again - why not? The notion grew and took arms and legs, so we decided to pack up and leave Deux-Sevres, do the house-sit down south and while there find another to house to rent - as you do. Quite simple really but not for the faint hearted!
Spent the rest of October and November getting ready to move again! Managed to have a really good declutter (topping up a few local charities) and put everything else into storage at our friend's Taff and Angela's house, had a few farewell events (how many of these have I been to over the years??) and set off for the Midi-Pyrenees on 1st December to start yet another adventure!
Decided as well to sell our lovely wee caravan as we had two people interested in buying it and no idea if it could be stored easily in future (we are thinking we might try urban living next... and likely no storage). It went to our lovely friends Lesley and Chris and their gorgeous wee boys - they will have so many lovely adventures in it.
Before we left we also had to find a new home for Barney puss - our lovable stray. He could not come to the house-sit and we had no idea where we would be moving to next, so in fairness, it was best to find him a new family. The chickens had all gone back to the farm to live and finding a good home for puss was hard to bear but fortunately we did find a wonderful kind foster home where he has settled very happily with his new doggy friend. awwww.
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| bye bye Barney puss |
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| In his new home obviously missing us!! |
The hardest part of leaving (and it never gets any better) is saying good bye to lovely, lovely friends. Not only do we miss people but the Christmas card list just gets longer and longer!!
I will really miss my involvement with GT (not Gin and Tonic!! - the Get Together walking group). I have enjoyed being their Newsletter Editor and meeting so many great people through GT. Working with the GT Committee was often hilarious and always rewarding.
I will also miss AVF (Accueil des Villes Françaises) where I have worked as a volunteer english teacher with my good friend Mary - we have been a great double act in the classroom and I will always remember the time she decided to explain to the class what a sporran was (we were on a scottish theme) and (before I could stop her) she started to draw a sporran on the flipchart with matching kilt and the look of horror on the student's faces wondering what she was drawing a picture of - I was helpless in the corner by then..
I have also loved my drawing class with Mr John Blair and learned a thing or two! It was the most relaxing two hours of the week.
I will miss my weekly Franglais group where we met many kind and interesting french folk and Brits and especially my very good friend Carol (yes another Carol!) who has been an inspiration and always will be. We had many lovely long, long, long, long walks together each time getting hopelessly lost - but who cares. Carol is one of those women who just makes you laugh - what a tonic.
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| Carol studies the map - again!! 'should that have been a right turn?' |
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| 'Come on I am sure its this way |
I spotted this picture in an exhibition the other day and thought this will be me and Carol in a few years time....
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| "...remember that time we went left instead of straight on?" |
Our very good friend Joy who runs the Cafe des Belles Fleurs and kindly hosted our Franglais meetings, DJ Jeff discos, games nights will be missed too as will Scary Mary the gorgeous coiffeur du Fenioux (Mrs Bling) and her lovely wee man Gary.
Before we left L'Embruiniere we received an invite (or summons?) to go to the Maire office one evening. We assumed it was to fill in some bureaucratic leaving-the-village forms, but instead it was a lovely little soirée with speeches to say goodbye to their beloved DJ Jeff (and wife). How kind they all are - the French people.
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| Goodbye speeches at the Maire office.... |
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