unexpected callers

the lake across the field in front of our house

"Autre fois" (as we call our life before moving here) we had very few callers at our front door even though we lived in a fairly ordinary suburban area. When the doorbell went more often than not it was our next door neighbour telling us they were off on holiday for a few days. Now we live in splendid almost isolation an unexpected knock at the door is certainly a surprise! Last week it happened twice. The first occasion I opened the door to find a man I didn't recognise talking extremely fast and very heavily accented French at me - I managed to catch the words "voisin" and "apero" and realised it was the neighbouring farmer ( we had met him briefly to introduce ourselves when we moved in but I hadn't recognised him) inviting us for a drink. I summoned TC who appeared out of the shed a whiter shade of pale covered from head to toe in white dust as he had been busy sanding a ceiling ready for painting - he looked like the ghost of old father time. A quick change and dust off and off we went up the lane and spent a pleasant (if linguistically challenging) hour or so over a bottle of champagne with Alain and his wife.

Just a couple of days later more callers - this time the daughter of another nearby farmer and her partner. She was keen to practise her already good English so conversation was easier. She also told us about a biligual conversation group which meets weekly in nearby Limogne. Its good to feel that our neighbours getting to know us a bit even though they are a few fields away and probably think we are very strange!



Its been another busy week, lunches with friends, dancing ( another "bal" tonight), more reshaping of the garden in preparation for Spring, painting the new bedroom and after a couple of dull drizzly days some welcome winter sunshine gave us the opportunity to enjoy being outside. We have also taken the plunge ( sorry) into the deep and chilly waters of the world of swimming pools and await the quote in the next few days.



site for the pool







We are also preparing for our trip back to England on Wednesday, we have found someone who is willing to "borrow" the chickens which is a relief. I have been practising my clog dancing so that I can join in at the celidh- its been good to discover I haven't forgotten everything.