Well, we managed it. The last load from La Fromenterie left at 7.00 p.m. Christmas eve. We were installed in our new home that evening.
A friend had been previously to get the new cooker working, we had the telly and the washing machine going, so had to watch DVD's and video's all christmas as the "telly man" couldn't do the satelite until 29th December. So we missed the Christmas "Strictly", but not a lot else I think.
We are now here with 140 sheep - they've already had 6 lambs, the 4 horses, 4 dogs and 5 cats.
Another firend moved the horses, that went exceptionally well considering two of them had not been near a trailer or horsebox for 10 years - and they were relative babies then. Didier, the horse who was lucky to come, jumped out within the first hour - he is renowned for his jumping, but he is not broken so doesn't win prizes! We ended up putting the other three with him i another field. Thankfully he has now settled down and is getting used to the crap winter grass.
Charlie, the Beagle, has also come with us, and loves his new life. Even OH can get up to him and fuss him (we think he had been beaten by a man in his previous life).
Needless to say, we had a rather different Christmas - no tree, sent no cards, did no Christmas shopping but went to a local restaurant with my eldest, Louise, for Christmas lunch. That was very nice, and when we got back home unwrapped our only pressie - a video camera from the kids. That was truly a surprise (except the instructions are in French). Anyway, I think I've mastered it, so have been videoing the new place to show my mum when Laura and I go to England in February.
I have been unpacking some boxes to make the place a bit more homely - the builders start on Monday, and when it is all finished I'll have to move everything into the new bit. But boxes are so depressing.
The weather has been so cold since we got here. We had no water one day as it had frozen up, and had to be towed up the lane in the car after a shopping trip to Limoges and the road was iced up - but we slid down the hills (which was a bit scary). The car didn't go out for the rest of the week, we used the van instead. I did, however, get my Christmas pressy from OH - a chainsaw, so that I can go wooding! He also got his - a 102cm plasma screen TV - where did I go so wrong?
So, we watch bigger, better crap in glorious 102cm technicolour! But at least the sport loks better (even when my team lose). Two Mules for Sister Sarah is currently on (again).
Happy New Year to you all out there.
8 comments:
Happy retirement!
SO glad you've got the move sorted. As for boxes - I think I might still have one to unpack and that's after 2 years. I decided to unpack everything this autumn even though I don't yet have anywhere to put most of it but at least I can burrow through it rather than go out and buy duplicates:-D
Re the chainsaw, did you watch the programme on the meanest people in Britain? There was one farmer who bought his wife a Christmas present, the only one he'd ever bought her and yes, it was a chainsaw - so she could go out and cut the wood for him!
I do hope the new year brings you everything you wish.
Deborah
Deborah - it'll be exciting finding things again! At least the chainsaw is a (minor) improvement on the water-pump or muck fork I have previously received!
Well done on a smooth move.
I once got a car battery and a socket set from a boyfriend - he didn't last long needless to say!
How far are you from Limoges?
Debra in France - we are about 1 hour from Limgoes - depending on the lorries on the N147! I hope you stuck the battery and socket set where the sun doesn't shine!
I certainly did! Having said that the car battery came in very useful as mine was on it's way out, but I would never admit that to him! We are about 20 mins north of Limoges in the Mont de Blond which is just of the 147 near Nantiat.
Debra in France - we are at St Barbant, and often go to Chez Boulette at Blond for lunch - better in the winter we find.
Congratulations and Enormous Joy to you, FF, on new home and retirement.
We still have loads of unpacked boxes in the cellar after six years, because we made the mistake of moving to a house Much Smaller, but can't bring ourselves to chuck everything. Just in Case.
Hope you're really revelling in new leisure-time.
Dolores - good to hear from you again - I, too, have the just in case bug!
Post a Comment