France May 2024
Monday 6 May - Dieppe
It’s a very wet Bank Holiday Monday so the roads to Newhaven were really quiet. Once in France we had to do a bit of a detour as we didn’t realize you needed an Environmental Certificate to travel through Rouen. It was a pleasant journey, not much longer than usual, even with a stop at the supermarket in Sees. The house was lovely and clean thanks to George and Caroline who were the first visitors to the house this year. Rick’s first job was to fix the leak under the kitchen sink. Once the fires were lit we settled down to enjoy the chilli con carne we had smuggled in.
Tuesday 7 May
Trip to Alencon to replace the satellite and buy the geraniums for the pots. George had given the lawn the initial cut so it made Rick’s job a lot easier. I met our new neighbour Martin and his friend Neil who was staying with him while looking for a retirement house in Normandy. Neil is British but has lived in France for 11 years. It’s such a small world as he was only in Arundel at the weekend and lives about four miles from our friend Alan in Milhars. We caught up with all the news when Gaby came for an apéritif. We still haven’t got to meet our glamorous neighbours Nicky and Micky who have made a great impression on all the village.
Wednesday 8 May
View of the church and new entrance to Isabelle’s grandson's house
Popped into see Lise; we’ve had more contact with the neighbours here in two days than a year at home. The Saint Ellier lunch on Sunday went down well and they ended with a sing song. Rick prepared the front and back doors for painting and tidied up the rose. I cleaned and stained some of the windows and gardened. Annabel, our Estate Agent came to value Su’s house and persuaded us to reduce our selling price to €115k. Monique in the old Épicerie has replaced her new windows which look fine. Isabelle’s grandson is renovating the house next door; all this is good news for the village. The Presbytere opposite is still up for sale.
Thursday 9 May
It’s a two day holiday here, however, SuperU is open mornings but was unable to get something for my sore eye as the Pharmacy is closed. Roast lamb in the slow cooker and roast potatoes in the air fryer were a great hit with Julie and Rob. Such an enjoyable evening.
Friday 10 May
Bad heads all round! Julie and Rob’s for a ‘If it’s’ (in the fridge) lunch and more wine. We were introduced to their two new geese who are amazing shitters. We took a stroll through their woods with Rob who was armed with a broom to fight off their two very scary bantam cockerels who were intent on attacking us.
Saturday 11 May
Managed to get away by 11am with the intention of arriving in Dieppe in time for mussels and frites. It was a lovely day but a weekend following two public holidays so everywhere was absolutely packed. I have never seen it so busy, impossible to park and the beach was crowded with lots of people venturing into the sea. We settled for a cup of coffee and an a long wait for the ferry. We were parked next to a couple who had a 1936 Judge motorbike that they use for touring rallies. Unfortunately, as soon as they arrived in France over a week ago he was laid up with Covid so couldn’t participate in the Spanish tour. The other couple we chatted to have just sold their holiday home in the south and were on their way back home with a van full of stuff.
This was a short visit but we managed to get everything done and our garden was calling us. Rick is trialling raised strawberries in the greenhouse that are ready and we don’t want to miss the asparagus that we have been enjoying since the beginning of April. I also have lots of seedlings coming on and my baskets and window boxes needed putting out.
Front and back doors painted, probably needed a second coat
Most windows cleaned
Stained kitchen, lounge, cellar, workshop and loft windows.
Fixed leak in sink
Installed new satellite
Kitchen curtains washed
Mattress protectors in loft room and downstairs big bedroom washed
Duvets from these rooms aired outside
Geraniums potted up.
Gravel, edges of garden and edges of garden up the road sprayed with Path Clear.
Rose trimmed