New Years Trip

30/12/1997

Helen, Donald, Martin, Brenda and Charlie, later joined by George, Caroline and Rachel

We arrived in St. Ellier-les Bois at 17:00 hours. Greeted by Martine and Daniel to be told that the electrics had been completed. We lit the fire and aired the beds. Daniel and Martine invited us over for drinks and told us that they were going away for a few days over the New Year. We later discovered a mushroom growing down from the ceiling where their was a damp patch. We then retired to bed after a few drinks and a sandwich.

31/12/1997
Awoke by the church bells and baker sounding his horn. Don lit the fire then went wooding to replenish supplies.
Fallowing breakfast, Don set Martin on fitting the kitchen units together, while Helen and Brenda went out to collect more wood supplies. Shortly after arriving back at the house George, Caroline and Rachel arrived.

George checked over the electrics and seemed to be pleased with what he saw. Don and Martin continued working on the kitchen units, George repaired the lock on the kitchen to hallway door and eased it where it was sticking. We decided to go into Carrouges to do a spot of shopping, on the way Helen, Don, Brenda, and Martin met an elderly couple who we had met on a previous occasion, we were invited in for coffee and calvados.( This is the couple who have identical fingers missing.) Conversation was heavy going as neither of them spoke any English; however they were very sweet and typically French. When we eventually arrived in Carrouges George and Caroline had left for Alencon, so we shopped and took in the French festive atmosphere. On returning home the girls prepared a roast dinner.( I forgot to mention that George had connected the oven earlier in the day.)We had roast beef, gammon,
roast potatoes, sprouts, carrots and swede and gravy, followed by several drinks and a game of chocolate trivial pursuit. Rachel slept through the whole evening. We went out into the street at midnight and sang a French song we had learnt earlier in the evening, everywhere was quiet, I do believe we were the only people celebrating. We finished the evening with a few more drinks and Charlie escorted Caroline to the phone box to phone family and friends to wish them a Happy New Year.

New Years Day 1/1/1998
We started the day with croissants for breakfast, Martin and Don continued working on the kitchen units, the others went for a walk around the village. On returning Caroline prepared a fry up and then we all went for a walk in the forest. The weather had been kind to us up until this time but the wind was starting to pick up by now. On returning to the house the girls prepared a huge roast dinner with all the trimmings and Christmas pudding.

George fitted some plugs he had purchased the day before and we spent the rest of the evening sitting around a huge log fire trying some of
!he drinks we had purchased earlier before retiring to bed .

Friday 2/1/1998
Brenda prepared breakfast, and we all began packing and tidying up the house.
We were all invited for aperitifs at 11am with Susan and Louis ( the couple that live next to our plot ofland.)We were concerned about the weather as it was rather windy by now so we phoned to see if the boat was sailing and we were told that they thought it would be ok.. We all stopped at Argentan to stock up with wine. Eventually arrived at the port anticipating a rough crossing. (And it was) Arived home at 1030pm.

Items to consider taking next time
Jointing plates to complete kitchen units. Screws for draw fronts.
Timber for plinth?
Tiles for work surface on units. Mitre saw.
Plaster- to tidy up stud wall. Dinner plates, small plates. Wooden spoon.
More saucepans.
Oven dishes/roasting tin. Ice cube bags.
Tea towels.
Bedding.