FRENCH DIARY
Thursday 22nd October 1998
Rick, Sue, Jennifer & Sadie
We were very apprehensive about going as severe gale warnings had been issued. The tunnel phones lines were continuously busy so we thought we would brave it. The crossing was rough but we all took a travel sickness pill and went to bed. Donald and Helen were arriving the next day on the fast boat from Portsmouth to Cherbourg. We telephoned P & 0 and found out that the boat had been cancelled due to bad weather and that they would be arriving on the ferry.
Friday 23rd October 1998
The weather the next morning was atrocious but we managed to make it to the house in just over two hours from Le Havre. We have found the best route to take is to follow the motorway to Caen and after Falise follow the signs to Raines. The house had been left very clean and tidy. Rick emptied out the cesspit and put a lamp up in the hallway. I spent most of the day sorting out old photographs. Rick lit the fire with some coal and wood that we had brought with us.
After lunch we went to Alencon to buy some heaters for the bedrooms. The heaters which cost about £25 each worked very well. A load of wood had been delivered but we had to wait until Donald arrived with his saw to cut it up. We were getting worried as Donald and Helen didn't arrive until quite late in the evening. As they arrived a cloud burst and water came gushing out of the waste pipes by the church. They had stopped at St Mary Eglise. Both were really pleased with all the work the Waite's and Wood-Roe's had done. We just had time for a quick aperitif before having supper in Carrouges. The usual restaurant was closed for holidays so we went to the hotel on the corner by the campsite. It was very nice but a bit clinical.
Saturday 24th October 1998
I forgot to say that yesterday we unloaded Donald & Helen's goodies. They had brought with them a put-u up bed, a brilliant cheeseboard, a china bin, a beautiful little painted box, a wooden house mobile, a saucepan rack and some tins for the tea, coffee etc.
Helen and I did some painting in the kitchen. Donald and Rick got absolutely soaked chopping up the wood. Rick went over to see Martine. Things weren't going to well there, Martine has had an operation on her
shoulder and the cafe was closed. We sent Jennie and Sadie round to Suzanne & Louie's with a note to ask
them round for aperitifs at 11 o'clock. They arrived armed with umbrella's. Donald and Helen have really come on with their French and we managed to have quite a conversation with Suzanne, we even got her looking up words in the dictionary. The girls play camps with all the towels and bedding.
After lunch we went to Alencon to stock up on booze and to buy some sealant for the roof Rick bought some good wine racks which take 50 bottles each for about £5.50. Helen bought an expensive handbag (it's OK she has confessed to Don) and some shoes. It was still pouring with rain. Martine, Daniel and Carol came round for drinks at 6:00 p.m. They explained that one bill that I wasn't sure about was for the waste and needed paying quickly. We went through the original roofing quotes with them, item by item. We explained that we needed a revised quote to take into account the two windows in the roof Daniel insisted on taking Rick and Donald into his roof which they found quite interesting. By the way that was the expression of the weekend. Rick kept saying "That's interesting". Daniel had a structure in his roof the size of our septic tank which they used to use to make cider. We then went to the restaurant opposite the Post Office in Carrouges. The girls had frogs legs and the meal was quite good but we were missing the cafe food. Helen varnished the paintwork and Sue had a go at cleaning the paint off the floor.
Sunday 25th October 1998
Donald and Helen got up early and had a walk. The granary is still locked and it looks more full than previously. Sue and Rick had a lie-in. Rick and Donald had a good look in the roof We were asked to move our cars as people wanted to park for the church. When Helen went to move their car the clutch was nonexistent. Rick and Donald went off in search of brake fluid. They were gone ages and Helen and I were making contingency plans should they not get the car fixed. Martine said that Gaby's husband was a mechanic. They didn't arrive back until almost 1 o'clock and we were getting the afternoon sailing. Fortunately the brake fluid did the trick and Donald and Helen arrived in good time. Their fast boat was cancelled so they had to go on the ferry. It was a very rough crossing, the restaurants and Duty Free were closed. Donald said the doors to the Duty Free were locked but a till was on the floor with money pouring out and all the perfumes had fallen off the shelf We made it to our ferry in the nick of time, the ferry was delayed half an hour. We took our pills and slept most of the way.
General Note
I have just had the last big bill in for this year, so now is a good time to see what we have spent over the last twelve months. I will need to work out how much I should pay into the French bank account to cover next year.
Could you please send me any receipts you may have and the amount you need to be re-imbursed.
I am not sure if everyone is paying their money into the new Nationwide Building Society Account yet. I
have enclosed a copy of the May Diary with all the details on in case you may have mislaid it.
Sue