We have been here nearly two weeks already and the internet has been on for a week so, with jet lag a memory, I'll attempt a catch up with the blog.
We arrived in Paris on May 10th which was a mistake. The flight had been booked back in November and somehow we overlooked that the 10th was a monday. We rendezvoued at Charles de Gaulle airport with Jan, our Australian friend whom lives in Sydney and has a property at the top of the town here in Guemene. She came via Singapore as she visited family in Queensland. It delayed us about an hour but we can't blame her for what came next.
We were plunged straight into morning rush hour in Paris. Traffic was moving slowly nose to tail for many kilometers. I thought I was doing a grand job keeping the car between the dotted lines and not hitting anything when flying past on the dotted line beside me came many motorcycles travelling at what seemed like insane speeds. It was remarked that Paris was having a major problem with motorbikes many people ending in hospital. Suddenly two speed cops on bikes came past. Giving chase we thought - but no - they waved furiously at us to move over so that the bikes had more room!
Later on at a restaurant on a motorway I dropped my wallet. I discovered the loss about 5Km along the road but we had to travel 40Km to get back to the stop on the other side of the highway then sprint across the footbridge to the restaurant. I was lucky, it had been handed in completely intact including cash! Good to know there are honest people about!
The bottom line was it took 8 hours to do what normally takes 5 and that in a fragile state of mind.
The back yard. The Foxgloves have self seeded and are popular with the bees!
We arrived in time for the circus. Hundreds of these posters were put up around town and after the show disappeared overnight. We hoped they did OK they certainly put in a lot of effort. We weren't ready for circuses. Last year we went to one with a different name and were disappointed by the crowd size. It seems to be failing industry here but they keep trying.
As usual we attack several jobs at once while working funny hours, compared to the locals, getting over jet lag. 90 floor boards need painting with Lazure so that we can get on with completing the attic floor in the back house.
The remaining unpointed wall in the backroom gets attention. At this point you ask yourself " What the hell am I doing here?" A couple of days later the job is over and the result satisfying.
