We flew out from Sydney with CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES on April 7th, a month earlier than we have become accustomed to, heading for Guangzhou about 150Km north of Hong Kong. The flight was at 10.30am but we were picked up by the shuttle bus at 5.30am - great fun!
The driver was well versed in the pros and cons of the proposed new Sydney airport for Badgerys Creek about 30Kms South of us (sure enough two weeks later the Federal Goverment announced that the project will go ahead). If the driver is correct we will be long gone before the airport is operational.
The cabin crew did their job well, if without a lot of animation. The food was excellent. The airport terminal we used was posh one end and shabby the other. We were there for four hours and lucky to survive as the vehicles used to shuttle less than able people about moved around at high speed like they were on a highway - pedestrians mind thyselves! It wasn't as if the terminal was that big.
This is as close we are likely to get to "The great wall of China"!
The 12 hour flight to Paris was with AIR FRANCE which was delightful. The hostesses were cheerful and the food excellent. A couple of minor issues. Just as all the passengers seemed to be aboard and I was going to enjoy the benefits of an empty seat between me and the aisle this enormous bloke appeared from behind and plonked himself in it. For a while there I thought I might have a panic attack. The guy turned out to be very friendly and could speak only Spanish as he was from Columbia. After the initial shock he produced his I-phone and with the aid of photographs was keen and able to outline his life in Columbia. I didn't like to ask but I have difficulty in coming to grips with the idea of a "Truck Driver" from Columbia going to China to buy machinery!? Fortunately he had a mate elsewhere on the plane and spent quite a lot of time away from his seat which must have been uncomfortable for him also.
The other problem was that several movies played OK for 90% of the time then cut out!
At Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport we had hassles contacting our car lease company as we arrived at a different terminal than we are used to and the phone number they gave us didn't link directly to them. A mouthful of high speed automatic French voice is difficult to handle after a long flight.
It was Monday - (you think we would have learned!) - and it took us 8 hours to get to Guemene which normally takes 5. The traffic on the Paris Perephique is horrendous first thing on a Monday. Going slow has its advantages though as we were entertained by suicidal motor cyclists flying down the dotted line. One car driver in front of us had the temerity to try changing lanes. He wasn't allowed in fully so his tail partially blocked the motor cycle way. He got a severe beeping, nearly lost his wing mirror which the rider tried to rip off and then got the one finger salute.
Once again we were very grateful for our Sat-Nav (or GPS as the French prefer). No problems deciding when or if we need to change lanes.
On arrival at the house we were greeted by this. A lodger, which we assumed was a cat had been living there. It had been violently ill while resting in a lounge chair. Fortunately most of the sick was on the tiles and had grown a healthy mould. The only way into the house was over the roof which would have taken a very determined moggy. Or it snuck in behind our friendly neighbourhood watch and out again some time later on another visit. It knocked over a stool which was an indication of a fast get away but our friends didn't see anything.
Other problems included, lifting floorboards on the mezzanine floor,
Stains on the walls, particularly in chimney alcoves.
Mould on the ceiling of the TV room.
This was worse than any other year we have experienced. Probably due to the prolonged wet period they had here.
It was cold when we arrived. You can see the condensation on the windows.
Plenty of Autumn leaves to clear up
We are not used to seeing through the woods behind us.
The river Scorff, on a trip to Lorient to collect chimney lining.
A field of Canola (also known as Rape)
Primroses in profusion. Spring is sprung!
The first priority this year is to fit a stainless steel tube lining to a chimney in the back house so that we can make our wood burning fire place operational. Last time we lit the fire the room above filled with smoke because of leaks in the chimney.
There are two tubes here. The first purchased was 180mm in diameter which proved to be too big. The second tube is 150mm and looks right. A plastic flower pot was screwed on over one end with a rope through it which had been lowered from the top of the chimney. A counterweight was attached to the other end of the rope hopefully to take the place of another person at the top. It was almost impossible to hear instructions shouted up the chimney so this had to be a one man job.
A view of the chasm below the ladder.
PONTIVY
Pontivy dresses up for Spring.
CHIMNEY IS LINED.
Success! After much struggling and poking holes in the wall on the inside to lever the tube free from obstructions, the tube emerges from the top of the chimney.
CRAB APPLE TREE
Some of you may remember the little Crab-Apple tree at the front of the house when we first bought the place in 2002
Well BABY, LOOK AT ME NOW!! It started flowering on April 11th and got better and better over the next week.
CELEBRATION
Cathy, Gail and Phillipe from across the road toast the lighting of the first fire on 18th April
and a custard peary desert to go with the dinner!
