January 2008
After xmas Brian left us on Monday Jan 7th and the same day Lewis started back to school.
Lewis goes to his 1st French birthday party. It was very different to an English party. No sarnies and jelly and ice-cream, no fancy birthday cake. It goes along the lines of…... Invite a load of kids. They go and play. At around 4pm have cake and a drink, watch the birthday girl open her presents then have a few games. One was musical chairs but no pass the parcel. No prizes for the winner or sweeties for the losers. Still Lewis thoroughly enjoyed it and I got to practice my terrible French with other mums.
We totally redecorated the 1st floor landing. Glossed, wallpapered and painted. We moved my wardrobe and draws onto landing to make room for a cot in the bedroom as now 3 months pregnant and feel the need to start getting organised. .
February 2008
Mum and dad went to UK for 2 weeks. Me and Lewis spent a week on our own. It was strange being in the big house just the two of us, but was also nice to have the place to ourselves. Brian joined us for the second week and his 1st job, in the rain, was to chop wood as I had used the stash dad had done for me, it had been so cold.
Found out at my 4 month scan the new arrival was going to be a girl. Brian said he did not want to know but I was bursting to tell someone and that someone was Lewis, after that everyone in the world new about it…….mmmm I guess a 4 year old can’t keep a secret.
Lewis and I went back to UK with Brian for 5 days on a whistle stop tour. We didn’t see many people but I did have a lovely curry on Valentines Day. Lewis has had 3 weeks off school this month due to the trip to England and his 2 week half term. (This is when all the French go skiing; even the school arrange trips to the slopes)
I Ordered a swing, slide and wooden play house for Lewis as going to build a play area for him and any guests that come to stay.
Feb was also our 1st visit from a group of bikers on tour from Paris to Dakar. (9 of them this month) Organised by a company called kudu expeditions,(see www.kuduexpeditions.com) we didn’t know it but we were to see a lot more of them over next few months.
March 2008
We purchased a new (I say new it’s actually an antique) great big proper farm house kitchen table with benches. Will go with my new farm house designer kitchen….the one in my dreams.
The radiators were delivered for the new central heating. Not being fitted yet as to cold to take out the fire and fit a new one with back boiler.
Spring cleaned and decorated the living room ready for the summer season, nearly five months pregnant but still feeling good and managing to do all my jobs.
Collected a host of papers from the Maries office. We would like to convert a barn to new accommodation for us and a gite. I would then be able to rent out in the summer for self catering accommodation (not this summer but maybe next) I have found out I do not need an architect but have to do lots of scaled drawings and maps. I am doing this myself to save money.
April 2008
The bikers revisit us on the return trip, Dakar to Paris, again 9 blokes for bed, breakfast and evening meal.
We have had some nice hot days this month so I painted the walls in the back garden to make it all look clean and fresh for summer. Dad painted the walls on the front.
I spend many a day in the barn with chalk and a tape measure on my hands and knees, not good in my condition. Then many a night in the kitchen doing scaled drawings of what the extension will look like inside and out. I also have to do maps of the area to scale. It hasn’t been too hard but just takes time. I am actually enjoying planning what it will look like.
May 2008
Tax month AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH. In France May is the month of taxes and bank holidays (this month they also threw in a couple of strikes here and there)
So it is the 1st time I have had to fill in tax forms. Luckily a news paper called connexions (very informative for expats in France by the way, or those considering a move here see www.connexionfrance.com ) had a special pull out that had a detailed account of how to fill in the 2042, 2042c and as I found out in our case the 2047. Also luckily for me my French friend was going to the ‘hotel de finances’ with her forms so I tagged along and she translated. I ended up being sent away with another form and told I needed to bring evidence of Brian’s wages that he was earning in the UK. What has that anything to do with what I pay living in France?????? An appointment for us to return with all the correct documents was made.
Brian leaves after a week for the last time. I will not see him for about 6 weeks or more (July 9th he is due to return for good) His career break has been authorised and we now have 3 years as of 1st August to make our new life work or head back to our old jobs in the UK.
The new fire with back boiler for the central heating system arrived but, stored in the garage till the plumber can come to fit the radiators. Ordered some fencing for the pool. After a visit from SMDEA last year we were told that we had to have pool security fencing around the steps with a self closing, locking gate. I sent out several emails to different companies but was dealt with most promptly and professionally by David Britten at Du Toit. See www.dutoit.fr the site is in English also and David was very helpful. The fencing was not the cheapest but he was true to his word and everything was delivered when said and the after care was also good. I can recommend him.
Still not heard anything about the swing, slide and house for Lewis so we go to the store to find out they don’t have the house and can’t get it, and just didn’t bother to ring us about the swing and slide. Sometimes I could scream, I am sure this wouldn’t happen in the UK. To top it off the same shop charged me 124 euros to much for some decking I brought, I would never have known but needed an extra piece, when questioned as the price as was so cheap for the one plank realised the mistake from the day before and spent an hour (in my terrible and limited French) trying to sort it out. I did get my refund, hurrah for persistence.
I have lost track of when Lewis is at school and when he is not. Had to check the calendar every night as last year as i took him to school when it was a bank holiday, did not want to make same mistake this year, pregnancy brain is in full gear now, you ladies out there will know what I mean.
Also this month we have been packed out with guests, which has been great!!!!
June 2008
Another busy month for us here at Maison Famille. Play area completed, slide, swings, trampoline and baby stuff all in place with a nice soft landing of bark.
Pool Fencing and decking all complete, just need a visit from SMDEA in July to make sure it is all approved.
Central heating being fitted, even though the beginning of June is cold and have had rain like I have never seen. So jumpers still being worn as now have no fire.
Have had my 1st French hair cut in the local hairdressers at La Bastide. I haven’t been to a salon for years as my sister is a hairdresser and has always done my hair. Unfortunately she doesn’t live in France and not due to see her for months, can’t carry on blowing my fringe out of the way every few minutes.
I revisit the ‘hotel de finances’ for our appointment but the whole building have gone on strike for 2 days and didn’t think to cancel any appointments gggrrrrrrrr
A few days later I return after making a new appointment. Good news though my bill will be smallish and nothing to pay for Brian’s earnings in UK (thank god)
I am now 8 months pregnant and have slowed down to nearly a stop. I have such a big bump I waddle every where now.
Just to end the month on a high note. During the night of Thursday 26th June my waters broke….aaaahhhhhh a month early. No contractions but thought it best to get to the hospital. Two days go buy with no pains so I was induced with drugs via a drip. Drip started at 11hrs, Amelia Rose Bilby 2760 grammes was in my arms by 1325hrs (the French drugs must have been good stuff) My husband was still in the UK so missed the birth, mum was busy with the guests and looking after Lewis so my friend Laura stepped in and held my hand through the pain. A 5 day rest in hospital with time for Amelia to establish feeding and put on weight, then arrive home to get straight back to work. I here you all say “your supposed to rest after giving birth”, but 5 days on my backside was enough, it drove me mad not being able to do anything. So taking it easy but loving being home with my little family. Just need the daddy to get here now and all will be well in my world………..
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On the D9 beyond the Fontaine de Fontestorbes you reach the village of Fougax-et-Barrineuf. The Gorges de la Frau are signed from there. The guide says, ”At the most spectacular point you’ll be overlooked by over 400m of vertiginous rocks.” The road comes to an end and parking is available. The paths slopes gently then steeply and the gorge walls are quite spectacular. It took us 40 minutes to walk up to the top of the gorge on the footpath, where it meets a stony winding road on the other side. (So the gorge could be accessed from the D613 Ax to Quillan road - but this would mean walking first down slope then back up slope – a less attractive option as down slope was easier and better coming second!) Not to be attempted in the summer without a bottle of water!
From the Gorge we drove back to the D9 and on to Montsegur. We didn’t have time to stop here but the drive alone gives brilliant views over the site and the valleys. The road takes you back to Lavelanet. From the D117 we turned right onto the D9 and drove through a parallel valley through Roquefixade which looked interesting but unfortunately we had run out of time. The D9 leads back to Foix.