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03/21/2006

A bad week with the French

I've taken a lot of flak these last two weeks with French friends concerning the the performance of the English rugby team or lack of it most it is mocking but Joel ( drummer in the big band ) was most concerned " Simon the Irish beat you last week and you are world champions " ( not for long ) so I have to to grin and mutter about sacking the coach tactics or change the subject.
We had drama here yesterday afternoon we were working around the swimming pool cleaning the slabs , Paulien remarked there were some popping sounds I said its just the neighbours ignore it ,then the boys came home and the neighbouring farm had one of his barns on fire so Paulien called the pompiers. They only took 30 minutes to arrive the Lannion brigade were quicker but spent 15 minutes looking for the farm so by the time they arrived the shed was burnt out along with his tractor and wood pile . So we need to find another supplier now. There was no obvious cause of the fire I guess they will say old electrics but there was plenty of combustible material hay and straw in the barn , he was lucky his adjacent gite didn't catch on fire also.
At last the roof is finished so we return to normal and in a week or so move back into our house as we have been sleeping in a gite for 4 months also start doing all the maintance work cutting grass getting the pool functional for the new season as Easter is in 2 weeks time and we have some clients staying.

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03/12/2006

Helping a neighbour

We had an interesting telephone a week ago an old Breton lady rang us up asking for help. We had met her once before she lives in an ancient farmhouse in extremely primitive conditions. Its the only farmhouse I've been to which smells better outside than inside. So as we didn't have a lot on that Sunday we visited her in the afternoon she is about 80 and her husband is 89considering their age extremely healthy it must be the dirt has boosted their immune system. Anyway their problem is they are tenants in the property since about 50yrs although they don't have a tenancy agreement but under french law are there for life. The property has been for sale for 18years its the reason no one bought it.However some Brits bought it last summer and intially said don't worry its a future investment but last month sent back their rent ( 100€ a month ) and gave them notice to quit in September. The notaire wasn't interested in helping and the mayor so they asked us . I found a consumer organisation which provides a lawyer so should be Ok. What I was really looking for was a film company to do an article on Brits aboard beheaving badly as it would make great TV as its so primative . Their dog followed us into the living area peed against the chair and smell wasn't noticiable!

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