We move to the south of France and it snows - how unlucky, but the sun still shone despite temperatures of minus 6. So English, talking about the weather but everywhere looked so beautiful.
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Wierdly though, we were snowed in with only a few inches of snow! No-one went past and by mid afternoon, despite the snow melting no one went past on foot or by car. The french didn't go to work for fear of skidding - if something happened, at best, they may be without a car for a few weeks at worst, perhaps no - one would find them if they skidded off the road - so everyone stayed at home. It was very quiet. Eeeerie. It hasn't snowed here since 1986. This could be the beginning of a horror movie or at least an action thriller!
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At the beginning of the month it was the epiphany, when I understand the three kings brought their gifts to Jesus. I haven't gone all religous on you, but having never celebrated such a festivity, Dan and I were fascinated by the french tradition. We went up to the salle de fete (the village hall), where the entire parish of Florimont - Gaumier were gathered. There was lots of kissing on both cheeks which I found quite amusing because some of the elderly gentlemen were getting inordinately excited. I ducked out of kissing some of the elderley bearded toothless ladies whilst Dan, being first in line got a whopper from each. We all sat down to the Galette de Roi (the king cake), champagne and chocolates. The king cake is a flakey pastry type tart filled with an almond paste but most importantly it contains a figurine (usually religous - a baby Jesus or Mary). The person who bites into their slice of the tart and finds the figurine is the King. He must then don a crown and choose his Reine (queen). This is al very exciting, have you got the figurine or have you? Careful you don't bite it and break your teeth! This along with the champagne made for rather alot of over excited geriatrics. We joined various different families for 4 further king cakes during the next week or so, Dan became king on one occassion but I didn't feel he made enough of me as a queen!
Towards the end of the month, we had our first visitors (click on bold italics for photos) this month, Michelle and Karen and then Dan's family. Michelle and Karen were very brave and stayed in the house on a sofabed and even washed their hair in the coldest shower room in the world - We were very impressed! On both visits, I think a good time was had by all, we certainly ate too much fois gras and drank too much red wine, as usual. When Dan's family came, they bought the sunshine:
Shopping (my department - I have recently been promoted to head of department)
Sofa - We bought a sofabed - then we realised we had no space for a sofabed so we knocked the wall down to make room, like you do !
Unfortunately, the ceiling in the other room appears to be held up by that wall - oops too late now. Its being held up by a flimsy piece of wooden decoration now - Michelle and Karen were very brave to sleep under it!
Kitchen - Bordeaux Ikea - great place, imagine Wembley Ikea with no people in it! Conducted whole transaction in french so could have a kitchen or...something entirely different. Not looking forward to putting that together - this is the ultimate in flat packs - 4 foot high!
Betonniere (ciment mixer) - another flat pack (well almost - you have to screw it all together) thought I got a bargain because it came with a free wheelbarrow but Dan has spent approximately 2 afternoons trying to assemble it - should have realised that was a bad idea as everytime Dan takes his concrete saw apart (which is daily at present), there is always a screw or 3 left over!
Other - Nothing I care to admit to on the website in case of demotion from head of shopping department for spending too much money but I did buy some rather nice french seat covers.
Progress
The lower ground floor in the first gite has been dug out and prepared ready to take the concrete Dan has now started cutting out the rock in the ground floor of the first gite:
Finally the architect produced plans of the first gite for the planning application, to be submitted early February. House and second gite to follow in March.
The man for the septic tank came to tell us where to put it, saying he'd return in February to test the soil - think that may be a long slow process! February is a bit too vague for me, looks like I'll have to stay in and wait for him for the whole of February!
Obtained quotes for things like roof, swimming pool, landscaping, underpinning - again all conducted in french - not a bad performance at all - the fact that the swimming pool quote is for a paddling pool is really not due to my french.
I am also head of demolition (as it is actually about all I can do, except for shopping) - so I started to demolish the BBQ thingy which I thought was in the way:
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We also started to clear the fallen down wall next to the first gite, ready to reconstruct:
