Things are slowing down

It was a lazy Sunday, cloudy and cold so we stirred the boiler into action ready for the week ahead. It was 4 degs when we woke up on Monday (real feel 1 deg) so our instincts were right, and we were nice and warm. The renderers arrived and finished off the bay window external wall and on Tuesday they were back to do the final back wall. Hurrah! finally they've finished.

We also had a visit from the chimney sweep! Lovely guy with big silent vacuum cleaner and a big black brush on extendable rods. 15minutes, including the prerequisite French greeting and handshake- €95! I'm sending Roger out to work.

Its a stunning morning , Wednesday and not a tradesman on site. Sebastian the smiley painter arrives on Thursday with his very attractive partner also in white painters overalls and they set about putting the undercoat on. Nothing unusual about a female painter you say, except that she also has a very beautiful voice and happily sings along to to the radio in whatever language she hears. Her English is excellent and before you can blink, they have the ceiling top coats done and the exposed beams stained. Voila! Its good to finally see some action.

By Friday we're in need of a change of scenery and my research has found a local market in a little village near Saintes, that is held on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month between 4pm - 8pm. Parfait, we agree so we head down the motorway to Saintes for a look around the big shopping centre on the outskirts and to join the rest of the locals dining at the restaurants near ELeclerc. Our hamburgers were delicious, perfectly cooked and served inside a 'pink' bun. We're guessing it must have had a beetroot influence!

With time to kill, I discover an Op shop not far away ' Au Vide Grenier Saintes'. Vide Grenier, translated, is Garage sale - which could mean anything. In this case, we walked into a large warehouse type shed, with over 50 little shelved booths all numbered, and full of individuals bric-a-brac books, clothing and shoes. There was also furniture and jewellery, small appliances and lots of toys. I scored it lucky and picked up a pair of black boots for the rest of the winter travels just €8!

Thirty minutes down the road, through some beautiful French countryside is where the real adventure began. The little village of Villars-les-Bois was our destination, but like most small French villages it was not much more than a cluster of old houses, a church and a Marie. After a loop around the village, with barely any sign of life, except for signs advertising Le Marche, we spy a lady out walking her dog. Windows down, we enquire about Le Marche and she points on google maps, babbles in French and it seems we're only 3 minutes away. No luck, we complete another circuit of the village and get as far as the church, where she is again! More explanations in French, we head off, taking the next turn right which takes us through the vineyards, and along one way roads through a small commune and once more back to the centre of the Village. Bingo, the lovely Norma is right there again with her little chihuahua, Danè by her side, this time outside her house! We're a little bit embarrassed that we still haven't located Le Marche, given the village is only about 5 square kilometres in total. So we offer to take Norma in la voiture (the car) to show us.

I guess you already know where this adventure is going. We literally drive around the corner and there is an empty carpark, and no sign of the market! This time Norma is embarrassed, 'C’est normalement allumé.' We all laugh and she hops out and goes through the back gate to her house. We'd forgotten what fun adventures are 😂😂😂 but decide a nearby bar would suffice for a refreshment. L'aqueduct Romain is like stepping back in time. A couple of locals at the bar, plus the husband and wife owners and a limited drink selection. A beer and a pinneau for moi, as its the local sherry type aperitif, fills the bill and then we're ready to leave. Only problem is the very hospitable owners are so excited to see some new faces, that they offer us another glass on the house. It would have been rude to refuse, but as the driver, I ended up watering one of the local pot plants - hopefully with no ill effects. Total cost for our drinks, €6 - a bargain, and then we make our way home to light the fire and enjoy our GnT's.Read more