I managed the trip back to Reading and arrived, eventually, in London around 6.00 pm. Hannah was looking after four extra children, so my arrival was heralded with much joy. Not because she hadn't seen me for two years, nor because she particularly needed help with the increased brood, but solely because she had decided she had to wait for company before opening the first bottle of wine. I only just made it in time.
Will arrived the following afternoon - 3.30 pm - to start our trip down to Real (near Toulousse). We picked up his children Georgia and Luke and there followed a trip across the channel (well, UNDER) on the train, in the car, with a further 4 hour drive to just north of Charles de Gaulle airport before stopping at a Novotel overnight. It took another 8 hours of driving on the wrong side the next day, to eventually find our destination. I'd forgotten the joys of entertaining young people for such an extended period - but proved my incompetence at 'eye spy' and similar games, to their great joy.
The house and belfry accommodation are superb. Very spacious - every bedroom with its own en suite. I'm in the Casba - once used to house animals I believe - a few steps away from the main house, with its own bathroom under the same roof. The Manager (who lives on site) told me that it isn't used much, and then usually by the au paire or the nanny - as an explanation why the shower had no hot water for the first two days. I braved a cold shower the first day, but used a bathroom in the house the following day.
I can't seem to shake off a migraine which is hanging around in the background - so have spent two afternoons lying in my room. (if I'm honest, it's far too hot to be outside, anyway).
It has been four days since I have had access to the internet, and even so it is extremely slow. I was greeted by about 20 emails. I did write about 3 replies, but none appeared to get sent so I'm sorry if you're being personally ignored right now. I do appreciate all the contact though.
Glad to hear that the earthquakes, at least, have slowed down a little but sorry to hear that the snow has more than made its presence felt.
It's fun being with the family en masse - rather a shock to the system at times, being so used to a quiet house with only one body in it. There are 9 adults here and 9 children - most of whom are under 6! I wouldn't want to miss a moment of it - and know I'll miss it all dreadfully when I get home - but sometimes I find myself totally incapable of tuning in to any one conversation. So what's new, I hear you ask!
I've resisted all suggestions that a 'nice swim' would be a good idea. No costume makes the decision a lot easier. But I've sat around the poolside watching the lizards run in and out of the decking in much the same way as spiders do at home - and at night, the bats dive bombing amongst the trees in the darkened sky. The donkeys serenade us in the morning, the dogs during the night and there's a semi-tame hare which hops about amongst the shrubbery early morning and evening. We've been advised to avoid long grass because of the possibility of snakes ... I'm quite happy to avoid the recently mown lawn too, if that's a possibility.
Wish you were with me? Me too!
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