Sailing away!

 

 

 

  

Oh, the intoxicating chaos of renovating an old property, whose walls whisper stories from generations long gone!

Well, the earliest records we have show someone applied to convert it into a mill back in 1874 so it’s fairly old. 

Finders keepers 

Over the past five years Tim and I have earnestly thrown away more unwanted items out of the window than I ever imagined possible. Unlike Dick and Angel on Escape to the Chateau, we haven’t unearthed any hand-printed wallpaper, our haul has included:

An orange bidet—because really, who in their right mind wants that in their bathroom?

Musty, decrepit wardrobes whose mouldy interiors laughed mockingly at every cleaner we tried on them.  

A kitchen that deserved its own health warning: the previous owner proudly demonstrated a hidden crumb-catcher drawer designed to trap baguette scraps. Ingenious? hardly! I can live without a drawer that attracts unwanted furry guests.

Our excavations have also revealed far more unsettling treasures: rusty bomb shells and an ancient dagger embedded in the garden’s stone wall. Silent and scary reminders that this region was once a battleground and we know our town was virtually flattened during  world war two.

Most recently, whilst replacing the moss-encrusted tiles on our outbuilding’s roof, we unearthed a full sized wind surfer complete with sail. Transporting that monster to the decheterrie was a spectacle in itself; Tim and the men there are practically on first-name terms now, each curious to see what oddity he’ll drag off the trailer next.

Through it all, we’ve come to realise that the French have a refreshing lack of materialism. They don’t crave glitzy cars or marble countertops—give them a reliable car that starts every morning and a modest kitchen where they can whip up a coq au vin and they’re content. Their gardens aren’t status symbols, but welcome spaces for laughter, clinking glasses and long summer soirées.

Culture corner: 

Dive into the French language and Parisian views with “French Lover” on Netflix. This delightfully cheesy rom-com stars Omar Sy as a jaded film star who falls for a parisian waitress. It’s an easy and  entertaining way to sharpen your listening skills—especially with french subtitles.

Taste sensations

Christmas flew past in a haze of exquisite dining and fine wines but my taste sensations have to be the turkey on Christmas day cooked to perfection, soft cheese filled with truffles and beef cheeks cooked in red wine. We really do have the loveliest of friends!

As we sail into 2026 (pardon the pun—I couldn’t resist it ), I won’t bore you with resolutions I’ll inevitably forget by February. Suffice to say, I plan to travel more,especially to Paris and read even more books. Speaking of sailing, Tim and I are off on a cruise of south America this March. I promise to report back on any bathrooms and kitchens we encounter- though to be honest I have no intention of setting foot in any kitchens. 

Happy New Year to you all. May it be brimming with joy and good health—and thank you for reading my blog. Every time I see those view counts, my heart does a little happy dance.