On Thursday morning we left early, not even sure that anyone else would be there. The meeting was being held at the office of the vendor’s notaire, about half an hour away. Waiting outside, I felt sick with nerves. Bang on 9 o’clock, Maître G, Chris and Gérard all arrived and we were shown into … Continue reading Coming out the other side
It seemed like ages since we had come back from France in August but the time had not been wasted. Plans, bookings, lists and more lists - I AM the epitome of a list maniac. But now everything was happening with military precision. We’d caught the overnight ferry to arrive in Avoise first thing on … Continue reading Ready to go
Only two weeks to go until we jump on that ferry and drive down to La Tourelle for the last time; two weeks before signing those magic papers and handing over the keys to our buyer and picking up the keys for our gorgeous mill. Or so we thought until yesterday. Although the notaire had warned us … Continue reading In SAFER hands?
“…And for the weekend a band of heavy showers, moving in from the Atlantic, which could merge to become torrential downpours in places and temperatures rather disappointing for the time of year – about 17 degrees….” The sunny smile of the weather presenter did not quite sit right with the news she was imparting. We … Continue reading Weekend escape
All good things come to an end, they say – including our holiday. The journey back through the wormhole was not not quite as pleasant in reverse. But we have some lovely memories to help us get through the next few weeks and months. For our last weekend in Avoise we decided we had definitely … Continue reading Medieval Festivities
They say that moving house is up there with death and divorce in the stress rankings and while no one I know has yet popped their clogs there has been plenty of house-move stress and marital disharmony. Not between me and Colin I hasten to add. On Tuesday afternoon we turned up as planned at … Continue reading Compromis de vente
“Sorry to call you so early…but were you under the impression, as I was, that you were due to sign the compromis for the mill next week?” My heart sank as I listened to our agent telling me that he had been trying to talk to the notaire that morning, but that she and her … Continue reading France – closed for August
We’re back through the wormhole – a few hours driving and ferry and we are suddenly back living our parallel existence. It’s quite a weird feeling. A familiar home, with everything as we left it, the daily routines, a lovely circle of friends and neighbours – but all quite different from those we were involved … Continue reading Les Grandes Vacances
WHAT!!?? I was in shock - utter disbelief. How could they? What were they thinking! I really hadn't expected the Leave Campaign to win the referendum on whether or not Britain should pull out of the European Union. I'd been blithely reassuring our friends in France that the British would never vote to leave - we … Continue reading A ‘once in a generation decision’
In 2002 Colin and I had only been together for a few months when we decided to spend a couple of weeks camping in France. As we toured the beautiful areas along the Loire and Cher rivers I fell in love with the country all over again and the seed of an idea began to grow.
Le Moulin de la Roche 