Well this time next week we should be in our new home (see August post titled Paper Trail) either that or in jail!!!
France has returned to lockdown due to rising Covid numbers so every time we leave the property there is a form to fill in (be sure to tick the right box) and ID to be carried. There are also restrictions on travel within France.
Later this week we have an appointment with our notaire for the final signing and handing over of keys for our “new” French home, which happens to be a 4 hour drive from where we are currently renting. Soooooo this is some of the paperwork I’ve printed off in readiness for a gendarme “road block”!
Included in there is a statement from the notaire detailing that we’re moving to a new house and have to attend the signing. Fingers crossed we don’t get pulled over too many times on the road!
Up until last week we were able to travel anywhere and everywhere so just a few more photos of France in Autumn.
This weekend was the Toussaints (All Saints) holiday and we had been wondering why there seemed to be pots of chrysanthemums for sale everywhere for the last couple of weeks.
It seems that November 1st in France is a time to remember those that have left us and the tradition is to place chrysanthemums or heather on their graves. (Thanks John for giving us the info on that!)
The tradition is strong as we discovered on this morning’s walk ( our allowed 1 hour exercise within 1 km of base). The colour in the local cemetery was amazing.
Next blog may be delayed as we organise utilities including phone and internet, but “We’ll Be Baaaack!!” Even if it means a jailbreak😊
Great News Sue.
Thanks Rob, dreams can come true.
All Saints is their name for Halloween (which of course is an American import) but I didn’t know about the flowers. Its far more a religious weekend than kids ‘trick or treating’, the same in Spain. Hope the drive north goes smoothly and that you’re not troubled too much by the flic (old French term for cops). If you see cars coming towards you with headlamps flashing its usually a sign of a checkpoint up the road.
Interesting about Halloween Dave, I reckon the connection is actually Celtic with
the trick or treating being the American influence?
Good luck Sue and Chris. Already looking forward to next blog hearing you are all settled in.
Thanks Robby, just about to put up the first blog from our “new” home, all very exciting.
Congratulations on the move into your own place.
Enjoy
We will John, look forward to you guys visiting one day and following updates on your future move.
Hi Chris & Sue, we have all been wondering how you have been managing with the pandemic etc and if you finally made it to France. Your photos are beautiful and we look forward to seeing more, and your exploits as you start your new life in beautiful France. We have all been fine here, but the bush fires caused a lot of problems in Sarsfield, Orbost, Mallecoota and everywhere in between, but then to be hit by covid was very hard for some folk, but we are resilient and, except for some empty shops in Bairnsdale, life seems to have returned to relative normality.
Look forward to seeing more photos soon. Our love to you both and bon chance and joyeux Noel. xx
Hi Marilyn and John, great to hear from you and to know that you’re all going well over there. Yes we eventually made it over to France after a 4 month unplanned stay in England- thanks Covid!!
As you can see on the various blog posts we moved into our new home last month and now looking forward to our first winter Christmas in many decades 🎄🎄⛄️ So Joyeux Noel and hopefully the blog will be updated monthly as we head into another year. Take care xx