Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Another update, they seem farther apart sometimes because life gets busy now and my quiet alone times are not as frequent as they once were. I suppose that’s a good thing…..

First, to explain……the  first photo is from an ad in my local pharmacy window.  I had to take a photo of it.  Even without knowing the language, you’ll know exactly what they are advertising.  They are so open here and not embarrassed to put a poster up even if it’s a personal issue….you just have to laugh sometimes.  The second is a urinal I saw on the street.  Sorry guys if you want privacy, France doesn't have it!

We picked up William at the train station so he could be here when his family arrived.  His parents knew he was coming but it was to be a surprise for his brothers.  We had a little mix up (I’m totally blaming William for this one) and we waited for him at St. Pierre de Corps train station when he actually arrived at the Tours Centre train  station. Once we realized the mix up, we were able top collect him and get him home. 

We spent Monday at Chenonceau, a chateau about an hour from us.  Versailles is the number one visited chateau in France and Chenonceau is the number 2 most visited one.  It has a beautiful setting and part of the castle is over the river.  The gardens are spectacular and the weather was perfect for it.  We met Paco, Anne-Rachel and kids there for the day.  We brought a picnic lunch and really had a great time together.  I was reminded how much work three small children are as we spent the day together.  So much fun, but it made me remember those days with my own kids.   The kids are 6,4 and 1, so it is exactly the spacing we had with our three.  Lots of laughter, crying, emergency potty trips and tons of fun!

William and I took the bus and spent a day in Tours.  We met my relocation lady Valentine, whom I have not seen since February.  She was so pleased with my language progress so far.  That’s nice to hear especially when you feel like a beginner still.  We met at the SFR store to get a reduction in my rates.  SFR is our tv, internet, telephone and my cell phone provider here. Due to new competition in servers, they told me after four months I’d get a reduction.  So, my bill went from 112 euro a month to 67 euro a month.  Well worth a bus trip to Tours.  After that William and I did the French thing and got baguette sandwiches, a pastry and a drink and ate them while sitting on a bench watching people pass by.  We noticed the outfits this year come in varying styles, so more flattering than others.  I wanted to tap a few girls on the shoulder and say “you know, your boobs are actually supposed to be worn inside your shirt”….honestly….so not attractive.  And the fashion I’ve noticed everywhere is to wear your black bra under your white shirt-yikes- well at least those women and girls are wearing bras!!!

Then surprise, after I thought he was gone, who shows up by the gardener.  Guess he didn’t get fired, just spoken to. BUMMER!  I had actually hired a guy to come trim the hedges before my company arrived, so as he was doing that the gardener showed up and began yelling at the guy I hired.  Fortunately the plumber and his wife were here (I was in Tours), she gave him what for and said if he did his job, I wouldn’t need to hire anyone else.  So, he mowed the lawn, had a few cigarette breaks and left…..no weeding, not trimming, just a bad cutting job. ARGH. He hadn’t trimmed the shrubs since November, they were out of control.  When the plumber told him to do the back hedges, he complained and said it was too hot and left without doing them. So, the saga continues.  He arrived yesterday to spend three hours weeding one little area then left with weeds at the front walk. Unbelievable…..

Jacques and Claire along with Sylvain and Jean-Sam arrived Wednesday evening.  I was so happy to see them and really excited that they’ll be living about two hours away.  It’s nice to have friends nearby although I wish they had picked here to live.  We had a great few days with them, catching up and sharing our life experiences since arriving.  They’ve been away from France for 16 years and although many things are the same, it will still take some adjustment to get used to.  Our little house was full, but full of laughter and fun. 

I had been hoping to have the downstairs bathroom finished before they arrived, but alas, the two week project is now in week 6! So, 7 of us shared one shower.  Not my first choice but we managed and it turned out okay.  I’m so spoiled with a Georgia house that has three full and one half bath.  I’m posting photos of the partially finished bathroom.  It’s coming along and I am anxious to have it done.  While the landlady picked the décor and it’s not my taste, I am happy to have a new, clean updated bathroom.  The tub/shower was pretty bad and although we would have lived with it, it is nice to have it re-done. BUT I am soooo tired of all the dust and dirt.  I dust and vacuum every day and still it’s a mess.  Renovations are so much harder than original construction.  Eric, the plumber and his wife have become like friends though.  His English is so much better and my French is improving too.  His wife and I can have French conversations now.  Hopefully, the room will be done before next week when our next guests arrive!  He opened the new shower unit yesterday and it was broken-seriously- and it will take two weeks to come in.  He is going to try to get something else, but it’s not like Home depot where there are tons in stock.

We went on the bus with the whole group so they could all change dollars for euros at the train station.  Had fun downtown and went to a promotion on vegetables.  It was on the center section between the streets where they hold festivals and such. They’re encouraging kids here to eat more veggies, so they had sick kids there with chef hats on making food and planting.  Shrieks and giggles were heard all around.  A local artist recreated a famous painting with vegetables.  The photo doesn’t do it justice, it was really amazing.  A guy on a horse all made of vegetables on probably a ten foot by ten foot base.  Pretty neat.  The bus was soooo crowded on the way home we had to wait to sit and some stood the whole way.  It was hot, smelly and crowded….I reminded Ross that night why I hate the bus.  I think I’ve found the car I’m getting when we come back this summer though.  A Skoda Citigo, they’re owned by VW and the car is little but nice.  I’m ready to have my freedom back!

Saturday we invited Anne-Rachel and Paco and family for the day so they could see Jacques and Claire.  It was such a good day, but oh my, feeding twelve from my small kitchen was quite an adventure.  We bought a gas grill last weekend so that helped.  I have these cutting board sink covers so I can have some counter space, but then you give up using the sink.  Just some logistical issues J We managed and had plenty of food for everyone.  Back home, twelve for dinner was nothing, but here, it’s a juggling act with chairs, space and storage. I shopped for three days worth of food, but for company and my little fridge was bulging at the seams.  After that, poof, we ate and it seemed empty again.  Nice to be able to not store the extra milk in the fridge and use space for that; but it still seems crazy to me to store it on the shelf with dry goods.  

This week, it’s just me and the plumber each day while Ross works.  I’m looking forward to a few quiet days alone once he’s done.  I get up early to be ready every day since he arrives between 8Am and 11AM.  I never know, a few days I’ve cut it close but don’t want to get caught in my jammies! It’s an odd work life here, but an hour and a half to two hour lunch break seems a must.

The weather is not at all what I’m used to in June.  We get a few nice hot, sunny days, but then lots of rain and this week it’s in the high 60’s each day and breezy.  It’s lovely, but not summer weather for me.  It makes the house (not air conditioned) too warm if I use the dryer, so I hang my laundry out most days.  Then sometimes, like today I’m running out to get it quick before the clouds open up and drench my clean clothes.  Then it got clear again, so out I went to hang again.  I feel so domesticated and old fashioned, but it seems to go along with the slower pace here.  I do all of Ross’ shirts which is something I haven’t done in 20 years.  My ironing board gets set up in front of the tv once a week while I do his shirts.   Then, I had a thought today that was random…..is it weird to use two of the same color clothespin on a shirt or item?  I just can’t use two different colors on a piece of laundry, I match the clothespins.  So now my clothespins are color coordinated……I’m really losing it aren’t I?  I’m very careful though, my undies and bras always go behind other clothes, unlike most people here who hang their undies out for all to see.  Okay, so we’re completely surrounded by a wall of hedges and no one can see my laundry on the line…….but I know!  I drive down the street and people have laundry hung where everyone sees it and right out front….undies….so not me!

Even Sophie has adjusted to her life here.  She knows when I bring in a loaf of bread from the bakery that she is going to get the end and just sits and waits for it.   She runs the entire yard as if she’s the queen and chases the birds and cats.  I’m thinking of bringing back my super soaker squirt gun for the one cat next door.  It hisses at Sophie and turns on her and I’m afraid one day she’ll get hurt.  Plus the car is full of its paw prints.  It even tries to come into my house……I don’t want to hurt it but want it away from my yard.  My super soaker is fabulous with a long range (from my kindergarten water days- I had to be able to get those kids who all attacked me).  Lindsay will have to go get her own instead of borrowing mine for her water day and she’ll be so disappointed not to have it.  It holds a one or two liter bottle so you can get a lot going far!  I think it is just what I need to chase the cat off.

Anyway, Sophie is turning into a snob.  I give her the ends of cheese too and today she turned her little nose up at a piece; seems, she has decided which cheese she prefers and won’t eat the others. What a little snot!

 Next week Dyane and Todd are here and I can’t wait for that.  I’m excited to show them a piece of our new lives. Then at the end of the month we head to Georgia for our big trip home.  We’ll be at Camp Hope for teen camp a big part of the trip, but will manage a bit of Liam time in there J  I’m looking forward to a good old pedicure….the way I’m used to!!  Found one in Tours, but they put your feet in water with fish that eat the dead skin away, not sure I’m ready for that.  Painted toes are very rare here so finding a place that polishes is difficult.  Crazy, I wouldn’t have naked toes in sandals!!  I may have to search far and wide, but I will find what I want here!!

I’m off for the week.  It’s time to bring in the laundry, can’t even believe those words are a part of my daily routine!