We are still experiencing spring like weather at the moment. It was nice enough to sit reading in the garden the other day and the bulbs I planted in the autumn are already quite well grown. We even have primroses in bloom. However, all that is due to change tomorrow according to the local prophets of doom, and the meteo, when we are due to have a significant amount of snow. It does seem odd as I sit here looking out on a perfect sunny spring like day, that tomorrow we may be snowed in! We shall see!
We have been really busy since the beginning of January. Both of us are now fully registered with the local and national authorities. I had to register the gite and chambre d`hotes business with the local Chamber of Commerce, in Issoire, where a very nice lady helped me to complete the forms. Geoff registered his business with a different agency (for self employed professional people) in Clermont Ferrand. This now means that we are “in the system” and are now getting regular epistles from the government re taxes, health and social security type payments. Bliss, oh joy! However it had to be done and it is another job we can now cross off the list. We are also in the midst of setting up another bank account for the gite business so all in all we have had a lot of meetings with officialdom over the last couple of weeks.
We have also survived the second inspection of the gite by the tourist office big guns from Clermont Ferrand. As expected, we have got our classement, but need (of course) to make some more changes! These people need to find something – it keeps them in a job! This time we had to buy new pillows (ours did not have the regulation French fire specification labels – funny that since they were English pillows!) and we need to find a way to “curtain off” the skylights in the big bedroom so that "the room could be totally dark if people wish to sleep in the daytime". This is posing us some problems as the skylights are in the roof and are therefore quite high up. I think I have the answer, but need to get some curtains made. Both of us suspect that they will never be closed by anyone but we need to send proof that we have complied with the request.
We also need to put ventilation panels in the kitchen and bathroom windows – another little job for Brian when he comes to do the bathrooms. All in all though, the inspection went well, and I heeded my daughter’s advice, and didn’t get mad with anyone - (well almost anyway!)
We have been busy socially too. There is a tradition here in January, of the mayors giving their best wishes to the local inhabitants. Geoff went off to our local do – I decided my French was going to struggle with this meeting so I let him go alone. Big mistake! He spent a lot of the time “networking” and meeting people, which was good, but he also “volunteered” me for something else! It turns out that there are a couple of ladies (one of whom is the mayor’s wife) who want to improve their English. Geoff has arranged for us to meet up, have a cup of tea and to speak English for a bit and then French for a bit in order that we all benefit and improve our language skills. It’s a good idea really, but I’m a bit nervous as they are coming here tomorrow and I’ve never even met them. I will tell you all how we got on in the next post.
It is also traditional for the local associations to meet up and partake of a Gallette de Rois – a pastry with an almond paste filling – as a sort of New Year gathering. We went to the Croix Rouge gallette yesterday, and have been to the cycling club’s meeting today. (The cycling club are trying very hard to get Geoff into their midst!!) It is a really nice tradition and we are finding ourselves made very welcome.
We have finished decorating the stairs and hallway at last and I have to say it looks a lot better for a lick of paint. Now that I have got Geoff started I need to keep the momentum going so it’s on to the main room next. I can’t wait to get rid of that awful red ceiling!