posted on 18 September 2006 14:00
by
Mark
Unlucky 13
Well, you asked for it, you've got it - more blog.
Having just looked at the calendar, today's date, the 18th September 2006 seems very, very close indeed to the 1st October 2006, the date on which our ferry leaves the white cliffs of, er, Portsmouth, and plonks us in a country where people eat sparrows whole.
The excitement is at such heightened levels now that coming into work on this Monday morning was no trouble at all. If I hadn't cycled in, I would have skipped. There is now just one more Monday morning to go! Unbelievable. There have been times when this point did really seem impossibly far away, and that despite the fact that we were planning for this one event, it wasn't real; something would come along to rob us of our goal.
Tiny remnants of that feeling remain, I suppose, and are causing me to proceed at all times with caution. I stand at deserted roadsides for several hours before crossing, conscious of the fact that Squidge will be really annoyed if I get run over and ruin everything. I avoid involving myself in tackles when playing football (spiteful team-mates may question quite how this represents a behavioural change), I don't dare risk eating a sparrow just for assimilation's sake, whole or otherwise, in case it has bird flu, and I would buy and wear a cotton wool suit if one were available. But still, there are 13 days left - something will happen. Uh-oh, unlucky 13; that's it then, that something is bound to happen today. I'd better leave work early and lock myself in a darkened room.
Research last week consisted of collecting gardening tips (primarily veg growing), goat maintenance (apparently they don't like rain - why do they seem to like it in the mountains then eh?) and steps we can take to maximise the environmentally aware aspect of our not-yet-even-fledgling B&B business, thus appealing to the green pound (does that term exist?!) and also encouraging us to be smug, self-satisfied, eco-evangelical Swampy-like hosts. Irresistible huh?
Cassis has given me lots of excellent advice on what to call our website to maximise its profile/pulling power too, despite seemingly having to do battle with my inability to respond to his emails.
On the minus side, I haven't spent as much time with Michel Thomas as I should have, primarily because he was starting to do my head in. "Je vais, I'm on my way, to taking a hammer to the CD player". Must try harder.
Househunting is proceeding fitfully. Some immobiliers have responded to my emails, but the majority haven't. All of those who did respond recommended that we give them a ring before arriving in their particular town or village to set up an appointment. All of this seems to be more or less in line with others' experiences, so I'll just get the map back out on Wednesday evening, plan the itinerary a little more precisely, or as precisely as the inevitable accompanying G&T will allow, and give those who responded a ring. I'm rather hoping that we'll simply see an a vendre sign on the roadside which leads us to the perfect place, thus avoiding immo fees and optimistic valuations, but that could be wishful thinking.
Finally, thanks for your recent comments. It's great that some of you are following the blog. I may ask James if I can continue with it after the title becomes obsolete, reporting on how things are going post-move. It'll be a few weeks before we're set up on-line though as we'll be away househunting initially, so please don't desert me if nothing appears for a few weeks! I'll certainly be posting something next week just before we leave anyway.
Oh, did I mention that I'm really, really excited?
A bientot,
Mark