Life in Besneville to July 2006

We are still here and our third anniversary approaches.

We have had a fairly eventful year with less life changes.

After a busy Summer, we looked forward to a holiday in the UK. We stayed in an apartment in Lichfield for a week in November, with a few days in Sheffield before and after and fitting in a visit to see Jane’s mum in London. She was OK and had settled in and accepted her lot.

Our stay in Lichfield included a day in the town with Maureen and Peter but was marred by the news that our ex-neighbour, Ron Tresslar had passed away. It was very sad attending the funeral, but we did see many of our old friends from Allesley. Time spent with the family was special. Carey was working hard towards the end of her first term in her first school.

After a short time at home in Normandy we were back in the UK for Christmas, Grace’s first. We called in at Catherine and William to spend New Year, then off home again.

January became somewhat hectic. Tracey and Paul had arranged for Grace’s dedication. They were also in the process of moving to a new house. In the event, they happened consecutive weekends. We were there to help with the move followed by a hectic week unpacking, installing, cleaning, and building furniture from IKEA. (We had to make our own bed, literally.) The dedication went well and everyone had a good time, except Sid who came down with some strange bug the day before and was not on top form on the day.

Home again and back to the Sunday club. We have developed a group of 6 couples and through the winter we take it in turns to do a Sunday lunch.

Our project for the spring was to change the gite. We got Ron back and proceeded to change the staircase to one less steep and safer. We also covered the grotty stone wall with plasterboard. So the gite was safer and brighter and ready for the new season. Also we have gradually replaced all the downstairs windows.

March was the month of this old man’s 60^th birthday. We booked an apartment in Mougins in the South of France, near Nice, and drove down, staying in Lyons overnight. We had a great time chilling out and celebrated with a special meal in a very nice restaurant. On the return journey we took a detour and visited Oradour-sur-Glane. This is a village near Limoges where the Germans massacred the residents and the village has been maintained in the same state as it was left.

In April we held an event to celebrate Sid’s birthday. The family came over and stayed for a week. Tony and Mavis Dolan came over for the weekend as did Graham. About 30 of our local friends and neighbours came, French and English and everyone had a really great time.

This summer we have been working on the garden. We changed the layout of the garden near the house and near the pond. So we have been working hard building a wall and other things to improve the patio areas. It has been a real change to work outside in the good weather. The last two years were spent working indoors when it was hot.

There was a break in June when Tracey came over with Grace for almost a fortnight. It was fantastic, a major holiday with Grace going to the beach, the zoo and playing in the garden. Paul came for a long weekend and went back with them.

We are now looking forward to Carey coming for a couple of weeks’ holiday. She has had a hard time doing her NQT year which will be over and she will be getting ready to start her second year teaching and will be fully qualified.

The main season approaches but looks like being quiet. Bookings are well down on last year. We have decided to leave Brittany Ferries and go independent so we are researching web sites where we can advertise the gite.

So another year has rushed by. We still enjoy life and still have plenty to keep us busy.

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