France - April - May 2015

I returned to France towards the end of April - to be greeted by the sound of a hammer drill being used by my new next door neighbour - who was excavating about 4 feet of rock to lower the downstairs floor in readiness for lowering the ceiling and floor above, to provide accommodation upstairs. This work continued for the duration of my visit, and is not likely to finish until early June.

I ignored the fact that, when active, it was carried out over Sundays and Public holidays - and until 8.30 or so in the evening, from about 08.30 in the morning. The sooner it is completed the better - but I had to be mindful of the large skip when driving up to my house.

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Otherwise it was a case of opening up for the year, doing the shopping, gardening etc. Chris came over to help with the grass, and later, to joint the upper wall to the garden... although I still had to cut the grass three times during the period of my visit. I also laid polythene under the patio stones to help prevent weeds.

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The drain cover had been left about 2 or 3 inches up, when SAUR were inspecting the drain I believe. I got them to fix it, since it appeared that no one else was interested, and it was a hazard on the public right of way.

As ever, things had grown. The Judas tree in particular looked extremely colourful. The mistletoe clusters were still just visible in the trees.

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Various trips out for lunch were made, and meals were had at Sara and Tone's. In the end I had to seek refuge there to escape from the hammer drill - fortunately the snooker was on !

Both cats had kittens - I saw the three kittens of the black and white cat, now a week or so old - the other cat, a tabby, produced four - but later in the visit.

I also saw Chris's flat in Domfront, still in the process of refurbishment.

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The nightmare was on the return trip, fortunately I got a message on the 4th May, saying the Cherbourg Fastcraft had been cancelled due to bad weather, and I should ring for assistance and information. I rang from Sara's on the 5th - the only ferry available to get me back to the UK to vote on the 7th was from Caen - take it or leave it !

My day on the 6th May started in the dark, at 4 a.m, on an unfamiliar route to Caen. Due to strike action I had to eventually disembark the Caen ferry and motor down to Cherbourg for a ferry, which again was delayed, thus the arrival in Portsmouth. By which time the A3(M) roadworks had started for the night and I had to detour via Farnham in the dark. I arrived home at 12.55 a.m. on the 7th May - a long and tiring day indeed.

At least I got a cabin out of it, to catch up on some much needed sleep. I have also emailed Brittany Ferries asking for compensation for the extra petrol used to get to Cherbourg etc. - and food - or a "free" leg on the next Fastcraft trip via Cherbourg!

To add to my local troubles the roads round and through my village are closed and diversion signs posted. A long awaited road sort out ( potholes, cracks and the like ) is at last being started.

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