Tractor Driving and other things!

I've been driving the tractor, I actually quite enjoy it although I do live in dread of turning too quickly and taking out a row of vines.

I'm also not tall enough to sit back in the seat and relax so have to stand on the pedals to make them work, maybe I need a cushion and then again maybe that's just too girly with the tractor and all!

All being well at 2.30 we should own the house, that's unless the notaire sees fit to delay for another vague and unspecific reason.

Its been a non-stop cycle of Dominiques mates turning up to remove things so soon we should have a better idea of what's being left.

Then we just have to hope that the sale of our house in England goes smoothly.

Tying in the vines

We've been tying in the vines for a couple of days now. The weather is beautiful and sunny and its quite hypnotic work.

I've been counting insects when bending my vines precariously, amongst much protestation from them.

So far:

1 big fat hairy caterpillar

1 green beetle

1 tiny ladybird

2 mating crane flies

a small yellow and black bug

numerous ants

I've averaging 1 break of a vine a day and its horrible when it happens and I feel like I must apologise most profusely to the vine for not giving it a chance.

We're meeting up with Helen, Dominique and Annie tomorrow to learn about tractors and answer questions.

Dominique managed to answer one of my questions earlier regarding the plastic under the eaves of the roof... the hirondelles poop... he answered with actions!

P and the strange gifts

P has been in France for 9 days now and estimates 2 more days of pulling out the wood.

He says that Dominique and Annie have been very kind and hospitable and Annie has been leaving him a succession of gifts. Every morning she has left him coffee and so far he's also had:

1 raw egg

some bacon

1 slice of ham

1 tomato

1 yogurt

1 pot of pureed apple.

Our estate agent has gone above and beyond the call of duty, letting P stay cheaply and cooking occasional meals for him.

All good...

RIP Lula

This weekend has been rubbish (and various other stronger words).

My poor beautiful Lula was hit by a car on Sat am, dragged herself home, I took her to the vets and she died in the night.

It makes me so sad, she was a very special girl and she adored me. I hate coming home and her not rushing up the path and climbing into the car shouting. I miss her not sitting on the bath mat whilst I have a bath, or rushing into the toilet with me. I miss her stomping across the floor to see me or sitting on the desk in my arms whilst I type.

I miss her.

I hate P not being here.

It's rubbish and I know it's not forever but I really hate P not being here.

He drove down across France on Sun and has been in the vines for 2 days now working hard, pulling out the dead wood.

Not long now until I go for a couple of weeks but I'm so fed up with not having a buyer or even a snifter of a buyer for this place.

Got a viewing tomorrow, will just have to keep our fingers crossed.

Not long now...

P goes to France this weekend, probably after football me thinks. He's going to go and tirez le bois, pull the dead wood out, and start the tying in of the new growth. Also a spot of, and he's really excited about this, tractor driving! I'll go out closer to completion day.

I'm a bit apprehensive as I'll be here with still no buyer for our house whilst he gets on with over there.

P has officially declared Lula as being better after she caught a mouse today! Mind you there was no actual viewing of the actual catching of said mouse but still she made sure it was properly dead. Many times.

We complete on the 29th April at 2pm and am both excited and terrified.

Only natural I guess... just wish wish wish we had a buyer here.