Spent the better part of the afternoon in casualty today. I was finally finishing painting the front gate on Saturday and whilst doing so I knelt on a thorny branch. It was a bit painful, but I didn't think too much of it. It wasn't until the next day that I noticed that I had a thorn embedded in my knee, pointing downwards and inwards. Naturally I prodded and poked it in an effort to get it out, but to no avail. Adrian also had a go, unsuccesfully. Had another go on Monday morning, but it was fast disappearing into the depths of my knee. Left it alone thinking it would make its own way out, but today I finally admitted defeat. Didn't go to the doctors as wouldn't get an appointment now until friday (he doesn't work Wednesdays - see previous post) and I knew that by that time my knee would be all gangreenous and about to drop off and anyway I thought he probably wouldn't have the tools for the job like a drill or something, it was in very deep.

So I went off to casualty. Having been there before I went armed with bottle of water, book, Nintendo, flask of coffee, substantial snacks, sleeping bag, hot water bottle etc etc. This is because last time I went I was pregnant and had been in a near miss situation in the car, Adrian had to do an emergancy stop and the seat belt pulled on my stomach, so naturally I was stressed out about the state of the baby and what have you. This involved a two hour wait and there's no drink/snack machine or anything there. I knew therefore, that as a non-pregnant person with no real or imageined life threatening issues that I would be waiting for sometime.

As it was, it was only an hour and three-quarters when I was then shown into the only available examining room, which was a kiddies examining room (several toys, lots of bright, fun pictures and small bed). Thankfully they've had a re-fit since my last visit and examining rooms are proper rooms now with four walls and a door. Last time they were three walls and a supposedly frosted glass front facing the corridor where the patients waiting for transfers were waiting. Asked to strip off (only normal, being in France) I noticed that I could see out through the frosted glass, so no doubt they could see in. 'Leg's up Mrs Bryant, please, the Doctor will examine you now'. Oh, the memories of having a baby in France.

Anyway, first question was 'don't you have a GP you can see?', which just made me feel totally guilty for wasting doctors time, spending public money and what have you; even though in reality, I was the one wasting time and I paid for it ultimately. Anyway, apparantely it's fine, my lower leg is not going to drop off and my body will absorb it naturally (the thorn, not my leg) and of course, being in the kiddies room I got a lollipop to suck on afterwards for being a good girl.

By the time I got home, the fire had gone out but at least the girls were pleased to see me as they had had a good long break from me for a change. Talking of which, I was thinking whilst I was in the waiting room, how I often think it would be lovely to have an hour or so of no responsibilities, no being hassled by the kids or anyone else, no phones etc, just to read a book or just have some peace and quiet. And there I was, getting all this and not really enjoying it. It was boring and uncomfortable and I couldn't relax in case they called me and I missed it because I wasn't paying attention didn't have my French radar on (just like the submarines... My french is quite good, but I can still switch off and not pay attention to what is being said if it suits me - like if the french radio is on).





This is the castle I made for the girls. Well Dad had already made the box the their cooker arrived in into a shop/cafe, but I decided it was time for a change, so we bought an end roll of wallpaper for about £2.00 and used it to cover the box, made some new windows, a lacy roof, the girls painted some turrety things (I've got all the technical language, me) and made some flags and there you have it princess castle!

















Sorry, this is a bit sad, but I'm proud, I've done two and a half of these things so far, only one and a half to go...





Before...












And after!

Washing machine broke down a few days ago, less than a week after the sales ended. Adrian kept saying we should get a new one whilst the sales are on as I knew the one in our house wasn't going to see the year out and we also have another in the gites that might need replacing if we can't repair it. Anyway, I in my infinite wisdom said 'no'. We don't have the money at the mo, and I thought it would at least last until we start getting some bookings and therefore some money in order to pay for it. Anyway, seems the machine itself overuled and chose to do so whilst it was part way through a wash, full of washing and water. Probably sensed that the kitchen floor needed a wash.



So off we totted around the shops to gasp in horror at the prices of machines. Especially as I need a large capacity machine to cope with all the washing in the summer (bedding and towels for 22 people). Eventually ordered one off the net at a good price. Delivery time up to 30 working days. Which would normally work out at 6 weeks, however half the french don't seem to work Wednesdays (no school, so teachers and parents don't work) and the other half don't seem to work Mondays (shops and banks shut) so it could be some time before we see it. Fortunately we have another machine in the laundry (for the guests who don't have one in the gite), although it does mean putting my coat and shoes on to get to it, so its not very convenient, but better than nothing! Also, we charge 3 euros for powder and usage, so its going to cost me a bit...

On a lighter note, Isabella is on school hols at the mo so we went off out for the day yesterday, my parents as well. We went over to the coast, had a wander round the shops and harbour, had a lovely lunch and then spent the afternoon on the beach! It was lovely and sunny and we had a great time, the girls especially, rockpooling and collecting shells and things.
















Back to reality today, painting the front gate and other items in my on-going list of stuff to do. Adrian has been fixing a fence after the bad winds we had last week (weather-wise). The trampoline was blown over the top of the fence and landed stuck in the trellis fence over the back infront of two of our gites. A couple of poles on the tramp were also bent, but it could have been worse and its a chance to give the tramp a good clean (yet another job to do).

Wow, not even a whole month since I last wrote, obviously I'm not occupied enough. Am feeling quite proud of myself of late actually, have managed to drastically reduce our weekly shopping bill. Bit of a challenge at times, but getting used to a few adjustments and not going out for more food during the week, if we run out of something, then that's it until the next shop, we have to find something else to eat instead. Half the contents of my larder have now disappeared as I raid the back of the cupboard to use up stuff heading for its use by date (and even after it...) and create some interesting meals. Although Adrian and I ended up with a curry to rival the heat of a volcano recently (a friend gave it to me, I was expecting mild but tasty, ended up with hot and a numb tongue, so don't know if it was tasty or not).

Also, I've started doing up a few things around the place, and trying to do so with other things we have - ie not spending any money. Current projects on the go include four garden benches, the metal and wood kind, already here when we moved in, but quite tatty, so I'm sanding them back and then using either paint or stain that we have (both in that nice 'french blue' colour as I call it) left over. Unfortunately, I did a bit more work on a couple of them today, in the freezing cold. The paint was too thick to work so I had to give up on that. The stain was fine, but I checked it this evening and its kind of gone all milky looking. Its ok, but not like one I did before when it wasn't so cold. Also on the go is an indoor table that I'm hoping will become an outdoor table, (we need a new one and can't afford it and we have a couple of indoor tables in the garage gathering dust). I'm using up some outdoor paint to try to weatherproof it, then I'm going to mosaic the top with some tiles we've got about the place. Hoping to cadge some grout off my dad for this! There's lots more painting jobs about the place for me, and lots of paint hanging around (most of it shades of blue, so hopefully the garden won't be too technicolour), but I think I'll have to wait until the weather warms up a bit. I wouldn't mind so much if we had a bit of snow, but none whatsoever this year! And the UK is covered in the stuff. Isabella and I are most upset!

Oh yes, I also recovered some old chair cushions this week, mum lent them to us, but they're a bit old (probably as old as my mum we think) so I covered them, with some material we already had of course, and they look a bit smarter now, mainly because the kids haven't sat on them much yet. A week of meals and no doubt they'll be as mucky as the cushions inside. Just looking for a few more things to do now, it gives me a great sense of satisfaction to make something without spending and money on it. Must have been living in the country a bit too long.

Adrian and Dad have been busy installing the satellite for the gites. Both dishes are up, they're sorting out the wiring and stuff now, in between the really cold snaps. The gites are also freezing on account of no heating in four of them. Next they'll be getting on with the pool, hopefully there'll be some major improvements there.