Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh my God! At last!
The other day Adrian very kindly told me he was going to spend some of the money that his mum very kindly gave him and buy me something. Some girls get jewellery, some girls get perfume, some girls get a nice new dress, and some girls get wined and dined (and then some). Me, I got an oven.
Actually, it's very nice and I'm very pleased, but what I'm really pleased about is that I am now able to cook things properly in it. Purely for research purposes today I baked a cake with Georgia. It's the best cake I've made since we've been here. Proof that I can still cook, it was definately the crappy previous oven not working properly and it wasn't me ruining everything!
28 February 2010
27 February 2010
I am currently looking for a new laundry basket, but I'm having trouble finding the one I want. It's one of those that DOESN'T magically refil as soon as it's been emptied. I've tried various shops and ebay and what have you, but all to no avail. I used to have one actually, but it disappeared around the time of the birth of my first child and hasn't been seen since. Come to think of it, I lost a few things around that time (must have gone all clumsy or something during my pregnancy) - a good nights uninterrupted sleep, my figure (what there was of it), my sanity. I could go on. And although I usually do, on this occasion I won't.
Got the new car anyway. It's very nice, but a bit flash! It's all clean and tidy and ten times the size of our old car. Factor in that we're now driving on the left hand side of the car, which is most peculiar, it's taking a while to get used to driving it. Went into the village today, managed to get past the cyclist without knocking him off, managed to negociate the roads which had definately narrowed by five feet overnight, managed to park, managed to get around the old lady walking down the middle of the road. Got to the junction on the main road to turn off left into our road (remember we're driving on the right here), stopped and waited for the car to go past, nothing else coming, so turned left and managed to stall the car (I was in 3rd instead of 1st, the gears are hard to find, and not just because they are now on my right side instead of my left). Typically at this point another car appears from the opposite direction, heading straight towards me and very helpfully starts beeping at me, presumably because a) his brakes have gone and he can't stop the car and b) his steering has also gone and he can't steer around the back of me (there was no-one coming the other way). Am panicking like made, the car is telling me to put the handbrake on, which is not a proper handbrake, but an automated one with override somewhere on the dash, there's no key, it's a push button start, withh foot on brake at the same time, which I'm madly trying to do. And I still couldn't get the bloody thing into 1st. Clearly from the fact that I am writing this, I somehow managed to get the thing going again and got home in one piece and as the whole episode got my heart beat going a bit faster than normal, I can class that as my exercise for the day too. Just have to negociate the school car park on Monday when the girls go back. I've told them we're leaving at 8.30am so that I've got room to manoevre before anyone else gets there for the 9am start.
Got the new car anyway. It's very nice, but a bit flash! It's all clean and tidy and ten times the size of our old car. Factor in that we're now driving on the left hand side of the car, which is most peculiar, it's taking a while to get used to driving it. Went into the village today, managed to get past the cyclist without knocking him off, managed to negociate the roads which had definately narrowed by five feet overnight, managed to park, managed to get around the old lady walking down the middle of the road. Got to the junction on the main road to turn off left into our road (remember we're driving on the right here), stopped and waited for the car to go past, nothing else coming, so turned left and managed to stall the car (I was in 3rd instead of 1st, the gears are hard to find, and not just because they are now on my right side instead of my left). Typically at this point another car appears from the opposite direction, heading straight towards me and very helpfully starts beeping at me, presumably because a) his brakes have gone and he can't stop the car and b) his steering has also gone and he can't steer around the back of me (there was no-one coming the other way). Am panicking like made, the car is telling me to put the handbrake on, which is not a proper handbrake, but an automated one with override somewhere on the dash, there's no key, it's a push button start, withh foot on brake at the same time, which I'm madly trying to do. And I still couldn't get the bloody thing into 1st. Clearly from the fact that I am writing this, I somehow managed to get the thing going again and got home in one piece and as the whole episode got my heart beat going a bit faster than normal, I can class that as my exercise for the day too. Just have to negociate the school car park on Monday when the girls go back. I've told them we're leaving at 8.30am so that I've got room to manoevre before anyone else gets there for the 9am start.
20 February 2010
Car is hanging by a thread and deteriorating by the day. Went to the supermarket yesterday and had to top the water up before we came home. Took the girls to a lake ten minutes drive away for a walk and a go on the play area in the afternoon. This morning Adrian went out to get a new gas tank from the garage in town and had to put more water in on the way home as it was overheating again (in the car, not the gas tank). The boot is nearly impossible for me to open as the pistony thingys that are supposed to hold it up are bust and do not hold it up or even take it's weight in anyway, so when I go shopping I have to pile the shopping bags up in the back and over the girls seats (fortunately I don't take them with me). The heating officially no longer works, not even after a bit of a drive. Either the head or the head gasket has blown (again). Don't ask me what that means, I'm just quoting someone else. Everything in the engine leaks. It's also the filthiest car in the neighbourhood, which is saying something, but no point in washing it until we try to sell it(!).
We were always planning on selling it a bargain price, partly because it's right hand drive and partly because it was getting on a bit (but very low mileage and four new tyres and recent MOT (which shows what a farce that can be)), but everyday now, with every new thing that goes wrong with it, we lower our expectations. We'd scrap it, but you have to pay for the privilege of doing so over here, which explains why so many people in France have rusty old cars at the bottom of their gardens.
We were always planning on selling it a bargain price, partly because it's right hand drive and partly because it was getting on a bit (but very low mileage and four new tyres and recent MOT (which shows what a farce that can be)), but everyday now, with every new thing that goes wrong with it, we lower our expectations. We'd scrap it, but you have to pay for the privilege of doing so over here, which explains why so many people in France have rusty old cars at the bottom of their gardens.
16 February 2010
Am mightily pissed off at the moment. Loads of crappy stuff to sort out, mostly in french and it's getting me down a bit to say the least. To the point where yesterday I said to Adrian, if it wasn't for the girls, I think I'm at the point where I just want to give it all up and go back to the UK. I don't really - when I stop and think about having to commute, finding childcare, decent schools (ha), working for arseholes, having a tiny house and a tiny garden again (because that would be all we could afford) and so on, I really don't want all that, but even so, these french folk do challenge me from time to time. In a nutshell:
Our car, which only just had an MOT in December is rapidly going downhill and we are having to replace it now (we were hoping to keep it going for another two years until the next MOT is due and then change it). We could go the the uk on the ferry, with our current car, pay for two weeks accomodation, spend loads of money on lovely stuff we can't get over here, buy a new car and bring two cars back on the ferry, all for less than the price of an equivalent car over here. However, it would be right hand drive and we would have the hassle of importing it (more french paperwork), and Isabella's passport has run out (yet another thing to sort out and pay for) and we can only go in the school hols and in the end we've bought a car over here.
Due to go back and pick it up next Monday so I am trying to sort out car insurance right now. Been on the net and the highest quotes I got were €200,00 less than what our current broker wants to charge us. Went back into our broker for the second time today, but am now waiting for a call to see if they can match any internet quotes. Highly unlikely it would seem, but I'd prefer to go with our broker because any queries, I can go in and talk to someone face to face instead of trying to talk to someone over the phone, but at €200,00 difference, will probably just have to risk the internet options.
We've also tried to change our internet/phone package and what a bloody laugh we've had over that. Adrian tried the English speaking helpline, after being on hold for an eternity finally got through to someone who told him he couldn't help, he had to be put through to someone else. He was put on hold again and in the end gave up waiting. Tried to change it on the net, but there's an error on the system and it wouldn't allow us to do this. Went into the local shop yesterday and was unfortunately served by Miss Incompetent But I'm Not Going To Admit It. She was so unhelpful, clearly had no idea what she was doing or what we were asking for and then they wouldn't just let us make a straight forward change without proof of our bank details although they've been taking money out of our account for the past 4 years. Fortunately I didn't have this proof (a cheque book is not sufficient, you have to have a special piece of paper for this. Naturally.) so we had to go back today. Got served by a young guy, who was helpful, charming and efficient. Turns out that Miss Complete Idiot was trying to set us up with the wrong package anyway. So we've got what we need (I think) and we now just have the set up instructions to translate!
Then there's the holiday to sort out:
Adrian's mum has moved to Crete to be near her daughters which is very nice for her, but for us she might as well be in Timbuctoo. It's almost impossible to get to from France. Several issues: We can't go away in the summer hols because that's when most of our work is. French folk don't often go abroad on their hols (well, not like the Brits) so flights are not frequent and not cheap. It is extremely frowned upon to take your children out of school over here and just doesn't happen. This leaves the February, April and October hols. Unfortunately, there are no flights then as this is very off season. Actually, tell a lie, did find a trip in April - drive to Nantes, fly to Paris, connection to Amsterdam, connection to Athens, connection to Crete. I think not. Eventually found some direct flights in May. Bargain prices beginning at €1750,00 per person!!! Then I found 'budget' airline going direct to Crete from Nantes week before October hols start and coming back, last flight of the season, middle of the October hols. Went into school to beg at the feet of the headmistress for forgiveness for all my sins and for the extra week off school. Luckily I'm such a wonderful person so she said 'yes'.
Am a little worried about the flights, being the last in the season, incase they cancel from not having enough folk on board, but we have no choice. So I'm trying to find holiday insurance. Again, not easy to find and not cheap on account of how little the french go abroad. Our (current) car insurance brokers suggested we try a travel agent, but there's only one in town, serving a population of approx 50,000, which shows the low demand! Tried the internet again, but it's all in French, so it's not easy and naturally very expensive...... All in all I think that this very off-peak trip to Crete is going to cost us in the better region of €3000,00! It'd better be good and better be worth it! Daughters of my mother-in-law - I know you are reading this - you have been warned, I'll write about you here if I have a bad time!! Seriously though, I am in fact looking forward to it, haven't been abroad or on a plane for a very long time and it will be good to get away and chill after the summer season when we are always a bit knackered to say the least. So just got the flights to book, the car hire to book, the accomodation to book, the luggage to buy, the hotel to book at the airport, the car parking to book at the airport, the insurance to arrange, find someone to look after the cat and then it'll be sorted.
Our car, which only just had an MOT in December is rapidly going downhill and we are having to replace it now (we were hoping to keep it going for another two years until the next MOT is due and then change it). We could go the the uk on the ferry, with our current car, pay for two weeks accomodation, spend loads of money on lovely stuff we can't get over here, buy a new car and bring two cars back on the ferry, all for less than the price of an equivalent car over here. However, it would be right hand drive and we would have the hassle of importing it (more french paperwork), and Isabella's passport has run out (yet another thing to sort out and pay for) and we can only go in the school hols and in the end we've bought a car over here.
Due to go back and pick it up next Monday so I am trying to sort out car insurance right now. Been on the net and the highest quotes I got were €200,00 less than what our current broker wants to charge us. Went back into our broker for the second time today, but am now waiting for a call to see if they can match any internet quotes. Highly unlikely it would seem, but I'd prefer to go with our broker because any queries, I can go in and talk to someone face to face instead of trying to talk to someone over the phone, but at €200,00 difference, will probably just have to risk the internet options.
We've also tried to change our internet/phone package and what a bloody laugh we've had over that. Adrian tried the English speaking helpline, after being on hold for an eternity finally got through to someone who told him he couldn't help, he had to be put through to someone else. He was put on hold again and in the end gave up waiting. Tried to change it on the net, but there's an error on the system and it wouldn't allow us to do this. Went into the local shop yesterday and was unfortunately served by Miss Incompetent But I'm Not Going To Admit It. She was so unhelpful, clearly had no idea what she was doing or what we were asking for and then they wouldn't just let us make a straight forward change without proof of our bank details although they've been taking money out of our account for the past 4 years. Fortunately I didn't have this proof (a cheque book is not sufficient, you have to have a special piece of paper for this. Naturally.) so we had to go back today. Got served by a young guy, who was helpful, charming and efficient. Turns out that Miss Complete Idiot was trying to set us up with the wrong package anyway. So we've got what we need (I think) and we now just have the set up instructions to translate!
Then there's the holiday to sort out:
Adrian's mum has moved to Crete to be near her daughters which is very nice for her, but for us she might as well be in Timbuctoo. It's almost impossible to get to from France. Several issues: We can't go away in the summer hols because that's when most of our work is. French folk don't often go abroad on their hols (well, not like the Brits) so flights are not frequent and not cheap. It is extremely frowned upon to take your children out of school over here and just doesn't happen. This leaves the February, April and October hols. Unfortunately, there are no flights then as this is very off season. Actually, tell a lie, did find a trip in April - drive to Nantes, fly to Paris, connection to Amsterdam, connection to Athens, connection to Crete. I think not. Eventually found some direct flights in May. Bargain prices beginning at €1750,00 per person!!! Then I found 'budget' airline going direct to Crete from Nantes week before October hols start and coming back, last flight of the season, middle of the October hols. Went into school to beg at the feet of the headmistress for forgiveness for all my sins and for the extra week off school. Luckily I'm such a wonderful person so she said 'yes'.
Am a little worried about the flights, being the last in the season, incase they cancel from not having enough folk on board, but we have no choice. So I'm trying to find holiday insurance. Again, not easy to find and not cheap on account of how little the french go abroad. Our (current) car insurance brokers suggested we try a travel agent, but there's only one in town, serving a population of approx 50,000, which shows the low demand! Tried the internet again, but it's all in French, so it's not easy and naturally very expensive...... All in all I think that this very off-peak trip to Crete is going to cost us in the better region of €3000,00! It'd better be good and better be worth it! Daughters of my mother-in-law - I know you are reading this - you have been warned, I'll write about you here if I have a bad time!! Seriously though, I am in fact looking forward to it, haven't been abroad or on a plane for a very long time and it will be good to get away and chill after the summer season when we are always a bit knackered to say the least. So just got the flights to book, the car hire to book, the accomodation to book, the luggage to buy, the hotel to book at the airport, the car parking to book at the airport, the insurance to arrange, find someone to look after the cat and then it'll be sorted.
05 February 2010
I did this!!!
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For various reasons, which I can't be bothered to explain to you right now, it was recently time for Georgia to move out of her toddler bed (for sale if you're interested) and into a full sized bed. Fortunately, we had one in bits in the garage. Unfortunately, it was dark wood and not really nice for a little girl. No worries, says I, I'll paint it! We had all the paint already (white and two pinks as you can see), so no need to even spend out any money. Well, bloody hell, it took about two weeeks. Could only do it in the evenings, due to having to look after girls/work etc and could only paint one side at a time so that each bit could be propped up somewhere whilst drying (there are also two long side supports which you can't see in this photo) and it needed three coats of paint and then of course all the pink had to go on after all the white weas done. Plus I tried to leave it all to dry in the garage, but it's so cold and damp out there that after 24 hours, the paint still wasn't dry, so it had to stay in the kitchen the whole time, which meant more nagging at the girls ('don't touch' 'stop messing about near there''come away''yes, the paint is still wet, that's why your fingers are white, now come here and don't touch anything else'). Before I started this little project I did think it might be nice to paint her bedside table to match (which is a bit crappy, it was left in one of the gites by the previous owenr), but I've now changed my mind and I certainly won't be doing it in the near future. However, all that said, am actually quite proud of it in the end, it doesn't look half bad, even though I do say so myself!
Went back down to Nantes to the 'mall' to get some more stuff for the gites as we couldn't fit it all on the car last time we were there. We were without children as they were at school, so I was expecting an easier day, certainly an easier journey; I think I forgot to mention that the last trip didn't get off to a good start. Had set up the dvd players for the girls before we set off, but I refuse to play them until we are on the other side of town and on the main road. Unfortunately, because of this, it wasn't until we were on the other side of town that I realised that we had no dvd's in the car, so we had to go back home, all in all, adding another half hour to the journey (normally about an hour an a quarter). Lately, the heating on the car has been getting worse and where it once used to be putting out a bit of heat by the time we were approaching school, now it doesn't even start heating up until I am almost home again. Well, today we had dropped the girls off and were way beyond our house and on the road into town when I was complaining to Adrian that still there was no heat coming into the car. Seconds later he is swerving off the road and we come to a fairly swift halt. Seems my complaint prompted him to check the temp guage and it was definately in the high fever range. Fortunately had a bottle of water in the boot so Adrian poured what was left of it into the car (well, that bit in the engine where it's supposed to go) and eventually drove to supermarket to stock up on more water, anti-freeze and other multi-coloured liquids that are apparently good for the car, before we could at last set off again for Nantes, again a half hour delay to the journey and several euros down before we've even got anywhere. (I must mention at this point that there is a leak in the engine, it's not a total lack of competence on our (well, Adrian's) part for not having checked water level for ages and ages).
Anyway, did get one bargain at the mall - Claire's accessories still had their sale on, so I bought ten things for €10,00, as I had done last time we were there. A couple of things I gave to the girls, but the rest I've kept for birthday presents for friends (not my friends, the girls friends) and relies. Worked out the total original value of what I bought - approx €90,00! So twenty things for €20,00, worth €90,00! I am made up! (Downside is that if Isabella gives these things to her friends, their parents might think that I've spent loads of money and that we're wealthy!) Other bargain of the week - four summer tops for the girls for €20,00 total, (buy one, get three free) original prices - €75,00 total!
Also, decided to spend some of my supermarket points at last. I thought I'd like a bread machine, Adrian wanted a coffee machine, (one of those fancy ones that takes coffee teabag type things, fortunately the supermarket does their own almost reasonably priced version). Ended up with a rice cooker. Well, I checked out the catalogue, no coffee machine and the bread machine was too many points and I then I saw the rice cooker and thought 'what a good idea', I can put the rice on and bung something to go with it in the oven before I go on the school run at lunch time (it even steams veggies on top), and hey presto, dinner will be ready for when we get back! (Yes, of course I'll make sure hubby is in the house and not leave unattended food cooking, but no, I don't expect him to actually cook it these days; although he is still not quite fully converse in the french language, he has embraced the french male cultural ideal that the kitchen/general domestic duties are the domain of the wife and he wouldn't want to get in the way. I wonder if the table will be set though....) Unfortunately, there are three booklets with the machine and not one of them has proper instructions. One is a safety manual, one is publicity and the other is a recipe booklet (for fancy stuff, not plain old rice). What I can't figure out is after I've measured the rice in the measuring cup provided, do I put it in the cooker and then top up the water to the required level, or do I put the water in first to the required level and then put the rice in. Answers on a postcard please.
Anyway, did get one bargain at the mall - Claire's accessories still had their sale on, so I bought ten things for €10,00, as I had done last time we were there. A couple of things I gave to the girls, but the rest I've kept for birthday presents for friends (not my friends, the girls friends) and relies. Worked out the total original value of what I bought - approx €90,00! So twenty things for €20,00, worth €90,00! I am made up! (Downside is that if Isabella gives these things to her friends, their parents might think that I've spent loads of money and that we're wealthy!) Other bargain of the week - four summer tops for the girls for €20,00 total, (buy one, get three free) original prices - €75,00 total!
Also, decided to spend some of my supermarket points at last. I thought I'd like a bread machine, Adrian wanted a coffee machine, (one of those fancy ones that takes coffee teabag type things, fortunately the supermarket does their own almost reasonably priced version). Ended up with a rice cooker. Well, I checked out the catalogue, no coffee machine and the bread machine was too many points and I then I saw the rice cooker and thought 'what a good idea', I can put the rice on and bung something to go with it in the oven before I go on the school run at lunch time (it even steams veggies on top), and hey presto, dinner will be ready for when we get back! (Yes, of course I'll make sure hubby is in the house and not leave unattended food cooking, but no, I don't expect him to actually cook it these days; although he is still not quite fully converse in the french language, he has embraced the french male cultural ideal that the kitchen/general domestic duties are the domain of the wife and he wouldn't want to get in the way. I wonder if the table will be set though....) Unfortunately, there are three booklets with the machine and not one of them has proper instructions. One is a safety manual, one is publicity and the other is a recipe booklet (for fancy stuff, not plain old rice). What I can't figure out is after I've measured the rice in the measuring cup provided, do I put it in the cooker and then top up the water to the required level, or do I put the water in first to the required level and then put the rice in. Answers on a postcard please.
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