Bonjour,
On the last day of August we travelled northwest about 6 hours to a region called Poitou [Pwatoo Sharont] Charentes. We are staying in a gite [shjeet] (a rental efficiency) run by a Mrs. Louise Finch.
It is lovely as we are out in the country, but no Internet unless I sit outside her living room window to catch the WI-FI rays, but at least we can connect to the outside world. No TV, so each night I have subjected poor Brian to her chick-flick DVD collection! (Gosford Park, The Duchess, Alice in Wonderland, etc.) viewed on our computer. Angus is enjoying the freedom, the 3 resident dogs and several cat buddies, one of which we nicknamed peep peep after the noise he makes when approaching. Friendly little bugger.
We still have not bought a mobile phone but we did buy a car.
It is a Peugeot Partner, which Brian picked out then negotiated the price, bought the insurance and away we go - comfortable, fold down back seats, rear door, good on fuel, great mirrors and a handy little storage area in back for the grocery bags.
The house prices of this region are more reasonable – better value for our Euro. It is impossible to gauge the true disposition of property from Internet descriptions and photos. We had appointments lined up with two agencies to see a few properties. One of the two agents we met is from Inverness!! What a lovely surprise to meet a fellow Scot who speaks French beautifully. He was a great help and we have a new friend.
Mike the Scot's listing had sounded promising but he advised us to not even bother as it was about fifty feet from a major
highway and we had talked about quiet surroundings as a must . He did take us to two houses we consider to be possibilities. One is a
Maison de
Maître
– the master’s house, which always has a slate roof rather an the more common terracotta tile – a style, which I have admired, but usually having only a courtyard and no garden. The kitchen was HUGE, even by American
standards, and had a large stove which Brian could not take his eyes off.
Gorgeous piece of equipment with a built-in deep fryer. There is a big pool,
but a distance from the house (you know how Americans hate to walk far). We
loved it but just not sure it is for us. It has many “dependances” which are outbuildings such as barns, utility rooms,
wine cellars, spaces to renovate; all made of stone. It is a lot of
property. Many of the homes have these outbuildings which can be
extensive but not necessarily practical or useful unless they have already been
renovated. Erroneously but humorusly, sometimes when the French is translated into the English on web sites " la maison avec dependances" becomes "the house with addictions".
The other is a house in a hamlet - construction started in
1625. It has a small kitchen and no en suite but the rest is very well
done. The grounds are exceptional, a couple of levels with a meadow
bordered by La Charente river, fishing permitted, and in front the very
quiet road keeps it secluded. It has apple, cherry, pear and walnut trees
and raspberry bushes ( o' so sweet). The
cave [cav] is accessed from outside. The owner had notified us, but, to see
three lovely little bats* hanging from the ceiling and then flying about
was out of National Geographic! Oh yes, and it has a perfect size pool
surrounded with pavers, just a couple steps out the house. Much to think about.
*In French bat is chauve-souris,
translated: bald mouse
Independently, we visited a property quite a distance north of the
gite. It ticked all the boxes but we thought maybe it was too north for us. The
couple kindly gave us a cup of tea and some apples straight from their
tree. Excellent!
The Life Cycle of a Sunflower all photographed in the same field.
 |
| BORN LIVED RETIRED LOL !! |
This is sunflower, wheat and corn country. Cognac is only a short drive, as is Bordeaux. We have never been in France during a season change. The experience has been educationally awesome to watch the fields transform from green or yellow to rich brown as the crops are harvested and the earth turned, or as in the case of the
sunflowers allowed to dry and become a delicious shade of chocolate before being, well.......... Beheaded (let them eat cake,
chocolate that is!!).
Apparently, much of sunflower oil is converted into diesel fuel for the buses.
In some fields small, green crops are now growing and, what they are, will be a delightful surprise and in the markets when ready.
September is ripe with apples and pears, along with chestnuts and hazelnuts, the markets filled with them. We have been able to pick from the farmer’s sweet/tart apple tree next door to the gite.
Yummmmy!
September
3. I tagged along with Brian and Angus on a walk down the quiet,
grassy country lane. First, we found green grape clusters, soft and sweet, growing
over the neighbor’s wall. Our next discovery was wild black and red
brambles and then walnuts on the ground. Those we brought back and
cracked – wow! Now, I call that living off the land.
Along with other European gardeners, the French are experts in coaxing vegetables out of the ground, it seems as if everyone has a vegetable plot as the most impossible spots have been planted. Tomatoes on vertical stakes are quite visible and now as fall approaches bright orange potimarrons (pumpkins) dot the garden patches.
I wonder what late fall will bring.......
We are back in Pont-de-L'Arn but will be leaving at the end of September to return permanently to Poitou Charentes to continue our house hunting adventures.
What fun!!
