And we're back in the UK...

Well, that trip was over far too quickly!

Bob is now a seasoned traveller, taking bumpy bus rides, hotels and old, cold houses in his stride! If the road was straight he curled up in his pen and slept. If there were roundabouts, or the way was a little lumpy (mostly while his Daddy was driving!) he squawked and moaned a lot. only a few attempts to escape the pen during the drive, but the strong fabric held up to the assault of teeth and claws well!

Can honestly say that he coped with the travelling much better than I did! The bus is an old girl. Armande is a little crotchety and is a very physical drive - which isn't always the best option when you have hEDS. Towards the end of the fortnight I was battling popping vertebrae, collarbones and shoulder joints whenever it was my turn to drive!

However, we got there and we got back, and (fingers crossed) I don't seem to be suffering too many ill effects - though we really oticed a marked change in my MCAS symptoms as we headed down France, into the rural areas away from the cities - and then coming back up again. If this improvement in the management of things continues when I am there (despite the house being old and unlived in for over 25years, with mould, dust and more cobwebs than should ever be allowed) then this move is going to make an incredible difference to me.

We didn't have a particularly auspicious start to our adventure, as you probably read in my last post. The house was cold, dark and there was no electricity, heat or running water. Our bouyant and hopeful mood was dashed to smithereens - but once we got the lights on (thank you Charlotte at the estate agency!) and some champagne inside us, things seemed a little brighter. After a hard day scrubbing at the kitchen, finding out we had radiators upstairs that actually worked, too, felt like pure luxury!

The water was a little more tricky. We contacted the Mairie and got them to turn on the supply, and change the meter into our name - but that was where it all came to a screeching halt (well, after a rather large flood over the kitchen floor and down into the cellar when the chap turned everything on!) turning it hastily back off, we had to wait for our plumber to arrive some days later - and he'd come in his car without his tools, thinking he was just coming to quote on the works required, so we had to wait another couple of days for him to come out again!

We cracked on with the cleaning - at least Aidan did. He is rather fetching in his rubber gloves!

I went to Ussel, the closest big town to the Orange shop to try and sort out a mobile phone, internet and a fixed line phone connection as I had failed miserably trying to do it over the phone. I drove for 45 minutes, my shoulder and spine getting very painful as I wound my way along the narrow lanes. THe drive was beautiful, though, despite the pain and the drizzly weather. The colours were truly spectacular. Autumn was definitely in full swing in Correze.

I arrived and got a parking spot really close by the shop and waited my turn. The young lady was very sweet and helpful, though she had no English (and I wouldn't expect anyone to speak anything but their own language, in their own country - just to clear that up!) We worked out what I would be able to do for now (as to get a contract mobile I will need an electricity bill), and she started all the paperwork on the computer. We got to the bit where she asked for my passport (never needed this in UK!) and I cursed to myself. I had taken them out of the glove compartment just the day before to keep them safe!

So, knowing another trip back was going to be in my future, I trundled out, my tail between my legs. I had come so close - but had tripped at the last hurdle. But there were other things we needed, so I headed to the brico (diy) store to fetch some bits and pieces. I even grabbed a lamp, to try and brighten up the dark end of the kitchen a little. I paid, nipped to the petrol station and headed home.

I was tired, hungry and more than a little bit pissed off with myself - mainly as it was that time of the month when everything seems dreadful! I drove into the barn, as I had a number of times now. Only this time, the driver's side wheel sank.

The sacks of whatever was there when this picture was taken are no longer there, neither are all the old ladders (sadly), but as you can see the surface is a little uneven. But, it seemed relatively stable. At the very front there was a small grass verge, which due to the rain and constant use had gotten a little rutted (one of the things I'd bought was some gravel to try and make it a little more stable), but there was no expectation that I needed anything else!

Too tired and too hungry to dig it out then, I went in with my purchases - and realised I had left my lovely new lamp on the checkout at the store! I called them to check they still had it, and would keep it for me - though I might not be able to get back there until the next day.

Aidan put down his rubber gloves and we had some lunch. The baker's van comes up a couple of times a week, so we had fresh bread and I'd got some pate and cheese from the local shop a few days before. sImple pleasures, but very tasty indeed. Feeling a little better we decided to try and free Armande. I think Aidan was glad of a change from scrubbing beams and walls of grime as he came out in the hope of helping to dig me out - but to no avail! I was well and truly stuck, and all the information online about things like this is about snow or mud - not a stinking great hole in dry ground.

M. Lancelot called out to say hello as he saw us and I tried to explain the situation. He disappeared into his own barn and returned with a proper mechanic's jack. He proceeded to jack up the bus, prop logs and things in strategic places, and lo and behold he got us out - as he explained that the problem was rabbits. I took a double-take at this. I knew that lapin was definitely the word for rabbit - but it seemed a little strange to blame them for my wheel sinking, especially as we hadn't seen any sign of rabbits anywhere.

M. Lancelot explained that there used to be wild rabbits that burrowed under the barn floor, though they were now long gone, but that their runs were still down there and that the bus going in and out must have weakened them, causing it to collapse. Explanation and salvation, plus we are now to call him René - but he wasn't yet done. He appeared from his house a few moments later with a large red blanket (like a duvet, but with a wool inside), and insisted we take it, though I tried to point out that we have more than enough blankets. He seems very determined to help us out, and I am very grateful to have him around.

I returned to Ussel, shoulder and upper spine now screaming rather loudly - but I just wanted to get everything done. The girl I'd seen in the Orange store was there still and she quickly sorted everything out, now I had my passport, and we arranged an appointment with the engineer for the 19th. I was delighted that this would be done before we went home, something I definitely hadn't expected. I went back to the brico and picked up my lamp (the cashiers were amused by how grateful I was!) and popped into the Darty (electrical goods store) that had been closed earlier in the day and bought us a TV. Was a bit of a rollercoaster, but in the end everything we'd wanted to get done, got done - so a win!

The rest of the time was spent doing a little more cleaning, sorting out the electricity account, and seeing tradesmen about the work to be done. Everyone we met throughout the two weeks wished us bon courage, with an amused smile! But, the sun finally came out, and so we went for a little walk on Sunday, up to the chapel above the hamlet and around the many paths nearby.

And, we fell totally and utterly in love...

All of these pictures was taken within a few miles of the house. it was stunningly lovely, the air fresh, the colours popping in the sunlight like champagne bubbles. No filters of any kind were used to create the vivid colours you see - just a girl and her phone, enjoying the surroundings that will be her home from now on. It is spectacular and I honestly don't think we could have chosen a more idyllic spot to live - even if we'd known about the area in any way at all!

Feeling relief and delight, we took a little drive to Lake Chammet to make sure there is somewhere I can get in and out easily, when I start swimming again in the spring. I've not swum all year, this year, so it is a bit late to be trying to get back in the swing now! I apologise for the somewhat grubby windscreen and the reflection of my mask - Armande is ashamed I am sharing this picture with you, she doesn't want to be seen as a dirty girl - but the view was spectacular, but it wasn't a great place to stop. However, the little bar/tabac in the village was! I enjoyed an orangina, while Aidan enjoyed a couple of beers in the late afternoon sunshine, looking out over the village to our right and the rolling hills to our left - it was a perfect day.

I had a busy day ahead of me on the Monday, with the plumber coming in the morning to sort out the pipes so we would have running water, and the telephone engineer in the afternoon to install the phone/internet line. The ADSL connection is very slow, but works adequately well for most of what I will need whilst there. We located a 3g/4g hotspot in the attic where we will place the router we currently use here at home, when Aidan comes out at the end of March for his work - but the ADSL will act as emergency backup, just in case.

I sent Aidan out for another walk, as it was sunny and it seemed a little crazy for us to both be stuck inside - especially as he is as much use as a chocolate teapot at the moment on the speaking French part of things! He is learning (and we have discovered a fantastic course on audible that is going to speed things up a little more than his just using Duolingo alone). So, he decided to undertake the walk down to the village, to see how long it actually will take (about an hour and a quarter for him - so add another half an hour for me!)

The plumber and his apprentice arrived, and the young lad was horrified by the types of plumbing and electrical system we have! Matthieu set him to work fixing an old fuse that had blown just that morning for us, as he used a blow torch to cap off the offending pipes. We turned on the water. We found another pipe that was leaking that we hadn't noticed last time. Matthieu capped that one off. We checked the sink upstairs, all good up there. We went into the 'salon des trucs' where the current loo is, and found a leak there where one of the pipes was broken. Having inspected the current toilet and found a crack in the cistern, we decided to cap that one off too!

He left, and apparently waved at Aidan as they saw him making his way back after a brief stop in the bar, and the telephone engineer arrived just as Aidan got back to the house. He had been sent to Route du Rat. He was not happy about this. Neither was I. I had specifically pointed out, both in the Orange shop and when the company had called to confirm the appointment, that I did not live on Route du Rat. Route du Rat is 6km away and has a different setup option, apparently (perhaps might have faster internet if I did live there, but I do not!) I apologised profusely to him and assured him that I had told the people numerous times what the correct address was and that they had confirmed it to me.

Still grumbling to himself, he set about his work, only for the farmer to arrive in the tractor needing access to their farmyard, so he had to move his van. When he returned, still muttering to himself, he had a very large drill, with enormous drill bits - which then proceeded to not really do the job! The poor guy had to try four times to find a spot where he would be able to feed the cables through into the house - though I am very grateful he persevered. He grumbled and muttered as only the French can, and I tried to say the right thing - though I'm not sure I managed. He spoke really quickly, so I'm not even sure I know what he said to me at any point, but the box seems to work and I was able to connect up all our gadgets to the internet connection - so presuming it all turned out in the wash!

So, having inherited a huge Narnia wardrobe which is now Bob's favourite sleeping spot, running water (cold only) in both sinks, and continuing to use Popaloo (quite frankly the best purchase we ever made to add to our camping kit), we had a vaguely functioning house! we have lousy mobile connection (thick granite walls), but ok 3g internet, an ADSL line, electricity, water and heat - under the circumstances, we're pretty damn lucky!