Harvest 2005

Hi all,

Well what a summer. It flew past so quickly. Conor has begun at primary school. They start primary school a year later than in England, which we are pleased about as the education system is quite formal and intense right from the word go. Mind you we are very pleased with schools over here and we love the fact that in France there is a work ethic amongst the children as there is no such thing as a ‘swot’ Children work hard and are respected amongst their peers, there isn’t a negative side to working hard.

I’ve given up working at my friends bar. After a few months Simon and I realised that it’s just impossible for us to keep up with all the jobs around the land, the business, the animals and the websites (and the boys of course). I really enjoyed the work but I was just getting so behind and the property was just becoming a mess and with Simon obviously focusing on the restoration it became too much.

Mind you, since I gave up work I’ve been voted onto the parents association (without realising what I was doing!) and that involves helping organise a fund-raising dinner, a Christmas show and other events! Also I’ve joined (my choice this time) another association to promote burying a new Pylon network that is being proposed to run directly through this beautiful countryside. I won’t bore you with all the details but I’ve offered to translate their website into English for all the British expats who are worried about what’s going on. Their argument on health grounds is based on an English study produced in June this year of 30,000 children. Fingers crossed.

 

 

Conor really seems to be enjoying it. We’re stunned that after two weeks at school he can read a nine word sentence in his book! He loves catching the bus (which is free) with some of the other children. I can’t believe I’m waving off my five year old son on the bus every morning! There are only 40 children in the primary school and it seems that even the oldest children aged eleven really take care of all the younger ones. They all kiss their teacher in the mornings and each other when they’re waiting for the bus! It’s so sweet. Conor’s still a little shy about it but Archie’s always there pouting at anyone who’ll kiss him!

Just as an example of the jobs that need doing, we spent Saturday having a long overdue clear out around the buildings. We found old freezer baskets, a wardrobe, a rusting filing cabinet, two broken bikes…etc, etc. Then yesterday we spent all day stacking wood! Yes, that’s right, we moved wood that’s ready to burn over to the small wood store next to the house and then spent hours stacking neatly the enormous pile from the Ash tree we chopped down last winter. Then we’ve got more branches outside in the open that are still to be chopped into logs and stacked inside! It’s never ending, but satisfying I must admit. I found it very therapeutic and the boys were great helpers. I made them a hot chocolate for all their help. Yes, that’s not much of a treat I know, but they were thrilled!!

We’ve enjoyed the ‘fruits of our labour’ during the summer. We’ve had runner beans, potatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, lettuces, leaks, onions, tomatoes and chillies. But by far the most prolific growth in our vegetable patch were the weeds! They won the competition. I was hoping to take a nice photo at some point to show you all our vegetable patch, but there just wasn’t a point at which it was totally weed free and presentable! Oh Well.

Anyway, we’ve very much enjoyed our summer, having friends to stay. We’re planning to start some of the work on the barn this winter. We’re going to get someone in to dig out all the earth behind the barn. It’s going to need a huge digger as its half way up the wall at the back. One guy estimated that we need to shift 65 cubic metres of soil to achieve what we’re after. We’ve got to start with this job to dry out the base before we can do anything else. Still, it’s exciting to start the barn, even if it’s not the most exciting of jobs to do.

Love to you all and thanks to all of you who’ve kept in touch.

Sabina, Simon, Conor and Archie x x

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