[vc_row][vc_column][postgallery_grid id=”grid6_20170408″ data_source=”data-4″ null=”” slidesetid=”SS_G3_20170408″ content_type=”image” height=”200px” align=”aligncenter” lightbox=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We get up quite casually these days, having unwound from our UK tensions and rushing about. It is a joy to sit in bed with a cup of tea watching the sun rise and listening to the stream tumbling below.

On this particular day we drove to the local store to stock up on a few items, on returning home the road outside the house was covered in water. On inspection the water was bubbling up from underneath the road, gushing down the side of the house then through the culvert into the stream. We had no idea who to call but eventually got hold of the mayor who called the water company. Meantime the road is awash and the volume is surprising the passing drivers so we put up some orange warning triangles – it is obligatory in France to have one in your car. The water company chaps came quickly and spent some time splashing backwards and forwards deciding what to do. then they went. Heavens, we thought, this might go on for days and we hoped the water wasn’t being charged to our bill – water is metered in France. But within an hour along came a huge lorry with a small Caterpillar loaded in the back. The container had a clever mechanism which meant it could be tipped and slid onto the surface of the road; the Caterpillar was driven out and set to work. They dug a small deep hole; fixed the break in the pipe, refilled the hole, loaded the Caterpillar back onto the lorry, waved goodbye, and that was it. Sorted! We couldn’t help thinking that in the UK there would have been a whole palaver, taking several days with many men in yellow jackets and lots of orange bollards, meanwhile the Lot is drying up. This was really well done, with no fuss and all in a matter of a few hours.

The only other thing to report is the failure of all cooking facilities!

When we arrived there was an oven, it was old and we discovered it didn’t work. Liz had a standalone induction hob and a microwave from the club and so we used them. As you may know we cook, we love to cook, so no oven was a bit of a bind. We decided to get a tabletop oven as a temporary measure. Not a good idea, it was hopeless , didn’t get to the correct temperature by at least 50 degrees, didn’t keep warm, wasn’t well insulated, had exposed elements so ‘grilled’ pastry instead of baking it. It was clear it would not do, so back to the shop and we got a refund. Down to the one induction ring and microwave again. We would need to kit out the gîtes so cooking equipment would be needed, but we only expect to be in the house till next spring, longer than expected but should we fit a proper cooker, if so what type and could we reuse in the gîtes? Our hand was forced as once day this week all the power went off. We had to negotiate our way round a French fuse box, not very different but sufficiently for us to be a little nervous. Most of the fuses are 16 amp, we identified the culprit, it was the cooker ring in the kitchen. Sorted. Well the power was sorted but, alas, the problem was originally caused by the induction plate giving up the ghost; so now we were down to the microwave. Neither of us really use a mike – it’s good for melting chocolate but not much else. After several days of not being able to cook, which is terrible for us, we decided to bite the bullet and purchase a range oven that we will later install in one of the gîtes. We wanted a range with an induction top but they were about 800 euros dearer than one using bottled gas so in the end we plumped for that. It comes on Saturday and then we can cook, hooray!!!![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#deead0″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Perhaps you would like to know…
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