#sybilontour

[theretirementstory]

Here I am, bringing you up to date on my week, here in this small part of the Champagne region of France. It is currently 7c and cloudy. Are we due rain? Not until this evening according to Meteo.

Storm Eunice may have been pretty strong in some parts of the region but here in Bar-sur-Aube I didn’t notice it being “too wild”.

I had arranged to go and see my friend Monique on Friday morning, I was dreading the journey as I expected to be buffeted about, there are many trees along the road and I had visions of uprooted ones blocking the route, I have always had a vivid imagination! I arrived safely with my gifts for the twins (5 weeks old). I had knitted bonnets and blankets for them, I met their Mummy and although they were sleeping it was wonderful to see my friends, the proud grandparents, keeping a watchful eye on them. I needn’t have worried it was a lovely drive there and back. I went to knitting with refugees in the afternoon, just one lady, but it was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. Then I was back home, all shutters closed waiting for a storm that really never arrived.

Since the start of the year I have been trying to have a walk everyday, this usually coincides with a visit to the bar to read the paper and take a coffee, I go with my little felt dog, “Sybil on Tour” made to raise awareness of Huntington’s Disease, mine is called Eloise. The walking is really proving beneficial, I am sleeping better, meeting more people, noticing things that you wouldn’t see from a car and just generally enjoying it.

I had to put my friend off calling for coffee and cake this week, I had paperwork to sort out and the housework was getting on top of me! I must get back to a room a day that way it’s not such a mammoth task.

Talking of mammoth tasks….. the video call last weekend proved to be that! It started badly with a delay as my friend couldn’t remember the password to access the site, then 47 mins into the call he decided to try and show me a skiing video at the same time as the call, well I lost the video connection, still had sound and he was asking “can you see the skiing” all I could see was a blank screen. Then about 20 minutes later we “reconnected” and the call ended about 6:15 my time. I didn’t feel like cooking dinner I can tell you after that!

One of the daftest things I have done in a long time happened this week…… I was so convinced that I had a podologue appointment at 8am on Tuesday morning. I was watching a series on TV Monday evening and it didn’t finish until late, the alarm clock was set and as I got into bed I thought that perhaps the appointment was for March. My diary was downstairs, I couldn’t be bothered to go back down, so I would check when the alarm went off. I was awake just after 3am then again at 5am, I got up then, went downstairs to check the diary and sure enough I was only ONE MONTH early!! With this new information I went back to bed and didn’t wake again until about 9:30, late for me!

“The Daddy” took his car for a service and it’s MOT, it failed! Lots of money for repairs which he had done and is now looking for another car. As I write this, he may well be having a second viewing of a car, hoping to buy it. My gorgeous grandchildren are still as “gorgeous” I think my granddaughters hair is going darker (no surprise “The Mummy and The Daddy are dark-haired). My grandson has quite a bit of blond hair so still looks “bald”.

“The Paralegal” has had a big smile on his face all week, although it may have disappeared today, as he was at a friends house last evening for a party. Anyway it’s just so good to know that my “two boys” are enjoying themselves.

I will leave you with a quote from an unidentified author: “Challenges can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks. It’s just a matter of how you view them”

Next week, I may be late with the blog, but I am sure it will be worth waiting for 😉

[theretirementstory]

Where have I been? Its afternoon and I am just doing my blog! Well I have been reconnoitring (something I really love to do) and I have had my questions answered and come away with even more questions. I have had rather a good week……..I have seen all of my friends, spent time with my refugee ladies allegedly knitting but really eating, talking, laughing and just generally doing what women do best! My friend, Anie, brought me a large tray of gorgeous quetsche and I spent an enjoyable few hours preparing some for the freezer, making plum tart and poaching some in red wine. Marie-Therese called for coffee and cake and she really enjoyed those (we had two pieces each), as she was leaving she asked if I had any secateurs and proceeded to cut down the rose bush which was encroaching onto the path at the front of the house. I could not believe it, there I was with this 84 year old lady, she was bending down and cutting this rose down and I (many, many years her junior) was just standing by watching! I went to the French class where Monique was taking the lesson and I took part, interpreting as needed. In town on Saturday, I saw an old neighbour, Colette, she nearly didn’t recognise me in my mask but once she did she was so pleased to stand and chat for a while. I have been to the bar only once this week, I called in on Saturday morning, after I had been promenading at the market. My friend, Yves, is celebrating his birthday today (well I hope he is) he is 364 days younger than me. Talking of birthday’s, its a busy week this week for quite a few people I know…...someone celebrates on the 8th, another on the 10th, then the 11th and yet another on the 13th…….what a week! I have been working on the jumper I had been knitting, it was the dreaded stitching up, I am determined to get it finished along with the final push with the cardigan, only the ends need finishing off on that one so why do I put off doing it? Now today, I set off from home about 9.30 to wander into another department in this large region of Grand Est, I was going to Vitry-le-Francois in Marne. I had planned the route (easy really) checked out the town on Google Maps to ensure I got parked where I needed to be parked, so off I went. To be honest most of the route I knew and it was probably just the last 30 kms that I hadn’t driven previously. It was easy peasy and I got parked outside a rather large railway station. Anything that has signs indicating something of historical value is always a draw for me and I learnt that on the 2nd August 1914 through to 1919 an evacuation hospital and infirmary were located at the station. Then just across the car park from that sign is a monument to the people in the Second World War who were put on trains to the concentration camps from there. I found that quite moving really. Anyway, I was there to ask a question of the SNCF man in the office so armed with my trusty mobile phone with Google Translate, I went to ask if it was possible for me to park my car for three or four when I took a trip on the train. The man replied in really good English, telling me where to park and said it was free parking, this was all I really wanted to know but decided to have a little walk to see what else I could see. I was taking photos and was just about to turn round and retrace my steps when I saw the towers of a church, I then spotted the sign for the town centre. I stumbled upon the church and took some snaps but decided to make my way back to the car. I was pleased to see when I got back to the station that the Gendarmes had parked up in one of the “long stay” car parks, so my car should be quite safe if that is something they do. So now I can plan my jaunt…….looking forward to that. I have had some of my lovely tomatoes, they are ripening in dribs and drabs but that is good for me as I can eat them fresh. The sun is shining and it looks so much better than this morning in Vitry. I may bring my book down and read in the garden or I may just catch 40 winks in the chair inside. I received a video of my gorgeous granddaughter, her mummy was showing her flash cards, the card said “cake” but as the cake had candles on she knew “Birthday Cake”, the picture of a key, she said “ a key to open the door”, a bike was a really good one “ a bike to ride, nee naw nee naw” we think she rides the trike at nursery and thinks it is a fire engine. I did smile at the picture of an egg, she said it was a baby chick, now where did she get that from! The Daddy has had to “self isolate” for 14 days due to being in contact with a lady who tested positive for Covid-19, he is currently going through his stamp collection! So after the “none event” of “The Graduate’s” re-sit, he has worked hard on his dissertation and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is all finished, although he cannot upload it to the University. Then he can look to trying to find that “needle in a haystack” a job! This year has been so cruel for so many people and we wonder how much longer this situation can go on. I would like to end this week by giving a mention to a lady who has worked tirelessly to highlight Huntington’s Disease. She has seen three generations of her family affected by it and on the 7th September 2019 she lost her brother, aged just 47, to this terrible disease. I will be thinking about you tomorrow. Until the next time ………...

[theretirementstory]

It’s a good afternoon from me here in France. I have been busy this morning (in fact I am still busy) but I really do need to tell you about my week. I had a very lucky Sunday last week – guessing the number of Sybil’s on the Christmas Tree and winning the prize for coming the closest. Check out #sybilontour and #houndsforhuntingtons Monday saw the arrival of the decorator, and the stripping of the hall. He worked well and returned in the afternoon but was gone before I had to scoot off to see Dr Brown the dentist. Now I was all prepared for a lovely ceramic crown to be fitted to my tooth, Dr Brown was speaking rather quickly in French and as all dentists do, expected a response when your mouth is full of equipment. I understood the word “veneer” and when I had this blue light aimed at the area where the tooth is (and having googled it when I got home) it appears that instead of a crown, I have had some “stuff” glued over the tooth. The price I paid was well below the price for a crown and as he didn’t make another appointment for me I assume this is permanent not temporary, however, we all know what assuming does for us don’t we! I really must say I have been up early every day this week. The decorator has been arriving by 9:30 by which time I have been washed and dressed, eaten breakfast, washed up and maybe even done a few other jobs. Tuesday, apart from the decorator, saw me for the first of my two sessions at physio. I had gone earlier than usual as I had intended going to the cinema afterwards, however, as I went to the cinema on Friday it meant that I got home earlier too. Not a lot had changed in the hall although he has been “skimming” the walls so that they are lovely and smooth. Yes, the ceiling has been painted and the walls, this I couldn’t understand as they are to have wallpaper put on, but as I am not the decorator I will let him continue. I was going to my knitting group so I said for him to just come in with the key I had given him. What a surprise when I got home……..all the doors (6) had been under-coated and the difference in the hall was amazing, it is so light and bright. Okay so I have the wallpaper to go on which is a sage green but with the brightness of the ceiling and doors I think it will look amazing. Knitting group was not quite the usual fun as Marlene had a very bad cold and due to the sunlight streaming through the fanlight she moved from her usual seat next to me, hence no girlish giggles from the bottom of the table. Our last group for the year was to be on 18 December but as luck would have it they have changed it to 11 December, now this coincides with the Xmas Party for the Refugees, so I am torn…..which one do I attend? The decorator returned on Thursday and was continuing with the undercoat, as he had to cover black gloss door frames!! Marie-Therese called for coffee and when she came into the house she was immediately struck by the amazing difference. The decorator left and Marie-Therese and I talked about my trip to Alsace and she was busy checking her phone waiting to find out the results of the biopsy. She told me that “Oba” her new dog was a year old that day, 5 December, my dad would have been 92 years old on that date too. All too soon it was time for my physio again. Now the physiotherapist had told me that maybe just one or two more sessions will be perfect however she has booked me in for two more next week. I also got a message about the Xmas Party for the Refugees which said that it started at 3pm and told me where it would be held. This has helped me make my decision, I will be going to the knitting group. As the party does not start until 3pm it will be later than 5pm by the time we get away. I really do not like driving home when it is dark or indeed when it is rush hour here (four cars instead of two on the ring road) so I will give it a miss this year. The decorator wasn’t coming on Friday but I was still up and about as I had an appointment with the podiatrist. How much lighter my feet felt after seeing her. She is such a lovely lady, comes from Paris and can speak some English. Just before I left she told me she enjoyed our conversations which I thought was very nice of her. I then popped in to see Monica the Estate Agent, she won’t be moving into her house until after January but she is going to go to Portugal to see her parents for Christmas so that will be lovely for her. Then it was home, a quick lunch and then off to do “knitting with refugees”. Now I think I mentioned to you before I really do not understand what is so difficult, I remember my Mum telling me “in, over, through, off” and I have been holding the hands and needles while showing the ladies how to do it and the parts that cause the most problem is the “through, off” parts, plus one lady is left-handed now that is a problem! We can start with 20 stitches and end up with 40 before you know it! There was a new lady from Angola, she spoke English and I thought great, so when I was showing her daughter how to do it I was chatting along in English only to be told “she doesn’t speak English but she does speak Portuguese”. Well, as I don’t, we managed to muddle through. For the left-handed lady I am taking a crochet hook next week surely that will be easier! My head is bouncing with things I want to make for Christmas and how quickly that time is passing, so on Saturday I decided to go and see if I could get some currants at the large supermarket the other side of town. No such luck I am afraid and so it looks as if my cake will have to be made with raisins and sultanas. I came home for lunch and then headed to the bar in the afternoon, after all I hadn’t been all week. I went in, was greeted by all the men, Christophe made my coffee, Yves brought me the newspaper and I sat down and enjoyed a couple of hours with friends. By the time I got home I could not be bothered to prepare anything for the cakes and just decided to have a sit down and relax. Baking will be done on Sunday or Monday…... Now I can hear the washing machine finishing the cycle, I have made my all bran loaf and am just about to go out and prepare the fruit for the Christmas cake. The car needs to be put away in the garage and then I can just relax. Bonne soiree

[theretirementstory]

My garden before the gardeners arrived. The Old Mill, in town. What a morning!! I am exhausted and it is only 10:15 in France. It started with a telephone call before 9am from my friend Jeannette, she rang on my mobile which was out of battery power and so I lost her and ended up having to get out of bed and come downstairs to ring her back. Then as today is the day of SYBIL’S PICNIC I had to deal with the complexities of downloading the video I had made. Anyway that is done now and I hope is whizzing around the world raising awareness of Huntington’s Disease. I have been under the weather again this week and been on yet another course of antibiotics! This time it was sinusitis and I seem to have done rather a lot of sleeping. Having said that I am now starting to feel better, but will still try and take it easy for the next couple of weeks. So Monday was when I went to see the doctor. My usual doctor has “given up”, don’t know if he has retired, is in ill health or what but he is no longer at the surgery. His replacement a young lady (who can speak some English) was on hand and she was very good with me. Does anyone else get into this situation – you have so much you want to do, you wonder where to start and then you just don’t bother! Well that has been me this week. Although I did start to clear the mint and parsley out of the raised bed. I am really wanting that to be for spring flowers. However, after completing half of that task I was so tired I fell asleep in the chair. Wednesday was a public holiday here in France as it was the “La Fete du Travail” and also “La Fete du Muguet”. I decided to prepare my lounge for an item of furniture I was buying later in the week. Well rather than just clear the space, it was a full scale operation: floors washed, windows washed, dusting, hoovering, furniture pulled out and put back. Was I tired at the end of it…….well a snooze was called for. Thursday saw me sitting knitting. Plus I had my lunchtime visitor Marie-Therese. We had a good chat and she is coming to see me on Tuesday for us to go to the Gendarmerie to inform them that my driving licence expires in August and that I have heard nothing from Nantes with regard to the new one being issued. She thinks it will help – personally I think that the only people who can help are the people at Nantes by getting my licence sorted PDQ. Then we arrived at Friday and Monique and I went off to class. We left earlier than normal as we had to go to one of the outlying villages to pick up the new item of furniture. The lady had told us it was light (perhaps she is a weightlifter) as Monique and I found it rather heavy and it took us ages to get it installed in the dining area. Anyway, it is in! It was on my “To Do” list yesterday to get it all cleaned and then empty the box of china which has not seen the light of day since 31 May 2017. Well another couple of days won’t matter will it? I must have been feeling so much better on Friday as I decided to get a lawnmower and then put the lawn seed down on the big bare patch. I also met up with Robert (The Flying Dutchman) at the Pomme d’Or for a couple of coffees and a chat. Saturday I went into town and I saw my friend Colette; the chief of Police, Lorenza (whom I have not seen for quite some time) and then I called at the bar for a coffee and to read the paper. I picked up a few groceries and then headed home. Again a snooze in the chair was on the agenda. Am I happy in my new life, in this town I have made my home? I would not change it for the world. Although the number of inhabitants in this town is approximately the same number as the town I came from in England, this town boasts a train station with direct trains to Paris in one direction and Dijon or Mulhouse in the other direction – from there you can get trains to other parts of France or to other countries. We have a cinema which is small but also has an intimate feel to it. Since moving to this other part of the town I have discovered a Chambre d’hote just a short distance from my home, plus the “zone industrielle” has a lot more to offer than first appears. I have made some wonderful friends, get invited out and really just do so much more than I ever did in England. Plus now that I am in my own home I am just so much more contented. Would I go back to England to live? At this point in time my answer to that would be a “No!” I am just so happy and there are a number of exciting things to look forward to in the next few months. The first of which will be the arrival of my second son. He is coming to stay for a couple of weeks. He has not been here before and I am just so looking forward to seeing him and to showing him around my new hometown. Oh yes and my Gorgeous Granddaughter will be ONE next Saturday. Where has that time gone? I had better get a move on now, as my friend is coming for me this afternoon to go to an art exhibition (or two). Until next week……...bon dimanche

[spratticus]

@beat.eating.disorders #totalraised 📣£1359📣 #THANKYOU #generosityoffriends #generosityofstrangers #burnhamonseacommunity @burnhamonsea #borderterriersoninstagram #borderterrierwelfareuk #btposse #btposse_of_twitter #btposse_of_instagram #caninegeneratedindependence @cgi_dogs #sybilontour @sybil_on_tour #hounds4huntingtons @marleyterrier #thelistgoeson #thankyouisnotenough #specialthanks to @jo.williams251 @jofowles1 @griffiths_jessica (at Berrow, Somerset)

[theretirementstory]

Another damp day but that did not deter me from having a wander around town. I must admit I am feeling far better than I did this time last week, I only made "class" twice and it was touch and go whether I got to Tricot on Wednesday. To be honest I think the ladies would have preferred me to stay at home, due to coughing and sneezing! The weather has looked a little dodgy too and with all the snow that has been dumped on Paris I really thought I had better stock up on provisions and get food made and frozen (just in case!) I must say we did have some flurries but nothing that has caused a problem for me getting out. Unlike other parts of the departement which had been hit with flooding and then had to suffer ice and snow. One thing I had seen on the French news is that supermarkets are to do away with the BOGOF following the incident with the rush on Nutella. (something I can really do without!) They now want you to buy 2 get one free. Ok I will go along with that. Friday, according to the letter I received, a meter reader was due to arrive between 8 and 1pm. For me to be awake at 8am is something, to be dressed as well! Anyway I waited ALL DAY - cooking up a storm I was too, and he never put in an appearance! I tried to ring the English line of EDF but was on hold for so long I gave up. Maybe he got stuck in the snow - who knows? After my walk today I investigated an area of town where there is some building work going on. I am going to go to the Mairie tomorrow and see if I can find out more about what is happening there. Looks like the old deerstalker will be getting an airing! My friend Jony went off to Troyes on Thursday, as he is looking to move there permanently. I will be sorry if he does go, but as he said it is only 30 minutes on the train so he could come and see me (and vice versa I think). Just on a final note: Sybil and I went for a walk to the bar yesterday. We just had coffee! I know that last weekend "Call the Midwife" did an episode on Huntington's Disease. Sybil is the beautiful little red Border Terrier on the bag. I know she is wearing a Christmas ribbon but I don't care we go out and about in town together.