Progress!

We've had another trip over to Carcassonne, a longer one this time to get the painting done on the second floor. It's looking good, and the floor tiles previously chosen have been replaced with more suitable ones. They were cheaper too, photo below, and should be laid in the next couple of weeks. It was so exciting when they arrived  and we could see them in the bedroom, perfect choice. We got one room completely done and another half done so plenty of painting to still  be done. I really enjoy painting, up on the small scaffold Andrea supplied painting the ceilings and high bits on the walls. So satisfying to see this the first bit of finishing completed. 

The weather was lovely and we got to spend some time enjoying the local cafes for a vino after a days work. The places we go frequently, like the tavern in La Cite, are getting to know us and we're greeted like friends. The wine is lovely, inexpensive and bought out in carafes. Andrea invited us to Marseillette for a BBQ and it was great to revisit the countryside again. We'd looked at houses there on our first buying visit. A fun night with yummy food and the best local chardonnay from a 10L box. I've ordered one of course. 

We took a local bus to a big supermarket and bought an air frier and some other kitchen stuff so we can stay at the house next trip. We also got some nice linen and towels half price at Monoprix in the Bastide. A great store with some lovely home wares. Feels good to be gathering pieces to use before all our stuff gets moved over. That's planned for 28-29 June, all going well. 

By then the living area and three beds will be ready for furniture and the roof should be replaced. Once we move we'll decide on the kitchen. It's currently useable but not for much longer. I'm planning a trip over in a couple of weeks, once I get my passport back with it's new visa. Jules' visa will take longer, a new passport needed to progress his. So it's all go with a house to pack up and clean, stuff to sort through, things to discard and a few things to sell. A new start without old baggage. 

I'm really looking forward to being there and out exploring the local environs. There's so much to see not too far away; Cathar castles, Narbonne beach, quaint villages, the Black Mountains where there are bears, and historic places like Arles with it's Roman history on show. Plus we can go anywhere in Europe so easily, just need a car really. A job for another day. 

If this works, it's the first room painted

Spring view across the River Aude

A much needed end of the day vino

The late afternoon view from Andrea's terrace

Bedroom tiles

Home(s)

Sometimes I feel a bit like Dorothy; 'there's no place like home Toto'. Only which home? In a nutshell, Aotearoa/New Zealand is my turangawaewae, my place to stand, with multiple generations of ancestry, history, current family and the country of my passport. Scotland is my ancestral home going way back forever, and it feels like home when I'm there; highland Scot from my mothers side and lowland Scot from my fathers side. England is where I live now, France is the next stop. In between there's been homes in Qatar, the UAE, the Cayman Islands and Australia. Home is made where ever I go, where I lay my carpets and welcome friends and family. 

Oh my what a long time to be away from home this time. Five weeks in Abu Dhabi working then the five seeing family and friends down under. Nine flights; lots of time in airports waiting; angst over how and whether I'd get home; a very helpful travel agent, Sam from The Flight Centre in Indooroopilly Shopping Centre; quick decisions; and a good, if expensive, outcome. It was the long way home to England via KL for a very long wait in the airport, then Muscat, Oman overnight and finally with a whole row of seats to myself, and amusing companions in the seat in front of me, home. Home to Jules waiting at the airport; home to our lovely apartment in the small village; home to my own bed and kitchen and the couch. For a wee lie down, much needed I must say! 

I was so pleased to be home; while missing my loved ones down under. A tricky space to negotiate. 

Then just because I hadn't spent enough time on the move, we flew to Carcassonne 5 sleeps later to celebrate our second wedding anniversary with an amazing dinner up at La Cite. And to spend the week working on the house, home number two at the moment. We have the best builder, Andrea, and she's done an amazing job of getting things done while I've been away. Most of the beams are stripped back to the original wood and treated; walls and ceilings are lined where needed and the new cables to rewire the place run with Pete the electrician's help. Lots of progress, and lots for a couple of unskilled laborers to do. Like stripping the rest of the wallpaper. 

The stairwell had heavy fiberglass reinforced wall paper with polystyrene backing in places. It no longer has that, stripped back to bare walls through a few generations of wallpaper underneath using brute force while trying not to fall down the stairs in the process. Very satisfying to see the pile of paper and rubbish on the lounge floor when we'd done. Next job was the final second floor bedroom, started on our last visit. We made quick work of that so on to the bathroom and loo. And voila, the whole second floor is wallpaper free. Sounds easier than it was, two middle aged folks up ladders precariously perching with a steamer and scrapper and sponge worrying away every scrap of every generation of wallpaper. Some nice patterns underneath really. 

The first floor is not far off being finished. I went and chose some tiles for the floor, traditional patterned ceramic tiles matching the original plain brown hallway tiles. The tiler has been booked, the tiles quoted at the local tile shop.  Jules and I will visit as soon as the walls are plastered and get the paint brushes out. Then that floor is livable so we can finally stay in the house rather than the useful AirBnB across the road. The living room and kitchen tiles are chosen too, although this is a work in progress. There's a bit to do yet on the ground floor. And let's not talk about the attic suite and the roof, sigh. 

Okay let's, the roofer has been engaged and he'll take care of all things roof including permissions and scaffolding. Once we have a shiny new roof aligned with the requirements of the mediaeval neighborhood, work on the attic can continue. And we can go back to the bathroom shop and order the new shower and vanity. Lovely to have the best shop with tiles, bathrooms and other bits nearby. Funny conversations as both parties negotiate English and French to make meaning and decisions, very patient staff! 

We managed to strip the wallpaper from the kitchen, utility room and most of the living room too. The ground floor is really taking shape with the false ceilings hiding the beams gone for good, beams exposed and treated, rewiring taking shape, and decisions made about the fate of the current kitchen. It was an exhausting week ending with a very French long lunch where I got to enjoy French onion soup, and the best apple dessert. My French is coming along, I can now order food confidently and make out some of the conversation using key words and context. The school across the road is a bilingual junior school so I'm hoping to volunteer there to improve to kids level language. 

We reluctantly caught the Saturday flight home, a longer journey than usual because of tube track closures. It was nice to be home, back cooking and getting things washed and put away. It's still chilly here with the promise of spring seen in the wild flowers on the roadside and the start of daylight saving. Time for a couple of couch days then it's back to getting what's needed done. There was a contract in Abu Dhabi for April but that's gone quiet for now, understandably. I'm waiting for my refund from Etihad for the Sydney AD leg of my journey home. A flight I didn't fancy waiting for after so many changes.

Amazing views flying over safer parts of the Middle East, across Saudi and up the Gulf of Suez to the Mediterranean passing over Alexandria

Then over the Swiss Alps impressive with lots of snow

Carcassonne from Pont Vieux

The stairs ready for repairs, plaster and paint

And the wallpaper and rubbish from the stairwell

The attic bathroom stripped out and ready to finish once the roof is done. The floors are original, beautiful oak planks to restore and the Velux will be replaced so there's plenty of light.

The view from our bedroom window, a short wander to the castle, La Cite Carcassonne

Roaming II

Ah the story about roaming, or rather not roaming and the kindness of strangers. My guardian angels. In the UAE I relied on WIFI because the one time I needed to connect to roaming it didn't work. Luckily my driver's phone did and lost turned into better directions. I should have taken more notice of this detail before I headed to Australia. Luckily I had taken a pic of the directions to the Newcastle train at Sydney Central so I made the later one as my plane was late. Luckily I chose the carriage I did, luckily I asked a young couple if I was on the right train. We had a laugh about that, they were heading home after a Valentines dinner out. 

 As the plane was late, I didn't hang around the airport and use the WIFI as I'd intended to. I'll have roaming, I thought so I'll do it on the train. The late train was very late in to Newcastle and the next one was in the morning. okay, get comfy and turn on roaming. No go, oh no! I hadn't taken a screen shot of the Airbnb host's details, including the address. Tired, a bit hungry and very thirsty after my long plane ride I took some time to think of something, finally asking a couple seated in front of me if I could hot spot off one of them to at least get the address of where I was going. They were lovely, had not long ago been in the UK so we had a travel chat while I took a quick shot of the address and let the host know my ETA. Then no internet for the rest of the trip. And no book, and I was a scared to sleep in case I missed my stop. 

Towards the end of the journey the young man behind me and his girl came over and asked if I was okay, asked if I needed a ride to my Airbnb or if someone was picking me up. I had no idea, if there was no waiting taxi I'd have to walk rather a distance, in the rain with my bag. They offered to take me, I'd need to get off at the next stop with them as that's where there car was. So I jumped at the offer, so much better than my plan. What a lovely young couple. they went 20 minutes out of their way to make sure I was where I needed to be. I had no way to pay them, just thank them for their kindness. I didn't get their details, a major oversight, but I'm hoping they will experience such kindness one day in their lives. 

It got me thinking about how we managed travel back in the days of paper maps and aerograms. I know I did have issues to manage at times, and those might just fill a whole post one day. All's well that ends well, and as a friend commented when I shared this, you would have done exactly the same thing. And I have done many times. I feel very grateful for these angels who come along when I need them, very thankful I wasn't left standing outside a deserted station in the middle of the night, in the rain a long way from where I needed to be.

Roaming

Not the phone kind, the person kind. After a lovely time in Abu Dhabi I got the call to go to my old home, Al Ain. I suspect the team placing us heard me going on about being there and stepped up for me. It was lovely to spend the weekend enjoying my old haunts, wandering around the malls getting the grandkids gifts, wandering through the oasis to my old neighborhood. Exploring Al Jahili Fort and enjoying the Thessinger photographs of the desert and the area in much earlier times. He's a bit of a hero to me, an intrepid adventurer who lived amongst the people while he explored. Not colonised, explored and took the best photos of the landscapes and the people. Of course cocktails by the pool at the Rotana followed, remembering the Thursday after school gathering at Trader Vics and weekends at the gym then pool. 

The work is so much easier this round. I know what's expected and what I'm meant to do so that means a little more down time and brain space. It was too cold to swim but not too cold to enjoy relaxing with a book and a drink by the pool in the warm sun. So much better than those grey UK days poor Jules was not enjoying. The oasis has had some development and despite this still was the peaceful shady wander where I centered myself. The palace was shut for renovations so I didn't get inside. I did get a juice from my old local juice shop then stood outside the build which was my home for a couple of years. although I'd walked around in a circle, it was a rather large circle and a taxi back to the hotel seemed like a sensible idea. The week passed quickly with long work days, a writing day then back to Abu Dhabi. We'd been moved to a new hotel, well not new exactly. In a different neighborhood with some cheap local food restaurants and not much else.

The house in France is moving along, well except for the call that the roof was rotten and needed replacing. Sort of expected although we were assured by two surveys and the seller that it was okay and had any leaks repaired. Not so, the pile of wet and rotten wood after some heavy rain was proof of that. Our builder is amazing. She has an eye for detail and where others may have just covered the problem, she investigated. Upshot is we'll have a new roof for her to insulate and line and add the wiring, meaning more headroom and a stable foundation for all the other work. Plus it will be the only time we need to worry about the roof, hopefully! There's a clause in sale contracts about hidden defects in newly purchased homes so I'm looking into what that means. It would be nice to have help paying for the extra work, we'll see. I'm not the sort to chase things like that, and my UAE work covers some of it, the money set aside for a new kitchen. I can't wait to go there and see the progress, for the roof to be done and the inside building rather than demolition work started. 

So five weeks of work in Abu Dhabi in the UK winter and NZ/Australia summer meant a trip down under seemed like a great idea. I usually go in school holidays but this time the school kids had all gone back and summer hols were over. Oh well, I still got some lovely time with the Newcastle crew and then on to Christchurch where I now am having a much needed rest day. Noah is off on camp, Tim and Sarah are at work and Otis, the now old dog, is sleeping. Next stop is Brisbane and the girls there, and their dogs and cats, and friends on the Gold Coast.   

My life is blessed with the very best friends. Friends I've met while working away, friends I've known for ages. Like Jane, Annie and Rose all of whom I enjoyed time with this trip. Jane has a Japanese student staying so we all went on an adventure, stopping at the Lyttleton market for lunch, then on to Sumner for ice creams, and a sneaky wine, then to the Brighton Pier. There was a baby spotted shag in distress on the pier so after consulting with a vet, we wrapped in a coat, found a box and took it to the bird hospital at Willowbank Wildlife Park. Just what you do here! Apparently the recent wet and windy weather has been hard on the bird population especially the young ones like this one. I hope he lives and gets to fly another day. 

Annie, Grant and I enjoyed breakfast at Mona Vale and a wander in the gardens. Repaired after the major earthquake 15 years ago on the same day. Old friends I've know for ages and ages, ones where we pick up where we left off no matter how long it's been. Last evening Rose and I caught up at the local for a wine. Rose and Matt came to stay with us over the summer so it was lovely to hear all her news, and that she's studying. It's stupidly early start tomorrow morning for a long journey back to Aus via somewhere else as direct flights are not that easy to get for some reason. Plus the trans Tasman route has become very expensive. 

It seems like ages since I left the UK and I'm almost ready to head home, to stop living out of a suitcase and sleep in my own bed. First it's fun times with those lovely granddaughters and their mum and dad, plus bonus times with my GC friends. I have to make the most of the these down under trips as it's a long way to go, even with the break in Abu Dhabi, and quite expensive. I miss my family so want to make the most of every moment with them. The longer term plan is to spend two or three months in the part of the world each year. Probably a few years away yet. 

Leaving the harbour at Newcastle, wishing I was aboard

Watching the parade of people getting photos at La Louvre in Abu Dhabi

La Louvre AD is an amazing building with some interesting displays

Like this one of traditional plates

Midday at the oasis 

Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain

Heading to Aotearoa, always exciting

Reflections from the dining room

 And..... I'm back in Abu Dhabi after swearing I'd not do that to myself again! The work, or more the paperwork associated with the work, rather than Abu Dhabi. I love being here. I love the warm sunshine, not too hot because its winter. That I can swim in the sea even if it's a bit chilly getting in; that I have the best view from my hotel room desk where I'm working; that I'm catching up with new friends and old friends while I'm here; that I get to enjoy the hotel facilities, buffet breakfast, room service when I need to and Spinneys supermarket with it's fresh food. Best of all I'm missing the UK winter. 

I'm not really a winter person. Enjoy the changes of season, enjoy a variety of temperatures but not the dull grey, wet, relentlessly cold for ages UK winter. Especially after a mediocre summer. I didn't come here to write about the weather. I came to add a reflection from my breakfast dining this morning, report writing day so I get to take a break and enjoy the buffet. I was worried I had missed breakfast looking up from my computer to see it was already 10am. So down I rushed. 

The first people I saw were two of my colleagues, the two lovely inclusive ones who are frequent fliers in the work and the hotel. A nice catch up and an arrangement to catch up later and have a swim and/or a drink. A lovely loose 'keep in touch and we'll go from there' arrangement. Just the ones I like, knowing I'll be welcomed by them and others in the team where ever we see each other. Reciprocated of course. I'm no longer the brand new one, not yet a seasoned one either!

There are two young men at the egg station. Young men who most mornings make me an omelet to keep me going through out the day. I always have a little chat with them if they're not too rushed, and at 6.30am it's not too busy. A smile and a chat, the same with the other staff who are getting to know I'm a regular customer. I watched as two young men walked past, young men staying at the hotel. Young men who confidently walked through the dining room and made way for the young waiter who came from the kitchen with a replenished bowl of food. Gave way with a small acknowledgment and carried on with their conversation. And another who was grumpy with getting the wrong cup at the coffee machine and didn't look at the young man making his coffee for him. 

I wrote a post years ago about accidents of birth, how the place you're born and the family you're born into often dictates how and where you live your life. This is clearly seen in the dining room of large hotels; in the hallways with the folks who make up the rooms; out the front with the concierge and his welcoming team; with the young man who brought my room service meal last night, and who so cheerfully and willingly managed to get me a proper teapot and some extra tea, delivering it again with a smile as he took away my dishes. 

The economic migrants so maligned by ignorant people in wealthy countries; ignored by some and treated poorly by others. These lovely young people who leave their homes and travel to countries where they can make a living, and hopefully a life, while still supporting their families back home. On very low wages, working punishing hours, dealing with rude people, racist and religious abuse, loneliness and isolation from their own families and culture. Economic migrants without whom many countries would not be able to provide their citizens with the lifestyles they have become accustomed to. 

There but by accident of birth go our own children. Smile. Be kind. Be friendly. Be tolerant. Be respectful. It doesn't take a lot.

And then there's a change

As always happens, as one path is being embarked upon, another opportunity comes calling. This time a chance to escape the UK winter for three weeks, visit a place I used to live and put my early years hat back on. That hat was rusty and sitting in a box marked 'do not open' and I suspect it was quite pleased when I dusted it off, said hi and packed it to go. I thought I may have lost my mojo so was a bit worried. I'm up for taking a risk so with my very last minute ticket off I flew to Abu Dhabi, jumping into a taxi to my old home Al Ain.  Reliving my first trip there in 2009, sitting alongside Tracey, heading towards a new future very late at night. I have been back twice, once in 2013 and once in 2018. Both short visits with friends.

Roll forward almost 17 years. I had hoped I'd be based in Al Ain but was only there for two days of training. I did get to go for a wander to the oasis just on dusk but the gates were mostly shut so I just enjoyed being out in the dusty heat wandering around the walls. The training was great and it was wonderful to meet some new friends as we negotiated a new way of working and the structures built around this by one of my old colleagues from my earlier time in Al Ain. I stayed at an old haunt, my yoga and bar place formally the Hilton.

Thursday late afternoon we were whisked away to a new hotel in Abu Dhabi because our work was there for the next two weeks. And on Friday that begun. What a busy week! I hardly had time to eat or sleep, or wander in the heat to the local restaurants. And there was no beach time as I worked all weekend. No good at all really. Friday night I did get to have dinner with two old friends from my Al Ain days. Sitting outside in the balmy night air eating the best Italian and enjoying a wine or two. A nice catch up after a 12 year gap. 

The next week was easier as I kind of knew what I was doing. Did I mention it was inspection work? With lots of tools and guides and tips to make things easier. Many covered in the training and giving me aha moments as I began to apply them in practice. Hanging the work on the scaffold provided by the training and more experienced folks. It's been a while since I've learnt new stuff so it was a gift for this lifelong learner. 

The balmy days and evenings were enjoyed the second week, a friend and I finding the best Indian vegetarian restaurant where I could eat everything on the menu. Yummy fresh food and beautiful people running it. I enjoyed the fresh juices and people watching as the local folks were out and about. I also found a local supermarket with the best nuts, dates, tea and coffee. I went a bit mad on my last day and bought some of  all of them, over 2 kilograms all up! The tea has been a treat, the nuts so much better than I can buy here and the dates delicious local ones. 

The coffee,  now that was a surprise. I didn't read the fine print and instead of the single origin Brazilian arabica coffee I was expecting, it was cardamom coffee with the arabica mixed in. Luckily I love cardamom coffee so I'll enjoy the large bag I bought for the months to come. The house smelt lovely when I made it, the ghost of  those beautiful Arabic and Indian flavours lingering in the air. 

So things I've learnt. Always say yes, it will usually work out and if not take the lesson. People are lovely. People are helpful. You just have to ask. The team of inspectors I was part of made me very welcome and we had some great chats over breakfast and whenever we managed to get together. Abu Dhabi Emirate has changed. It's a lot more cosmopolitan and finished than it was when I lived there. It's very built up and it was a treat being driven to work past so many familiar places. And finally, waffles with berry coulis, maple syrup (just a little) and fresh fruit salad topped with some local yogurt is the breakfast of champions. And coming home, even to the chilly UK weather, is the best.

An amazing selection of tea, nuts and honey

The one day I got to  lounge in the sun and swim in the sea

Al Ain oasis 

Peaking through the only open gate I could find

The hotel formally know as the Hilton

Doing things in France

Well we were told it would be time consuming and difficult with false starts and issues along the way. That's France, bureaucratic and difficult, requiring patience especially if you're not a French speaker. Oh and the people are unfriendly and rude, especially when you're an English speaker attempting their language. So very not true on any account, well except for the mobile phone sign up. More on that later. 

The signing of docs for our new digs took place on 8 August and we picked up the keys on 21 October. We did this from home and attended the meeting electronically. The process is said to take 3-6 months, ours was clearly a simple transaction so took much less. We have a great Notaire. He lives in our neighbourhood so is keen to catch up for a wine once we're there. It was helpful to have his expertise about our area as well, insider information and recommendations. 

While we waited Jules finally got to see the place and we met with the builder to get her impressions. One of the best things I've noticed this early in is how people are supportive of each other. There's a great FB page for English speakers in Carcassonne where people new to the area are welcomed, all sorts of information shared and help provided. The agents we dealt with also had recommendations. That's how we connected with Mark who completed an independent survey for us and connected us with the builder and the other trades we need to renovate. 

Fast forward to our trip last week to do the final signing. Greeted like old friends by the Notaire and Laura our lovely agent. Signing was done, keys delivered and it was ours. Staying in the same Airbnb across the road we had free access to wander, measure, plan and dream in our new home. Thursday arrived and we met with Mark, Andrea and Laurent to make firm plans for the renovations. The big jobs are rewiring and insulation. Attic is next with the bathroom revamp, painting and tidying up. Level 1 is more simple, just painting and tiling bedroom floors. The kitchen is serviceable and large, the living fine as is. More decisions to be made about these areas. 

I'm very much looking forward to being the labourer on the job. I'm quite handy and can do things like strip the horrible wallpaper in one room and remove lino. It will be good to be there for decision making and to take the before during and after pics. The spreadsheet I put together is with Mark and Andrea, the wait is on for an estimate and start dates. 

Back to the phones. To get a bank account and insurance, which one much have when buying a house, one needs a French phone number. Actually both of us need a French phone number. Easy, I'll sign up online and activate when we're there the following week. Lets get started. Chatbot, French chat only, finally referred me to a person. Non parles vous Englise. Okay, out comes Google Translate. 

Circular discussion: Madam to activate your French mobile number you need a French number. I don't have a French number. There's a number on your application. That's my UK number. I will send a code to that number (it didn't work because it's my UK number). That's my UK number. You need a French number to activate your phone. I don't have a French phone number. Do you have a friend with a French number? No I don't know anyone here yet. And so on for over an hour until the suggestion we go to the Orange shop to see if someone there can use their number. Google translate is definitely my friend! 

So off we went next day to the Orange shop. The first person couldn't help. Our Frenglish was inadequate. The second person was a gem. Once he understood the issue voila he fixed it and my phone was active. This did take some time. Next job was to activate Jules' phone. Easy. Jump online pretend I'm him, change the UK number for my French one (luckily he has a friend with a French number) and, bonus, a person who speaks English on the chat. A 10 minute job and we're both set up. 

Activating the bank account came next and with the help of the lovely South African agent it was easy. A bit circular and dependent on Google translate, and with a delay, but done. 

So next trip its turn on the Esim to have a French phone and no roaming charges. My new bank card should be in my letterbox too. Bonus. 

Our go to spot for a drink and people watching

Sunset from La Cite

Pano of our neighbourhood at sunset

A new adventure - France

Well the Aude to be more precise. And Carcassonne. That amazing city Kate Mosse brought to life for me all those years ago when I devoured her books. I've kept up with the series reading the last one recently. Carcassonne was on my bucket list in 2004 and I made it there for a quick visit, plus a visit to the hospital when I fell down that marble staircase with such style, sober. The left arm again, x-rays and a sling for a bit. Dented and damaged but not broken phew. 

So I wandered La cite in a sling, exploring this most historic place. Back again after a 21 year wait, I wandered the streets and enjoyed a pizza and local rose while people watching. I've always wanted to live in the South of France. I've explored much of it while following the Tour de France in 2004 and on other trips driving along the coast and up to Mont san Michel. 

Our first house hunting trip in May happened because Eurostar had very cheap tickets and I built the trip from there. Overnight in Paris, train to Orly Airport to pick up a car then the drive south. A long drive! Airbnb came to the party as they always do and we had a lovely little apartment near La Cite and a short wander to la Bastide with all it's restaurants and shops. The mission for this trip was viewing properties A Place in the Sun style. Enter two lovely real estate agents from Leggett and off we went checking out the villages nearby. La Redorte on the Canal du Midi was a favorite, and Azille, Lezignan-Corbieres and Olonzac. 

A few days of looking had a short list, one quickly discarded when we realised Carcassonne itself might be a better option because there was more there to attract tourists. We drove through vineyards exploring and navigating putting petrol in the car (an amusing if frustrating interlude with a card not working, language barriers and helpful folks), Google maps vagaries, very narrow roads and exciting blind bridges. And lots and lots of lovely villages and the Narbonne Plage where we enjoyed a rainy beach stop. Back to the search.

And back to Carcassonne, a second visit confirmed it was the place to be. It was lovely and hot and I had an Airbnb with an outside terrace in the middle of the Bastide where two of the properties were located. The third property I visited I put an offer on, accepted after some back and forth. So now we wait as we go through the French buying property process then it's some much needed renovations and set up for us and others to enjoy. Very exciting. The agents are so helpful and the process is involved, including a survey with the issues highlighted. Actually everyone we've dealt with has been helpful. I highly recommend Leggetts, a very professional company. 

So next stop is Carcassonne, France. The place of amazing history, lovely people, excellent wine, markets with yummy fresh food, baguettes, pastries and cassoulet. Close to Spain, a place I've never really visited, and the rest of France. The Tour de France has a stage end there this year and passes by most years so I'll get to watch close up rather than highlights on TV. There are details to work out, those are the next jobs on the long list.

La Cite 

Canal du Midi - I enjoyed a short cruise through the locks

La Cite looking across Carcassonne

Le tour is  coming!

The last lock

2025

And it's 2025 already. Well halfway through 2025 to be honest. And here I am again with lots of stories and pics. Let's hope this time I can keep the stories rolling, keep motivated to add here as events happen. Here's a potted look at our Australian and New Zealand journey. 

December was chilly and Christmassy, January was the big trip south and, along with February, a big catch up with friends and family. As well as laying my mums ashes to rest in a place special to her. Jules had his first trip down under and I really didn't know what he'd think of it all. Can say now he's a fan. A fan of the prawns, koura (lobster), fresh food, weather, scenery, and people. 

Landing in pouring rain in Sydney was not the most auspicious start. Enjoying a wander in Kings Cross and surrounds searching for dinner found us in a hotel that used to be my local enjoying a feed of large prawns with cider served by a young bloke from over this way on his big OE in Australia. The next day we wandered around Woolloomooloo, through the botanic gardens into the city. Dodging showers and buying an umbrella. The naval base was of particular interest as Jules' dad visited there on his ship. He would have wandered the same streets and enjoyed the hospitality of sailor shore time. 

On our return visit to Sydney on the homeward leg we visited the Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour and explored the submarine and naval ships there to be explored. I'd never been so it was about time really! It was a treat, a place we got kicked out of at closing time and left reluctantly. From Sydney we headed up to Newcastle for grandbaby time. Only one is still at that squidgy cuddles stage, the other two rather more grown up than I'd last seen them a year ago. We had a lovely time together swimming and exploring. Newcastle is a lovely spot, the ocean baths, seascapes and beaches were just lovely in the warm January weather. Apart from the massive storm that is. We got back to our Airbnb just before the heavens opened up and the lightening and thunder started. 

Next stop was Brisbane and time for the three girls living there. So enjoyed time with them. The eldest expressed a wish for a specific Jellycat for Christmas. Because we were there just after Christmas my bag was full of goodies for the kids so I was happy to oblige. The Jellycat was part of a promotion. Fish'n'chips in Selfridges in London and patisserie goodies in Paris. Just to be clear, these were soft toys. Expensive soft toys, and I had to participate in the 'experience' to get said Jellycat and the goodies that came with it. Experience a lovely young man pretend cooking Lily fish and telling me her story. It was fun, Christmas fun in an amazingly Christmassy Selfridges. 

What a treat it was giving this gift to Eve, she was delighted especially when Jules shared the video of my experience with her. The other girls liked their gifts too, carefully chosen. The biggest treat was taking the girls to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo for the day. A very hot day where we enjoyed wandering around the extensive, well kept grounds patting kangaroos, shivering at the size of the crocs and seeing a green grass snake on the side of the track. In the wild probably enjoying the captive animals' food. The girls are so grown up now, enjoying their schools, sports and friends. 

Then it was off to New Zealand. Christchurch to see Tim, Sarah and Noah, and Jane. A road trip was in order so we headed up to Nelson via Kaikoura where Nin's  Bins got our lunch time custom. A large koura with fresh fish'n'chips. Real ones this time. Sue and Neil are old friends who retired to Nelson so it was lovely to spend time with them. I love this part of New Zealand. Close to the sea, lovely growing climate and the best food and wine. 

We drove down the centre and along the coast via Punakaiki where we wandered amongst the pancake rocks formed 30 million years ago. The limestone rocks are now eroded to look like stacks of pancakes and I was disappointed to see one of the most reliable blowholes had collapsed. This was a favorite stop for my kids on journeys north, as I remember it being one of mine when I was a kid. A wilder stop in those days with few barriers and more wave action to see. 

We overnighted in Hokitika then out to my brothers place on our family land. A home off grid with solar power and a fire to heat the house and water. We really enjoyed our few days up in the bush with the sky so clear, star gazing with shooting stars and other unidentified celestial happenings. The family gathered to lay mum to rest with dad. Tim and Noah had made a lovely memorial stone to mark the spot, a perfect marker made from local river stone. Terri my niece brought some huge lobster tails to add to the food already planned so we enjoyed food, family, friends, stories and old photos. A lovely moment in time to remember. 

Back to Christchurch then off on another flight to Sydney for further exploration before heading back home. Home to winter. It was lovely  to sleep in my own bed, and luckily we had some nice days to catch up on washing and get settled. If one every really gets too settled when family is on the other side of the world. 

Amazing view of the mountains of Iran

Australia Zoo friends

No visit to Aus is complete without this guy

Watson's Bay and The Gap

The Gold Coast holds a special place in my heart

Had a lovely time in Katoomba visiting the Three Sisters

Some pics needing stories

It's when you look through photos to add here that you realise how much is missing! The trip to St Albans; the one to Marseille to catch up with Jacqui; the wander around Black Park and it's movie and TV history; the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower; having Jo and family to visit. Best I get on with catching up. After a coffee and small break. In the meantime here's a few pics. 

Black Park lake

On the water with Jacqui - Lovely day out wandering on Ile Pomegues

Palais Longchamp, Marseille - Where there's a lovely cafe with wine across the road.

Cassis harbour, France

My happy place - Plage la Grande Mer

The night tower - Stories of old told by a yeoman at the Ceremony of the Keys

Boats at rest - Marseille harbour 

Marseille from the top of the hill
 

Fun times with Jo and family, love it when friends visit

A bit chilly here

I'm that person who wakes up to snow and goes a little crazy, just a little more kid like than usual really. It snowed last week, it didn't last long on the ground but it was lovely while it did. Photos from every window of course, and a short video. I can love snow because I'm inside in the warm looking out. It's been chilly here lately, colder than the last winter I had here. I checked out the latitude, distance from the equator, compared to New Zealand and guess what, I'm living at the southern equivalent of just south of the south of the south island. South is cold in New Zealand, south of the south is more like artic. I shouldn't have checked really, it made me feel colder. 

This hot house flower and her beau are heading south, not the cold south south more a tropical north south, in early January. I can't wait to get grandbaby cuddles, although there's only one left at that squishy cuddly stage. The others will just have to endure. It's essential to be able to chat to them and Facetime is great. I had an Aria chat today, a 'what I want for Christmas' chat with a bit of Lily thrown in. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone and getting some beach time. In NZ my family are laying my mum's ashes to rest in a place special her. She passed away in June after a long illness, hard to watch from a distance. 

I'm between contracts at the moment and having time on my hands is a bit of a gift. I was given a folder with my dad's mum's family history and have been exploring what's there and what more I can find out. In the process I've discovered more about my dad's dad, my favourite person the world until he died in 1979. He went to war as men did back then and served in Egypt and other places. My great great grandad Thomas Galloway Aitkin also went to war, the first one, and I found out a bit about him as  well. He was gassed and wasn't well when he returned. He was allocated farmland as a returned soldier, a story similar to the one written by Maurice Shadbolt in Strangers and Journeys. Looking at a photo of Thomas I can see who my eldest son looks like, an uncanny likeness. 

 There's more to explore including the places over here where they emigrated from. My people came from Scotland, on both sides of the family, lowland and highland Scots. My dad's family came to New Zealand early and ran whaling stations in the south, plying the waters for the riches whales and seals brought. A brutal cold existence in a harsh climate. They built the wharf at Lyttleton where the 'first' settlers landed; they fed them and laid out where they were going to live. Ironically, land already settled by local Māori who must have been puzzled by the surveyors pegs.  

My mum's family, the highland Scots, landed in the south and brought their Scottish culture to Southland and Otago. Farming land and laying down cities and towns on Māori lands. Such is New Zealand's story. The trip north to Scotland will have to wait until summer and by then I'll have a trail of discovery mapped out. I can't wait, love a good road trip and my last one exploring there was in 2013. The one where I stood listening to the guide at Stirling Castle telling a story and realised it was the story of my family. It was emotional when the penny dropped. 

This past week has been an indoors one mostly with one trip to London to explore the Natural History Museum. I love geology and the museum had some amazing displays of our earth and it's riches. I could see some pieces I have in the collections, some of the shells and stones I've collected over the years. It was cold, nothing my new long wool coat couldn't cope with. 

The coat I bought recently for Remembrance Sunday at the cenotaph. I had a privileged position after being escorted through horse guards to Whitehall next to Downing Street. So good to see members of the royal family and other special folks laying wreaths; listening to the bands and watching them march past; and enjoy the parade of old soldiers, young servicemen and women; and the Blue Light contingent. We had lunch after at Westminster Hall. A day of commemoration done as only the Brits can do it. 

That's about all for now. Here's a few pics of recent weeks. 

So different here now the leaves have fallen

My birthstones

Natural History Museum 

Chelsea Pensioners

The Cenotaph