It's been a busy couple of years. Its now December 2020, and we've been in a pandemic for the last 9-months. Karin has now retired from work and we had big plans to spend lots of time in France. We had trips booked in March and October but both were cancelled because of Covid-19. As we write this, the news says we are close to a vaccine but it could be many more months before its widely available. So as we wait patiently for our next trip, it's a good time to update this blog with details of whats been happening.
In August 2018, we travelled to France to pick up the keys to our beautiful new/old house. We arrived in Paris on 6 August 2018, and spent a wonderful day with our friends, Jean-Charles and Anette. We met them at the Musée d'Orsay, where Anette took us in through the staff entrance and down to her office in the basement of the amazing gallery. After a brief personal tour, we joined her for a group tour and were treated to an art history masterclass. That night, we were invited for dinner at their beautiful apartment in Montmartre and experienced true Parisian hospitality.
The next day we drove south to Gourdon in our rented Volvo tank. We had been upgraded and were thankful of the extra space over the next month.
On 8 August 2018, we met Veronique at her real estate business in Gourdon to pick up the keys. We had only ever emailed and phoned Veronique over the last 10-months as we finalised the sale. Later that day, Veronique came to show us how the water and electricity worked, and with tips of important things we needed to know about life in Gourdon. Most importantly, she introduced us to Phil and Nathalie, who also lived in Gourdon. Phil is an Australian builder who has been living in France for over 15 years. And Nathalie is his French partner, who now manages our house on Airbnb while we are unable to travel. Nathalie also helped us with setting up our French bank account and visiting Sarlat to set up our phone and Internet service. While Phil very graciously took us to the Darty electrical shop in Sarlat to help us buy an oven and cook-top, which he installed later that day. We had imagined it would take us years to set up our house but it miraculously occurred within days of meeting Phil and Nathalie. Phil even arranged to meet the phone technicians while we were home in Australia to ensure the phone lines were installed correctly into our house.
Over the next month, we had a fantastic time setting up our house and enjoying the very warm French summer. Most days were in the high 30s and early 40s, but with much less humidity than Australia. We made trips to Ikea in Toulouse and discovered the Brocante second-hand markets and shops in the surrounding villages where we bought some great old chairs, lamps and furniture. We also enjoyed Phil And Nathalie's hospitality for lunch and dinner over the next weeks before we left Gourdon to drive back to Paris for our flight home.
On our final day in Paris, we were again treated to Jean-Charles and Anette's company for drinks at their apartment and then dinner in a beautiful nearby restaurant. We flew home early the next day with grand plans to return as soon as possible.
Anette's masterclass at the Musée d'Orsay.
Dinner with Jean-Charles & Anette at their apartment in Montmartre.
Meeting Veronique to pick up our keys.
The adventure begins, in our home away from home.
Spring/Summer cleaning.
Anette & Jean-Charles house warming painting hung above the fireplace.
Arriving at Ikea Toulouse for the first time.
IKEA Toulose. The day started with lunch and a carafe of red wine in their bistro.
The first load of essentials, bed, linen, table, kitchen utensils, wine glasses, etc.
Summer in Gourdon attracts a lot of tourists. A family photo taken out the front of our house, on discarded chairs that are going to the dump.
Our first night.
At Darty Electrical in Sarlat, with Phil, picking up our oven.
At Phil & Nathalie's for lunch, in their beautiful old house.
BBQ, French style.
...and the result.
Phil installing our oven and cook top.
Grand plans to cook lots of fantastic French food on this unit.
Saturday morning markets in the church square, a 1-minute walk from our house.
Nathalie.
An advert for the next Brocante markets.
The public pool in Gourdon, and some respite from the summer heat.
Twilight at 10pm.
The weekly markets in the town's main carpark, a 2-minute walk from our house.
The "Red Dragon" brocante store in Salviac, a neighbouring village.
Our chairs from 'Red Dragon'. The owner was an English women who took us to her large house where she had rooms full of old furniture for sale. This was our first purchase.
Leaving Gourdon, with a cool fog on the lake, after weeks of hot sunny weather.
Our final dinner with Jean-Charles and Anette in one of their favourite Montmartre restaurants.
