Our House

It’s probably a good moment to say something about the house.  We bought it on a something of a whim. We knew we wanted to come to France, but we didn’t exactly plan on the area. We did a bit of a trawl of the internet – Monica is a whizz on the computer – but it was all rather confusing. However, we did spot an English speaking agent in the area so we trotted down to see them a year ago. I was still working, so we had to be quick. It turned out that Desmond, the agent, was very fly and had a terrific list of houses. We discussed with him just what we wanted – an old stone house not needing much doing to it, large kitchen, a study for me and three bedrooms and preferably two bathrooms. And some land, naturally. We didn’t want to be right in the middle of a village, but close enough to walk to the shops and the café. Oh yes, and we wanted an outbuilding we could turn into a gite. Monica wanted this because the sensible girl knew we’d need the income for the future. And of course, it would give her something to do.

Desmond didn’t actually have just what we wanted, even though he showed us some pictures of really lovely houses that were a bit out of our price range, and we thought we’d have to think again. But he clearly keeps his ear to the proverbial ground and knew the Donalds were strapped for cash and would have to sell up, but their house wasn’t on the market yet. Anyway to cut a long story short, we managed to do a deal with them and bought Le Pigeonnier for a bit of a song. Desmond got his commission, a bit steep, but he was awfully helpful.

The Donalds were clearly bodgers. It is a lovely house, just the accommodation we wanted, but what they’d done to it is a nightmare. The plumbing leaks all over the place and it was a miracle the place hasn’t burned down the way Mr Donald had extended the wiring. So obviously that all has to be done. But it’s sound and, apart from drips here and there and the light switches you can’t touch without wearing rubber gloves and gum boots, we love it. A perfect place for us and a French neighbour to boot. Allez les bleus, as they say.