Busy Days

Teazle Heads

It's always a strange, mixed set of feelings as we get set to go back to the UK. We've friends over there who we are really looking forward to seeing and spending time with. Bradford on Avon has a very special feel about it at Christmas and New Year. If the weather is good, preferably a bright, crisp day, with a splattering of snow, BOA transports you into the traditional Christmas card scene of another century, with the narrow streets and old bridge and buildings. Bath is absolutely glorious as well, leading into the festive season, with the Christmas market and concerts. But somehow or other France has captured our hearts and minds and it's a wrench to return, even though this time we know we must, to sort things out for our move. There are some friends who over the next few months in the UK we must say 'bye' to, as we won't see them again unless at some stage they come to visit in France. Technology of course makes keeping in touch so easy. For the first few years after we've moved, we are allowed to spend fifteen days each year in the UK. We have an annual commitment in London which is important to get to. But apart from that we don't in the first year, what to use our allocation in one hit, in case something urgent crops up that we have to return for. It affects your residency status. In all likelihood we'll travel over to London next June, by train.

Cravant vines in autumn

The way things have worked out, we're going back earlier than we usually do. In fact this time last year, we were taking the ferry out to France, rather than back to the UK as we are this year.  Autumn has yet to fully develop as far as all the colours are concerned. We know what it can look like here, so have a clear picture in our heads of the Cravant panorama in all its glory. It's a stunning view. 

Getting ready to go back is always quite a performance. The week before, you're packing things up, tidying things away, getting wine orders together and this time Christmas presents as well, all of which is mixed up with a hectic social life. There's been something happening with local friends every day since last Thursday - great fun, and today we're meeting some more friends for lunch at L'Auberge. One way or another it's a whirl of activity. And it's the same when we get back to the UK. One piece of news that we weren't wanting to get concerns a wine producer here Fabrice Gasnier. We met him for the first time on the rando round Cravant at the beginning of September and have bought wine from him a couple of times since. Lovely guy and family. We'd been trying to make contact with him, as friends in BOA who had stayed with us and tasted his wines, had specifically asked if we could bring some of his wine back for them, for Christmas and New Year. So since last Thursday we've been attempting to make contact by phone and going round on the off chance we might catch up with him. But not a sign and calls weren't returned which is most unusual. Anyway last night, we heard he'd had a very bad accident, which involved him falling from a high enough point directly on to a concrete floor on his back. Various injuries as you can imagine, including a punctured lung. Wine producing is a delicious business from our point of view as customers. But it's a tough business and at times it is also a dangerous business.

Our first night back in BOA, we've had a lovely invitation to dinner from friends who live about five minutes away. Other friends are going as well, who are also moving away. They leave for Skye on November 13. Just before dinner I'm going to my first weekly French conversation group. Really didn't want be back in the UK and not chat in French. Fortunately there is a weekly group led by Frenchman Gérard, which restarts the day we get back. So the timing is perfect. Mike is joining one of his other groups.  During the day we will have attacked a four month pile of mail. We have a wonderful friend John who looks after the house for us. He is meticulous in his organising of our post. Firstly into his and her piles and then in date order of arrival. Also he gets rid of all the junk mail! He's so good about doing it.  Sunday night we're out to a jazz gig that a friend of ours is involved with.
Monday we're round to dinner with our friends Sue and Dave, although the Origami Chef will have been at work over the weekend with a few apéro dishes to take along. Then we're all going to a big firework party. Or maybe it's the other way round.

The following week we're into a run of appointments. Dentist, hairdresser - that means me going to Jim. Will be lovely to see him and the rest of the gang. There's a whole tranche of birthdays on the 9th and 10th of November and joint 60th birthday party. After all that, we're getting on with getting sorted.

So for the next few days, I'm blogging of. Then over to Tales from BOA.

Go well!!