December 23rd 2008 was such an exciting day for us - we finally got the keys to our new 'home'.
Needless to say we are just like kids with a new toy. Bill and I continually find ourselves stopping in mid activity to say "We own this house"!
Although we have owned a house in the UK for the past 16 years it was never really 'home' as we didn't live in it - we lived in rented houses/apartments overseas in Asia and West Africa so this to us is very special.
Getting the keys was fun.
We, our estate agent and the vendors met up in the ever important notaires chambers and it was like walking back in time 100 years.
Imagine entering into an oak wood panelled room, faced with walls lined with files dating back to the early 19th century and succumbing to their faintly musty smell. Then sitting in ornate and delicately carved high backed wooden chairs in front of a huge leather topped solid wood partner desk whilst the notaire read out paper upon paper of house deeds and details which were all about us and our new home.
45 minutes later it was all done and we walked out into the sunshine with a big bunch of keys and a huge smile on our faces.
We were now home owners in the sunny South of France.
Sunny did I say?
The last time that snow settled in Limoux was in 1992. However that all changed on the day we decided to move house - Boxing day 2008.
"Yippee" said the kids, "What's this then" said the dog, "*#*@*!*" said the parents.
Our enormous hired Super U van did us proud as it slipped and slid its way up and down hills and slopes and into potholes and dips. The award of the day though went to Bill who drove it in the most terrifying conditions.
We probably should have abandoned the move that day but you know when you have your heart set on doing something......
Andy and Erica, Bills parents were also with us during the move and we are extremely grateful to their dedicated lugging of bits and bobs and boxes - the quicker they did it the more cups of tea and Christmas cake they received. We did hear the neighbours whispering something about 'parent labour'...
Three weeks have passed now and although we have unpacked what seems like mountains of boxes we seem to still have several more mountains to go. I do keep asking myself why on earth have we got so much "stuff" and it just goes from box to box to cupboard to shelf and back to box again, until I decide where to put it.
Bill would probably have a good solution.....needless to say I have hidden the bin bags.
As for the kids and Lily the dog, well they too have settled in brilliantly. They each have their own rooms (Lily has a corner) which I have promised not to interfere in (hard, so hard) and they now feel they can invite friends over. Trouble is if they do they are usually asked to carry boxes up and down to the garage and I think they might be expecting payment soon so we might be had up for 'child labour' too.
So the new year started with a new house and now I just need to think of my new year resolutions. I might start with "I must finish unpacking the boxes by Christmas" and "Give more of our 'stuff' to charity".
Next Time: Douglas has just turned 13 so we now have a household of 3 teenagers. What's it like living with teenagers in France?
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