As usual, it’s all go here in the Barley household!
Firstly, like the rest of the region, we are shivering under the grip of the current arctic conditions. Normally we would be happy to have a cold snap, knowing we were warm and cosy inside, but this week the coldest temperatures for months also coincided with us running out of oil for our boiler. And of course, because it is so bloomin cold, everyone needs oil so we have to wait until Friday before we can get any more. Not great timing. The trouble is that the level indicator on our oil tank doesn’t work, so it’s all a bit of a lottery as to when it will run out.
So we find ourselves living like it was 1950, all huddled round the log fire at night, kids sleeping in one room with a tiny radiator to keep warm, putting more clothes on as we go to bed than we have been wearing all day… Even the hot water pipe in the kitchen has, we assume, frozen up, as it doesn’t seem to be working, when all the other hot taps do (I think the pipe runs out the back of the kitchen wall and into next-door’s garage, which obviously is rather cold).
Luckily the kids have not been at school for the last 2 days due the the snowy conditions forcing the school buses off the roads, so we have not yet had to endure a 6.30am start. But tomorrow it’s back to normal, so I’ll be lighting a fire before the sun comes up in the morning. Oh joy!
Still, it’s apparently good for killing off all the bugs in the air and just imagine how warm and toasty we’ll feel when we can finally crank up the boiler again!
Meanwhile, medical issues have been on the agenda. Today the kids went for their second set of vaccinations at the doctor. To be honest, we really didn’t follow quite what sort of vaccination it was or why they needed it. Each time we go he tells us, and we seem to understand, then as soon as we walk out the door we are confused and just know that we must come back for more. So they had another one each today and once again we walked out with more prescriptions and another appointment for February. I wonder if we’ll leave next month requiring more, or if the end is finally in sight?
The poor cats also have an appointment tomorrow. The time has come for the local vet to do his thing and sterilise Charlie and Lola. They have not been able to eat this evening, and won’t be able to have breakfast tomorrow. Wow, are they going to be grumpy?! It was bad enough tonight, having to keep them in to stop them eating anything unsavoury outside. They were going wild, chasing each other round like they used to when we first got them. Tomorrow morning will be hell. Luckily we have to be up early with the girls, as I think there will be much whining and moaning over the lack of food and fresh air. And we are stealing ourselves for the bill at the end of it. A hefty one is expected…
And after the winter break, Chateau Barley is once again taking bookings for friends and family visits. Next week my parents and and sister come to stay. We then have Lisa’s mum and sister coming in March, with her other sisters pencilled in to do the same at regular intervals through the year. The summer is quickly filling up, with several friends looking to combine a week on the coast with a week at our place. Luckily the schools in France break up at the end of June, so we will have chance for a week away before we start entertaining. It will be nice to have visitors again, especially now we have been here a year, as we have now experienced so much and seen the area in each season. Suggestions for good, easy recipes to fill lots of visitors will be gratefully recieved!
