October PDF version - Etcetera

If someone had told me 20 years ago, I
would now be living in France, I would’ve
laughed in their faces, probably quite
uncontrollably!
I was always a bit anti-French, not really
sure why, think it had something to do with
a camping trip many, many years ago. I
hated the food, I didn’t understand a word
people were saying, I just didn’t get the
whole French thing that you’d hear people
talking about.
So, you can imagine my surprise when our
daughter announced she had ‘met a French
man’.
My wife of course was thrilled. How exotic!
While I hoped that it was just a phase that
wouldn’t last, deep down in my heart I knew
that she really, no, really, liked this chap.
Fast forward 20 years. We have been living
here for 9 years, and I couldn’t imagine
being anywhere else. Our daughter and
son-in-law have blessed us with 3 (of
course, it is the magic number over here!)
beautiful grandchildren.
But it wasn’t easy to get me here! As my
wife still recalls to anyone who will listen!
But she was also quite clever, I had no idea
she could be so cunning! She started off
with suggesting it made more financial
sense for us to buy a small holiday home,
PEST CONTROL
WASPS HORNETS ETC ETC.
For fast response call (all areas)
05 45 31 41 88 / 06 84 23 62 05
www.pestcontrolfrance.webs.com
siret: 483 620 779 00015
This month Nigel Bardell shares his French story.
Lady is a beagle bitch.
When she was found she
was in a terrible state,
emaciated beyond belief.
She is now vaccinated,
microchipped, de-flea-ed and wormed. She is
painfully thin and has been used as a baby
machine for most of her life. The vet has
estimated that she is 10 years old but she is in
such poor condition she looks a lot older. Lady is currently at
Animal ‘Or (Sauze Vaussais, dept. 79). She is such a sweet
natured and happy dog. She plays gently with other dogs and is
very loving to children. She just wants to have a family to love her.
If you can give Lady a loving new home please contact Julia Hunt
on juliahunt4hope@gmail.com or telephone 06 24 07 69 33.
Life etcetera
renting was so expensive after all. She
knew which angle to take for me!
So we bought a small 2 bedroom house
with a garden and friendly enough
neighbours. It was 15 minutes away from
our now soon-to-be son-in-law’s family
hamlet, and I had to admit it was lovely
having a base close to our daughter. It
allowed us to spend time over here, get to
know our new French family!
As with so many people, when our first
grandchild was born, it changed everything
for me. I think my wife also knew this! I
didn’t want to be across the channel, I
wanted to be 15 minutes down the road,
part of their lives.
I can’t share any renovation stories with you
because we have have always lived in
houses that are finished. DIY has never
been my strong point, and my wife hates
chaos!
I had a nightmare with the language, for
what felt likes years. In fact, I still haven’t
grasped it, but I can at least get by
nowadays. I make mistakes all the time, my
grammar is appalling, but I do have lots of
French friends, and I really can call them
friends….
One of the biggest surprises was how we
were treated by the neighbours. Don’t get
me wrong, getting stared at as we drive
Country & Animal Care
15
past people still, and I think always will,
drive me crazy. But what I wasn’t expecting
was the warmth and generosity we
received.
Despite my bad language skills, I was able
to sit for hours at the neighbours kitchen
table, and somehow I didn’t feel
uncomfortable.
It isn’t unusual to find gifts of food from our
neighbours on our doorstep from time to
time, passing on and sharing out courgettes
and tomatoes, or ceps….
Which takes me on to the food. I have no
idea what was wrong with me all those
years ago. I think I had a bad experience
with a plate of steak and chips, I remember
a plate of soggy pink chips in a pool of pink
blood….
Of course I haven’t experienced that since,
the food is great. We don’t go out too much,
but when we do boy do we enjoy it!
Hand on my heart, I have no regrets. I am
blessed with a beautiful family, a beautiful
home, a beautiful life.
Would you like to share your
story?
Please contact
Gayle at etcetera.
It’s all change at Hope.
Siobain Duckworth has retired and we
have a new president, Linda Burns, and
a new re-homing/rescue/adoption
person, Julia Hunt. We also have a new look website, hopeassoc.org.
If you need re-homing or adoption advice or would like to adopt a pet please contact
Julia Hunt on juliahunt4hope@gmail.com, telephone 06 24 07 69 33.
If you would like to put an article on our website please contact Sue Morgan at
soomog4hope@gmail.com.
If you would like to volunteer, hold a coffee morning or make a donation to Hope please
contact Linda Burns at linda.burns4hope@gmail.com.
Cappi was brought into the vet in Melle as
his owner had died.
He’s 3 years old. Sterilised by the vet,
vaccinated and microchipped. A friendly,
lovely chap with people but not
very happy with other animals.
He needs a home to give him
training and stability and lots of
well deserved cuddles.
If you would like to adopt Cappi
please ring Julia Hunt on 06 24
07 69 33 or email
juliahunt4hope@gmail.com.