Friday 15th February 2013
We have arrived in Normandy at our next house sit. A lovely farmhouse built in 1700 with its own moat and used in World War II as the Forward Command Post by the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles). It is right behind Utah Beach with lots of history to explore over the next few weeks. The owners have kindly let us use their car whilst we are here.
The drive here was relaxed and easy as we keep forgetting how uncrowded the French roads are meaning you can plan to drive far greater distances in one go than you would normally consider in the UK. The sun came out half way and has shone for us ever since we arrived.
A friend of the owners of the house came over with a set of keys for us and being an avid historian himself on the local history, soon advised us on the best places to go and visit. We are both amazed by the bravery of those who fought in the D Day landings and the resulting history is everywhere. The church next to us was used by the 101st Airborne as a military hospital and still has its bloodstained pews.
We took Bradley to Utah Beach the next day and it was lovely to smell and be beside the sea again as we have been landlocked since last August. Bradley went loopy on the sand and after a good walk we all went back for a lovely tea and what better movie to watch than Band of Brothers.
Our new website album 'Normandy' has been started and can be seen here
Lots to see and visit over the next few weeks so back again soon.
Au revoir!
Tuesday 12th February 2012
We are packing up the Farmhouse here in Aigurande ready to travel north to our next house sit, few days travel and arriving in Normandy near Carentan on Friday. We will settle into our new house till the end of March when all the campsites are open again. This new house was captured from the Germans in World War II and used as a forward command post by the 101st Airborne Division so looking forward to walking on Utah Beach and the surrounding history. Catch up again when we have arrived.
Sunday 3rd February 2013
Just realised how much time has passed since our last blog. we are still having a lovely but peaceful time here in the centre of France. Believe it or not we have had plenty to do but as yet do not need a diary apart from reminding us of family birthdays etc back home. It is so easy now to fit in with the local lifestyles around here and one thing we enjoy is going out for lunch every so often. Its a strict 12 o'clock stop for lunch as all of France stops work and the local brassieres and restaurants quickly fill up with locals giving a lovely atmosphere. One waitress who speaks good english and loves Bradley has spent some time chatting to us at our table telling us how the French feel about various issues which has been really interesting.
Lorraine's shoulder is gradually getting better now so I will have to watch the left hook again soon!, it's the swimming that seems to be doing the trick and one more trip to the local physiotherapist before we move north next week should make things even better.
The sheep are constantly getting stuck as they search for more food in amongst the brambles, I now have a technique on quick extraction without getting thorns stuck in me everywhere. The one that got wedged in between the large rolled hay in the barn was another issue though and had me doing gymnastics by crawling over these large rolls of hay that stand higher than me and hanging onto the beams before she finally reversed and saw the light of day again. I must have been swinging from the rafters for about 10 minutes and later Ruth pointed out there was a door I could have used to get in to the stuck sheep!… duhhh, I'll never get my shepherds badge at this rate!
It rained on Friday so we drove to Chateauroux to get some bits and bobs and have lunch. Not much to see as it was a very wet day but only one unlike the poor UK. We watch the weather maps and for whatever reason all the bad weather seems to curl right over and around the UK, yes we get wind and rain here but it doesn't last and there are many drier days for things to recover.
Today we are giving the motorhome an early spring clean and start to get things ready to move north. We plan to leave here on the 13th or 14th Feb to arrive and be settled in our next house sit on the 15th Feb.
Thats about it for now so will check in again soon.
Au revoir!
