Mar

7

A Week in Provence - Spring [1]

Filed Under Live 

                                     As Provence winds itself up again to herald the coming of spring, a certain rhythm emerges. The vines are populated by little vans as storm damage is assessed, clippings are made and there’s much cleaning up of grass verges, meadows and the villages (the fact that it’s the French Regional Elections next weekend may have something to do with the latter, though).

Jose and Nicola are hard at work. The pool kitchen is covered, the toilet walls built and many changes made to plans as to the location of the dish washer, ice machine, sink and other accoutrements.

The ice machine? Yes, we’ve finally ordered it. Thanks to our dear friends.

The boys take the changes all in good humour. They now pin the ‘latest’ plan up on the beams for reference - the collection is growing.

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[point of view from the driveway]

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[inside, before the toilet wall was built. When they excavated the garden wall for re-building, the heavy rains had rendered the wall unsafe so we now have a small piece of 'history' in the loo.]

The wood shed is also progressing well. So much so that Jose has stated that “if Simon has a dispute with Lovonne, this now becomes his bedroom”

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[Nicola feeling very proud of his handiwork with the woodshed. Jose was missing in action on Thursday - something to do with the fact that Spain beat France 2-0 in a World Cup warm-up match]

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We thought that we had escaped the damage caused in the villages by the heavy rains and snow from Europe’s worst winter in 30 years. Sadly, this was not the case. The bottom garden level has a magnificent old wall along one side - the water did some damage:

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[interesting to note that although two rows of stones have collapsed there are still a further three behind them - no doubt built on over the ages]

Spring cleaning has become the vogue and the directive was made ’sort out the study - it’s a mess’. We did. The Mother had given us a small cross/candelabra in Cape Town and this has been placed in front of the chimney. The books have been packed away, the desks cleared, and generally everything is shipshape.

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We’ve visited the gypsies - they’ve delivered the new units for the pool house; we’ve lunched at our favourite little bistro in Egalyieres; met the Duncans for another blow out at Le Gare de Bonnieux; and enjoyed a splendid lunch at Le Veranda in Menerbes on the occasion of the anniversary.

Oh, and the Sky box returned from its travels and is relaying its messages to us. Thanks Jannie!!

Au bientot - Lovonne and Simon xx

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