a French bureacracy and helpful officials!...

Over the last 24 hours I have once more been impressed by efficiency that I had not ever experienced in the UK.
Once more it was time to do business with the assurance and organise the process for getting our car registered in France and getting French plates (les plaques!). Again as a worrier I had wondered if with the limited French we have we could possibly circumnavigate all the official bits and get it all sorted. Again my worries appear to be groundless!
Yesterday, having waited for almost 3 weeks now for a parcel of correspondence from England which  still shows no sign of arriving we decided that with the one letter we had confirming 7 years of no claims bonus(although we now know that it should be more and are awaiting a letter direct from the insurance company in England), we should begin the process of insuring the car here. Again we returned to the wonderful employees of Gan Assurance in Cluny to plead in the worst French you can imagine for a policy for us both with "toutes risques". Madame is always so helpful; we asked if we could pay monthly - yes, with no extra charge;  could we be insured with the English number plate until we could get the "Immatriculation" - the registration documents with new number? - yes we could, as long as we got the paper work done and a new number within one month. Delighted, we got our little green sticker to attach to the windscreen to show we were insured by a French company - phew! part one completed. The insurance would commence at midnight! Payment would not begin until 6th May! Incredible!!!!! We came home and rang our English insurers to arrange to cancel the policy at midnight - not possible, we were told, once you tell us you want to cancel it has immediate effect and we charge you for it! Hmm, a bit of a risk - 4 hours outside the house with effectively no insurance! Then a discovery, - the letter confirming the no claims bonus is wrong - I question closely as it has a big impact on what we are paying in France. Yes there is definitely a mistake and the nice man at the other end of the phone in Ipswich he tells me,  promises that he will sort it out for me and send me another letter to correct the first!
So having patted ourselves on the back for getting that far, we planned the visit to Macon for the next pieces of paper. We had had information from an English friend that it had taken him 4 months to do this registration so we were not holding our breath - but we could have done. First to the "Centre Administrative" to ask for a "quittas fiscal". This document is necessary to ensure that if we have to pay tax to import the car, that we have done so. We had done our homework here,and had got the certificate of conformitie from Renault in England before we left - without charge! We also had our registration documents, our insurance, our passports and our driving licences. We had proof of our French address. Madame was delightful, everything was in order, she photocopied all the relevant documents and handed us the quittas fiscal - gratuit (free)! A 10 minute job! So much easier than we were expecting! She kindly explained that for the immatriculation we must go to the Prefecture building. It was such a sunny day that we left the car in the car park and walked the 20 minute walk to the Prefecture. We were met by a helpful lady on the welcome desk who gave us the form to complete asking for the relevant documents so when our number came up we were ready. She even marked on the form where I had to provide all the information - wonderful! We took our place clutching our number 076 - 060 was being currently seen but within about 25 minutes it was our turn. Again incredible efficiency - all the details put into the computer, paperwork all in order and in 10 minutes we were waiting to be called to the cash desk to pay - 282.50 euros handed over, and a temporary registration document issued - the permanent one to follow in the post within a week! Done! Completed! in less than 2 hours we had negotiated another bit of being here permanently!
As we came out of the building we noticed a conveniently placed number plate shop. Although it was after midday the proprietor welcomed us in - was the car outside? no we said its in the parking! Shall we return after lunch? The man was very pleased with that suggestion and if we bought the car round to the shop he would fix the plates on for us! Wow!
We treated ourselves to a lovely lunch by the river Saone, and saw several working barges ploughing their way through the shimmering waters as well as a cruise boat going towards Chalon.
We returned to the number plate shop having parked just around the corner. We were so impressed with the proprietor; he locked the shop and with a tool box came to our car, and fixed on the new plates - cost altogether including fitting 34 euros! We had a lovely chat with an elderly gentleman who wanted a key cut and so accompanied us whilst the number plates were fitted. We learnt that when St Peter's in Rome was built it was constructed 3 metres longer than Cluny Abbey as a mark of superiority - that's according to the proprietor! The elderly man was enchanted that we were now resident in France and expressed his pleasure that we could communicate in French (but truly I think he was being kind!)
We drove back to Cluny and amazed the assurance by our arrival with the temporary registration documents - both ladies were as amazed at us and at the simplicity and speed of the process! We now have a new insurance sticker with the French number on it - I found it hard to remember the English number so I am now needing to practice because I need to know the number in French!!!!
Often here we feel that a powerful and amazing God is watching over us, leading and guiding us step by step. It is truly amazing to us that we are receiving these signs of God's grace and mercy.
On Sunday we begin the journey through Holy week with the Taize community; our intention is to be at communion each morning at 8:10 and to get to evening prayer too.

A very French market...or how to spend your wedding anniversary!!

29 years ago today Joe and I got married at St. Brelade's Parish Church Jersey. The years have been eventful and challenging, and on this, our first wedding anniversary resident in France, we wanted to do something we had not done before.
We had heard about the market at Louhans, about an hour's drive from our home and we decided that a visit and lunch out would be a perfect way to spend the day! We had planned to be up early but I turned over and switched off the alarm and went back to sleep but we did well we thought, to set off by 9am. We met our neighbour Raymond as we were leaving, he wished us "bonne anniversaire" and when we told him where we were going he looked at his watch and said "trop tard" (too late!) as the market opens at 6am! We sped off and eventually arrived about an hour later. We parked in the free parking spaces and set off past the river towards the town. As you can see it was very tranquil!



Contrast this with the biggest market I have ever seen! Stall after stall sold an amazing variety of clothing, produce, plants, fruit trees, and then in a separate section live animals.
It took us over an hour to wander around the stalls occasionally being tempted by the amazing variety for sale. We tasted some lovely pepper, and artichoke pate for spreading on bread as little aperitifs. Then we tasted some strong (fort) comte cheese - and bought some - it has the texture of cheddar and a nutty flavour and we are looking forward to eating some later.
There was a wide variety of fruit and veg and a stall selling only nougat! Can you see Joe's hand sneaking a sample?

The market was busy but we were not even half way round it! 

Dried sausages are very popular all over the area - and the flavours are amazing and varied - we resisted temptation because it is Joe who eats this and we already had some at home!

We know that the French as a nation are not sentimental about animals - except of course domestic dogs and cats! But rabbits, goats, ducks, pintardes and chickens are for eating! All of these were for sale in the live animals section of the market. We saw 2 Siamese kittens for sale - at 450 euros each! But puppies, chicks, hens, goats, rabbits etc were all much cheaper (or cheeper if you are thinking about the chicks!!!)

Ducklings await sale



A variety of chickens to provide eggs and roast chicken!









We could have also bought a grandfather clock, carpets, beds, a dining table and chairs to seat 12, wine, fruit trees, shrubs, perrennial plants, lettuce plants, tomato plants, caulifower plants!

We ended our tour with a lovely market lunch - it was the market day menu de jour - mixed salad or pate starter, pizza or roast chicken and chips main course and cheese or apple tart dessert - all for 14 euros! We sat outside in the sunshine at the time we would have been married 29 years ago - and that was a sunny day too. After lunch we went into the church and lit a candle of thanks for all the ways in which God has blessed us and looked after us.

 

the outside of St Pierre



The window depicting the Revelation of St John

We have had such a wonderful day and we will certainly recommend the Monday market at Louhans to our guests - well worth the drive and the experience!!!



Spring has sprung in Burgundy...

For the last week, we have spent a lot of time unpacking our boxes and finding homes for them all. On Tuesday we drove up to Dijon - about one and half hours from here to visit Ikea clutching a shopping list for our friend Anton and for us. We realised that as we had left 2 bookcases in England so that the house was not completely bare, we would not be able to fit all our many and varied books on the shelves we had. We had been given a generous gift by our parish and had put the money to one side until we knew what we needed. We came back with shelves for the pans, hanging bars for all the utensils, a set of shelving for the electrical gadgets, a bookcase and a cupboard. We were delighted with our purchases and we spent yesterday putting it all together and finally feeling that we were reclaiming our home from the dreaded boxes!
We promised ourselves that we would not spend every moment unpacking as it makes us feel very dispirited - for every box emptied there was another...so on Tuesday we set out to see a dear friend, one who had encouraged us when we had told him 8 years ago that we were thinking of buying a house near to Taize. "Do it" said Jean-Michel, "And do it soon."
It was with delight that we found our friend cutting tiles to make a new kitchen in one of the gites on his campsite. Rather than post pictures here's the link to it www.chateau-de-montrouant.com

We had a moment of what I would call "clarity" as we sat in the kitchen of Jean-Michel and Emmanuelle's chateau home. We gave him a card with our address and phone number on it. "Oh," he commented when he saw the name. He esplained that the phrase "Le havre de paix" is a strong phrase and means a place of rest, tranquillity, peace and safety. We had no idea that this was the meaning of our home name and so we were thrilled because that is exactly what we wanted our home to be.

As we drove home we were very aware that Sping is here - there are so many signs. The lovely Charollais cattle are out in the fields once more after their sojourn in the cattle sheds over the winter.

The lambs too are out in the fields.

And today we came across an animal that is widespread in the are but usually hard to spot. The coypu came originally from America and was set free in France. It has become a real nuisance eroding the banks of the rivers and is often hunted and shot. The coypu we saw was happily chewing his way through the grass at the back of a neighbour's house.

We really struggled to get these photos so we are delighted with them! And then a real sign that Spring has come - in our garden the Spring flowers are peeping through the grass - we did not plant these, they came as a gift for God and His nature!

new home with old home fitted in....

Last week I wrote about my first visit to the doctor; to update those interested I am gradually getting better but it is taking a lot longer than I had expected or wished. The antibiotics are really working but I can now see why I was given a "double dose" with 10 days worth of medication...As long as I don't rush about, or stand for too long or walk too far, I am not in much pain, and each day it is a little better!

This week feels long already...we are feeding our lovely Dutch friends at lunchtimes this week as they are working on their little house here with a view to it becoming a gite. It's really a lovely place and they are busy wall paper stripping, painting and installing a new loo. At lunchtime they arrive and we all sit down and eat together and the 2 dogs come as well! I love the dogs, they sort of chat to you, not barking but making all sorts of yelping sounds! The first vicar I worked for back in Jersey had one of the same breed called Rufus and he too had a great character and personality. I enjoy cooking but it has been a bit of a struggle today, because at 9:40 the van arrived with all our belongings. So we are truly here! We had expected them last night but they felt they did not want to impose on our hospitality! I quickly cooked them sausages, egg and fried bread as they had had not breakfast and they set off unloading the van!

The van arriving outside

I was very impressed with the way the whole operation went. It was great to meet Sean and Darren again - they had loaded everything up in Wordsley and we felt we had got to know them a bit so we asked if they would do the trip and the operations manager at Burke Bros agreed!

 It was good to hear a West Midlands accent again and we were suitably impressed when they told us they had appeared last week in the new Amanda Lamb programme about deserving your house. This one was filmed in Birmingham and they were on it five or six times...wish our TV was sorted - we might have seen it, never mind!

Darren manoeuvred the van so that it was as close as possible then out came a long ramp that reached from the van on to our steps outside - very clever! And then, and then...

The ramp in place

then I began to realise just how much stuff had come down! Joe lent a hand and soon the quiet room was almost impossible to get into because of boxes, book cases filing cabinet, chairs etc etc. Then my food boxes arrived - and my kitchen gadgets - hurray, but then a panic - where on earth will it all go!

Sean and Darren reacquaint us with our stuff!

Joe too got stuck in!

It took hours to pack all that stuff, and Joe did most of it, but my goodness, that van was empty within 2 hours and we bade goodbye to Sean and Darren and wished them safe travelling as they set out for Brussels where they were due at 8pm this evening! I think Darren summed it up when he said, hmm you had a fair bit of stuff already here then!!!!!!

Tonight we can get to the kitchen the loo the bed via corridors of boxes, but tomorrow we hope to get the wardrobe assembled and the cupboards on the wall so we can get things put away. So far we have managed about 25 boxes during the afternoon and we are happy with that - but if there is anyone needing boxes in Burgundy tell us quick and you can have some from us!!!!!!

 









of medical services....

When we first came to France one of the first tasks that faced us was our registration for medical care. I was very scared about this but as I recorded in an earlier blog, all went well! We were really delighted when through the post came a letter from them at the beginning of last week to inform us that we have been accepted for health care under a reciprocal agreement with the UK and as a temporary measure here was a letter containing our health insurance number - they are much longer than those in the UK so I am pleased to say that as long as we go to the doctor armed with the number we will get the treatment we need.
You always hope that you won't need to use it, but for the last few days I have really felt unwell. I've struggled on but took to a warm bed and hot water bottle whenever I could. I was off food ( you can tell how much - I've lost over a kilo this week) and could not face tea, cereal with milk and found it very difficult to eat much at all. I began to feel life was worth living again on Wednesday but still felt distinctly unwell. Had I been in England I would have been at my local surgery on Tuesday morning, but I just kept hoping that I would not have to explain in my very basic and gappy French what the problem was...Today I surrendered. With some trepidation we went to the new Health centre that has just opened in Cluny. Recently the doctors of the area have come together under one roof and so you can walk in and ask for an appointment. (Rendezvous!) The receptionist spoke a little English which put us more at ease; plein, plein she said - full this morning but come back at 3:15 and you can see the temporay doctor as one is on holiday. She wrote it down for me as I am useless at numbers and between Joe and I we were able to give our French phone number. She offered us the chance to do it in English but we have been practising this for a couple of weeks so we could do it!
Back to Cluny for 3:15 and a very helpful receptionist pointed to upstairs and said a droit a droit! I found several others waiting and patted myself on the back when a woman turned and asked what time my appointment was and I was able to answer in French without first thinking in English!
Now I had always thought doctors looked young, but the medicin supplimentaire (the locum I think) was positively a teen-ager. She called me in and I took with me a sheaf of papers including a translation of my symptoms which she thankfully understood...she took down all my details including the medications I was already on, examined me and then explained what was wrong. After an unhurried 20 minutes she ushered me out with precriptions for 3 different tablets, a form to take to the medical labs and instructions not to start on the medication until I had been to the lab. I was so impressed...the chemist was also extremely helpful as was the lab.

The Maison de Sante (health centre) Cluny

So my first brush with the French health system worked well. I took the paper work from the Assurance Maladie and now I have to complete my claim form for them so I can re-coup a proportion back. I will consult our lovely English friends to find out which bits I need to complete!
And I have to return for my test results on Monday which will also be sent to the doctor automatically...I hope by then that the medication will have kicked in and I'll be as good as new - especially as the furniture van arrives on Monday.....



of sunshine, icy roads and car insurance...

Today has been so warm that I have resorted to short sleeves, but I have not yet discarded my vest! Spring is in the air, the tiny tiny snowdrops are out and the daffodils on the bank opposite the house are in bud - if the weather continues like this we shall soon be cutting the grass .... We have seen a lot of jays over the last few days and the birds have been visitng the food station too. They are very wise little things- they soon know when a cat is around and there is a lot of alarm calling to warn each other until the cat has gone again. Apparently hedge sparrows are protected species over here - I'm delighted to discover this as you don't seem to see many in England these days...
Over the last few days we noticed some signs appearing mainly at the bottom of the hills - we'd never seen them before and I'm kicking myself that I didn't take a photo of one for you to see. Anyway, they were the standard red warning sign but inside the words written within it meant - barred to heavy lorries because of ice ...we were very puzzled by this because we had long since moved from minus temperatures into plus so we couldn't quite work it out. We discussed it over dinner last night and the explaanation was confirmed by our next door neighbour this afternoon, who wanted to make sure that we were still warm and had no further problems with the leaking pipe. According to him, because the ground underneath the road surface was so deeply frozen, heavy lorries were banned to stop the top surface being damaged and to allow the deeper earth to defrost - and a very sensible idea I thought. However, some potholes (in French nids de poule - literally hen's nests!) have appeared and we were very amused at the way the holes are filled in! A small lorry slowly progresses down the road looking for holes. As soon as one is found a couple of men leap into action! Spades are retrieved from the bakc of the lorry and a spade full of tarmac is taken from the pile on the back and place in the hole - the spade is banged down heavily  to flatten it and then its on to the next one ....very quick, but how long will it last I thought. It reminded me of the Bible passage about not putting patches on old wine skins!!! We'll see!
The satellite saga continues ...last night friends over dinner and a lot of wine were kind enough to offer some consolation and help...so tomorrow may be the day...but I am only whispering this to you....
Today with such lovely weather we went into Cluny to start the process for car insurance ans registration. It is a bit chicken and egg. Do you get car insurance on the English plates then go about changing over to French registration or the other way round. We had not bargained for another step...the need to have a letter from the English insurance company to confirm how many years we have driven without accident...13 years history is the norm to have to find proof of, and that is well and good if you have stayed with the same insurer but we have changed for one year only so we need proof by letter from both. Neither will send an email, so now we have another delay whilst we wait for the letters to come. One insurer won't even send the letter to us here in France so it has to go via the English address and then be forwarded..However, that said, madame in Gan assurance was really helpful, took photocopies of everything document wise and told us to come back as soon as we have the letters and we will get a translation and then she wil immediately be able to give us a price...this bit I was dreading because I had heard that French car insurance is considerably higher than that in England. However, I managed to ask if the sum could be paid monthly like our pensions - no problem - in fact all our insurance can be paid in this way - the house, the chambre d'hote and the car. THat is brilliant news and madame was impressed that we could understand each other! So step one is now in place...On the way past the bank we called in to find out if the new cheque book had arrived (chequier). Cheques are printed with the home address on and cheques are signed not only with your signature and the date but also where the cheque is signed (no, not the room!) but the village, town etc...We were delighted that it was ready, and we were given a new wallet for it - we signed for it and again that confirmed we were really here! It also meant that somehow, as if a miracle, the bank now accepts our French address as the place of our residence - we rewarded ourselves with a "grande creme" in the Brasserie du nord and aat outside in the warm sunshine with the blue skies above us....

lotto gourmand

I've promised myself that I will try to write about as much of French life as I can. It is easy to forget the little things and great to go back and remind oneself what has been happening...
After the Mass in Taize this morning via the local cafe/bar for a coffee and a quick skim of the Sunday paper - we'll probably read it tomorrow! - we got ready to go to the annual Cortambert lotto. This is a fund raiser for our local village hall which is supported by the communities of Cortambert, Varanges and Toury. The hall is used quite a bit and back in October we went to play badminton there on several evenings and also on a couple of Saturdays to do basket weaving. This afternoon the tables and chairs were set out in long rows, in one corner the gauffre machine was at work (waffle maker!) and the bar was set up as usual. You buy a card  - or more than one if you are particularly good at recognising the numbers in French and you wait for Pascal to turn the handle and pick up the ball that drops down and read it out. We were greatly helped by a man who showed what number had been called by removing a magnetic patch covering it on a big board on the stage. There were 15 rounds and it took about 4 hours. It was really important to concentrate! I was waiting for someone to cry "lotto" or even "bingo" or "house"!!! but it was a kind of banshee cry that went up. The numbers were checked and in each round there were 3 chances at least to win something - once the first card had been verified we played on untilall the prizes for that round had been won. We were not very lucky at our end of the table - out of the 7 of us playing (and 4 played 3 cards, 1 played 2 cards and we had one each) there were only 2 prizes won between us. On some tables prizes piled up as the afternoon wore on - it seemed amazing to us that some people won again and again. The prizes were all food, drink or vouchers for meals in a restaurant in Cluny. You can see the concentration needed!

But it was a lovely surprise when Joe won a round and proudly collected a piece of jambon sec, a pot of apricot, orange and walnut jam and a cheese with peppers!

Well Done Joe!