So, March may have been a month of ups and downs in respect to job hunting, parties and trips home, but April was a month of exciting times with friends and family, both en France and back in the UK.
The month began well, one of her best friends from school (wow, was it really that long ago BritGirl ponders) came to visit for the weekend with her three year old son! It was touch and go for a while whether they would make it, getting cheap flights at the right time was tough and tears were shed by BritGirl a few times, when her hopes were so high at having a friend to visit and spend time with and show her new home only to be dashed when flights fell through.
But it happened!! BritGirl stood at Bordeaux Airport waiting to see her friend and son come through the gates...it was exciting!! BritGirl had missed a little bit of girly time and this would be it, but also BritGirl was looking forward to showing people around her new home city and letting them experience French life. Although sometimes it got her down living so far from home and feeling alone in the daytime, it was exciting to be able to show people around but also spend quality time with them.
If only the Bordeaux weather had felt the same, it rained everyday. The skies were grey and without fail, it rained daily. In between the rain, trips to the local parks and gardens were had, ducks were fed and lots and lots of talking was had. BritGirl enjoyed the conversations, the catch ups, the glasses of wine in the evenings...this was something she had missed and was so glad to be able to do. Three year olds were fun and in this case VERY WELL BEHAVED. BritGirl played, drew, coloured, read books, watched Toy Story repeatedly and enjoyed herself. For 4 days her time was full, there was no stopping her, no routine, no job hunting - which was nice for a change - she was starting to feel herself and also like she was on top of her life in France. She could show people around and feel proud of what had been achieved in the past few months.
So, the first visit from friends went well. BritGirl was very grateful that her friend had made the effort to travel from the UK with her son on her own without her husband or support for the journey, she was lucky to have such a well behaved son too!! It was a lovely week and BritGirl felt tired afterwards, but happy.
This happiness continued, only 4 days later, she was back at the airport!! This time another flight on her own back to the UK for one of her best friend's hen weekend!! BritGirl was very excited, more time with friends and family, some secrets for the weekend and she would be busy. BritGirl had learnt over the three months en France that she needed to be busy, whatever it was...cleaning, walking, going to the shops, writing a letter, cooking, writing this blog, she had to be occupied.
BritGirl had her plan for the week, a weekend with her friends to celebrate the impending wedding, a trip home to see family and friends there, her boyfriend would then travel to the UK for the stag weekend - a messy occassion was expected, then they would both travel back to France ensemble (together). BritGirl would learn, plans were not to be kept and to keep an open mind at all times!!
First things first, the hen weekend seemed to be a success, no secrets were divulged ahead of time.....even after much pestering, questioning and rambling from the Bride to Be, the weekend went without a hitch (pardon the pun!). A day shopping and having lunch, an evening in a hotel/pub with good wine and good conversation or and the best desserts you could imagine and then a day being pampered, relaxed and thoroughly chilled out at a spa! No wellies were needed, no camping was had, no garish dressing up or strippers were needed. BritGirl had a lovely weekend and was pleased to see her friend enjoy the same...it was a brilliant start to her trip back in the UK.
Afterwards time was spent at home with friends and family, there was lots of eating, drinking, story telling and remembering times gone by as well as new stories of life today...there was also one big talking point over the week...Iceland and its volcano! Yes, at the beginning of her move to Bordeaux BritGirl remembered filling in a form about her new apartment stating that there would be no effects from volcanic action here...how wrong that was. The volcano, Eyjafjallajökul, in Iceland had errupted. No problems you would think, what would that have to do with BritGirl, she was in England and lived in France, nowhere near Iceland....until the ash clouds covered Europe. A no fly zone was called - especially across the UK where wind direction meant we were living in a bubble with no flights in or out.
BritGirl watched the news with stories of people "stranded" outside of the country and spending thousands just to get home...the world had changed over night. BritGirl realised that her boyfriend would not be flying into the UK and therefore would not make the stag do. She was right, no flights and living so far south meant he just couldnt get to the Channel for a boat/train...he would be stuck in Bordeaux for the weekend without silly boy shennanigans!
Volcanic ash cancelled BritGirl's flight back to France, she had a further week in the UK!!! This was not a problem, more time was spent with friends and family. It was hard though, everyone worked and had their lives to continue, BritGirl felt like she didn't belong somedays and did have too much time on her hands.
March Draws to a close- French parties and Interviews
So, with new found interest and hope for her life in Bordeaux, BritGirl decided a party was needed. Her boyfriend had made new friends through his job, his birthday was coming up and more effort at being social was needed....they would host a birthday party at their flat.
In the preparations, this looked like a good idea, food, drink and music - people to talk with and conversation for BritGirl.....however, the party fell on the England v France rubgy match...never a good situation in an English girl's house with lots of French people!! There was also the dilemma...what food did you serve? The French did eat a little differently to us, what wine should we buy? How much wine or beer did we need?! The whole day was taken up with preparations, shopping and making space in the fridge for all the food and drink....then came that horrible point in hosting a party, the waiting! You sit, worrying no one will turn up, that it was a mistake arranging it after all and you just wanted a quiet night at home!
Then, someone arrived and you worried that they would be the only attendees, which potentially would be worse than no one arriving at all!! But fear not, BritGirl's worries were unecessary - the kitchen was full of people by 10pm (French evenings always start much later than those in England), wine and beer was flowing - more beer than wine, food was being eaten and bad french music was being played.
This was something BritGirl never thought she would get used to, music choice for French in their 20s-30s was either VERY bad french rap/dance/crooning music which was never pretty or VERY out of date English tunes which only reminded BritGirl of her school days - so overall the music always confused BritGirl.
With music en France came dancing and lots of it....the friends Andy had made LOVED TO DANCE, regardless of how bad the music was or how silly they all looked, dancing happened! BritGirl never really one for dancing had to join in too - it was the way...you just did it!
I wont mention the rugby, as you probably guessed, it was not to be, although it was an English household therefore England ruled...it was definitely a French win and the French cheer was heard...at that point, BritGirl headed for the wine and danced!
So, first French party hosted and a success was had. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, BritGirl and her boyfriend had been good hosts,the food and drink was gone (except the 12 bottles of wine BritGirl had been given as gifts...with gifts like that more parties would be hosted!) BritGirl felt happy with herself, although these were not necessarily her friends, she had enjoyed socialising, having fun and spending an evening where it was not just her and her boyfriend - although as lovely as he was, sometimes, you just needed different social contact, conversation and even dancing!!
March was a month of firsts, first trip to the French job centre, first flights on her own, first French party hosted and wait for it...first French interview!! Yes, BritGirl was surprised too, after a month and a half of serious looking she had an interview for a job at a new hotel on the other side of town. After a difficult telephone call making the arrangements (phone calls en francais will always be the hardest part of living here), a few scrambled emails to change the location of the interview as BritGirl didnt have a car and they wanted ot interview her miles from town out in the country...even though the job was in the city centre!! Nevertheless after a number of emails, the interview was arranged and fast approaching - it would be at a Bar near the station.
After years of working in recruitment, BritGirl often knew interviews were held in hotel bars but this bar, was literally just that, a bar opposite the station often full of tourists. She was nervous, more nervous than she had ever been before....hours were spent writing notes of what she could say in French to answer potential questions about herself, her career, her skills, the job and anything else that she could possibly prepare for. It was like exam revision...she wanted this so much....anything to make her feel a little more worthwhile than the current routine of housework and walks.
Nerves were made worse through the note taking, French grammar checking...although working in recruitment had given her model answers to questions such as "What are your strengths/weaknesses"; nearly three months without work had dented BritGirl's confidence so much that she wasn't too sure what her strengths were? In her old job, she could have told you, but what now? Without a job or proficiency in the local language, what really were her strengths?!
Nevertheless, friends coached her on from a distance with emails and texts, her boyfriend's Dad (retired French teacher, thank you very much) helped with French grammar and praise and then the day was here, her first interview in 5 years and her first interview in French would happen.
However, it was not quite what she expected...another common theme with her life so far in France, it never quite went as you expected it to. She greeted the Hotel Manager and that went fine, they sat outside the bar and ordered coffee...it was windy so the first 10 minutes were spent holding onto papers and CVs in the wind, the next 10 minutes were spent with her interviewer trying to light her cigerette in the wind....BritGirl felt uncomfortable. This didn't feel right, it wasn't just the location or the relaxed nature of the interview or even the language (although that did play a role), she just could not connect with the Hotel Manager.
The lady talked a lot, about the hotel, when it opened, her team so far, what she was looking for and the company - BritGirl understood most of this and did feel that it was a good start, if she could understand then she was getting somewhere, regardless of the fact that she hadn't really connected with the person she would have to work with if successful. BritGirl hated the fact she didnt really have any questions to ask...they had all been covered. BritGirl also disliked that she had prepared so much for this interview with model answers or phrases in French but few questions were asked of her...again like the job centre, the lady spoke and reviewed her CV but never really asked BritGirl about her!!!
The point where BritGirl knew the interview would not turn out well soon came....discussions of a start date came and BritGirl explained in early April she would be going to the UK for a week and although this trip could be shortened it could not be cancelled, it was her friend's hen weekend after all and that was not going to be missed. Instantly the interview took a cooler approach...it was left that the Hotel Manager would be in touch, but she reiterated she did need someone who could start soon, which BritGirl assured her she could, but would need 4 days off regardless.
How did BritGirl feel after her first interview? Deflated is probably the best word. She sat on the tram on her way home, with her sunglasses hiding the tears brewing. She had prepared so much, but none of it had been needed, she had been positive and tried to speak French when needed, but the interviewer didn't seem to connect or be that interested.
After thinking about it and numerous pep talks from friends and family, BritGirl tried not to worry, what would be would be...she needed a job but as a good friend reminded her, she also needed to like where she was working and the interview was much about her interviewing the company/new manager as it was for them interviewing her.
In the end BritGirl did not get the hotel job, an email came through days letter, politely saying thank you for your time but no thank you. It was expected. BritGirl had realised this, after letting the interview experience sink in, she had not connected with the Hotel Manager, she had not conveyed herself very well, her commitments at home had not fitted in and in reality, did she really want to work for someone she had not felt connected to?
Again at this point BritGirl has to thank her friends back in England, all gave her great hope and motivation that something would come along and it was all experience. After all, as one important friend said, "this was an adventure and the interview experience only added to that". It might be true, living en France was an adventure, with something new everyday but more importantly BritGirl was learning an awful lot about herself...time on her own made her realise how important her friends and family were, how important the small things were, how she could appreciate life at home as much as work, how relaxed she had become but at the same time, and perhaps more surprising for BritGirl was that she was weaker than she thought. Her confidence was low, she learnt that her identity came very much from what she did and her work...without a job she was not very sure of herself at all. (Is that a sad fact of our lives BritGirl wondered, that so much of who we are and how we feel comes from a job?)
Friends re-assured her that she was not weak, but actually strong - she was living in a foriegn country for heavens sake, with lots of time on her hands to think and worry and over think. They were right of course, in many ways, although BritGirl learnt her weaknesses and worried about them, she did often forget her strengths - she was living en France with her boyfriend without any close friends or family nearby, it was a foriegn country with a foriegn language and she was doing it! Of course she would feel lonely, frustrated, upset even angry somedays, but one day at a time and one baguette a day and she would get used to her new life.
The Begining of March - The French Job Centre
So, February came and went, BritGirl's boyfriend completed his first month of work en France and enjoyed every minute of it.
BritGirl knew her way around the city, she had explored, she had written letter after letter to friends and family at home - the old fashioned letter writing would not be forgotten by BritGirl. Letters to and from friends and family became very important; it became almost therapeutic to write her thoughts and feelings down and send them away. There was no expectation from BritGirl for someone to reply to these ramblings (of which they often were), but it was merely a means to air her thoughts and not feeling quite so alone. Friends back in England were great, they kept BritGirl going through her first month alone without a job, but now it was time, time to find a job.
This was a tough challenge, in England, BritGirl had always been successful looking for work, had LOVED her last job and still struggled to accept that she was now fully reliant on her boyfriend and not the independent girl she had been for the past 5 years back home. Her confidence was a little low, the fear of talking a foriegn anguage, of not being understood or making an idiot of herself was always present...this did not stop the job hunting, but definitely made BritGirl a little uncertain of her new lifein Bordeaux and the challenge to work and find that indepdent girl she had been not long ago.
Although CVs had been sent to numerous companies across Bordeaux, from hotels, the tourist office and other larger companies across the city, little positive had come back. After all, the country, like most of Europe was still coming out of the recession, or la crise as we called it here....and there was little need for someone who spoke a certain level of French but lots of English.
So with that in mind BritGirl registered with the French Job Centre - Pole D'Emploi - for job searches and merely to see what it was all about. She was not quite expecting the notification of a meeting at the job centre in the first week of March - which she MUST attend!
Another big task for BritGirl alone - this would all be in French, clearly, it was the French job centre, helping French people find work. BritGirl worried; would they be unhelpful because I gave up a job in England to come here? Would they be rude because she did not speak fluent French yet expected to work?
Lots of worries and plans were made, notes and hopes! At 8.30am BritGirl trundled off to explore Pole D'Emploi, having never really been to a job centre back in England she had little idea what to expect here...in the end high rise offices, people waiting outside in the morning cold to register or ask for advice greeted her. With French efficiency BritGirl's appointment was on time and she was shown to a desk...here a French man preceeded to talk in French, fast for about half an hour...he covered how Pole D'Emploi worked, he talked about BritGirl's CV, with a few questions for her to answer (but very few) and then that seemed to be it?!
Did BritGirl need anything else? He asked!? Well..... BritGirl was not sure, she had thought this meeting would be about her, what she wanted to do, where she had come from, her concerns, her questions...but it turned out that was not really important....the man showed her how to search for jobs online - after 4 years in recruitment this seemed a little wasted on her, but nevertheless she listened - sometimes looking blank as the French washed over her at a speed you would not believe.
After thanking the man for his help (?) and collecting the vast numbers of paper she had acquired BritGirl quickly left the job centre. Not particular helpful, she knew no more about finding a job in Bordeaux than she did before. Did she feel more confident after making the appointment and listening to French? She was not really sure, should she have spoken more? Should she have asked more questions? Should the man have been more interactive?
Nevertheless, it was done, BritGirl could and would and did start sending applications through the job centre, finding contacts for jobs and looking at different companies as a result....was there any positive feedback from this? That...you will just have to wait and see!!
Only two days after the job centre experience, BritGirl was taking her first lone flight back to the UK....without a job and after a month on her own, it had been decided that a week back at home with friends and family would be an ideal break! Some will say that BritGirl should stay in France, she lived there after all for heavens sake and experience French life everyday, but for her sanity and also to enjoy some of the additional time she had without a job it made sense to see friends and family.
The flight was uneventful, BritGirl was proud for making it on her own. As I've written before, the small things suddenly become huge when you live in a foriegn country and start doing very different things to your life before!! Days and evenings were spent talking, drinking, laughing and visiting places with BritGirl's friends and family and she loved every minute of it!
One important task was achieved during this visit home, BritGirl got her hair cut!! Yes, BritGirl went all the way back to the UK for a hair cut!! Do they not have hair dressers en France I hear you ask?! Well, yes, but they are so expensive that BritGirl cannot face it, this along with the fear of explaining what she wants done with her hair wrong en francais and leaving the salon with a horrific hair cut. Plus, the reality is that even when she lived in Cambridge, she still travelled 2 hours to her parents' to have her hair cut by her childhood hairdresser, so yes, BritGirl may be 27 and a grown up living in a foriegn country, but that still doesnt stop some routines existing!!
So....that was it for the job centre in March wasn't it?! NO! It was not!! Whilst back in the UK, BritGirl received a call from her boyfriend - she had received an invitation to a workshop at the job centre on her first day back in Bordeaux. Now when I write invitiation, that is probably an inaccurate definition - there was no option in attendance, as BritGirl had registered with the job centre she was obliged to attend, unless there was a valid reason...and lists of laws (loi) were listed to reinforce this!
So, again, BritGirl set off for the job centre, even more nervous than on her last visit. Going back to the UK had given BritGirl a little more confidence in her job hunt, she was capable and qualified and had the skills to work with people so she WOULD and COULD find a job, but this confidence seemed to disappear little by little as she made her way there. A workshop? She did not much like forced social events like these back in the UK, how would she fare when they were in French, with French people who she felt, probably quite rightly, deserved and needed a job in France more than she did...after all, she had given up a perfectly good job to move here.
The workshop opened with a dramatic twist...one girl (with her child) threw a chair across the room and walked out upon finding that the session would last 2 hours and she was not sure she could manage that with her child... nobody quite knew what to say at this point, so an awkward silence started the workshop. After that episode when everyone calmed down, BritGirl told the "teacher" she was in English so if possible could they speak a little slower......they didnt. Needless to say, when things got going, the french sped up!! The session, looking back, was not as scary as it could have been and was probably a good lesson for BritGirl en francais - a workbook was worked through, with hints, tips and questions about job hunting, discussions from here continued as to how best to look for the right job, target companies and sell yourself. It may not have been the most informative of sessions (BritGirl was truly frustrated more often than not, that she had lots of thoughts, experiences and advice to give from her previous career in recruitment back in the UK, but could not, for the life of her convey this in French). However, it was more useful than meeting one at the job centre and had been a good french experience for BritGirl.
As soon as she left the building, BritGirl rang one of her "confidants" en Angleterre. Now I write confidant, because this was what he had become. Over the intial two months in Bordeaux, through texts, emails and letters, BritGirl had aired her grievances, worries and fears to this very strong, young man back home. The cost of the call did not matter, BritGirl just needed to tell someone that she had managed the workshop - another big achievement in a small way! The phone call made BritGirl even more confident that it could work and she could find a job...walking along the river back home and on the phone to her friend, BritGirl thought life in Bordeaux might not be so tough after all.
BritGirl knew her way around the city, she had explored, she had written letter after letter to friends and family at home - the old fashioned letter writing would not be forgotten by BritGirl. Letters to and from friends and family became very important; it became almost therapeutic to write her thoughts and feelings down and send them away. There was no expectation from BritGirl for someone to reply to these ramblings (of which they often were), but it was merely a means to air her thoughts and not feeling quite so alone. Friends back in England were great, they kept BritGirl going through her first month alone without a job, but now it was time, time to find a job.
This was a tough challenge, in England, BritGirl had always been successful looking for work, had LOVED her last job and still struggled to accept that she was now fully reliant on her boyfriend and not the independent girl she had been for the past 5 years back home. Her confidence was a little low, the fear of talking a foriegn anguage, of not being understood or making an idiot of herself was always present...this did not stop the job hunting, but definitely made BritGirl a little uncertain of her new lifein Bordeaux and the challenge to work and find that indepdent girl she had been not long ago.
Although CVs had been sent to numerous companies across Bordeaux, from hotels, the tourist office and other larger companies across the city, little positive had come back. After all, the country, like most of Europe was still coming out of the recession, or la crise as we called it here....and there was little need for someone who spoke a certain level of French but lots of English.
So with that in mind BritGirl registered with the French Job Centre - Pole D'Emploi - for job searches and merely to see what it was all about. She was not quite expecting the notification of a meeting at the job centre in the first week of March - which she MUST attend!
Another big task for BritGirl alone - this would all be in French, clearly, it was the French job centre, helping French people find work. BritGirl worried; would they be unhelpful because I gave up a job in England to come here? Would they be rude because she did not speak fluent French yet expected to work?
Lots of worries and plans were made, notes and hopes! At 8.30am BritGirl trundled off to explore Pole D'Emploi, having never really been to a job centre back in England she had little idea what to expect here...in the end high rise offices, people waiting outside in the morning cold to register or ask for advice greeted her. With French efficiency BritGirl's appointment was on time and she was shown to a desk...here a French man preceeded to talk in French, fast for about half an hour...he covered how Pole D'Emploi worked, he talked about BritGirl's CV, with a few questions for her to answer (but very few) and then that seemed to be it?!
Did BritGirl need anything else? He asked!? Well..... BritGirl was not sure, she had thought this meeting would be about her, what she wanted to do, where she had come from, her concerns, her questions...but it turned out that was not really important....the man showed her how to search for jobs online - after 4 years in recruitment this seemed a little wasted on her, but nevertheless she listened - sometimes looking blank as the French washed over her at a speed you would not believe.
After thanking the man for his help (?) and collecting the vast numbers of paper she had acquired BritGirl quickly left the job centre. Not particular helpful, she knew no more about finding a job in Bordeaux than she did before. Did she feel more confident after making the appointment and listening to French? She was not really sure, should she have spoken more? Should she have asked more questions? Should the man have been more interactive?
Nevertheless, it was done, BritGirl could and would and did start sending applications through the job centre, finding contacts for jobs and looking at different companies as a result....was there any positive feedback from this? That...you will just have to wait and see!!
Only two days after the job centre experience, BritGirl was taking her first lone flight back to the UK....without a job and after a month on her own, it had been decided that a week back at home with friends and family would be an ideal break! Some will say that BritGirl should stay in France, she lived there after all for heavens sake and experience French life everyday, but for her sanity and also to enjoy some of the additional time she had without a job it made sense to see friends and family.
The flight was uneventful, BritGirl was proud for making it on her own. As I've written before, the small things suddenly become huge when you live in a foriegn country and start doing very different things to your life before!! Days and evenings were spent talking, drinking, laughing and visiting places with BritGirl's friends and family and she loved every minute of it!
One important task was achieved during this visit home, BritGirl got her hair cut!! Yes, BritGirl went all the way back to the UK for a hair cut!! Do they not have hair dressers en France I hear you ask?! Well, yes, but they are so expensive that BritGirl cannot face it, this along with the fear of explaining what she wants done with her hair wrong en francais and leaving the salon with a horrific hair cut. Plus, the reality is that even when she lived in Cambridge, she still travelled 2 hours to her parents' to have her hair cut by her childhood hairdresser, so yes, BritGirl may be 27 and a grown up living in a foriegn country, but that still doesnt stop some routines existing!!
So....that was it for the job centre in March wasn't it?! NO! It was not!! Whilst back in the UK, BritGirl received a call from her boyfriend - she had received an invitation to a workshop at the job centre on her first day back in Bordeaux. Now when I write invitiation, that is probably an inaccurate definition - there was no option in attendance, as BritGirl had registered with the job centre she was obliged to attend, unless there was a valid reason...and lists of laws (loi) were listed to reinforce this!
So, again, BritGirl set off for the job centre, even more nervous than on her last visit. Going back to the UK had given BritGirl a little more confidence in her job hunt, she was capable and qualified and had the skills to work with people so she WOULD and COULD find a job, but this confidence seemed to disappear little by little as she made her way there. A workshop? She did not much like forced social events like these back in the UK, how would she fare when they were in French, with French people who she felt, probably quite rightly, deserved and needed a job in France more than she did...after all, she had given up a perfectly good job to move here.
The workshop opened with a dramatic twist...one girl (with her child) threw a chair across the room and walked out upon finding that the session would last 2 hours and she was not sure she could manage that with her child... nobody quite knew what to say at this point, so an awkward silence started the workshop. After that episode when everyone calmed down, BritGirl told the "teacher" she was in English so if possible could they speak a little slower......they didnt. Needless to say, when things got going, the french sped up!! The session, looking back, was not as scary as it could have been and was probably a good lesson for BritGirl en francais - a workbook was worked through, with hints, tips and questions about job hunting, discussions from here continued as to how best to look for the right job, target companies and sell yourself. It may not have been the most informative of sessions (BritGirl was truly frustrated more often than not, that she had lots of thoughts, experiences and advice to give from her previous career in recruitment back in the UK, but could not, for the life of her convey this in French). However, it was more useful than meeting one at the job centre and had been a good french experience for BritGirl.
As soon as she left the building, BritGirl rang one of her "confidants" en Angleterre. Now I write confidant, because this was what he had become. Over the intial two months in Bordeaux, through texts, emails and letters, BritGirl had aired her grievances, worries and fears to this very strong, young man back home. The cost of the call did not matter, BritGirl just needed to tell someone that she had managed the workshop - another big achievement in a small way! The phone call made BritGirl even more confident that it could work and she could find a job...walking along the river back home and on the phone to her friend, BritGirl thought life in Bordeaux might not be so tough after all.
Final Two Weeks in February - Job Hunting and Plumbing
So....BritGirl's boyfriend worked everyday, his life in France was taking shape...he came home with stories of work, colleagues, things he had learned, new french words, mistaken communications...his job was going well, he was settling in, he had a home and a job here.
BritGirl....a little different. She spent the days on her own - a combination of long walks along the riverside or into town. The weight was falling from her hips. After 5 years in an office job with working lunches at her desk, the fresh air and lack of a car meant BritGirl did more exercise than she had ever done before! Other than walks, BritGirl was a model housewife in many ways, a clean and tidy house, new photographs and "female touches" appeared around the new french flat and meals were prepared and thought out for the evening.
It was this that BritGirl's boyfriend would say was one of the reasons he liked BritGirl not working, nice food in the evenings! Not of course that back in the UK BritGirl didn't rustle up something delicious from the cupboard after a long day at work, coming home to clean the flat and cook for the evening...she did - but with limited thought and creativity. It was true, en France with time to kill, meals were a little more time consuming or thought out.
BritGirl loved and still does love the French supermarche - the choice, the variety. Honestly you have never seen fruit and veg like it, piled high, different shapes, sizes and colours - from the exotic to the plain old ordinary. The fish counter is like nothing England would have seen before. The newness never rubs off...the vegetables in tins, the beans and sausages in jars that look like something no one would ever want to eat.....the list is endless,there is always something to see and therefore always something different to try or add into the shopping basket.
During the cold winter months, homemade soups a plenty were tried and tested with none other than French Onion Soup being the resounding success. So yes, BritGirl might not have a job or friends but she made sure she kept herself as busy as possible.
It was unfortunate that this also meant many an hour waiting for plumbers....yes, think back, remember the "entrance" to the flat where numerous flaws and problems with BritGirls new home were found...well some of these needed action toute suite.
And after numerous emails/conversations with the letting agent, after 6 weeks, a plumber would finally be in to sort out the leaking and super wobbly toilet. Yes, this was the worst of our problems...constant running water and what felt like an earthquake every time you sat on the loo!! Not a pleasant experience!!
BritGirl again found another simliarity to home and the gaz man at this point...plumbers did not always arrive when they said they would! After hours waiting, a missed appointment and a little more waiting, the plumbers arrived - yes, apparently to sort out the toilet - in a room where there really only is space for one person; two plumbers were required. BritGirl managed to sweet talk the plumbers en francais...bien sur, here you did not offer workmen tea, oh no, but coffee!!! Not sure they fully appreciated the english attempt at coffee in a mug - think they expecteed something a little smaller but still...toilet repaired - another accomplishment for Brit Girl on her own.
Although this was not the last of the problems with the flat..oh no the ongoing cracks and damp persisted but complaining and emails to the letting agent were to no avail....en France one needs to be patient. Now BritGirl's friends and family will tell you that this is not her a strong point, but in Bordeaux it was needed....careful emails were written, photographs were taken, if we had to wait we would do, but we would be prepared to prove our point and ensure that when the bathroom was repaired (and BritGirl was sure it was going to be) it would be recorded that it was something that had been an issue since pre 6th January and our grand demenagement. Its unfotunate as I sit here now and write this - more than six months on, that we are still waiting for something to be done! We have had progress, visits from the letting agent but only when rain water decided to make an appearance in our bath...but still nothing more than a few forms to be filled in and more patience to be had...ah the french way!
BritGirl....a little different. She spent the days on her own - a combination of long walks along the riverside or into town. The weight was falling from her hips. After 5 years in an office job with working lunches at her desk, the fresh air and lack of a car meant BritGirl did more exercise than she had ever done before! Other than walks, BritGirl was a model housewife in many ways, a clean and tidy house, new photographs and "female touches" appeared around the new french flat and meals were prepared and thought out for the evening.
It was this that BritGirl's boyfriend would say was one of the reasons he liked BritGirl not working, nice food in the evenings! Not of course that back in the UK BritGirl didn't rustle up something delicious from the cupboard after a long day at work, coming home to clean the flat and cook for the evening...she did - but with limited thought and creativity. It was true, en France with time to kill, meals were a little more time consuming or thought out.
BritGirl loved and still does love the French supermarche - the choice, the variety. Honestly you have never seen fruit and veg like it, piled high, different shapes, sizes and colours - from the exotic to the plain old ordinary. The fish counter is like nothing England would have seen before. The newness never rubs off...the vegetables in tins, the beans and sausages in jars that look like something no one would ever want to eat.....the list is endless,there is always something to see and therefore always something different to try or add into the shopping basket.
During the cold winter months, homemade soups a plenty were tried and tested with none other than French Onion Soup being the resounding success. So yes, BritGirl might not have a job or friends but she made sure she kept herself as busy as possible.
It was unfortunate that this also meant many an hour waiting for plumbers....yes, think back, remember the "entrance" to the flat where numerous flaws and problems with BritGirls new home were found...well some of these needed action toute suite.
And after numerous emails/conversations with the letting agent, after 6 weeks, a plumber would finally be in to sort out the leaking and super wobbly toilet. Yes, this was the worst of our problems...constant running water and what felt like an earthquake every time you sat on the loo!! Not a pleasant experience!!
BritGirl again found another simliarity to home and the gaz man at this point...plumbers did not always arrive when they said they would! After hours waiting, a missed appointment and a little more waiting, the plumbers arrived - yes, apparently to sort out the toilet - in a room where there really only is space for one person; two plumbers were required. BritGirl managed to sweet talk the plumbers en francais...bien sur, here you did not offer workmen tea, oh no, but coffee!!! Not sure they fully appreciated the english attempt at coffee in a mug - think they expecteed something a little smaller but still...toilet repaired - another accomplishment for Brit Girl on her own.
Although this was not the last of the problems with the flat..oh no the ongoing cracks and damp persisted but complaining and emails to the letting agent were to no avail....en France one needs to be patient. Now BritGirl's friends and family will tell you that this is not her a strong point, but in Bordeaux it was needed....careful emails were written, photographs were taken, if we had to wait we would do, but we would be prepared to prove our point and ensure that when the bathroom was repaired (and BritGirl was sure it was going to be) it would be recorded that it was something that had been an issue since pre 6th January and our grand demenagement. Its unfotunate as I sit here now and write this - more than six months on, that we are still waiting for something to be done! We have had progress, visits from the letting agent but only when rain water decided to make an appearance in our bath...but still nothing more than a few forms to be filled in and more patience to be had...ah the french way!
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