First report from the Dordogne

First report from the Green Fields

I miss you all so much!

I'm here now about 12 weeks. I'm not sure if my French has improved much, but it does get easier to understand what they're saying, and less of them respond in English when I speak in French. Today, I asked for “fil de fer” (wire to you!) in Bricomarché today, and the man just said “la bas, a droite”.

Last week, I contracted a builder to build two pillars and put gates on them. Firstly, I had to describe how to get here, and that's difficult in English. He got here. I also beat him down on the price, and gave him a cheque for half the price. Yesterday, he delivered a load of gravel and blocks for two pillars.

So, what didn't work so well? Well, I needed a physio, and despite my best efforts, I ended up with an osteopath! It could have been a gynaecologist, or even a psychopath! Any way, he didn't kill me. I also managed to get my hair cut, in a proper barbers. The only word I needed was “court”. €11.

I went into the bank to ask them to send things to my French address instead of Dublin. When I gave my French address, the woman nearly jumped over the counter! She lives next door! Since then, we're best mates. And Therese is not even jealous.

Things happen slowly here. Even the supermarket check-out. Most people pay by personal cheque. And they forget where their cheque book is until they've gone through. Then, they have a conversation with the lady about their cat or dog or illness. And nobody says “hurry up”.

There is a big traffic jam at 12 noon every day. Everywhere closes 12-2 for lunch, and the employees go home. Almost nothing opens on Sunday.

I'm on my third set of visitors, my 85-year-old mother and my two sisters. The weather cleared up in time.

I'm planting a garden just now. Until last week it was impossible, hard as iron. Then four days rain softened it up, and I took advantage. Now it's back to hard as hell.

I hope the class can arrange a visit. You will be very welcome.