Monday 12th May to Sunday 18th May
Monday 12th May
Author: Jack
For once I was early for school. Being late was becoming a bit embarrassing. I know it didn’t used to bother me but well, people change (maybe!).
Spend the whole day out in the vineyard. Weather a bit warmer than of late which is lovely. Have to collect Beck at five and am so near to finishing the whole of the plot to the east of the house (5 hectares) that as soon as we are back I return to complete it. Bit of a milestone for me. Collapse in a heap for what is left of the evening but at least I feel some sense of satisfaction.
Tuesday 13th May
Author: Jack
Once again the teachers are on strike so no school again for Beck. In fact most of France seems to be on strike. After yesterday’s marathon in the vineyard am not unhappy about not being able to work outside. We head off to La Vitaille early to meet another Estate Agent. We have decided to put the house on their books too as we need to sell it to fund the new winery - so far we have been unsuccessful. And then off to Beck’s favourite shop, Geant, to stock up with supplies for the week.
I take the rest of the day at a fairly slow pace as seem to have run out of energy! Happily Beck and I get some time together. We are both trying to improve our French. Must say that her French accent is fantastic. Seems to be quite natural for her. And she is coping very well with school. Although she doesn’t understand everything she is now able to get the sense of what is said. She has a fantastic set book for her maths. This is particularly good for her French as obviously all the instructions are in French.
Wednesday 14th May
Author: Jack
Beck’s normal day off school. Despite this I decide I must start work on the other plot – the 4 hectares to the west of the house! At least I can work on the vines nearest the house so I am not too far away from Beck. Fleur comes round to play in the afternoon. She and Beck get on very well although they don’t actually manage to say too much to each other but it’s lovely to hear them laughing and giggling together.
Thursday 15th May
Author: Jack
This isn’t making very exciting reading this ‘pamprage’ lark. Spent the entire day doing this again. Not much to say about it really except that am even more exhausted than ever. Am very concerned about how long it is taking me. I’m probably being too fussy.
When I went to collect Beck from school I bumped in to Sarah, the lady to whom we had shown La Vitaille and Les Bardots a few weeks ago. Seems they are about to buy a house in Savignac and as a result her daughter, Grace, who is five had started Maternelle today. This is the four to six year olds class and is in the school at St Sernin. We had quite a long chat. Sounds like they have bought a wonderful house although it is in need of renovation but it has eight hectares of land on which there are two hectares of plums and quarter of a hectare of vines. Should keep them busy.
Back home and I was so tired I could barely stay awake. Got Beck to bed early and sat on the settee and fell asleep almost immediately! The phone woke me. It was Jonathon returning my call of yesterday. I wanted to ask him if he knew anyone who could help me with the pamprage. Happily he did and was sure that they could help this weekend. I didn’t want to get too excited about this as it would then be even more depressing knowing I had to finish the rest – about three hectares. But if someone does turn up it will be a godsend.
Friday 16th May
Author: Jack
Happily, depending on how you view things, I could only spend the morning
in the vineyard as the architect was coming over after lunch to discuss
the plans for the cuverie. Managed only four rows this morning –
tiredness definitely taking its toll now. Just as
well I had a good excuse not to be out there after lunch because quite
honestly I don’t think I could have carried on (what a wimp!).
Actually it rained quite heavily for the latter half of the afternoon
so rain would have stopped ‘pamprage’ anyway.
The architect arrived on time along with the man from Agrifoy. We discussed the proposals. Whilst some alterations were required (and no doubt many more will be required over time) overall the plans were very impressive. If we ever get to the point of being able to start on the buildings it will be fantastic. Basically we are to have two 25 metre by 9,5 metre buildings. One will be home to the fermentation tanks, garde du vin and vendage equipment. The other will be part barrel storage, part bottle storage and contain an area for labelling and packaging as well as an office and a ‘boutique’ as it says on the plans! These will be built behind the house and hangar. The existing hangar will be used to house all the agricultural machinery and supplies. One day!
Saturday 17th May
Author: Jack
Well my prayers have been answered. Jonathon appears around eight thirty
with the help as promised. There were two of them and without any delay
they were off. Phew. Much to Beck’s relief I would not be out
in the vineyard at all today after all.
Instead we tidied out the hangar and loaded the car up with the pile of rubbish for the local tip. Despite the fact that we don’t actually have very much here we continually manage to collect an amazing amount of rubbish, mostly from the garden and vineyard. However there is also some debris from La Vitaille including a large assortment of swimming pool inflatables that have seen better days, some somehow filled with water, some mouldy. Yuk.
And then we go down to Marmande. There is a ‘Fleurs et Fraises’ fair on there so thought it might be worth a look. Before we go to this we have lunch in a pizza restaurant that we have found in one of the back streets. It was surprisingly empty given that the fair was on. The food was passable but not remarkable – maybe that was why it was so empty!
And on to the fair. Not quite as interesting and exciting as I had hoped and nothing much there for Beck apart from Pony rides. Initially she was quite keen but she backed out at the last minute. Not sure why but most of the children having rides were much younger than her so maybe she thought she was a bit too old. We left with two punnets of strawberries and no flowers. Oh well.
Have been meaning to call in to see Dawn and Phil, our old neighbours at La Vitaille for some time but am always pressed for time. We decide to stop by on our way to Geant. They have bought a very unique house in the middle of Marmande, a far cry from the rural France they came to France to enjoy. However they seem very happy and their house is amazing. Built in the late fifties it has been designated as a listed building in Marmande. This is because it was created by a famous local artist and contains absolutely everything that Lawrence Llewlyn whats-his-name absolutely dies for every week darling! It’s got a marble staircase with stained glass inset panels, an enormous roof terrace, lots of chrome railings, a star theme through with specially made star light fitments, original tiling, original bathroom suite etc. It would be worth an absolute fortune in England. They have spent the year since they have been there decorating and restoring. I think Lawrence should take a look.
We only planned to pop in and say hello but ended up staying for dinner and leaving at ten. It was great to catch up with them again.
Sunday 18th May
Author: Jack
Our vineyard helper arrived prompt at eight and started work. He finished
around eleven, all three hectares in a day and a half. Would have taken
me days and days. We had quite a long chat afterwards and it seems that
we may be able to get some more help. In fact I’m fairly optimistic
that he and his partner may become regulars. Anyway we arrange for him
to help with the next batch of jobs in the vineyard. Needless to say
this means I have a shopping list – 600 bamboo canes 1.2 metres
high and 20mm diameter, a bit bigger than the average garden cane. These
will be used to support all the young vines in the vineyard and should
last for about five years, providing really strong support for the young
vines.
After lunch the problem of Rebecca’s flat tyre calls once again.
I have already had the wheel off once but was unable to find a puncture.
However seems there must be something wrong – it’s flat
again. At least time I know how to take the tyre off (yet another string
to my bow!). Fortunately this time we find the puncture, fix it and
her bike is back in business.
Now to the pool. It needs another hoover and armed with my handy sheet
of information that I have collected in the various lessons I have had
to date I optimistically set everything in motion. Well it worked when
Joel tried it on Friday. But the …. thing won’t work now.
I think the pool is jinxed myself. When anyone else touches it it behaves
beautifully. When I touch it it goes into a strop and refuses to work.
Two hours later all I seem to have managed to do is lose a lot of water
and cause water to spurt out of the pump. Am definitely not amused by
all this and poor old Rebecca bears the brunt of my frustrations. Have
to turn everything off and admit defeat once again. Will have to speak
to Joel once again. He must be getting pretty fed up with me by now.
Anyway decide it can wait until tomorrow and finally settle down to
a bit of R and R, that is Rebecca and Rebecca!
