New Horizons.

Well, I just can't believe that it's almost two years since I posted on this blog. So much has happened in the intervening time it's almost unbelievable.

Kervebel is still there as a farm and some work has been done but it is a longer process that I originally hoped to turn it into a working Gite complex.We have completed the kitchen and now installed a new bathroom in the main house, complete with a wonderful new shower unit and hot water system. The shower was quite a saga though, when I was installing it one of the glass panels that makes up the walls of the cabinet (it is a completely enclosed grp/glass cabinet complete with roof) literally exploded as I was carrying it into the house. Large lumps of glass flew for a couple of metres. Then the water mixer/faucet/robinet refused to work. The shop assistant at Mr Bricolage, Phillipe, was a great help but it took almost 4 months to get a replacement, however it is now safely installed and working and is quite wonderful.

My Father in law Jerry, bravely last summer (2006) undertook the filthy task of taking down the rotten Granaire floor (1st floor in English, 2nd floor in American!). This exposed the problems in the joists which support the floor - lots of woodworm. But fortunately the joists are solid oak so the problem is not as bad as it first seemed, only two or three will have to be replaced completely! however I now have to solve the problem of the sloping floor with central drain ( it has been used as a milking parlour).

My poor old English Springer Spaniel, Polly, had to be put to sleep last year. She developed a cancer in her foot which grew large , very quickly, poor thing. We still have a rose in the garden though called 'Pretty Polly' which we planted when she came to live with us and that reminds me of her as I pass it every time I enter or leave our driveway.

I finally asked Laura to marry me last year after a whirlwind courtship of 16 years and we finally tied the knot in June, timed to coincide with my mothers 80th birthday which she enjoyed immensely. Unfortunately and sadly it was to be her last as two large cancers which had been growing unbeknown for a long time, one in her lungs and one in the spine finally caught up with her and she succumbed to them in Hospital near to her home in February this year and was cremated at Gornal wood Crematorium near Dudley. A fitting place to end her place in the world as her family originated from nearby Gornal, but had moved away when she was an infant.

I had also retired from my career in teaching last November, but this was not to be my last experience of teaching as I have been working as a supply teacher employed full time in a local Catholic 'faith' school (these are popular in England 'faith' schools that is). This is to continue until the August vacation, and I must admit to enjoying the experience but when I will get to Kerverbel finally is still up in the air.