OUR KIDS LIFE IN FRANCE, AND OURS - unpacking, sorting and where to put it all

Another beautiful day, we awoke to the sound of birds singing. Not just one variety but loads, I don't think I've ever heard so many different sorts of birds at one time. Made a change from the south when we had the shop on the main road, used to wake up to the sound of the birds coughing there! It was hot, very hot, so we put on our shorts and attacked the rest of the unpacking. Truth be known, we didn't unpack most of it at first, as we didn't have places to display or store it. We didn't want to buy any extra furniture just yet as we had to build the upstairs, then decorate, and then start the downstairs.But cleaning was a major issue, we had already done the surface cleaning prior to moving in, just to make it habitable, but when you delved in to the nooks and crannies it was a bit scary. I went to the local supermarket and filled my trolley with all sorts of cleaners and antibacterial sprays, sponges and cloths etc. In the mean time the men went to the builders shops and got what they need to start building the bedrooms upstairs. And the children played and played in the garden until they were red in the face.

Later that day the neighbour came round to introduce himself. He was about the same age as us and had 3 kids like us, around about the same age, so we agreed they could come and play in the garden with ours later. Perfect for us! Ready made friends and we'd only been there 1 day! The children all got on well and as luck would have it they went to the same school as ours would be starting in 2 weeks, they were all pretty excited. Later on, the other neighbour an his wife popped in. She was an English teacher and he was the Assistant Mayor of the village...very posh. We hit it off with them straight away, which was handy, and a few days later they invited us all round their house for a barb-b-cue. They also invited the other neighbours with the children so it was a really nice evening getting to know each other. I don't know if you've ever experienced "aperitifs" or "grillades" at a French friend's house, but there is usually more alcohol than food, either that or by the time you get to the food your too far gone to eat it! (I know you don't have to accept it but it would be rude not to!) Anyway, we stumbled home at about 12.30pm, realising once we got to the bottom of the road, that we hadn't put the outside light on. It was pitch black and we couldn't find the front door let alone the lock to put the key in, it would have been bad enough had we not been half seas over!! Fortunately the kids had only been drinking lemonade and were there to open the door, scold us and send us to bed!! Ahh...the french life...but how would we feel the next day??