Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
A few days in London soaking up the hype of the 2012 Olympics were all I had before starting the next part of the journey. We arrived back in London on the evening of the Opening Ceremony and were quickly overwhelmed by all of the changes that had occurred since we departed only a month before. Our bus passed near we had stayed out near Greenwich and the park where a few marques were being set up was now transformed into the Olympic Equestrian Centre. When I was in London back in 2005 and it was announced they had won the Olympic bid I would never had imagined I would be back when it was all coming to fruition.
Of course the Olympics was not all that was happening in this vibrant city. Last minute sightseeing, a visit to Camden Markets and of course a traditional Sunday roast in a London pub was also on the agenda.
Monday morning Siobhan and I parted company so that she could travel on to Ireland and I could begin my time house sitting in France. I arrived in Toulouse late afternoon and dropped my bags so that I could get out there and practice my French sorting trains and buses.
The following morning I headed off to the little village of Valence sur Baise. It was a little surreal as I travelled through the countryside past field after field of bright sunflowers that this is where I would be living for the next month. Way back when I was in Laos, I sent an email to Sarah via a house sitting website selling my love of everything French and my longing to spend some time in her home looking after her dog Lily and her brood of seven cats. I was welcomed at the train station by a woman who I had an instant connection with and we had a great chat driving back to the tiny village she and her three children call home.
The house is over 150 years old and located on one of the many canals that run through the South West of France. In the front of property is the lock that is used by people to gain access to the canal. During my stay I met people from all over the world who were sailing down the canal as far as Spain! The property also has an island accessed by the lock walkway. Many of the cats have sought refuge on the island from the wild and crazy Lab cross Lily. From here you can see the historic Abbey de Flaran as well as fields of giant rolls of hay and more sunflowers. Needless to say, the location I now found myself in was pretty stunning.
The morning that Sarah and the children departed for the UK I began finding my feet and getting stuck into the jobs I needed to get done in exchange for my stay. Days of working in the garden, walking the dog and maintaining the house followed. I also had plenty of time to read a few books, catch up on some Skype dates and indulge in some afternoon naps in the shade of the elm trees in the garden. Tough life for some! I also made sure there was time for plenty of bike rides where I could explore the village and meet the locals. The neighbours Serge and Christine were lovely and although they had very limited English we soon became regular visitors at each other's place. Serge was constantly bringing fresh vegetables from their garden, which meant I needed to come up with new ways of eating the mountain of tomatoes I was accumulating.
After more than three weeks of relaxing in Valence, Siobhan came to join me for the final week. We hired a car from the airport in Toulouse, which meant we had easier access to all of the small villages near the house. Going from not driving for over 6 months to attempting to drive a car the reverse of what I'm used to on the other side of the road proved challenging but also hilarious at times. Our tiny VW 'Up' took us all over the local area with trips to nearby villages including the town Condom named after the fella who invented them.
Sarah, Alix, Tio and Kaia returned at the end of the month and that meant my time here was soon over. We spent the morning swapping stories of their holiday and my housesit before Siobhan and I hit the road for a few more days exploring before leaving France. We set off on a road trip Bordeaux and Agen and on our final day spent time soaking up the last of the laid back French lifestyle in a few smaller villages on our way back to Toulouse.
I absolutely loved my time in Valence sur Baise! Spending a month living life in the French countryside, riding to the village each morning for my baguette, watching the sunset over the Abbey and meeting so many generous people has ensured that I will never forget this special place that I was lucky enough to come and spend time in.
Nic x
- comments