http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Honisetts/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Honisetts en-us Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:39:42 +0000 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:39:42 +0000 We'll yet again apologies for another long delay in blog spotRight work is well and truly underway. We now have a new roof on the back section our old chimney has been recrepied and strengthened and at this precise moment in time we have a digger out the front ripping up all the hard standing to make a new level area. It really is a building site at the moment But t is great to see the big http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-264375.html What can we say again we have left it way tooooo long.SORRY.Right what has been going on since our last blog. Well The roof is now off the back section and the new one is ready to go on. We are having all the walls strengthened and crepied before doing so . this is likely to happen whilst we are away in the UK for my cousins wedding. We hope so anyway the weather has caused progress to be a lit http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-236500.html OK What can we say . . it's been too long since we have had a chance to put anything up and we must apologise to everyone. It looks like we have well and truly settled into the laid back life style here thats probably when we haven't published anything for agesWell since our last blog entry things have been very interesting. Helen is still working a few days a week for the Cavell groups and is d http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-213618.html Firstly we can say that there is no excuse for such a lapse in our entries. APART from we have been busy entertaining building integrating painting plastering gardening going out to dinner or BBQ's with new friends walking running skiing cycling cheering on the local rugby side days at the beach and basically rushing around the area. When we first moved over here people said to us http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-147837.html Monday saw the start of yet another era seems to be happening a lot at the moment I am no longer a spritely twentysomething with a spring in my step and the world at my feet.... noI am now wiser saggier and preparing for serious world domination... oTo mark this occasion Ben has been plotting and scheming behind my back which I have now forgiven him for. I have to point out that I am very p http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-127294.html Hi allNot going to make any apologies about the lack of a blog over Christmas.... we were relaxing fully for the first time in ages Been a wonderful break from everything we do however hope that you all had a good holiday and wish you all the best for the forthcoming new year....We downed tools just before Christmas to run to the airport and pick up Helen's mother who was joining us for the f http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-117763.html No mistake in the spelling for the title that's how we will probably be speaking after getting through our Christmas stash of vinoAfter a quick recommendation from our friends at the camp site in Naverrenx we decided to top up our wine rack which had been starting to look a little bare from when we used to live in the UK. We had bought a few bottles and even though a lot cheaper than buying w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-110906.html Hello to all.Hope everyone is starting to get into the festive spirit Weather here has turned again very very cold first thing and in the shade but really nice and warm around midday and in the sun bit like being back in the UK when you go out you don't know what to wear Also the snow is growing everyday now on the mountains looks fantasticPeople have been asking for more photo's so her http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-110306.html Hello all.Brief update on progress and events here in France.Continuing on from the events of Shark extreme myself and Helen found ourselves caught up in the local crowd at the local bar. This comprised of a few rugby players the local vet and some particularly mad bikers. Wine and beer was flowing and we soon found ourselves in the middle of the community in the bar conversations were a mix of http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-109308.html SHARK EXTREME explainedOur quiet beautiful and tranquil new home became a pit lane this Sunday There has been a sign on a roundabout near the town for ages now SHARK EXTREME 26th NOV it has been puzzling us for a while so we looked up their website the other day and it turns out to be a 34 day event with teams competing in all sorts of extreme sports events covering the Pays Basques and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-106463.html Firstly sorry for the delay in our blog entries as you can imagine trying to set ourselves up over here has taken a little time but now we have the phone and internet installed you find that they should be a little more regular now Like buses none for ages then about 3 come along at onceSooooo Since we have been here we have started work on the centre section of the house this area only real http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-106371.html It is amazing how the small things matter for the last three weeks we have been perched on two capming chairs and two particularly nasty orange poofs which is alright if there is only two of you but with five the poofs start complainingAnyway back to the beginning...We arrived in France on a particularly foggy morning ...which will be nothing new to those of you who know Northern France... bu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-105675.html With a feeling of deja vu we once again spent yesterday packing all our worldly possessions into the car filling every possible space to begin the road trip to France. The difference being this time itrsquos for good. And the car is a little more spacious oCornelius has sadly gone but never forgotten to a lovely new owner who is going to keep the name good girl.We also have a number of ne http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Sauveterre-de-B-arn/blog-99723.html Ladies and gentlemen behold our vessel our chariot our work horse the car as yet with no name until Helen gets a hold of himherVisited the workshop of Liveridge4X4 where our defender is being reconditioned from a LHD Spanish police vehicle to what will be our wonderful 10 seater Bonjour64 defender.These pictures were taken about 4 days ago and yes it does look a little tatty around the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Warwickshire/Bascote/blog-96011.html Well ladies and gentlemen.That's it the final deed is done we have just returned from France where we met with the notaire and signed the final papers. We are now officially french house owners Very exciting and the adventure will continue again in November when we travel back out for good.We flew over on Sunday the 17th September to Pau where we picked up a hire car and drove to Biarritz for http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Warwickshire/Bascote/blog-91319.html Hello All.Very sorry for lack of news and photosThings are still slowly plodding along we now have a frim signing date for our final papers on the house. We will hopefully be flying back out to france on the 17th of September for a signing date of the 20th. Once this is done the house is well and truly ours We get the keys and everything We will return pretty much straight away and we will http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Warwickshire/Bascote/blog-83198.html Firstly Sorry for the long gap between this and the last entry.Right let's get down to business as usual what are we doingWe have indeed signed the first set of legal papers and are now awaiting the next date for us to return to France for the final signing All very exciting but also a very long process nothing much will happen with the documentation whilst the holidays are on.So I am sat a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Warwickshire/Bascote/blog-77067.html Under complete duress we now have to leave France for a few months. It has come around far too quickly and we really do not want to leave here. The countryside towns food wine weather and people French and other have all been wonderful a few minor events aside.We truly believe that this area is going to make a great home.A recommendation to any campers caravans or chalet hirers we are http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Pays-de-la-Loire/blog-69439.html To make up for our lack of communication over the last week or so here is a monster entry to bring you all up to date.The HouseWe have finally had an offer excepted on a house in Sauveterre de Bearn nearly 6 weeks after initially making it and we are signing the first contract compromis de vente on Friday 23rd the day before we plan to start heading north to come home typically last minute http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Navarrenx/blog-67902.html Sorry we have not posted an entry for a little while. We both had to return to the UK for my fathers funeral.However we are now back in Navarrenx and continuing the quest for our home.I can certainly tell you that we have only been back for 1 day and already we know we have made the right choice in choosing this area of France to set up our new life.The weather views and people are all great.Ther http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Navarrenx/blog-63997.html