Mark Aiston

The Red Monkey

Mark Aiston

I have just given up my job and my home to go to France. The main purpose for this massive change in my life is to study and hone my skills as a web developer/designer. I will be working unpaid on an Alpaca farm in Limalonges, where my reward will be board and lodgings. I hope to be competent as a web designer within 6 months, but will stay and study in France for as long as it takes. So here goes....................




Well, the end is nearly upon me. After 5 and a half months, it is nearly time for me to come home. In fact, this time next week i will indeed be back in Kingston, living in digs which I procured over the internet! So lets hope I am not entering a 'Misery' type scenario!!!!! The month of June has seen Jo, Allie, and Alex come and go. Alex has grown up a lot in the last 5 months. He has realised that living costs money, and that the money tree doesn't exist. So he has had a steep learning curve, but it has done him a world of good, and I am proud of him. It was really nice that Jo made it out here, albeit only for a few days, and great that Allie ... read more
A rare double rainbow after a storm
This is Brodie and Baboushka, who are really sweet and loving. I will miss them.
This is my dream house, not far from here. Iwould kill to own and live in this house. Seriously.

Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Tarbes June 24th 2011

........and so I face ... blah blah blah!! Sadly, the end of my time in France is indeed near. The last 3 weeks have been spent in Sarraguzan, near Tarbes, where I have been dog sitting, in a lovely house in the foothills of the Pyrenees. There have been some quite spectacular thunder storms in my time here. Jo came out for 3 days just before our birthday, and we had a lovely time. Allie has been here for the last 2 weeks, during which time she and I celebrated our 40th and 50th birthdays. We have spent most of the time sunning ourselves on the decking outside the house. But we have also managed to travel a bit, with day trips to San Sebastian, in Spain - Biarritz - Pau -Tarbes - and Lourdes. And ... read more
Me and Jo at Carcassonne airport
Allie on the beach at San Sebastian
Allie next to the wonderful mementoes on offer at Lourdes, on a very wet day. This was just before the umbrella broke, and we got soaked to the skin!!

Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Angouleme May 19th 2011

Hello all - I have been back in Amberac, with Sandy and Roger, for 2 weeks now, since the end of my house sitting. The weather here has been fantastic - reaching 40 degrees in the sun yesterday. In fact, it was so hot that i had my first swim in Rogers pool, as the temp of the water was 24 degrees. You will probably have sussed that out by the lead photo!! It was lovely and refreshing, after a hard morning toiling in the fields! Roger filled it for the first time on May 1st, after tiling it whilst I was in Toulouse. So I have been working for my keep again. Plenty of gardening last week, with mowing the orchard, weeding, hedge trimming, and general garden upkeep, which seems a never ending job. The ... read more
the swimming pool that Roger built
the main garden before mowing
and after.........

Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Toulouse May 4th 2011

Hello All. I have been house sitting in Cazeres for 8 days now, and I have to say it has been one of the most relaxing weeks i have had for a long time. The house is beautiful, and the location is stunning. The house itself is located on a woody hillside, and i can only see open countryside 360 degrees. My only company has been a labrador and a german shepherd, who are great, despite being a little scarey at times. So when I am not doing my web design, I am throwing sticks for the dogs, eating, or sitting in the extensive grounds of this lovely house. I will be sorry to leave actually, as the peace and quiet is great. It has been a little lonely at times, but the dogs are good ... read more
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Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées » Tarbes April 22nd 2011

After a few days back in the UK, I returned to Roger and Sandy's in Amberac for a rest!! It was a hectic time in UK trying to see everyone in such a short space of time. But it was a nice break. So got back to France on Monday, and was greeted with an email from a friend in the mid-Pyrenees asking if i wanted a couple of weeks of house sitting. Long story short, I am writing this from a beautiful house in the village of Sarraguzan, in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The most stressful thing i have to do at the moment is feed 2 dogs and 2 cats!! It is possibly the most relaxing place I jave ever stayed in. On a hill, with nothing but open countrysude for as far ... read more
this is the first thing i see when i wake up and look out the window. Could be worse eh?!
the other side of the house.......
this is Lottie - the one eyed cat. She eats for France man!!

Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Angouleme March 28th 2011

Well, I have to say that I am now staying in the best place so far. The house is absolutely gorgeous. The guys who own it are very nice. And they only have a small dog, which is quite cute, and 1 cat. The house is literally on the banks of the river Charente, which runs through some of the most beautiful villages in France. I am being fed very well, and worked very hard. I think for the first time in a very long time I am burning more carbs than I am eating!! But I have had some fun as well. I arrived here last Tuesday evening, and started work on wednesday morning. the first job was to clear out a couple of rooms in an outbuilding where the roof had fallen in, littering ... read more
My room, which is nice..!!
The view from my bedroom.....
taken from the bridge at the entrance to the village of Amberac, where I am staying. Idyllic or what?

Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Deux-Sevres March 20th 2011

Hello All! Its been a few weeks since I last updated this blog. Truth is I havent done much exciting in that time. Since the debacle that was the castle I moved to a nice house in Neuils les Aubiers, just north of Bressuire, where I have spent most of my time digging the garden, which is back breaking. i have also done some painting, wire brushed and putty'd loads of outside doors ready for painting, and even built a tortoise run!!! Trouble is I have been working so many hours here that I havent managed to get much studying done on the web design front. Plus the house is literally next door to a wooden box making factory, and the machine that strips the bark off entire 75ft tree trunks is just the other side ... read more
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Europe » France March 2nd 2011

Please find attached 2 short videos which show the full horror of the conditions at the castle - check out the spare bed linen cupboard in the 5 star caravan - puke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! suffice to say 1 night in there was more than enough.... read more

Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Deux-Sevres March 2nd 2011

So, after the horrors of the 'castle', I have found a new HelpX host, in the form of Tim and Lin, who have a lovely house in a town called Nueil les Aubiers. I have a lovely clean bedroom, and my own bathroom, and they have a real swimming pool!!! - all a far cry from the castle. I arrived here on Monday night with a huge sense of relief, and feel so much better for it. Yesterday I spent 5 hours gardening, which I have to say was back breaking. And today i have been painting walls in the far end of the house, which is being converted into a gite - having been a private nightclub for the previous owner of the house. The revolving glitter ball hanging from the ceiling is the only ... read more
my room with south facing doors onto the patio, which makes it a nice warm room when the sun is out
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Europe » France February 28th 2011

what a nightmare! this place, so laughingly called a castle, is a more like a rubbish tip than a castle. it is quite simple a ruin, with the owners living in the only 2 habitable rooms. i have been put in a caravan which judging by the smell inside it hasnt't been livied in or aired for years. it is foul. everything smells dank and musty. there is nicotine stains all over the walls and ceiling. it has a toilet and shower area, but no water supply. and the outside of it looks like a council refuse tip. and worse, i as only meant to stay in this caravan for a week, as someone else has been promised it for next week. A ldy, who has beeen given it as it has a toilet. but no ... read more
the inside of my caravan
the lovely location of my caravan
view from my caravan window




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