Drilling Holes and Drinking Wine

If you asked, say, 10 people what really makes them happy, doubtless each would come up with something different. Mr. Fix It is rarely happier than when either leafing through a building materials catalogue (I know… but each to his own) or getting on with the job in hand, thus this huge project we have undertaken gives him tremendous pleasure and this week has been a prime example of just that. We needed to create a pipe run to the drainage outside for our ensuites which has involved heavy physical work, drilling through brick and rock. “I have used all the tools I brought from the UK now,” he mentioned proudly to me the other day. Not one to be taken unawares, he thought ahead and was well equipped from day one.

Some tools tend to be dear here so this was, as it turned out, an excellent plan and I have watched in awe as he has created the pipe run on the outside of the house, at first balanced somewhat precariously high up, heavy (and lethal) power tool in hand, cracking through solid brick and rock.

We have created much interest in this little wine growing village and our new American friend Craig has been helping with some of the tough work. We have spent many a leisurely hour contemplating life in different countries and Craig has been here 11 years now. It occurred to me that France has attracted so many different nationalities to its shores: even in this small village there are English, Danish, Belgian, American and Canadian people, all mixing in together. The community spirit weaves its magic wand! Life down here in the south of France is much more relaxed than in the UK. It is working to live rather than living to work. Dare I suggest that this is perhaps something which has got somewhat lost in recent years in the UK? Mr. Fix It and I miss nothing about our home country, we have felt at home here since the day we arrived and have encountered nothing but friendliness and peace. We wake up to sunlight and tranquillity, sure that the day ahead will be filled not just with hard work on the house but good leisure times too.

And the wine! We are literally surrounded by vineyards and the choice of decent red wine at extremely reasonable cost is huge. The Languedoc Roussillon has around 700,000 acres of vines and is the single biggest wine producing region in the world, being responsible for more than a third of France’s total wine production. Couple that with the snowcapped Pyrenees in the background, stunning beaches within a short drive and Spain on the doorstep and it is easy to see why this area has so much going for it.

You can find out much more about every region of France in my comprehensive France Buying Guide here: www.francebuyingguide.com/guide.htm

Spring is well and truly under way and we look forward to some traditional fetes and celebrations in the weeks to come. On Sunday there is a flower festival here: the main promenade will be filled with flowers, plants, little stalls, a band and no doubt the wine will again be flowing. The following weekend is a 3 day “feria”. This is a local tradition, much influenced by Spain, involving a team of horse riders and a bull running through the village, to celebrate the bull’s fighting spirit. There is no cruelty; the feria has become a springboard for local celebration with outdoor meals, dancing, a torchlight procession through the village late into the night, a firework display, music and frivolity.

Meanwhile the work continues and every day sees us a little closer to restoring this beautiful old house to its former glory. Whilst I cannot pretend I have been drilling holes in walls or digging pipe runs, I have I suppose been something of a builder’s mate (I am a dab hand at sweeping up as you are about to see) and after all, someone has to go out and taste the wine.