Spring is officially here!

We have daylight now till around 7.15 pm and from Sunday of course, the days will stretch further till well after 8.15 pm. What a difference an hour makes! We have felt Spring like for many weeks down here in the Languedoc Roussillon (there has scarcely been a day without at least some sunshine and many with clear blue skies) so our thoughts have turned this week to planning our garden space.

Outside space with a property is not so easy to find in these parts: this, the largest wine growing region in France is home to so many who spend their days working outside tending the vines and so do not have quite the same craving to laze in the sun as we Brits may have! One of the many reasons we hit upon this beautiful old house was its large courtyard space of around 200 sq.m. which is perfect for Mr. Fix It and I – and I venture to guess is fine by Eddie & Alfie – neither of us being hugely green fingered although still keen to have space to sit outside long into the evening as the summer days stretch ahead.

Having constructed 2 new doors with steps down which used to be windows on to the garden and either side of the double front door, the garden space instantly becomes almost fused with the inner space for a good part of the year. Even though we have yet to “do” our garden, I remember countless evenings last year when we sat outside with friends and family visiting; music, wine, laughter and of course Mr. Fix It’s famous barbeque on the go (another one of his talents).

Plans for our garden? Well here in the South of France swimming pools are very common. As you fly into either Carcassonne, Beziers or Montpellier you can clearly see swimming pools dotted around the countryside and it’s easy to see why: with over 320 days of sunshine to enjoy and temperatures often reaching into the 40s in July and August, a pool becomes perhaps not a necessity but certainly a sensible option. We have planned a small pool for one end of our garden, just enough space to cool off and practise a few strokes we thought. There is something magical about sitting close to water even if one doesn’t venture in and knowing Mr. Fix It, our pool will be well lit inside, lending a luxurious air to this space.

Most of our garden will be levelled over and paved but we will retain a portion at the opposite end from the future pool as a space for plants and 2 existing trees. One side of the garden is walled (I love walled gardens) with a strange feature in the middle which we intend to develop in some way. Ideas welcome, here it comes!


The season of Spring invariably brings with it a sense of optimism and new beginnings and here in the South of France there are notable differences as the days grow longer: parks and gardens in our nearby towns of Carcassonne, Narbonne and Montpellier are open longer showing off their fresh green colours, the pavement café tables are filling up and restaurants become busy both at lunchtime and in the evenings. A visit to the stunning ancient Cathar village of Minerve the other day and a delicious lunch sitting outside overlooking the massive gorge over the River Cesse renewed Mr. Fix It’s vigour to press on with work on our kitchen. As for me, until the day when our kitchen is finally in, I have no complaints: Minerve and so many other villages and towns here are so beautiful, so relaxing and reached by such leisurely traffic free, tree lined roads, I am quite happy to look far over to the mountains in the distance and enjoy the moment.

Alexis
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Francebuyingguide.com

Have a look at my website at: http://www.francebuyingguide.comAlexisThe Overseas Guides CompanyFrance@overseasguidescompany.com