hole in the kitchen

hole in the kitchen
Originally uploaded by Ben from England.

This is a hole that is currently in our kitchen, and it means my French is getting better.



WE had a visit from our neighbor downstairs, M. Jean Marc Babouchkine, who is currently renovating the apartment directly below us, he explained, using slow and simple words once he ascertained that I did not speak perfect French, that there was a leak in the corner of his kitchen just below our kitchen, and he wanted permission for a plumber to come in a take a look at the problem. He showed me the leak in his kitchen and some damage on the landing that was also caused by the same leak.

Then the plumber called, or rather the plumber controlling lady, first she called at 7.45 in the morning, waking me up (I had over slept because my phone is not working so well since I got a load of water in it..) and once she found out I did not speak excellent French, and after asking if there was anyone there who did speak French, was say things louder, and quicker, in a high pitched whine. leaving me to repeat what I thought were the important screeches, and her to correct me as if I were an idiot, "No! not Tomorrow, Thursday!!!!" She has had to call back three or four times to arrange for this hole to be made and for other people to visit, I dread her calls.
Our neighbor however is welcome anytime, especially as he has the most amazing moustache.

the smugness of life change Bloggers

I did a search on Blogspot for other people who had moved to France and were blogging about it, the tone of the feeds almost universally was 'look at us we made the move from blighty and now we are better than you' they seemed to present an image of everyone’s life being idyllic in France, that all problems were banished by having the courage to move to a new country, and start living in some other way. I only hope I haven't communicated this in any of my posts, but I fear I may have. Yes life is better, I have my own place, a job I enjoy, some nice new friends, and above all am living with the girl I love. But if these things had happened in the UK I would be brimming with smugness. And yes life is different to life in the UK, but life in the UK is great too. I emphasize the good things, quality of life, great scenery round here, the relaxed attitude etc, as this blog bears witness, but as with all things there is a balance, and after a year of good living I feel I have a little perspective to offer.
I think in an earlier post, way at the beginning that learning French was the hardest thing I have ever done, and that stands tall as the one thing that separates me from truly living here, and the one thing I am determinate to work hard at and kick its ass, I WILL be able to drop comments to random strangers that talk to me on the bus, I WILL be able to join in the Monday morning conversations about crap we did at the weekend. Its not like I'm not making progress, I can be understood when I say quite complicated things, I ordered Buffy’s ring in French, and felt like a god when it came out looking like I wanted! and I understand more and more, but the ease of communication is gone, the picking up of casual comments is not happening, overhearing snippets of women gossiping on the tram doesn’t happen, making a witty comment to the supermarket girl to try and ease her day, just is not possible yet.
one of the things I consider myself quite good at is taking in English, I enjoy it, I like language, and words, and having that taken away from me is a bit like having your tongue cut out, and having to will each cell to grow back by remembering words and unlearning a lifetime of wit and humor, and phrase and unconscious grammar. But I will succeed. Its not all wine and cheese. But my life is better.

microwave in new home = Ben the electrician.

kitchen2
Originally uploaded by Ben from England.

Moving the microwave to the rack, its new home meant putting a new plug in behind the rack, and tapping the wires for another socket further round the kitchen, behind the washer. After much consulting with my esteemed and very wise Father I decided to do it the quick and dirty way, as they have in other places in the apartment, I should have run another spur from the 'consumer unit' in the hall, with its own fuse and therefore isolator. but after a bit of digging around I found another occasion where they had just tapped an existing power socket spur for two plugs, and just bi-wired each socket, which is what I did, there was enough slack in the conduit, to make the live and neutral stretch up to the plug and the earth was extended with another section of cable, perhaps not the best way, but its only the earth, no current. Nice.

New washer = end of trips to laverie

Kitchen1
Originally uploaded by Ben from England.

And the washing machine in its new home, plumbed in, working, on a flat surface, and looking great, again, not much to show for nearly a days work...
I had tpo raise the work surface by a paltry 2.5 cm. instead of drilling new holes in the wall, I just added spacers all round, including the foot next to the bin, andgave it a sencond coat of varnish while I was at it. CONCLUSION: the best part of DIY is tidying up after a job well done.

The (not steep) way to the top of the dente de crolles

The (not steep) way to the top of the dente de crolles
Originally uploaded by Ben from England.

We went for a walk up a local hil(mountain) a couple of weekends ago, the Dente de Crolles, (tooth of Crolles) its a 30 min drive from home up to about 1200 meters, and then a realy steep walk for another 40 mins up to the base of the toothy bit, then you have to decide, steep or even steeper, being not so fit, and very hot and half way through being eaten by some nasty flies, we decided to go the not so steep way, this is another 30 mins inot the not so steep way, to the Left is a sheer drop to the valley floor a few hundered meters below, and to the right is the back of the mountain which has come away form the main rock in places and its these splitss that make up the bit before you get to the top. the not steep bit had lots of wirers anchored to the side of the mountain to help you get up, and splits you had to crawl through. also we walked past the mouth of a cave, out of which a steady current of 5 degree air was wafting, such nice relief. I was later told that the steep way was not as ardious, and owuld explain the large amount of young children playing on the gentle grassy slope at the top.