We dropped her at Heathrow and then drove back here in time for the retirement party of a friend who works in a school near here. As it was about 40kms away we even spent the night in or 2-person tent to save losing our licences on the way back!
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A lot has happened in July which seems to have flown past. Most important, we finally completed the sale of our house in Yelverton. It took ages (we agreed the price in February) because one person in the chain had a useless solicitor. Anyway, it's done now, boats burnt etc. Hooray, hooray!!
The other good bit of news was that we finally got all the extra costs back for the cancelled flight from Vancouver. OPODO were totally useless and it took them 6 weeks just to refund the flight we had booked - we'll never use them again. The have a section called 'Customer Relations' rather than 'Customer Services' and I think that says it all.
What we did learn is that it is the airline who cancelled who are responsible for all the other costs and to give them their due, Icelandair paid up quickly and with no question.
We've been sorting out lots of little jobs on the house, all those bits and pieces which needed a few minutes but which we had never got around to. Now the list is nearly done.
So we've been doing the usual things as well as, walking, eating, drinking, partying - it's tough here. We were invited by a couple of friends from Condom to spend a day or so with them at their apartment at Cap d'Agde on the Med. Françoise said it had been her childhood dream to have a place by the sea and we had a great time with them, wonderful food and good company but the water was cold!
We helped at the mediaeval evening in Montreal and Chris was on duck duty again - just the 360 this time! Another one this week but Chris will be away in London so Judy will have to step into the breach.
The Tour de France passed through Condom, but the weather was atrocious, torrential rain and thunderstorms as they approached. The caravan with all the publicity cars was a great spectacle and the cyclists just whooshed past. We were at the house of a friend which is directly on the route so had a great view - as well as champagne and a great lunch.
Had some friends to stay, old school friend of Judy and partner Jim who protested about being made to walk but coped well with the feasting at the other end!
Anyway, now the kitchen is in and the house is sold we're definitely feeling more laid back so work has taken a pause. We're waiting for the shutters to be installed (after the August holiday) and the wood-burner (not sure when) and then we'll probably start again.
Chris is off to the UK for a few days work and Judy is going in October to help Nicky and Glyn celebrate Bryony's 1st birthday.
