Thursday 10th october (2002)

Wake at 6a.m. - still dark. Wait till 7.20 before getting up. Quick breakfast of tea and yoghurt before Michel and Marie whisk me off to Charleville to collect the keys to the house in town.

It was better looking than the village house but had THREE steps at the frontdoor, an inconveniently placed washbasin in the toilet and it stank of animal pee! Non - absolument pas!

Keys returned, we went to open a bank account at BNP. It took well over an hour but the advisor seemed very thorough and helpful and tried to explain things in simple French. A lens fell out of my glasses so I had to sign loads of papers with one eye closed. A huge pile of papers to take home. Hope Marie will go through them with me when/if there's time.

 Next stop the Caisse Primaire for health cover. No appointments till Monday, we were told, but Marie, who held quite a high position there until her retirement, pulled rank and strings and got us a rendzvous for tomorrow. She's a miracle worker!

Visit to the Prefecture was less succesful. Rather officious lady gave a list of required paperwork which included a 'Cerificate de Radiation'. What on earth's that?

Lunch was simple but delicious: melon,  choice of left-overs - carbonade or confit de canard - with the most absolutely scrumptious roast potatoes cooked in duckfat, salad with cheese, icecream and coffee.

Took Yaris for a walk then came back to work on THE letter (telling Bear I was leaving him for good) while Michel put a cupboard together.

Jay rang to say he has re-arranged the truck hire for the end of the month and is coming back by car on Sunday.

Lots of conversation during which they both corrected my French alot. It's very helpful but difficult to remember.

Lots more officialdom tomorrow. Life could get comp.licated