settling into our house in Céret

In Ceret in November

We moved into our new house on Monday 27^th October in Céret, having crossed the channel by the shuttle train on Saturday 25^th, and driven all day Sunday down through France.

We then set about trying to get quotes from builders to do the small amount of work required to turn the garage into an art gallery. We want to take out some cross beams that support a kind of mezzanine storage area just above head height, and install gallery type track lighting. This will give the garage a more open and pleasing appearance for displaying paintings in. We also want the floor skimmed with some self-leveling compound and painted, since the concrete floor is badly patched and cracked.

Across the square from us is another artist, Jane, who has her garage as a gallery with her working studio space behind. This is the place de la Liberté, where the platan trees rise 90 feet or more. The houses are all 3 or 4 storeys tall and are dwarfed...We are 100 yards off this square, and Jane is on the other side. This is where the Saturday market is held.

On Tuesday 28^th we went to the French electrician opposite the grand café, and left my details for them to come and give a quote. They never came or even called my mobile. On Saturday we got in touch with an English electrician, to call and see about a quote. He returned on Monday with an English builder called London Dave – a cockney who has not lost the East end accent. Neither had a pad or took any notes or measurements. They recommended getting a few quotes from others, which I took to be a sign they were fully booked and too busy for another job. The electrician did return on 7^th to do a survey. But still no quote a week later. Go for a walk to enjoy the view of the town.

So on Tuesday 4^th we had a French builder based in the town to call. When he came round he said he would have to return with a plumber and carpenter; he took my phone number and never bothered to call and arrange another time. He appears to be too busy.

On Wednesday 5^th we had a third builder, also a French firm, come and take measurements for a quote. He never bothered with measurements, but did take a few notes. He never bothered to return a quote.

On Thursday 13^th November we went and had coffee with Matthew and Hetty, who own a small gallery a few hundred yards from us. They sympathized with our frustration at the difficulty of obtaining any quotes despite 3 trades visiting, and explained that the French builders are all busy right now, and don’t want the work. They often quote a high price for the English, who are use English builders anyway, and Matthew recommended a Dutch electrician, Walter, who did his house.

So we walked over to Walter’s house just across the square from us and put a note through his door.  He came round the same evening, and returned with a builder, (also called Dave) for a quote the next day. This Dave is “two dogs Dave”.

Walter and two dogs’ Dave seemed a bit more thorough, they took notes, and measurements, and Walter asked if he could see the electrical survey done as part of the experts’ reports prior to the purchase of the house. This way he could rectify all the previous faults. (There are too many electrical hazards to name them) They both seem to think they can do the job in a day in about two weeks’ time. This is the most positive news yet. But we have already been here three weeks trying to get this apparently simple job done.

The internet is another story of delays. I applied online on Friday 31^st October, and posted the required documents for bank mandate on the Monday 3^rd so I was expecting at least an e-mail reply by the following week. On Wednesday 12^th I gave up waiting, and went back to my only French friend’s house to re-apply on line once more, and get the small print of the contract translated. Apparently the delay could be down to our telephone line not being active or “live”, so the internet service provider has to ask French Telecom to activate it and lease the line to them.

I finally had an email from the service provider on Friday 14^th November, requesting that I call and arrange a date for the technician to come and install the internet box. I must try and explain that wifi is an urgent and essential service...

On Friday 14^th we also got Matthew returned to try his Citroen 2CV in our garage to see how a small car fits without us having to move the washing machine and tumble dryer, since there really is nowhere else for them to go in the house.

On 11^th November, Armistice day there was a memorial service kept in the Place de la Liberté with a small brass band playing the Marseilles, and then God save the Queen, while the mayor and made a brief speech and then laid a large floral bouquets at the foot of the monument to the dead.

Afterwards in the hall opposite there were drinks and snacks served to the small crowd who turned up to observe the silence and pay their respects. We bumped into Michael and Hetty Wright, and also some of the other people we have met since arriving here. We are introduced to a couple of French people whose names I forget.

Carol had her second French lesson on Monday; we thought there were lessons for both of us, but must have misunderstood. I dropped her off and went to sit in the park with my book for an hour. Carol is finding the grammar and all the new vocabulary to learn something of a trial.

For me, what I read I have done before, aged about 12 or 13, and I remember it somehow, after a fashion, but not in time to say anything to anyone correctly. Perhaps it is because we learnt so much of the language written down, and did not spent much time reading or speaking to each other.

We walk around the town, and browse in the shops. The prices in most shops is staggeringly high for what is being sold. Today I saw a cushion for €45 and it was just printed fabric, and no fancy piping either on the seam.

The electrician will want us to source our lights, and there is a shop on the high street with light fittings, but it was the shop selling a cushion for €45 and a tiny cherub styled place holder for €15 so I did not bother to find out how much their lights were selling for, no point at those prices. Hopefully we can find something on the internet and have them delivered.