Live well.....
Embrace the peaceful life (vivre la vie tranquille).......!
Alright then!
Vive La France!
Really?
More details on that later, folks, and it's quite the story!
The renovation is progressing well, thank you for asking. It's been a very busy and positive week, and as a result, I have just hit a wall (mid-Friday afternoon), and I believe the carpenter has as well. Nevertheless, we are heading out to the nearby "Creperie" tonight for some R&R, as no taxis are needed, there aren't any anyway and we are dire in need of blowing off some steam. A little drinkie is in order, preferably red and refreshing, and I'll be just fine!
To be honest this town could use a few more hangout spots if anyone is up for it; otherwise, I might have to open a Speakeasy! I always told Phil that one must bring their own entertainment to the north of France or risk dying of boredom. Harsh but true.
Anyway, many positive things are happening at the French Wreck that was, and we are steadily making progress day by day! It's a process that can only move as quickly as humanly possible but I can't believe we are starting on the top floor next week!
Progress!
At the moment, I feel quite overwhelmed, definitely in need of a break to escape the dust and debris, and maybe a legal brief to deal with the local grocer here, who seems determined to disrupt the whole town, but mainly us, with her annoying deliveries! Quite the adventure since our return! It seems someone in high office took advantage of our absence to try and claim our right to park outside our house and even wanted access to our garage! Shameful.
I'm not joking, this woman has the entire street in an uproar, all because her shop (the size of two front rooms) is a Carrefour reseller! So I assume Carrefour must combine her delivery with those of the other major supermarkets, which naturally have designated drop-off solutions, without disturbing any residential areas! The truck in question is the largest I've ever seen! It arrives between 5 and 8 am, occupies the entire residential parking bay right outside our house, and takes 25 minutes to unload, creating a terrible scraping noise with its lift. To add insult to injury, the driver brings the goods around the side/back of our house to the shop's storage! Clatter, bang, crash! Not even our new windows can shield us from this!
She tells me she has been here for 17 years and I believe she thinks she has the right to upset everyone regardless? The town has grown a lot in the 7 years we've owned the house, and she is benefiting from the influx of workers. I support independent shops, but not when they take everything, including parking, from the residents! I truly believe I have equal rights, especially not to be awakened by that blasted truck!
Goodness gracious!
What is the Mayor thinking?
It feels rather personal.
He or she/they may be ignoring our complaints, and I'm beginning to think all this talk about friendly, helpful Mayors is nonsense! They don't seem to care! It's a minimum and maximum shrug of indifference, and it feels somewhat targeted! It's as if it's just our house now! We are the ones who can almost touch the truck if we lean out of our windows.
I suppose every French person around us has fended off the threat, leaving us as the last victims. She comes out in the evening, placing trip hazard signs on the path and scolding my contractors who are putting away their equipment, even telling my plasterer to park elsewhere when he's loading his platforms outside our garage! She shakes her head at me when she sees me, and it's starting to feel like harassment, my dear!
She claims it's the Mayor's decree! I say, tell him/her/them to come talk to me! This is not going to continue on my watch but I really don't want the fight!
Good heavens!
I've given them the solution!
Go to Carrefour logistics, explain the issue, and get a normal-sized delivery! It's so simple, but no, she doesn't care and continues to torment everyone happily! It seems she might get away with it, but I'm not buying it! There are laws to protect us from this nonsense, and it is all nonsense no one needs.
Our next-door neighbour, also French, is a parking vigilante with his traffic cones! I can't really blame him, but he's also being unreasonable, and now his family are trying to park in front of our garage if the bay is full! Bloody cheek!
He can also move the massive piece of broken glass he's put down the side of the house! At first he blocked off our access to our post box and for months the post lady didn't/wouldn't/couldn't deliver to us! Another special brand of 'I don't give a floss' in our direction!
Great!
Breaking news!
We won't be moving our car anymore. No deal Mrs! It stays because even if we try to comply, someone else takes the spot, or we get disturbed by that ridiculous juggernaut! Absolutely dreadful! Don't we have the same right as everyone else here to enjoy our property in peace?
I think we do.
Philip has just trundled down the street towards the Mairie (didn't want to remind him its Friday afternoon) and I live in hope that there is a sensible response but I won't hold my breath! I do plan to take this further and will be ringing the police the next time that lorry wakes us up. Mark my words, if they want war, then I will happily pick my favourite weapons..........!
My pens and keyboards. I have my ways of getting bad news spread fast apparently!
I am also wondering how Macron can ask for 'integration' when the powers that be behave as if the newcomers are just invisble and thier welfare not important?
Piffle!
Right, I must get back to arguing with him in doors about my bar design which is now giving him a headache! Oops!
Love and Gumption and if anyone tells me to shut up because I'm a guest in this country, I will shove our tax bills down their throats!
D x
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