FRENCH & BLOOMING

Finally....

And the end of an UNFRENCH era.

New Year, new me, literally!

Honestly, It's been an absolute blast since 2017 but it is getting a little stale now and I no longer live in France.

Donna doesn't live here anymore..........lol! A lil Cliff Richard earworm for you there!

As I said in my last blog, it's finally time to hang up my UNFRENCH pen and concentrate on a new adventure, just months after leaving France in mid 2025.

Saying that, we didn't really have any real want to move and would have rather NOT moved again so soon or ever again actually. Loath moving with a passion I need to put into something else! However, after an already chequered history of maintenance issues here since move in day, big pointless bills and still feeling as cold inside as out this winter, we realised the writing was on the wall for this rental. The lorry as it happens is still a third full and that tells you everything you need to know.

Are we disappointed?

Only a little, but more because we know moving exhaustion is coming our way! Moving isn't glam, nor is it cheap! Sometimes though, it is worth it!

In my humble opinion, renting can be a wonderful partnership between landlord and tenant but this partnership hasn't worked and sometimes that’s freeing in its self, knowing we are flogging a dead horse of course opens a whole world of opportunities, we didn't even know we needed.

We really DID need a new plan! Nothing like a good push in the right direction, also no time like the present!

Once we decided neither would want to spend another winter here, it was time to move on, that much was clear. Unanimous! Also a rare beast in our union!

So we said to each other a few weeks ago, 'if we are going to move, let's make it count', making sure we can get me working and keep me out of trouble. TBH if we'd gone another 4 months here, I'd have run away anyway, utterly bored and fed up. Yes! We absolutely needed a good rest after the French reno but we are now too rested, almost living like we are knocking on the old folks home door! One extreme to another! The maintenance issues were the last nail in the coffin but we aren't ready to join said coffin in the grave yard, may never be!

The views here are special, can't deny that and I will never forget them but the rest reminded of my childhood home, cold damp and draughty. We spend most of our time trying to keep warm and keeping the mould at bay! I actually hate the bathrooms and whilst we were going to renovate them, but we didn't bank on spongy floors and rising damp. We had to want to commit and in the end didn't want to.

I think any alumni member of Generation X will remember ice on the inside of the windows? Normal back then sure but thankfully central heating and double glazing were invented and life got warmer. Not here. The windows are 20 plus years old UPVC and degrading. Firstly all the panels blew one by one and now the hinges have failed! In essence we are paying to heat the outdoors! We also have obsolete electric heating which is soooo expensive but also does very little. Personally I'd prefer original windows, decent shutters and wet heating! I know thats not majorly eco friendly, I don't care! Cold Donna is like Hungry or tired Donna, she's someone to avoid!

There have been many other issues of course, too many! It's been like Piccadilly circus with contractors constantly coming and going until we were just fed up of it all. We don't trust the process anymore, it's that simple. This house needs fully and thoughtfully renovating before it hits the market again, but I expect they will probably just re rent it!

Hopefully, with the recent changes in tenancy laws, this particular Landlord will eventually learn to maintain and invest in his properties. It's these exact law changes that have freed us from a fixed term tenancy, otherwise we'd be stuck here for a while yet!

So what is next?

The ink isn't quite dry on 'what’s next' but we are very much hoping to move in to our new venture by late March, a dual residential and business property. We are super excited! It won't change P's work life but it will give me a real purpose, the opportunity to put my money where my mouth is and actually do something with my creative talents!

Why were we back here in Lincolnshire? We've almost always bounced back here after a stint abroad, not really by design, more like It was just a 'safe bet'. P was attached to an Lincolnshire RAF base in 1990 and both our girls were born in Lincoln. It's a familiar county, easy and full of family memories.

We've really enjoyed Louth this time around and would consider it again for the dotage but the truth is, I have just one long term friend here and whilst I hate to move away from her again, it's time to use those wings and fly away. It's not too far for her to come visit and I'm sure she will enjoy a little R&R from time to time. P's family is in Yorkshire and I hope they will come and see us, maybe help us move?

Yes please!

If everything falls into place, we will be moving just 2.45 hrs away to the county of Norfolk. I mean it's not the end of the earth but a change is as good as a rest isn't it? Yes, Norfolk here we come but that’s as much as I can tell you at this moment in time and to think I actually came across the property by mistake!

Serendipity!

We do have big plans but first he has a trip to Canada and I have my British Sustainable Floral Design course! Two weeks away from home, absolutely knee deep in flowers! Bliss! Can't wait!

It's funny how it is all coming together in the end. We left France last year with no real direction. I'd also postponed my course twice last year for various reasons. Somehow it is now just weeks away and perfect timing!

I'm a little nervous about all the changes but I think that’s a good thing. Nothing we want is ever easy and that's okay. I'm really happy, ready and eager to put the work in and see where we land?

Nevertheless, I will always be grateful to my blogging and social alias's, Humble Tart Kitchen and then of course The Very UnFrench Wife. I will miss them and you wonderful women (and a few chaps) that helped build an amazing community! I sincerely hope you'll follow me wherever I go next?

D x