Traffic, traffic, traffic!!! Followed by roundabouts and more roundabouts. They seem to come every 100 metres. There are road signs to 6-8 places at every point and no time to read them. It is just as well we have ‘Camilla’ (GPS) in the car telling us what to do and making ding dong sounds when it is time to turn. Once you get on the freeway (A8) then it is wonderful and you can travel very quickly between places, but once off the freeway it is bedlam. We have seen the odd traffic jam but so far haven’t been in one ourselves.
Our house is up a small mountain in the village of Bagnols en Foret (Bagnols in the Forest) which is near the town of Frejus, which is north of San Tropez. We have to climb 8 km up a steep, narrow, twisting road and some of the rocky outcrops remind me of the Australian bush, but not the trees. It is reasonably attractive but I much prefer the fields of sunflowers and vines from Languedoc last year. The house is quite good though, although Sarah tells me that French houses never turn out to be quite what they advertise. For instance, one house she rented forgot to mention the fleas! We haven’t got those thank goodness but we have inherited a 20 year old mangey angora cat which the owner requested we feed as she is too old to be moved. We have the most wonderful swimming pool surrounded by great pool furniture, plus a hot tub and a sauna. The garden is huge and filled with flowers, olive trees and birds. The outlook is towards treed hills and 15 minutes walk away is the very quaint village. So all things considered I think we are going to settle in quite quickly.
The joy of seeing the grandchildren was fairly shortlived! Lovely as they are, living with them is another matter. My tolerance level for noise is very low these days and I find myself having to escape into the garden frequently. Luckily the wine is good and cheap. Remarkably good rose comes in 5 lt bags and costs about $1 a litre.
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