We have our own ducks

We are in Burgundy in a place called Semur en Auxois which is a beautiful village about an hour’s drive from Dijon.

I still have my cold and Cate finally got it as well so our activities have been curtailed somewhat. We have spent a lot of time in pharmacies seeking drugs for our ailments.

Our house is very special and is on the river. It has it’s own weir with water cascading down to the river – and we have our own ducks. They come twice a day to be fed.

So far we have seen some abbeys and castles. These normally tend to bring me out in a rash but were in fact quite fine.

On Tuesday night we went up for an hour in a hot air balloon. This has been a dream for John for sometime – and a nightmare for me. It was quite terrifying but we survived the experience.

I have been using my French which is not quite as good as it used to be – particularly in pharmacies – but we have managed to make ourselves understood. John is much better at it.

We are good to go

Cate is still in Saudi Arabia in her Abaya but goes to Bad Homburg tomorrow and can wear proper clothes.

The Hendersons arrived after a refreshing 30 hour flight on various airlines including Finnair and were in remarkably good shape – considering.

I got a dreadful dose of something from my Doctor – who last time I saw her was barking like a seal. I knew it was a mistake to be in the same room as her but I did it  - and suffered the consequences.

A few days later in America I was barking like  a seal and now feel terrible – even after a week.

Things are hotting up here.

The good news is that Spring has finally arrived and it is starting to get warmer.

Today we had a succession of people through the apartment. These included the owner, a painter, a cleaner and my relocation agent who is attending to all the business of erasing our existence in Vienna. More will come tomorrow. This is a bonus – I thought I would have to do this myself.

In six months time it will be as though we were never here – apart of course from my account with T-Mobile which will go well into the next century.

I recounted to the owner the long and sordid history of the non-functioning of the air-con and he was most sympathetic. He has waived the cost of the final service of the system.

The worst news so far was that it appears that the Nomad people – who are looking after our temporary accommodation in Indianapolis – have given us the wrong address.

I asked them to confirm the details – which they did - before I broadcasted it to all and sundry throughout the know universe but today they have come back with a different apartment number. Terrific.

It is likely that we – the cats and the air-freight shipment will end up in three different places.

But the good news is – we got our passports back from the US Consulate. We are good to go! 

Back in Vienna

We are back in Vienna – again to freezing weather. The heating systems has had enough of it and has packed it in completely. It was 17° in the apartment  when we got home and the cats were huddled together for warmth.

This weather is ridiculous.

We will miss our apartment but be won’t miss the air conditioning. The owner of the apartment is coming to visit - for the first time ever - next week so I shall attempt to explain the problems to him. Not that I now give a rats - as we will be gone in three weeks.

Cate is of course still going at it hammer and tongs and goes to Riyadh and Bad Homburg on Sunday.

On Tuesday the Hendersons arrive and on Saturday we go to Burgundy for a week  where we have rented a property called the ‘Moulin Vert’ for a week.

I hope that Cate will be able to relax and start to wind down after what for her has been a strenuous 5 years – and for me has been a doddle. I sometimes feel bad about that.