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| July: US "Independance Day" chez Pierre | Aug: Helen & Peter at Night Market, Pujols |
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| Oct: Our tame US artist Pierre and his work | Nov: Sara, daughters Emma, Millie, Olivia |
The Villeneuvois are lovely - friendly and polite; the very antithesis of the British view of the Parisians. In fact many would far sooner have Brits here than Parisians - maybe a hangover from the time when Aquitaine was English and we were supporting the Protestants against the Catholic King in Paris?
This old-fashioned politeness can turn a shopping trip from a chore into an enriching experience and there is a big contrast between the French shop assistant and their undervalued, underpaid and surly English equivalents.
We live in a very rural area with few neighbours, and, being backward in coming forward, it's taken time to integrate in the community. But we're now recognised at village functions, which we take pains to attend, and have always been received with welcoming friendliness. There's quite a strong ex-pat British community but it represents only a tiny proportion of the populace, so there are no English ghettos. Our community of some 400 souls has only half a dozen or so Brits within it.
Christine's language group includes French people learning English as well as vice versa, so we've been to a few local functions. There are walking clubs, a newcomers' club, tai chi, golf, etc., so we're not lost for something to do in between "holidays" - some would say we're on permanent holiday!
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| July: US "Independance Day" chez Pierre | Aug: Helen & Peter at Night Market, Pujols |
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| Oct: Our tame US artist Pierre and his work | Nov: Sara, daughters Emma, Millie, Olivia |
2011 saw few visitors to Tessel Bas - old faithfuls Simon, Sara with Millie and Olivia can stand the tranquillity now and came out twice, both in February and in May. Maybe the rest are fed up with us? However Peter came to show off the lovely Helen in August.
Some political in-fighting in the Village Hall entertainment committee meant that there was little in the way of local fêtes, jumble sales or celebrations - they managed to gird their loins for the Old Folk's Bunfight but sadly we couldn't go as Peter came for an "early Christmas". Nevertheless we made up for the lack of local activity with holidays and plenty of short breaks.
My expat "support & social" group La Vie en France continues to thrive; I enjoy the management and technical aspects and there are occasional get-togethers, but it can take up a great deal of time; in addition I run groups for The Engineers of South-West France, The Valentine Golf Society, The Marconi Old Geezers' Society and a village blog for Sainte-Colombe-de-Villeneuve.
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