The Carcassonne adventure draws to a close. We are moving back to Ireland at the end of March.

Major renovations are now complete. Just a few pictures to hang and we are done.

Today we are off to las fallas.

before

Monday March 8th 2010. The South of France. 6 inches of snow. Freezing temperatures.

Once upon a time, we had visitors from a land far far away and we wanted to take them to see a lovely little village near Carcassonne called Lagrasse. It was a beautiful Sunday morning but we strolled to the car only to discover that the car was missing. It had been towed away. So we huffed and puffed but, because this was a Sunday in France there was nothing we could do.

Sadly, our visitors had to make do with just an even longer stroll before their departure. When we eventually got the car back the four of us went to see what we had missed in Lagresse. There was nobody there.

Rubrique, Fizeau, Maggie, Moisette

Starting with the smallest room in the house.

before

now

rate of renovation progress vs time

And this graph doesn’t even take Fizeau into account!

Taken today. Getting unwrapped from her furry coat because it has been snowing here again.

We’re back! And yes, we have been busy. Since November:

• Fizeau has turned 1.
• Rubrique has turned 27.
• And Maggie Lucie Noone has turned 0!

Besides all the birthday celebrations we have made time to put in:

1. a functioning bathroom, with shower + bath
2. a functioning toilet room, with toilet! (its the way the French like it)
3. a hallway with light and without cracks
4. a utility room with washing machine and dryer

All that remains is a little decoration in one bedroom and we are all done! (eta 2011)

pics to follow.

We finally checked out Collioure last week. Collioure is a very pretty town on the Mediterranean Sea and on the Spanish border.

Fizeau was determined:

Fizeau runs off to sea

But the sea was rough:

Fizeau shakes himself off:

in your face

Salvadore Dali came from Figueres which is only about 30 miles south of Collioure.