UNBELIEVABLE (if we were not in France)

The weather has turned showery after weeks of dry weather.  This has brought out zillions of snails.  This handsome little chap was on the voie verte, the cycle/walking track that we use for walking Hugo in wet weather as it’s less muddy underfoot.  And of course he loves it.

There has been a development on the residence card front.

It is exactly two months since we received our “décision favorable “, confirmation that our applications to renew our CDS was accepted.  On the document it says we would be contacted by the préfecture about when to collect the actual cards.  This is usually by SMS a couple of weeks later.

After a month we emailed the préfecture to ask very politely if they could send another SMS as so far we hadn’t received it.  We got no reply.  

Two weeks later we sent an email to the Ministère de l'Intérieur, the organisation that issues the "décision favorable", to say if they knew if our cards were ready and what we could do to get them.  They replied immediately to say yes they were and that we would be notified when to collect them by our préfecture in Tours, and to contact the préfecture if we hadn't heard anything in another couple of weeks.  

We emailed the préfecture again saying we understood that the cards were ready and could they PLEASE send an SMS so that we could collect them and, of course, pay the damned fee of 225€ each.  

We have so far had no reply to either of our emails.

Yesterday, I happened to have a conversation with a very nice lady who helps British people with all kinds of French matters, from tax forms to hospital visits.  We rarely need her advice these days and the conversation was on behalf of someone else about something completely different but at the end of the call she asked me how we were getting on with our CDS applications.  I mentioned that we had had our "décision favorable" two months ago but still not received an SMS.  

She told us we won't.  The préfecture has changed their procedure and they no longer send text messages (because it's too expensive, apparently)...................WHAT ???!!!

Instead we have to go online and book an appointment for "retrait de titre de séjour" to collect them from the préfecture.  If we were not accepted for an appointment, it would mean the cards were not ready yet.

How long would it be before someone at the préfecture replied to our emails to tell us that text messages were no longer used and we should apply online for a rendezvous instead?!

Unbelievable.  The whole system is in the dark ages and moves slower than Mr Snail.

However, the story doesn't end there as finding the right website on which to book the appointment was in itself also a challenge.  Nothing to do with French bureaucracy is ever easy!

We have appointments for 21st May, nearly three months after our existing cards expired (and nearly seven months since we applied to renew them).  The champagne is in the fridge already!!

RECENT PHOTOS

Purple wild flowers at Étableau.

Our lilac rose is in full bloom.

The pansies are still going strong.

Geraniums waiting to be potted up to replace the pansies.

Our yellow climbing rose is in full bloom.

We struggle to grow anything in this bed.

Last year potted colius did really well there so we have done the same again.

New chairs for the picnic area.

One of the old white ones had broken.

It split when Nick leaned back on it.

I thought that could be dangerous so we changed them.

Some geraniums have already been potted up.

We have gravelled the island in the middle of the drive.

The water bath for the birds is very popular.

Two water bowls for the bees.

I read that the pebbles enable them to drink without falling in and drowning.

The park at Paulmy.

The lake at La Celle-Guenand.

Construction work at the lake.

I think it's restoration of the lavoir.

Another view of the new chairs.

All the white ones have now been replaced.

The view from the picnic table.

I went into the barn for something and Yvonne followed me in.

Moments later she came out with a mouse.

She ate it immediately.  Head first of course.

A tidy up of the well room was overdue.

New storage boxes for outdoor cushions.

More pansies.

Pictures from the park a few days ago.

It was a much sunnier day and turned out to be very warm.

Not bad for the end of April.

We are so lucky to have such a lovely place on our doorstep.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

February may well be the shortest month in the year but in many ways it often seems like the longest.  The weather this February has been just as bad, if not worse than last year and we are more than ready for some sunshine.

However, the entertainment machine doesn't stop just because the weather is awful and although February was not quite as busy as January we certainly had some fun.

On 14th February, St. Valentine's Day, we hosted a ladies night.

Finding somewhere to eat on Valentine's Day where you are not surrounded by tables for two with couples gazing dreamily into each other's eyes, subdued lighting so that you can't see what you're eating (never mind read the menu), flowers on the table that bring on your allergies and cringeworthy soppy music, can be tricky if not impossible.  Not to mention the silly prices.

So, we invited some of our single friends round for an evening of friendship, food and fun.  We did a retro 1970's  menu and a quiz (with prizes) on the subject of Valentine, love, hearts and roses.  It was great fun and could easily become an annual event.

Only a few days later we went to a Chinese New Year event.  It's the year of the horse and dressing up was (as usual) encouraged.

Nick dressed up as a jockey.  All we needed was a pair of long johns to complete the outfit.

I dressed up as a stable hand.  All props model's own (although Nick's best green wellies).

We are however, somewhat on tenterhooks.  This time last year we were fast becoming nervous wrecks as our applications to renew our cartes de séjour went pear shaped.  You can read all about that here.

We applied much earlier this time, fourteen weeks before expiry date in fact.  The very earliest you can apply is sixteen weeks before the cards expire - which is in two weeks from now.

Yesterday, twelve weeks after we applied, we received our "prolongations".  These are the documents that extend the period of the visas by three months - three months that the Prefecture gives itself to consider the application.  The good thing about the document is that it restores our right to live in France and, importantly, to return to France after a visit back home to England, for three months beyond the period of the visa.  (Something we never had to even think about when Britain was in the EU.)

You have to wonder why bother to apply almost four months before if nothing is going to be done until they have almost expired anyway!

The prolongations came with, as anticipated, some questions.  This time they were straightforward, easy to answer and carried no threat of refusal.  However, in the coming three months there's time for all that but we're trying to be positive.

To celebrate the step forward we went for lunch at one of our favourite restaurants, Le George in Loches.  The "menu du jour" there is always delicious, only a couple of euros more than the mediocre menus served at a number of other places, and the ambience and service are excellent.

We were conscious that this is where we were last year when the phone call came from the lady at France Services telling us we had to sort the problem out quickly or we could be deported.

This year, we do feel somehow more relaxed.  Fingers crossed that this time it goes smoothly, that we get our "décision favourable" and cards sooner, and that we don't have quite so many sleepless nights worrying about what we would do if the Prefecture said "non".

(They have no grounds on which to say "non" but the computer programme dealing with applications last year thought otherwise.  Let’s hope they have fixed that.)

YOU TOO COULD OWN A HOUSE IN FRANCE

Our friends Jim and Pauline are selling their lovely house in La Guerche, not far from us.

They have renovated the former village sweet shop, turning it into a beautiful home.

Had it been for sale the first time we were looking for a house in France it would have been the answer to all our dreams!  It is beautifully restored with original features and modern facilities.  Some of the furniture could also be included in the sale.  As a holiday home it would make a perfect gite to rent out when not in personal use.

It has three bedrooms and a fabulous low maintenance outdoor space ideal for chilling or entertaining, which could be used to leave a car in the courtyard when the house is not in use.  There is perfectly adequate car parking on the street outside the house when in residence.

The living room and kitchen are upstairs where you have a lovely view of the medieval château of La Guerche.  

The village lies a short drive from a number of small towns and villages with shops, bars, markets, restaurants, parks, cinemas and all the facilities you need.  Drive a little further and there are numerous château, tourist spots, zoos, museums and endless opportunities for days out and entertainment.  

During the summer months there are a number of pop up restaurants and music venues nearby, plus music festivals, old car rallies and, of course, a village brocante - street market - virtually every weekend between April and November and none of this is very far away.  There are excellent cycle and walking paths and peaceful spots for picnics, just pick up a baguette from the boulangerie along the way!  There is even a beach and bathing with lifeguard on the river in the next village and several places that offer very easy canoeing. 

It’s not just however a holiday home.  The accommodation would make it an excellent permanent home in France for a couple or young family, ready to move into, requiring no work and little maintenance.  

You can read more about it here.