Author Archives: Simon

After the deluge?

Posted on 22 February, 2009 by Simon

It’s funny how my memory handles the weather. Normally, I rapidly forget yesterday’s hot/cold/wet/wind as I experience the weather of the day. I think this tendency has increased since we moved here and I spend so much more time out … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Llamas | Tagged | Leave a comment

Going, going, gone . . . . . subject to contract

Posted on 17 February, 2009 by Simon

Let me say first of all that I really have little respect for estate agents. It strikes me that they must be one of the least trustworthy ‘professions’. The manager of our estate agent in Derby claims to be working … Continue reading →

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La tempête

Posted on 25 January, 2009 by Simon

On Saturday, southern France was pretty well paralysed by the biggest storm for a decade. Immensely strong winds swept across the country, felling trees and tearing bits off buildings. By lunchtime the préfet of our département, the Aude, had ordered … Continue reading →

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Saint-Sornin — our new village

Posted on 23 January, 2009 by Simon

L’agriculture est le fer de lance de cette petite commune de 228 âmes, fière de son patrimoine naturel et bâti typiquement bourbonnais. Église romane, maisons de maîtres, fermes anciennes et moulin à eau lui confèrent son charme rural. Son plan … Continue reading →

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Our farm . . . . . . well, nearly!

Posted on 19 January, 2009 by Simon

At last, we are making progress. The agent has had no success in negotiating for us to buy some additional land, and we have come to a momentous decision – we’ve told him that we are willing to buy the … Continue reading →

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For everything there is a season . . . .

Posted on 10 January, 2009 by Simon

For everything there is a season, And a time for every matter under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die Yesterday was the low point in our llama raising career. Fatma, mother of our first baby … Continue reading →

Posted in Llamas | Tagged | 4 Comments