Must do regular updates!

In an effort to keep up the re-blogging just a quick one to update on what is going on...

I am now ensconced in the lovely Chateau du Faudade along with my sidekick, we have a lovely first floor corner room, double aspect to any estate agent types, have a lovely view down the Save valley and a nice walk from the Chateau to a small lake that does nicely for an evening stroll.

Bailey has tried to make friends with Rio the resident collie, it has met with some resistance and not a little aggression on Rio's part. Bailey is more wary but is still all wagging tail and bounce in the hope Rio sees sense...

Rio has now started to join us on the evening walk, it is quite amusing to see the two dogs suddenly finding themselves trotting along together and double taking on how close they are, a little more time and I am sure all will be well.
Bailey has already learnt not to mess with ANY stick that Rio may lay a claim to!!!

Work is just about to get busy with a software update to upload and return the systems to Airbus, after that there may be the opportunity to pause and plan for a Sep trip to take Bailey to my sisters... Wonder if she reads this as might be news to her...

Spent today planning and booking trains, hotels, and shows for November when I have my graduation for my BA(Hons) in Graphic Design taking place in Edinburgh castle. A truly inspiring venue for such a special occasion. Inspired by the 'pay it back' campaign, I have the support of two 'special' friends for the event, fun times to be had by all I am sure!

http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/

By the time of that weekends events I will have been back in the UK for a month! With fridges and cupboards full of all the goodies that it is hard to come by over here without resorting to bizarre rituals involving rendezvous in car parks, no doubt accompanied by secret passwords.

I really should start a countdown of days to go, but it is something like 45ish...

Next plan is for the leaving soiree that seems to have defeated me in getting organised despite the best efforts of Clare and Karen to kick me into action... This week it will be done!!!

Adieu

Two Years!!!

Two years since I last wrote here, how remiss.

Where to start, well after the old girl cat had moved on to pastures new things were all change, it had been a hard year and I really was not inclined to write the blog, then out of the habit never returned to it, which is a shame as I did enjoy doing it and sharing what was happening in a more personal way than on other social media.

What has happened in these two years...

Well the biggest change for me at home was the introduction of Bailey, a chocolate Labrador, I had expressed an interest in some 'half baked' puppies that were cross Labrador 'and the dog next door', but having umm'd and ahh'd too long they were no longer available. However, Margaret who had them said she would keep an eye out amongst her breeder friends, she does a fantastic job breeding Labradors that go on to be guide dogs for the blind in the UK.

Then in the middle of a Panto set build in the Theatre, I get a message passed to me from El Presidente that Margaret needs to speak to me... and that was the conversation about this 12 week chocolate Labrador that urgently needed a new home... well the photos sold it to me without hesitation it was a YES!

Helliot Diamond Du Chai - Or Bailey

He is now as of July 2014 twenty months old, he is gorgeous and lovable, sometimes over enthusiastic but just wants to be everybody's and every dogs friend.


First night in the house on the left, and about twelve months later on the right!












There have been lots of other things happening over the two years, two Pantomimes where I was Artistic Director, responsible for Poster, programme design along with set design and painting. Two fantastic years the first was for "Jack and the Beanstalk" and the second "Robin Hood".
A selection of pictures below probably says more than words...

Pics on public Facebook albums

Robin Hood 2014

Jack and the Beanstalk 2013

The final 'event' that is currently in progress is that the company decided at very short notice to close the Toulouse office at the end of the current lease period at the end of September. The original plan despite my protestations that it was unworkable was that I would return to the UK for the 1st of July, this was notified at the end of April.
Why would it be a problem? I might imagine you asking...

1. My tenants in the UK were on fixed term until end of September
2. I was heavily involved with my department in a software development with Airbus
3. I have to give three months notice on my French rental

So with all this information the company still managed to come up with a date to move back that was one month ahead of my French tenancy finishing and THREE months ahead of my UK tenants having to vacate.

They insisted that I would be out of there at the end of June, they would pay the rent on the French empty property, they would pay rent on temporary accommodation in the UK and storage for all my worldly goods.

What actually happened...

The software development was slightly delayed, the project manager who was not involved in the decision on the office, had assured Airbus that the office and the support manager (Me) would be here until mid September...

Where does that get us...

I have to move out of my rental at the end of July as notice had been given... I now have to move into temporary accommodation, with the dog, for two months... My 'goods' are going into storage... My tenants move out end of July, so I am missing two months rent, the company will be getting some 'advice' on what will happen there!!!

I find that my last few months in France have been fraught with issues and incompetence that are non of my doing, it is a shame that they didn't listen at the start...

Will sign off now, I need to add some pics to the post before publishing and will then try and start regular updates again... lets see what happens...