All the fun of the fair…

Yes, I know, it’s traditional.  Yes, it’s only once a year and thank goodness for that…

From just inside the open front door.

Just outside the front door - looking right...

...and looking left.

From the corner looking down the side of our house...the garage is at the end of this strip of garden.

From just inside the open garage door.

Outside - ahead...

...to the left...

...and to the right.

Our house in the middle distance.

Centre ville is filling up.

Our house overlooking somebody who has already set up for business!

But for most this is just the preparation! 

Maybe it seems worse this year because we are besieged with other problems.  We have problems with our central heating boiler and have been somewhat let down by the repair firm we contacted.  For the past few days - and still - no central heating…and if somebody eventually attends I hope they don’t need a van to work from as they won’t be able to get it near the house now or for the next few days!

It didn’t help that a radiator in our bedroom on the top floor leaked, water dripped from our office ceiling, underneath, and now that ceiling needs repainting.

And we’ve had water problems in the garage due to work not getting done yet on repairs in the empty adjoining house.  When we have heavy rain - and we’ve had more than our share just lately - it pools in the garage.  That water at the far end, the boiler water when a pipe leaked and also when the system was drained, at the near.

Water, water everywhere and I need a drink!!

It hasn’t helped that I’ve also been suffering from back spasms, sciatica and a nasty attack of trigeminal neuralgia. Luckily we do have a log fire (and jumpers and cardigans!) so at least one part in which to keep warm.  We’ve been somewhat tied to emails (when we didn't have internet connection problems yesterday morning) and phone calls trying to get it sorted out but took a break this afternoon for a drive in pretty countryside to lift the spirits - and to get warm in the car and in the  sunshine.

Old windmill at Azannes.

A favourite spot - the river-fed pond at Azannes-et-Soumazannes...

We take a short stroll along a nearby path...

...and back to the willow by the pond.

We lingered a while in the sunshine.

At least the outing helped smooth spirits and ease aches and pains. Now, where’s that log fire…