It has been more than one year ago when we chose this "fermette" in Allier and we have not regretted it for one second. Impatiently we have been waiting for the moment that we would return to our second home. Thursday December 22nd will be the day. The car is fully loaded and the trailer carries a washing machine and a couch.

After s safe trip we find the house in perfect condition. We find everything like we left it behind. We fill the stove with wood and start the fire.

In the future entrance area an old chimney has been demolished. It will allow us to go ahead with the (temporary) bedroom.

Also the garden looks well. There is some more grass and all trees and bushes have grown, including those planted in Autumn holidays.

Also the mailbox is filled. We receive a few Christmas cards from Holland and from Curacao. We also notice that our mail lady has been away for one week. We can tell from the publicity that we find for that week. Our regular mail deliverer does not put publicity in our mailbox during our absence.

Plans for this week:

• Paint the decorated walls
• Build a cabinet around the power meter
• Install the washing machine
• Have Christmas holidays

Painting the walls does not take too much time.
 

After having heated the house for one full day it becomes comfortable inside. We are ready for Christmas.

Our daughter sent an extensive letter from Curacao. It also includes a Christmas card.

We also find a Christmas card from our Dutch neighbours who will come to France for year-end. They propose to celebrate the Year-End together - something to look forward to!

Immediately after Christmas temperature goes down and we have snow. There is hardly any wind, so it's quite pleasant outside. We regularly see a clear blue sky.

The "charolais" cattle is interested in our activities. Most calves stay at a distance but one dares to approach and we can even touch it on the nose.

Inside we build a cabinet around the electricity meter. Also plasterboard is placed after the cabling has been renewed.

The washing machine is placed in the bathroom. We buy an extra large water tube and do not need to make any extra holes in the furniture. Now we also have the luxury of a washing machine. A few years ago it was a gift for our son and now we get it back, just like what happened with the two-seater.

We also do some works in the kitchen, as you can see in this picture.

On December 30th it's 12 degrees below zero at nigh, during the day it's -8 degrees. In the afternoon it starts to rain and on December 31st it's 8 degrees above zero. That evening we celebrate the new year together with our neighbours. Outside it's completely silent, no fireworks. It will not be the same in Holland!