2 Dec 2008
11 Oct 2008
The 1st Year marker
It has been a whole year now that we have been full time emigrants or ex-pats as most Brits seem to call themselves, we think of ourselves as "Globalsapiens" or simply european.
We have achieved a great deal in the 1st year, far more than we actually thought we could, but there are somethings we thought we might have acheived but which is still out of reach.
So what have we achieved then:
Well we have moved here lock-stock-and motorbikes. Registered the car and one of the 3 bikes which was real easy. 2 more bikes to go which are prooving a challenge. We have created a viable business know as RidersRest and recieved, accomodated, fed, and entertained a plethra of different people from all accross the UK, Sweden, Holland and Belgium, all of whom claim to have had a great stay and all pledging to return in the future. Indeed some already have made a return trip.
I do not think the B&B would have been such a great success if it had not been for Wendy's cooking which always seems to hit the spot even for the most fussiest of eaters and vegitarians alike. We have consumed a huge amount of Red wine and Biere Blonde though so I suspect this has also helped a little to relax the guests and us.
The house has lent itself real well to it's new role. The Barn, now a fashionable Bunk Room with it's 3 en-suiet bathrooms has seen much use, and with the exception of one shower tap has held up to the abuse of its occupants and actually still looks brand new, Those who have styed in it have sung its praises and left with stories of returning with friends to ride the area in groups.
The Attic room has become known as the Cannard Room which is French for Duck or Kinard English slang for what happens if you do not duck. Everyone who has slept in this room sported the head rash associated with not ducking but all swear that it is a very comfortable and romantic room. Not bad for a bit of attic space.
The two rooms in the house which we use for B&B are also still looking surprisingly fresh considering the amount of wet bikers brandishing helmets and hard cases, so we are well please at the little maintenance we will be involved in this winter.
Did we make any money - Yes we have made suffucient money to live comfortably since May and that should last until December before we spend the now 25% depleted pension, Depleted due to the exchange rate of course, but we are still doing Far better than we had hoped when we first came over.
What we now need to do is take a holiday and we have planned to get down to Spain with wendy's mum and get some relaxing sun time, and I of course am looking forward to more riding.
So have we made the right decission to move over to france? - You bet we have!
If you have missed the pictures over the last couple of months then you can see what we have been up to on the WhereIs web sites as we have been entertaining an riding mostly. www.whereistonynow.co.uk
We have done very little to the house since April. We will however start working on the house again once the weather changes from the now Sunshine (cold evenings) to rain rain and snow. The projects are to Decorate the front room and bring out all our objedah which is boxed behind the sofa and turn it into a real home. We also need to look at the kitchen units and layout of the diningroom, though it does work as it is we would like something more modern and robust ;) We also have our bedroom and bathroom to sort out. Though these are projects non of them actually (save the front room) need to be done in any hurry, and we may even wait until the exchange rate is in our favour.
We have achieved a great deal in the 1st year, far more than we actually thought we could, but there are somethings we thought we might have acheived but which is still out of reach.
So what have we achieved then:
Well we have moved here lock-stock-and motorbikes. Registered the car and one of the 3 bikes which was real easy. 2 more bikes to go which are prooving a challenge. We have created a viable business know as RidersRest and recieved, accomodated, fed, and entertained a plethra of different people from all accross the UK, Sweden, Holland and Belgium, all of whom claim to have had a great stay and all pledging to return in the future. Indeed some already have made a return trip.
I do not think the B&B would have been such a great success if it had not been for Wendy's cooking which always seems to hit the spot even for the most fussiest of eaters and vegitarians alike. We have consumed a huge amount of Red wine and Biere Blonde though so I suspect this has also helped a little to relax the guests and us.
The house has lent itself real well to it's new role. The Barn, now a fashionable Bunk Room with it's 3 en-suiet bathrooms has seen much use, and with the exception of one shower tap has held up to the abuse of its occupants and actually still looks brand new, Those who have styed in it have sung its praises and left with stories of returning with friends to ride the area in groups.
The Attic room has become known as the Cannard Room which is French for Duck or Kinard English slang for what happens if you do not duck. Everyone who has slept in this room sported the head rash associated with not ducking but all swear that it is a very comfortable and romantic room. Not bad for a bit of attic space.
The two rooms in the house which we use for B&B are also still looking surprisingly fresh considering the amount of wet bikers brandishing helmets and hard cases, so we are well please at the little maintenance we will be involved in this winter.
Did we make any money - Yes we have made suffucient money to live comfortably since May and that should last until December before we spend the now 25% depleted pension, Depleted due to the exchange rate of course, but we are still doing Far better than we had hoped when we first came over.
What we now need to do is take a holiday and we have planned to get down to Spain with wendy's mum and get some relaxing sun time, and I of course am looking forward to more riding.
So have we made the right decission to move over to france? - You bet we have!
If you have missed the pictures over the last couple of months then you can see what we have been up to on the WhereIs web sites as we have been entertaining an riding mostly. www.whereistonynow.co.uk
We have done very little to the house since April. We will however start working on the house again once the weather changes from the now Sunshine (cold evenings) to rain rain and snow. The projects are to Decorate the front room and bring out all our objedah which is boxed behind the sofa and turn it into a real home. We also need to look at the kitchen units and layout of the diningroom, though it does work as it is we would like something more modern and robust ;) We also have our bedroom and bathroom to sort out. Though these are projects non of them actually (save the front room) need to be done in any hurry, and we may even wait until the exchange rate is in our favour.
10 Aug 2008
Comune Takes Off
Mark finished the petanque court and the challenge took place, Yevett and Nicole took the social event seriousely and prepared a picnic, Sadly Wendy and I were only able to partake in a short game as we had unexpected (though welcome) guests but I think the scene is set for a rematch and our turn to do the picnic (maybe a BBQ).
The height of the week social events for the comune was to set up a table in the local car boot which I think was more of a community social event more than a UK car boot, we bought some beer glasses ;)
Friday I went along to Harley Davidson Limoges to have a new front tyre fitted on the Rocket, Why does it always rain when I have new tyres on my bikes? I would strongly reccommend the dealership and found them exceptionally helpfull to a fault.
I discouvered a couple of Bats hiding in one of our shutters today I am not sure who was more surprised when I came to open them...
3 Aug 2008
What's that smell ?
Well there has been a summer feel in the air and the weather has pretty much backed that feeling up. We have enjoyed a couple of weeks in between 25 and 32 degrees in the shade, needless to say we have taken advantage of this time by getting out on the bikes and enjoying the heat.
We had time to visit some new friends who live over the other side of Uzerche, Vannessa & Chris and closer to Pompadour is Linda & Ian both are keen bikers. I took a ride over to "The Wishing Well" near Uzerche again this is our closest rival Bikers B&B which we can now confirm is closed fro business as it has changed hands and the new owners are not going to continue as a B&B, Lorna & Shaun kindly allowed me to post an advert on their barn door and took some cards incase they were visited by bikers llooking for a nights kip.
Kay and Mark are still over and we enjoyed an evening in Treignac with the locals, Natalie is singing and Ricky (Kays son) brought along Ralph and Ellie who enjoyed some of the sports around the fountain in the square.
We had time to visit some new friends who live over the other side of Uzerche, Vannessa & Chris and closer to Pompadour is Linda & Ian both are keen bikers. I took a ride over to "The Wishing Well" near Uzerche again this is our closest rival Bikers B&B which we can now confirm is closed fro business as it has changed hands and the new owners are not going to continue as a B&B, Lorna & Shaun kindly allowed me to post an advert on their barn door and took some cards incase they were visited by bikers llooking for a nights kip.
Uzerche with Wendy and Linda
Kay and Mark are still over and we enjoyed an evening in Treignac with the locals, Natalie is singing and Ricky (Kays son) brought along Ralph and Ellie who enjoyed some of the sports around the fountain in the square.
Wendy and I rode down.
Finally Mark gets to create his petanque court which is just to the front of his Barn - I watch him of course... Foolishly we have challenged the locals to a tournement...
22 Jul 2008
Green Finger Update From Wendy
Wendy is pleased with her first crop of Tomatoes, Butternut Squash and flowers...
18 Jul 2008
Fame at last...
I finally found out why I have been having trouble registering the Rocket this week. Would you adam and eve it... The whole problem is simply that the V5 Certificate issued by DVLA has a typo on it YEP! the VIN is missing the first character so now I have to send the V5 back to DVLA to have the error corrected and hopefully convince them to send the form back to me here in France. Then it should sail through the registraton process... You would have thought they would have spotted that sooner - even triumph couldn't work it out.
Wendy has been under the weather since Billy, Lissy and Ryan went back home, she has had a bad head flu, which has knocked her for six and to add to it for her I forgott to change a booking. Which resulted in us having 3 guests on a day which Wendy thought she had for resting... Wrong, not only did they come but we had a passer by Harley Davidson Rider and his Girlfriend drop in unxepectedly making it 5 for B&B plus evening meal.
The 3 guys pictured below, Steve, his son Glen and Tony, stayed a 3rd night whilst they waited for parts for Tony's BMW GS, not that we were complaining of course.
So they spent a day resting, doing some admin and walking through the forrest behind the house.
Wendy has been under the weather since Billy, Lissy and Ryan went back home, she has had a bad head flu, which has knocked her for six and to add to it for her I forgott to change a booking. Which resulted in us having 3 guests on a day which Wendy thought she had for resting... Wrong, not only did they come but we had a passer by Harley Davidson Rider and his Girlfriend drop in unxepectedly making it 5 for B&B plus evening meal.
The 3 guys pictured below, Steve, his son Glen and Tony, stayed a 3rd night whilst they waited for parts for Tony's BMW GS, not that we were complaining of course.
So they spent a day resting, doing some admin and walking through the forrest behind the house.
Tony & Glen explore a group of derelict houses
We were surprised to discouver that they were logging not
200M behind the house and we couldn't hear them...
Steve Proves he is domesticated
Tony tucks into 3rds of home made apple pie
Tony not being out done by Steve
They did finally leave but not after another scare as the GSer
misbehaved and refused to start untill it was fiddled with...
We managed a day out today and even managed to get a test ride on a Harley Davidson an XL883Low - sometthing Wendy has been dieing to do the model she is riding is a 2006 model with only 265 KMs on the clock and for a snip at 6800 euros we will see if we can get a test ride on a Suzuki Intruder tomorrow and compare them for rideability and value - then Wendy can decide which if any she would like to have and ride.
Courtesy of Limoges Harley dealer just of J28 of the A20
10 Jul 2008
A picture paints a thousand words
Our Billy and his partner Lissy brought our Grandson Ryan over for a 5 day visit, We loved it and believe they had a relaxing time - maybe for longer next time...
Enjoying Dinner with guests
Bike wash in use Brian and Steve from Lanc's
Ryan and I in Treignac
Cats I am sure they know when you are allergic - and I don't even know this one...
Melisa, Billy and Ryan by the river in Treignac
Ryan Billy and I
Me and Ryan chillin on a rock
Didn't anyone teach these kids to use the rocks...
Didn't anyone teach these kids to use the rocks...
Wet feet after an unscheduled paddle
Caption competition anyone?
Look what they made me eat!
Our Neighbours Grandchildren impressed by le Moto's
I couldn't get them off the Rocket
How big is that ants nest?
Wellies hahaha!
How big is that ants nest?
Wellies hahaha!
A day frollicking In the Poole
Another day by the pool and taking in some badmington
Playing down in Kay & Marks patch
Ryan loved the swing
we couldn't keep him away
Ryan loved the swing
we couldn't keep him away
no visit would be the same without a BBQ
Ryan in the pool again showing off his diving technique
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