My house my Castle- My house my Abbey

I have always had aspirations of living in a Castle but having now set my eyes upon and visited Mont -St- Michel , castle life seems less meaningful and appealing . Surrounded by tidal waters, quick sand to ward off unwanted visitors , spectacular views and incredible architecture , a truly wondrous place .

I can just visualise Mark as a Monk with the black robe, gentle welcoming face of serenity and knowledge sitting in the library reading . (I am not joking here).

Monasteries , place of scholarship and learning where people from all over the world visited bringing their ideas and knowledge . Famous libraries with hundreds of manuscripts . Places of exchange.

The following photographs are of the inside of the Monastery

The l'eglise abbatiale ( The Abbey church )

The le cloitre (Cloister )


Un ecoloincon du cloitre
(ecoloincon the cloister)

Le promenoir des monies

(The promenade of ceremonies )

D-Day Beaches

On the 6th of June 1944 , Nazi occupied France was invaded by the British, American, Commonwealth and Canadian troops , resulting in the liberation of the country.
It was a very well planned executed attack as opposed to the Allies disastrous attach on Dieppe, ( a head on assault on the harbour) in 1942, where there was excessive loss of life for the British and Canadians especially . Nearly one thousand Canadians died and two thousand were taken prisoners.

Normandy was chosen as the best place to attack .Troops trained on the beaches in England a year before. "Mulberry harbours" were fabricated and to be towed across the Channel in sections to be assembled in places such as Arrowmanches and off Omaha beach . According to the book I am referred to no none new exactly the mission they were about to embark upon. The Airborne division of the USA army also played a significant part in the success of the operation.

The beaches they landed on were code named Utah ( American) Omaha ( American) Gold (British) Juno ( Canadian) and Sword ( British) . Out of the 156,000 troops that landed by air and sea , around 10,000 were dead or wounded . By darkness on the 6th of June Anglo- Canadian forces were firmly established on their three beaches .
It took several weeks - months ( August ) after this to liberate some areas - the Battle of Normandy . Many troops lost their lives ( estimated 36,976 and 209,672 casualties) . French civilian deaths numbered in the thousands, villages and homes devastated by the battle. It is estimated that Germans casualties numbered 300,000.

The man who loves tanks .

Now I know why there are books of armoured vehicles at home strewn around the lounge, on top of the the toilet cistern and beside the bed . When Mark saw this German tank a " hetzer " which was surrounded by an enclosed edge with thorns on the top there was no stopping him, He scrambled over this to play on it!

His face lit up and the smile says it all. He then very knowledgeably described and pointed out all the parts and differences between this and the Sherman and the Churchill tanks .

Just look at the pure joy and excitement on his face ...it says it all. Classic moment.

British War Cemeteries

In Bayeux is one of the largest of many British war cemeteries. The majority of the 4,868 graves are British but in total 11 nationalities are represented here and in a gesture of reconciliation several hundred of the graves are German .

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintain the grounds. The families of dead were invited to suggest inscriptions which are engraved on the simple white tombstones. ( there were none on the American tombstones ). Many of these inscriptions are very moving and made you feel very humble . So so many young men died ...so many families paid a huge price .

These three tombstones are of New Zealanders who died in 1944. Brewer and Edmonds were two of the names .

Right or wrong...???

Right or wrong, ‘same same ...but different’. Individual perceptions.

The other day I got out of bed on the wrong side, right side depending on which way you are facing headed for the van getting in on the wrong side, left, and drove to the passterie on the wrong side of the road, right side. I managed the colloquial morning greeting bonjournee, ordered 4 croissants , 2 pain au chocolat instead of quatre croissants and deux pain au chocloat, un boule blanc tranches-( one white ball of bread sliced) got that right, I think..... , but she still didn’t understand the accent or lack of...frustrating!

The day progressed from there. I attempted to make the bed with double sheets instead of queen and of course they didn’t fit...derr....why???? I had offered to cook a beef casserole for tea and Jon suggested that beuf bourguignon would be nicer so small helpful tips were forthcoming throughout the process. Marinate the meat over night in red wine...ok..I can do that....shall I then brown it.....yes I would normally......oopsie forgot to flour it first....look whose cooking this! Suggestion number 2 or 3 or whatever....you could turn it into curry!!!!!!!!

The rest of the day off..... yay! Mark was making himself scarce to give me some space, I settled into some reading and working on the blog which I really enjoy as it is my reflective time. Just relaxing into it ...wrong......scones and heating a shepherd’s pie for lunch requested. Damn! They were yum though.

Mark comes back hoping to find a refreshed balanced wife .....Not quite....not YET

Off to the beach to have a look and a walk. A change of scenery is as good as a rest ...possibly...hopefully for all concerned.

Recounting the day sitting having a wine Mark casually balances up the days activities and accounts for the time we have spent individually undertaking chores . ....Miss match between his calculations and mine .....Wrong answer Mark....oh dear.....!

The end of the day in sight. I get into the right side of the bed and stay there all night .......thankfully the day is over and such days are vey rare. Most of the time I get out of bed on the right side and do no wrong......YEAH RIGHT!!!!!

American Cemetery

The US cemetery ,place of rest, over looking the coast , with manicured lawns, a pond and a monument to the soldiers who died is a moving sight . It contains 9,386 graves of Americans who died in war. So many young men, sons, fathers , husbands died. Maintained by the American government.

Musee Airborne

A very interesting collection of USA vehicles, planes, photographs, equipment , guns and other weapons. eg Sherman tank, Waco glider.

Mark was my personal tour guide- so knowledgeable .I found it most informative .It gave me a greater appreciation of the horror , courage and the sacrifices that people, especially young males and their families made during the war .

More war memorials and military museums to come .

Potato Masher

A stick granade.

Magnetic shaped charge.

Anti tank granade for destroying tanks . You run up to the tank , whilst being shot at place it on the the side of the tank and run like hell.

Photographs of the D- Day Invasion

US anti aircraft gun

Boys and their toys.

Sherman Tank -US

Mark is in heaven now - tanks !

Waco Gliders -US

Ste-Mere-Eglise

American Paratrooper, John Steele hanging from the cathedral in Ste-Mere-Eglise 1944.

Map of Normandy

Le Castel is approximately 12 kms from Coutances. In Montpinchon.

Normandy - Moments in history

Normandy has a colourful history and from my reading to date and visits to some of the main attractions this part of France has been influenced by Scandinavians and the English predominantly , and Germans for a short time during the second world war . It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times . The french have really only just reclaimed it since the end of the second world war 1944.

Early beginnings go back to the Celts and Romans but the main creators were the Vikings (Rollo from Norway being made the first Duke of Normandy) . William the Conqueror , not a very nice man by all accounts but he did have some redeemable qualities: he was reported to be a faithful loyal man to his wife Matilda who he left to run Normandy whilst he conquered England ) and cried for days when she died. We will dismiss fact that he was a control freak with puritanical disdain for food and drink , unstoppable craving for wealth and power and his acts of cruelty. ( chopping the hands and feet of people if the insulted his mother( ref from book) . His desire to have the Throne of England which he succeed in obtaining after the battle of Hastings in 1066. When he died ( 1087) the squabbling between the English and the Normans continued .

1204 there was the union of Normandy and France . The french finally ousted the Duke and Normandy was lost to Philippe Auguste.

Many years of war ensued and eventually the French with the help of Joan of Arc secured permanent control over Normandy (1450) and it became part of the french Crown ( 1468) .

Religion played its part as it does in history and war. There were then the Wars of Religion between the Protestants ( Hugenots as they were known in France) and the Catholic church.
Discontent continued even under the French during the revolution and after the storming of the Bastille. The Normands generally supported the revolution but did not support the execution of the King. They supported the Girondins( middle class faction from the southwest of France ). Tensions between these and the Jacobins( supporting the Royalists predominantly) eventually lead to Jean Paul Maret a radical revolutionary being killed in the bath by 25 year old Charlotte Corday. She was later sold to the English tried and killed by guillotine for her pains .(Thought to be practicing witchcraft and spells)

Normandy in the 19th Century .Napoleon was declared Emperor in 1804. Political turmoil followed, tariffs removed and riots broke out in protest , grand Architectural schemes, new railways, tourism developed along Normandy's coastline and the impressionist painters set up their easels along Normandy's beaches - Eugene Boudin and later Claude Monet

The second world war ;1940 the German occupation of Normandy

1944 D-Day . The allies reclaim Normandy .

Modern Normandy has recovered , rebuilding it towns and cities and developing new infrastructures . Today it is predominantly an agricultural region - cereal production , cheese, apples and cider production, and tourism, as well as investing in some new industries ( nuclear power Le Hague )

Dress ups !

Jons birthday photos

Pauline, Jon, Felecia, Alex and Richard

Jon’s birthday.

In the morning Mark and I cooked breakfast after the guests had finished . We cooked sausages, mushrooms, fried potatoes and bacon ( typically not French) . To accompany this, a champagne cocktail ,which was made with calvados ( Normandy distilled cider , (rather like apple brandy ) and rather cheap French bubbles . A great start to the days festivities!

Jon decided to celebrate the day with a couple of close English friends and we were kindly included . He cooked NZ roast lamb and potatoes, red cabbage, beans and carrots.( I did the vegetable preparation ). For dessert I made a birthday carrot cake with unusual non traditional , but never the less tasty “ fromage a la crème” icing without the cream cheese, I improvised and made it with camembert cheese and mascarpone. Needless to say it was very runny and ended up by being an topping rather than an icing. It was however enjoyed by all.

He invited two English friends Richard who is a PI and his wife Alex who live in Normandy . Alex made Jon a lemon birthday cake which was beautifully light and the icing stayed on the cake! They brought Felecia , a young student from the Bahamas' ‘studying ‘in France learning the French language.

All in all a great lunch time discussion ensued which covered a diverse range of topics from Richards job of locating people for clients and the ethics and rights of individuals preferring their whereabouts to remain unknown, to Felecia’s practices as a Seventh Day Adventist , to France making a stand on Muslim woman wearing the burqa when in France . (France have made a stand against this) Interesting points of view around the table. Do ‘we’ have the right to deny people their cultural practices ? One point of view was that by condoning the wearing of the burqa outside Muslim countries those citizens are supporting the subjugation of woman and it should not be tolerated . Is it about ‘us’ feeling uncomfortable with certain cultural practices therefore we ban these ?

On a less serious note eventually the dress ups came out and Jon, Richard and Felecia dressed up( photo)

Jon seemed to enjoy the celebration and we all thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

Bastille Day July 14th (1789)

An extremely important day in France, signifying the beginning of the end of the Monarchy, 1789, ( Autocracy as it was known) and the eventual forming of the Republic of France . (Beheading of Louis and Marie to come later, end of the Monarchy! ). Only a few people, 9, killed, thankfully , 7 prisoners in the Bastille, none of political significance , Feudalism abolished and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen proclaimed (4th August ) .

This is celebrated in Paris by parades of French infantry troops , motorised troops, aviation displays, red arrows flying in the air, fireworks and some of the Allies are invited to participate . Prior to 2007 the then President had the authority to pardon people who had committed petty crimes ( eg traffic offences) if the he saw sees fit . Healso gave a speech, but the current President , Nicolas Sarkozy ,declines to continue these practices.

( motto - pay your fines your wont get pardoned in France )

Wikipedia definition below , for those of you who want the historical stuff rather than my historical synopsis .

Bastille Day is the French national holiday which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale (The National Celebration) and commonly le quatorze juillet (the fourteenth of July). It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution. Festivities are held on the morning of 14 July, on the Champs-Élysées avenue in Paris in front of the President of the Republic.

Eating frogs legs

There were some left over frogs legs the other night so Mark enjoyed!
They smell like 'fishy chicken' and from what Mark said tasted much like this.

The dog with no name who steals shoes

The neighbours have a very friendly puppy dog ( Lab crossed with ? ridgeback) who visits every day and has a fetish for shoes we have recently discovered.

I lost my green shoe and someone kindly placed it on the hedge outside the house and within the next day I left the door to our cottage open and my cross trainer went missing. We searched the property and then went next door only to find it still in one piece, thankfully next to a soccer ball on the ground .

He doesn't like Marks shoes ( wise dog! ). Have to keep all shoes upstairs now or go shopping alot… now there’s a thought)

Living with each other 24/7

Learning more about each other day by day, that's marriage and travel. Some things previously private now shared : bodily functions and female beauty routines - Mark is learning waxing skills ( underarms), how to react to a french hair cut that wasn't exactly what I asked for and lastly but not by any means least how to spend joint money .( Oh dear i might be too old for this one or too set in my ways, help! )

A couple of tense moments which is to be expected considering we eat, sleep, work and travel together. Challenges have been small and around levels of patience when shopping and trying to find baking soda and cream cheese in a French supermarket only to discover that they don't exist! Driving ....the cause of many a divorce and a test of many a relationship in a foreign country when driving on the right hand side of the road in a left hand drive vehicle. To date Mark has taken on the task of driving so I will say nothing until such time I get up the courage to drive which will be soon as Jon wants us to do the pastry run in the morning to the local Patisserie before breakfast.

Being organised and directed by two men .... well what more can I say...... autonomy lost .... Initially it was a little foreign to me having been a woman who has worked for herself for numerous several years . All part of the experience and at the end of the day there is always compromise...isn't there ? :) Seriously though Jon is very flexible, easy going and easy to work for. Mark on the other hand...tee he ....

The ability to escape has been limited up until recently during the settling in phase and defining of roles . Private , individual time can be hard to slot in but now that we take turns at doing the breakfast we can both enjoy a lie in on alternate days or some time to ourselves whilst waiting on the guests for breakfast or waiting for them to get up to eat breakfast. As time passes we are both finding our niche and some individual space .

We have both started exercising to relieve the tension ( Mark more so than me!) , no not at all...to keep fit of course . Jon has loaned me a rowing machine which is mindless exercise with a picturesque view , looking out at the Chateau. Mark has set up a work out area with bricks, tree stumps, branches of tree's and what ever else he can find on the property to lift, punch , kick ! Some of the guests children just spotted Mark in his shorts only, ipod in , doing pull ups on a tree branch ...funny!

Generally speaking we are living and working together harmoniously being the easy going people we are !

Perhaps this posting may spur Mark into writing a post for the blog.

Tips- ( money)

We have now been at Le Castel 5 days and in this time we have been tipped twice. The first amount was 2o euros and the second 10.( $ 55NZ approx) some mixed feelings about this for me ( Pauline) . I haven't been in this 'role' of customer service since I was a student waitress so as a 'mature, professional ' woman it feels rather strange . The change in roles is something to ponder and makes one question how you perceive and what value you place on such customer service when you have been the recipient of it in the past . Food for thought..

Robbie the cat

 

Robbie the cat

It is lovely to have two cats roaming the property and visiting us. Sleeping on our bed and relaxing on my lap . So smoochy !

Moles

The lawns are covered with these mounds of dirt which little black, furry blind creatures called moles make by burrowing underground, making tunnels . They ruin the lawns.

The Dining Room

My mother would be proud of how I make up the beds

Mark is learning to mitre the corners and puff the pillows !

The kitchen

The 3 of us are quickly learning to work together in the kitchen.

Menu at Le Castel

Micheals 80th Birthday Dinner

Smoked & Poached Salmon Mousse

Guinea Fowl in Cider

Trou Normand ( Apple Sorbet & Calvados)

French Cheeses & Le Castel Apple Chutney

Black Forest Desert with Cherry Compote

First few days work at Le Castel

The Napoleon III chateau has 4 double rooms on the second floor and 2 double rooms in the attic

http://www.le-castel-normandy.com/

We are expected to set up breakfast at 7.00 , clean and make up the rooms when guests leave , set the tables , iron, hang out the washing, serve pre dinner drinks, assemble the food and wait on the tables and clean up . ( just to name a few of the job tasks to date) . We have worked some long hours over 2 days and had 2 days off.

Fete

On the day off - Sunday ,Jon took us to 3 local villages to 2 ' garage/ boot " sales ( very similar to NZ. ), Trelly and Grimesville( ?) , and a local Fete in Cerisy Le Salle. ( photos of these to come) .

We enjoyed a traditional French sausage with tomato sauce and mustard in a baquette , french fries ( they apparently love these in the villages ) accompanied by a rose or beer. Almost like a sausage sizzle in NZ.

A most enjoyable day out and no purchases made . We must have missed the bargins!