The Trucs you find at a French Fleamarket

Last Sunday I set off with Spike in our new purchase... the long awaited replacement for our old Big Blue Van.  We decided not to go back to England to buy the van even though it's much cheaper over there mainly because French second hand vehicles really hold there value unlike their English counterparts.

The seal of approval from Jakie and Oskie who seem to love Piggy
as much as the old Big Blue Van

I have named our Renault Trafic Piggy because it is such a square neat shape that it reminds me of an old fashioned piggy bank.  Spike calls it 007 because it has among other things 007 on the number plate but the van will always be piggy to me.

Anyway, off we went in Piggy to a large vide grenier (sort of car boot sale) that was being held in the village of Annepont, about a half an hours drive from us.  We had never been before so we parked in the allocated parking area a way off from the fair and set off across a large field in the direction of the market we could see in the valley below.

I think we could have parked a little closer but bearing in mind the chip
butty I was to gobble down at lunchtime perhaps it was just a well

The day began with a pleasant warmth that was to develop into something of a heatwave and with the low Autumn sun in our eyes we tried to get around as quickly as possible before I burned to a frazzle (the curse of having fair skin).

I picked up loads of new and interesting trucs for my Etsy shop and a few bits for, yes you guessed it, the new house that we're moving to soon in particular a decorative cast iron fire basket that may or may not fit in the lovely marble fireplace.   It only cost us 10€ so if it doesn't fit I can always sell it on.

The market just went on and on (and on and on)

Out of all the things that were for sale the biggest had to be an old water mill that had been turned into a chambre d'hôtes (B&B).  The owner was holding an open day which was ingenious because the normally sleepy village must have seen thousands of people that day.  I confess that I was a bit tempted to take a look around but being busy and also not wanting to get his hopes up I resisted the urge to have a nose around (although I'm sure lots of people couldn't resist).

Such a beautiful setting and a wonderful buy for someone

In addition to his beautiful home he was also selling a super little vintage car that understandably drew a constant crowd throughout the day.  I was tempted but my budget sadly didn't allow!

So cute (no, not the man... the car!)

That's the joy of going on antique/treasure hunting expeditions - you never know exactly what you are going come across next.

Beautiful Maison Charentaise for Sale

Well it's been a very busy week for us but not as far as dealing with antiques goes.  That is unless you count a very big antique.... our house!

Our beautiful home - well perhaps I'm biased but I think it's lovely

Some time ago we decided that we would like to make the move from the countryside to town, Cognac to be exact, and we are looking forward to adding an exciting new chapter to our lives in France so far.  The lure of being able to walk to a bistro, enjoy a cappuccino at a pavement café, visit the daily market for fresh produce or spend hours browsing in the numerous little boutiques has become too irresistible.

Café culture in Cognac calls (that's easy for me to say!)

The covered market in Cognac brimming with fresh produce

We have been renovating the house on and off for about three years now and we are scarily close to completion so someone I know with a lovely large gîte complex in the nearby town of Saint Jean d'Angély suggested that I type up some details tout de suite because they often have lots of people staying with them that are house hunting. 

So I took the decision to take a week off from antiquing and to get weeding, painting and deep cleaning so that I could get a verdict from a local estate agent as to the value of our labour of love.   And we do love our house, it's elegant and surrounded by beautiful countryside with vineyards, sunflowers and golden wheat and if we could pick up it up and move it to town we would.

We've heard all the nightmare stories of houses taking five or more years to sell but I have accepted that if it takes five years then so be it.  All that means is that our dreams of a new lifestyle and a little café/brocante in the old quarter of Cognac will have to wait. It's not like me at all to be so philosophical about things - I must be mellowing (it had to happen even to an ageing flibbertigibbet like me!)

So here is a link to one of the many adverts I have taken out online in an attempt to cut out the estate agent and the massive percentage they get in France (6%-10%!)

We'll have to get used to another kind of view in town

So if we are very lucky and our home does manage to break the current five year trend and sell quickly I will be sad because there are so many things I will miss about country living.  I will just have to console myself with the thought that it will be possible to just pop out of my front door and cheer myself up by heading off to a little pavement café where I can drown my sorrows in a fragrant frothy cappuccino.