Trying to cope with a cold winter!

Trying to cope with a cold winter!

After a long short story in my last blog, I hope it will be clear that it’s my purpose to update you on life in France and, to be more precise, my life in France. This blog is my way of showing the beauty of it all. It will be filled with memories of how it all began, but it will also be a peek into the day-to-day life of a Dutchman who is keen on settling down in the ‘golden triangle’ of Gordes, Menerbes and Bonnieux.

Many books have been written about this region and I cannot even guess the number of photos that are taken of its many attractions.  So what I want is to share my thoughts in a simple blog, and maybe if I look deep inside myself it’s also a way of satisfying me that we were right to choose to live here. And if with a bit of luck others take an interest, that’s a bonus.

Villa Dæsch is just recovering from a very cold period.  Winter took an interest in bringing us the lowest temperatures in years. How funny it is that we still have guests who blithely think the outdoor life goes on all year long. When winter strikes and the mistral blows in cold air from the Alps, life can be hard. And the last couple of weeks have made me realize that we have to live with the seasons. Looking for shade in the summer is one thing, but protecting the house from freezing is quite another task in winter.

However when I took this photo in a deserted Lourmarin, I knew that winter also has its beauty.  A stylist would work for days to create a décor like this!

A visit to the DIY shop in Cavaillon confirmed that I’m not the only one who’s protecting their house. Four men in a row behind me at the check-out had their arms full of insulation for their plumbing.

Even Villa Dæsch was confronted with frozen pipes and the moment the sun began heating up our hamlet, the neighbours saw water running under our large sturdy gate. Imagine, just a few hours after I had left for a trip to Holland, we got a text message saying  ‘après Edvard le deluge’!

We’re so lucky with our neighbours who take care of Villa Dæsch when I’m not there. By now the plumbing is fixed and I’m preparing the construction of an extra studio. So within a few weeks we shall have a loft where we can host 2 persons.

The temperature is rising and so is my hope for a warm springtime. It might be a matter of days before the first blossom can be admired. The rental calendar is starting to fill up. Time to get the house ready for guests. Goodbye winter!

A bientôt!

My first blog

My first blog.

13 February 2012

How it al started.

Dear readers, My first words as a blogger are a fact. The 21^st century allows us to share our deepest thoughts with those we barely know. So this is for all of you who are interested in getting to know me, our little hamlet in the Luberon and most of all those who feel connected with France.

It must have been some 8 or 9 years ago that we got the itch. We, that is my husband Andrew and I, Edvard, nice to meet you some day.

Owing to the passing away of both our mothers within the short time frame of a year and a half we suddenly realized that life too is short. So much to do and so little time in which to do it. Whilst we were both very busy running our own company in The Hague, Holland (you know tulips, Van Gogh and all that) the loss of our mothers meant we had to synchronize watches and adjust our concept of time. There should be more to life than work, a career is okay but certainly not my destiny in life.

So we sat down and counted our blessings and shared our dreams. Having a house in Provence seemed to be a high priority for us both. Until that moment this had looked like a future plan and not something to be pursued at this point in our lives. But then imagining my dream and how it could come true started a fire in me. After having watched all those TV shows where people were brave enough to leave everything behind, I suddenly realized that this dream had become a plan we could go for.

What followed was the selling of our house in The Hague which meant we had the money to buy a property in France. And then the search for THE ideal hide away. We must have visited at least 100 houses we visited. Andrew patiently following my never- ending quest to see even more houses. But 100 houses, a few real estate agents and 2 years later we found and fell in love with Villa Dæsch on a warm afternoon in July.

A bientôt!