It's stinking hot here, and just about to get worse; but life goes on.
Look; we've got our silly masks, enough pasta for until Christmas, there's still some of that hand gel stuff in the car, and we keep our distance from our fellow man; we'll probably/possibly survive. We survived the Brexit saga, but still have to face the possibility of being kicked out of France sometime next year. Life has its ups and downs, but we go with the flow.
I don't require much. A rain-proof roof, a decent bed, and three meagre meals a day, are my simple demands.
We've never wanted big flash cars, a yacht moored in Monaco, or a modern Essex-style Footballer's 'Executive Home'. We lead a very busy but simple life, and over the years have managed to save enough for one or two occasional treats. We're not people who demand permanent luxury.
Some might see our pool as a luxury, but, in fact, it's just a hole filled with water, and probably cost about half the price of a new kitchen extension or conservatory; and those would never be seen as 'luxuries'.
I do occasionally hanker after an ancient white-painted fisherman's cottage overlooking a small bay on a tiny Greek island, next door to a simple taverna (which I would definitely see as a luxury), but I think I'll now have to give that a miss. I'm getting too old for such folly.
No, I'll stay where I am, try not to be jealous of others on that Greek island, and be grateful for what we have. We're not poor, and we're certainly not rich. It's all a question of making the best of what one has, and we do that to the best of our abilities. I recommend it to others.
That looks pretty good. You have nice legs....
ReplyDeleteThat's the first time anyone's said that!!!
DeleteI doubt that
DeleteI was dreaming about esacping to a rustic cottage on Corfu the other day. It's going to have to stay a dream though.
ReplyDeleteMine will too. Renting one would be OK, but to buy I believe can be a nightmare.
DeleteGood grief, you live in paradise. What do you want with a house on a greek island ? A really foreign language, red tape and bureaucracy, summer invasions of loud tourists, 2 months of endless heat, no decent sausages, ouzo and Retsina, tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow when your hot water pipe bursts and you've run out of your plumbers favourite raki. Oof I could go on an on
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention 320 days every year of sunshine, not a darn cloud in the sky, being forced to drink your neighbours rough red wine and greek food, don't get me started
DeleteLook, I was prepared to suffer in silence, but now you're putting me off!
DeleteMy philosophy exactly Cro.
ReplyDeleteI should also add that, Luckily, there are no 'Jones's' around here up with whom one needs to keep!
DeleteI'm intrigued as to why you may be kicked out of France?
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
I believe they will only allow us to stay for so many months in each year. We shall, of course, ignore such silliness and wait to be forcibly ejected.
DeleteSo you're not going to apply for a carte de séjour then?
DeleteNo, I can't be bothered. I had one 47 years ago, but I let it fade away.
DeleteYou have the right attitude Cro, my thoughts exactly. Apart from the Greek cottage, I can't be doing with heat these days, my cottage would be in the Scottish Highlands or Shetland.
ReplyDeleteOn my island there would have to be plenty of shade with a large fan permanently blowing cool air. It's just knowing that the sun is there when you want it, which is so appealing.
DeleteIt's interesting how the UK said those EU citizens living in the UK at the time of the brexit vote would be guaranteed to stay. Yet France and most of the EU were not prepared to offer a reciprocal agreement. It demonstrated to me that Leave was indeed the correct vote.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to the wire, the UK may well decide to do as the rest of Europe have said they will do. That may change their minds.
DeleteThe EU might have changed their minds after a couple of planeloads were sent back to Europe in March.....
DeleteWhy don't you get residency? I have several friends who have done this and they hadn't lived in France as long as you have
I agree with you that this unpredictable life is so much easier to bear if you are fortunate enough to live in a safe, comfortable place, wherever that may be.
ReplyDeleteWe may live on a cool and rainswept little island with no sophistication but we feel safe and content, with no desire to keep up with any Joneses, or anyone else.
That's exactly how we feel, although those Joneses are absent here; thank goodness.
DeleteYour comment sums most of us up, we are not rich and we are not poor. We are not lucky, we did work hard to be where we are today, and we are enjoying every moment.
ReplyDeleteI honestly think it's the best way to be. I have never had any desire to be 'rich and famous'; I enjoy my little life as it is.
DeleteHonestly, Cro, and I hope you'll take this in the humorous spirit it's offered.
ReplyDeleteIn the words of my mother addressing one of my siblings when they were still children: "If you don't have something to moan about you aren't happy, are you?".
One minute it's too cold, then it's too warm, then it's winter and you can't wait for the summer, in June you tell (I think it was on YP's blog) that you rather like the darker days what with the candles. On opening it up the pool is a pain and, anyway, it's too cold. I bet come August you'll say it's a bit too warm. And that's before we get to the tomatoes, their blight and your plight.
Enjoy, and do remember (ref Greece) armchair travel is not only free, you don't have to move. Maybe you and Lady M can recreate the illusion of a sun soaked white washed Greece by making a lush Greek Salad (don't forget the feta). And a shot of Ouzo does wonders for one's outlook on life.
Sunny side up,
U
I would be happier if I could buy Retsina at my supermarket. Why is it that the French think that no-one else makes good wine (or even Retsina)?
DeleteGood question, Cro. Roughly on par with that - donkeys' years ago - theory (and it was only a theory) that the Germans exported ONLY their abominable wines (Liebfraumilch) to England. Of course, things have changed. Your average Waitrose sommelier now swoons over recommending you a Riesling straight from the Mosel.
DeleteU
Having enough to eat figures quite high on my list of must haves I must admit, but the rest can wait.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit of a foodie, and good food comes very high on my priorities; maybe that's why I live where I do.
DeleteHow much does one need ? A home, a garden and enough money to pay the bills with some left over for a few treats ! I sometimes wonder what it might be like to live in one of those beautiful ‘ Midsomer Murders ‘ houses, with windows down to the floor, flung open to reveal beautiful lawns and herbaceous borders but, it would probably be more trouble than it’s worth. I love our late Victorian house with reasonably sized garden .... just right for us..... in fact, it’s probably to big for us now that our children have homes of their own ! XXXX
ReplyDeleteI suppose it all boils down to those who have too little, those who have just about the right amount, and those who have far too much. I know where I'd rather be.
Delete"It's all a question of making the best of what one has, and we do that to the best of our abilities. I recommend it to others." Amen to that.
ReplyDeleteI think it's an easily achieved goal, but some always moan however much they have.
DeleteMaybe some Greek salad and Ouzo by the pool and you can imagine you are in Greece.
ReplyDeleteRetsina for me please. We already regularly have the Greek Salads, but a glass or two of Retsina would go down very well.
DeleteI have come to the realisation that there are places in the world that we won't see, no matter how nice they are. Las Vegas? (I don't want to see it anyway) Probably not. Grand Canyon? Probably not. Prague? Probably not.
ReplyDeleteThe places I prefer are where there's no-one else, and they're becoming quite rare.
DeleteI think these past few months has taught us even more to appreciate what we have. I also had a dream to live some of my days on Santorini. However, a dream is a beautiful thing, that when it comes true is often is not what we thought it would be.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that in the case of Santorini, your dream would come true. We have a friend who has recently sold her home there. I've not been there, but her photos were wonderful.
DeleteI have been there and if there is a heaven, it must look like Santorini.
DeleteI'd say where you are that a pool is pretty much an essential.
ReplyDeleteIt is. We see it as an essential outdoor room.
DeleteIt looks like you live a pretty charmed life from where I'm sitting, Cro.
ReplyDeleteWe live a simple but very pleasant life, which comes from not wanting too much stuff.
DeleteI do hope you can stay in France.
ReplyDeleteAt some stage I'm sure we'll be happy to return to England; but not yet!
DeleteI like this post Cro.
ReplyDelete