Michelle Willem in 2009

Michelle & Willem in 2009: 

Michelle & Willem in 2009 A brief overview of the first year in Loriol du Comtat, France

Slide2: 

2009 started with the first time we bought Truffles and ate an omelet made with them

As usual we spent a week at the end of February in Wengen, Switzerland, to attend with the whole family to the birthday of Willem’s mother: 

As usual we spent a week at the end of February in Wengen, Switzerland, to attend with the whole family to the birthday of Willem’s mother

It froze outside and it was cold in the house especially without central heating: 

It froze outside and it was cold in the house especially without central heating

On January 8th it snowed and put off the traffic on the autoroute in a terrible way and also normal life.: 

On January 8th it snowed and put off the traffic on the autoroute in a terrible way and also normal life.

But work had to go on (demolishing the kitchen) and 3 layers of ceiling were removed as well as the wainscot to result in: (next photograph): 

But work had to go on (demolishing the kitchen) and 3 layers of ceiling were removed as well as the wainscot to result in: (next photograph)

The result was a terrible mess but a nice authentic ‘Provencal’ ceiling: 

The result was a terrible mess but a nice authentic ‘Provencal’ ceiling

As our first cock and his five hens were taken by a fox, we decided to get new ones. But, as yet there was no suitable cock. So only 5 hens came March 4th : 

As our first cock and his five hens were taken by a fox, we decided to get new ones. But, as yet there was no suitable cock. So only 5 hens came March 4th

The cock arrived March 31st much to the satisfaction of the hens: 

The cock arrived March 31st much to the satisfaction of the hens

March 18-22 a part of Willem’s golf team 2008 came to prepare themselves for the league in 2009: 

March 18-22 a part of Willem’s golf team 2008 came to prepare themselves for the league in 2009

It was very important to renew all of the electricity threads, as they were completely out of time: 

It was very important to renew all of the electricity threads, as they were completely out of time

On April 1st we finally (after 7 drives in vain to Aix-en-Provence) got our French number-plates for our car and it was officially imported!: 

On April 1st we finally (after 7 drives in vain to Aix-en-Provence) got our French number-plates for our car and it was officially imported!

The first half of April the shutters were painted: 

The first half of April the shutters were painted

That really changed the appearance of the house: 

That really changed the appearance of the house

Then our new bathroom was made by the contractor to Michelle’s design: 

Then our new bathroom was made by the contractor to Michelle’s design

The fountain proved to be leaky and the contractor thought it better to completely rebuild it to his own idea of a fountain in the Provence: 

The fountain proved to be leaky and the contractor thought it better to completely rebuild it to his own idea of a fountain in the Provence

On April 10th the “Boulodrome”, a present given by the friends attending our fare-well party, became ready and was inaugurated May 19th : 

On April 10th the “Boulodrome”, a present given by the friends attending our fare-well party, became ready and was inaugurated May 19th

Then, in May, the fruit season started with the strawberries: 

Then, in May, the fruit season started with the strawberries

Strawberries first, followed by cherries, apricots, and then the figs. Not to forgetthe greenery cultivated by the son of our predecessor here on our land: 

Strawberries first, followed by cherries, apricots, and then the figs. Not to forget the greenery cultivated by the son of our predecessor here on our land

On May 29th our tractor, for mowing of the grass and cultivation of the land arrived: 

On May 29th our tractor, for mowing of the grass and cultivation of the land arrived

Michelle started then to clean the mess in the shed (for rabbits and pigeons).On the left the situation in June, on the right in October.: 

Michelle started then to clean the mess in the shed (for rabbits and pigeons). On the left the situation in June, on the right in October.

This is what the inside of the shed looked like. On the floor at least two years of rabbit shit and blood and whatever more. But now that has vanished and even the smell is’nt as bad any more.: 

This is what the inside of the shed looked like. On the floor at least two years of rabbit shit and blood and whatever more. But now that has vanished and even the smell is’nt as bad any more.

June 21st there was an enormous increase of the inhabitants: three hens sat on eggs and 13 chicks crept out of their eggs, of which 8, all hens(!), survived and are laying eggs nowadays.: 

June 21st there was an enormous increase of the inhabitants: three hens sat on eggs and 13 chicks crept out of their eggs, of which 8, all hens(!), survived and are laying eggs nowadays.

It became so hot, a small swimming pool was set up and really made the heat of the day bearable: 

It became so hot, a small swimming pool was set up and really made the heat of the day bearable

In July our son and daughter passed by with their partners and we all attended the opera La Traviata in the ancient Roman theatre of Augustus in Orange: 

In July our son and daughter passed by with their partners and we all attended the opera La Traviata in the ancient Roman theatre of Augustus in Orange

On July 12th we noted three more new inhabitants of the premises: 3 lovely kittens without a trace from their mother; after a firm discussion it was decided to feed (and so keep) them as it would give us less problems with the mice! Then in the last week of August a fourth kitten joined them and was excepted by all other inhabitants.: 

On July 12th we noted three more new inhabitants of the premises: 3 lovely kittens without a trace from their mother; after a firm discussion it was decided to feed (and so keep) them as it would give us less problems with the mice! Then in the last week of August a fourth kitten joined them and was excepted by all other inhabitants.

The happy couple just before Willem’s birthday: 

The happy couple just before Willem’s birthday

On August 11th we were off to Bern for Milou’s marriage, but she gave birth to our grandson Felix instead that day: 

On August 11th we were off to Bern for Milou’s marriage, but she gave birth to our grandson Felix instead that day

The legal marriage was postponed and took place September 2nd The marriage in church and the festivities will take place August 28th 2010: 

The legal marriage was postponed and took place September 2nd The marriage in church and the festivities will take place August 28th 2010

On August 16th we stood on a flea market in Carpentras where we wanted to sell belongings we did not have any use for any more or of which we had two or even more specimens: 

On August 16th we stood on a flea market in Carpentras where we wanted to sell belongings we did not have any use for any more or of which we had two or even more specimens

September and October were the months that the contractor came to redo the complete façade, meaning he was here from 7.15 am (!) to 6.45 pm working very hard, mainly alone.: 

September and October were the months that the contractor came to redo the complete façade, meaning he was here from 7.15 am (!) to 6.45 pm working very hard, mainly alone.

The east side of the house before and after: 

The east side of the house before and after

The south side of the house before: 

The south side of the house before

The south side during: 

The south side during

The south side before and after: 

The south side before and after

In September the three hens decided to sit again and the 1st of October six chicks saw the sunlight and are thriving very well. On December 18th they were allowed to walk on the grass freely in spite of the cats. All went well!: 

In September the three hens decided to sit again and the 1st of October six chicks saw the sunlight and are thriving very well. On December 18th they were allowed to walk on the grass freely in spite of the cats. All went well!

Michelle’s next project: a mini tap dance studio to train with two tap mates living in St. Rémy de Provence: 

Michelle’s next project: a mini tap dance studio to train with two tap mates living in St. Rémy de Provence

Nowadays our life here is ruled by 4 cats (sterilized), and 21 chicken (three generations and one given to us by friends): 

Nowadays our life here is ruled by 4 cats (sterilized), and 21 chicken (three generations and one given to us by friends)

Even our dog Shuffle tolerates the cats and Shuffle and Mimi wait to get something eatable when we are going to have lunch.: 

Even our dog Shuffle tolerates the cats and Shuffle and Mimi wait to get something eatable when we are going to have lunch.

Michelle’s hair is combed and/or eaten during a PC session and for Willem it is almost impossible to solve a sudoku or a crossword (because of the cats that is!): 

Michelle’s hair is combed and/or eaten during a PC session and for Willem it is almost impossible to solve a sudoku or a crossword (because of the cats that is!)

Tuesday December 15th : “La Claquetterie” was opened with Michelle’s tap mates Sylvie and Dominique: 

Tuesday December 15th : “La Claquetterie” was opened with Michelle’s tap mates Sylvie and Dominique