Friday, September 5, 2008

The Immobilier's Visit

Phew! That's the summer holidays over. The rentree (start of the new term) was on Tuesday for DD, who has moved up to college this year, and Wednesday for DS, who is now in his third year there.

The last week of the holidays is always madness and as usual we made it to the first day of term without my having put the washing on so on the first day, DD has no trousers to wear (my suggestion of 'make like Beckham and wear a skirt' didn't go down too well) and DS has, well nothing much really.

I'd had a giggle the night before listening to DD taking fashion advice from DS, who was determined that his nerdy little sister wasn't going to embarrass him! DS is heading into that pre-teen demi-Goth dress in black and grow your hair long period, although thankfully he is still well acqainted with the shower, so I feared the worst. 'Nothing pink' he told her. 'No, that's not cool'. 'Don't EVER wear that'. In the end, a suitable outfit that was neither too girly nor too Goth was found and everyone was happy.

So, with the children safely out of the way, so I have at least a fighting chance of keeping the house tidy, it was time to call in the Immobiliers and get the house on the market.

The first appointment was for today so I started early yesterday de-cluttering, tidying up, finally repainting the cupboards and door in our bedroom which actually took most of the day. As luck would have it, the CH is making an unscheduled and unusually long stay chez nous so I was happy to have an extra pair of hands. With almost every room in the house in dire need of sorting out, he had an enormous choice of domestic chores. So...... he cleaned out the barn! All day. We now have the cleanest, tidiest, most orderly barn in the whole of the Southwest of France, nay, the whole of France possibly. You really could eat your food off the floor. It's the barn of someone with serious anal retention! While I think it's fabulous that we have such a shining example of a barn, I would personally have preferred some help in the house. Call me old fashioned but.........

So, by the end of the day, CH is slumped in front of the TV and I still have the rest of the house to do by 10.30 this morning.

What choice did I have but to get up at 5am and press on. Cleaning before the sun comes up is so incredibly sad that no-one should have to do it but needs must. CH got up and got the children off to school while I cleaned and polished and tidied. DD's bedroom looked like the aftermath of a nuclear explosion but within an hour it was shipshape (just don't look under the bed or open the wardrobe!). By 9am I was onto DS's bedroom. He's by far the tidier of the two but his bedroom still has that whiff of pre-teen boy, so I changed the sheets and tidied and polished, half a can of Oust and it passed muster.

By 10.10 I was doing the last bits, still, however, in my nightie. Not the best look for greeting the Immobilier. At 10.15, the shelf in the kitchen gave way. That serves me right for piling up with 'desirable' cookery books, most of which I've never personally opened, but you mustn't forget, you are 'selling a lifestyle', unfortunately, most of ours was now on the floor! CH did a quick repair and removed half the books. So far so good.

I dashed to the bathroom for a quick shower and by 10.25 I was ready for the immiment arrival of the Immobilier.

I put some coffee on - got to get those nice aromas going. By 10.40 I was feeling just a little peeved that I'd run around like a headless chicken (sorry chickens) for over 5 hours and the little sh**e was late. By 10.50 I was spitting blood. Bloody estate agents!

Right, let's get him on the phone. I brought up his e-mail to get the phone number.

'Dear Mme VLiF

I am please to confirm our appointment for 10.30 on Friday 12th September.

Cordialement'

Bugger, bugger, bugger!!

13 comments:

Georgina said...

Our heart goes out to you, been there seen it done it, as they say. Good luck we hope it works out. Debs & Bob x

The Accidental Author said...

Thanks Debs and Bob, please God we have a quick sale! Can I possibly keep the house this tidy for years? VliF x

Debra in France said...

Hi Vlif, my name is Debra and I love in France too! I have come via a Menopausaloldbag's blog. I am really enjoying ready your blog, I have found myself nodding violently in agreement with you. Debra x:-)

The Accidental Author said...

Hi Debra, thanks for dropping by and glad you are enjoying my blog. I shall visit yours toute de suite. VLiF x

justme said...

But where are you moving to????? Do tell!
And please don't stop blogging.

The Accidental Author said...

Justme - not entirely sure at the moment but watch this space. I don't think I could stop. I enjoy it so much. Thanks for your sweet comment though. VLiF

Anonymous said...

Why do I keep finding blogs [through Lehners in France] just when they are selling up and going?

When we put our Mas on on the market we only had one interested buyer, when his feet grew very cold[he was a dentist who wanted a holiday home, not 11 hectares of stunted lavender and a large farmhouse] my husband travelled to his home in north-west France and blagged him into believing it was his dream home. As it was a huge inancial drain on our limited finances, I felt only the tiniest tinge of guilt when he finally signed on the dotted line.

I'll be back

blogthatmama said...

VLiF are you staying in France or going back to the UK? I'll look forward to reading about the viewings with great pleasure blogthatmamax

Lulu LaBonne said...

That doing the barn thing when I specifically ask for help in the house is exactly what my man does.

Anonymous said...

If you would like to go and collect it, there is a little something for you chez moi. TTx

The Accidental Author said...

Hi Moannie, thanks for dropping by. I was sure I'd already replied to you but looks like it was my false memory syndrome again! Where are you now? VliF

BTM - Let's just hope we get some viewings! We are waiting until we are nearer a sale before deciding what to do. Sounds a bit mysterious but it isn't really! Can't wait to hear how you got on in Arfrica (you have to say it like Meryl Streep in Out of Africa) VLiF

The Accidental Author said...

Lulu Labonne - hello and welcome. Thanks for dropping in. Men eh! Still we have a very impressive barn now. VLiF

The Accidental Author said...

Hey TT, thanks so much. What a lovely award. VLiF