Five year anniversary

I have owned my first French property five years today... and WHAT IS MORE... I have mostly stopped crying!!! YAY... Maybe, there will be another five years as I have promised myself 'no escaping yet'!!! ... and even though, at times I yearn to return to 'a homeland', this is now my home.  I wish to make it more so.
I have regained independence and some of my old strengths.  I am not ashamed of dependence on others for their support, love and care, however distant they are around the world...friends, cousins, kith and kin. I welcome those who can renovate and repair for I am unskilled in such matters. I make a good skivvy. However... Just a few days ago, I found the correct allen key and managed to get the toilet lid and seat correctly aligned so that it was not falling apart, which it dd, in the course of trying to get the whole-damn-thing back to being self-closure. About half way through the task, when I started to sob a teary eye,  I felt as if I could stick my head down the loo, flush the system and drown!!! "Would that solve the issue?"  I asked myself.   NOPE!  Then I managed its intricate ways!  I DO delight in the way a toilet seat slowly descends. Gently I say to those who bang the lid!!!! 

 Five years ago one part looked like this:
My house was purchased after the death of other dear human souls. I was destined to be the owner occupier.  Now the roof has been replaced with new windows in it and the lucarne. The guttering is different. I love my new roof. The roofers were so kind, patient and tolerant.  In the near future I am hoping that the brown kitchen window and door will be improved!

Almost at the beginning of this blog is a posting about the signing day on 30 April 2010 with a pic of me looking happier than I had for several years.  I was in disbelief when 'a little bird' told me 'bon courage'...  I certainly needed that! Then within a few weeks it was all change! 

Now, 2015...the transformed front courtyard garden will be lower maintenance and more joyful!
Today I am ecstatically happy to hear the nightingale and cuckoo. I love April and May!

almost done, more done since the photo date, and more to do!!!!

Currently, house and garden maintenance, administrative tasks, CLEARANCE of clutter and possessions in the ATTIC, kitchen replacement and other things on the TO DO list are somewhat overwhelming!
I am mostly happy to live here. It is my success story against adversity and struggle and am in good health.
The Future: Living is Hard Work but hopefully there will be more opportunities for playtime! I am lucky in many ways.