It is incredibly frustrating to have bought a property in France and now to be sitting it out here in Ireland when every bone in the body wants to go out and explore the surrounding area.
The one sensible thing we did last week, on our very fleeting visit, was to buy a 1:25000 map of the area.
I now find myself pouring over this, conjecturing.
Just to the east of the town there is an area called l’Homme Mort, surely he must have died quite dramatically to be so remembered.
To the north there is a chateau called, pleasingly to me, St Martin des Champs.
Around the town are several Peuchs, that I know is the Languedocian for hill so the place cannot be as flat as it looks.
To the west is the Orb river which seems to widen pleasantly just down the road from the town, is this a going to provide good swimming in the summer? I know there are several canoeing hire places on the Orb and as this is one of the few outdoor pursuits I enjoy this bodes well.
To the south west of the town there is a building named on the map as la Chartreuse, that I know means a Carthusian monastery but just next to it is one called la Chartreusette, could this be a Carthusian convent and if so aren’t they a little close for comfort?
Again to the East there is a little chapel called Notre Dame de la Neiges, I wonder why, very little snow falls here, although they did get some last year.
Roll on the new year when Sile and I have rented a house in a village nearby.
We then will get a chance for a good explore.