Living the Dream in Normandy!
We've been living the dream at La Bouyardiere for 9 months and what a time it's been! For the first few months we were finding our feet and quickly adapted to life in France. After dropping Jakey off at school we'd pop into Domfront, head to Festive for a delicious patisserie, which was then enjoyed with a cheeky coffee at the Bar de la Tour. Friday mornings were even more special - market day! Lots of stalls selling fresh produce - local cheeses, meats, fresh veg and cooked dishes. Across the road at the local boucherie, the butcher cooks saucisse & frites. The aroma is amazing and certainly gets the tastes buds singing.
It wasn't all about french food, although that was a big deciding factor to move to France - but the lifestyle in general. When we came to Orne and La Bouyardiere for our family holidays, we discovered an array of activities. We are blessed to be on the Voire Vert which is a network of byways, stretching the length and breadth of the country. You can literally walk or cycle for miles taking in the stunning countryside - in one direction head towards Mont Saint Micheal and in the other direction head towards Paris. Perfect for cyclists or those who want to explore the country at their own pace.
In September our pony Quaker, joined us and he wasn't the only four-legged, furry person who joined us on our journey in France. We went to see our local estate agent and somehow came away with another dog. A loveable rogue who was proving to be too much for his family. Whether is was a lot of persuasions or the fact that we're more relaxed in France, we decided to take him on. But more about the antics of Orson the Labrador another time!
November through to February the rain came in. Normandy is renowned for rain. It's a standing joke with the locals. Thankfully, we were busy with renovating the house and getting La Bouyardiere ready to open as a B&B - our aim was to open in March. The next stage was lockdown. We couldn't believe it. We were ready to welcome guests and keen to show them all that the area has to offer the greenways, the equestrian centres, the golf courses, Bagnoles with its casinos, the fabulous bars and restaurants all on-hold. However, now we are open again!
