All went smoothly in Bordeaux and number one child is the happy owner of some keys, a rental agreement and bills.
It looks like thermal sock time for the market tomorrow. We had frost on the windscreen this morning and the cold room was nearly warmer than the butchery.
See you soon
Helen

Well it has happened we have gone Facebook I have been dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th century......oops, I mean of course the 21st century. So you can contact me now on this link as well www.facebook.com/franklinfarm have fun.
To balance my departure into more technology I have introduced the children to Nash Bridges re-runs on CBS Action and am loving the shoulder pads.
Wish number one child luck for tomorrow and his foray into Bordeaux to claim his room keys. And the other news for this evening is that his grant has arrived.... yippee....... so slightly less pressure in the house.
Hope to see you all at Riberac market on Friday 
Helen

Hello All
I love it when a plan nearly comes together. 
Everything was cool we had all the papers we had all the ticks in all the right boxes we even had a room number so off I trotted to meet up with number one in Bordeaux to move his stuff into his new uni residence.
We make it to the office in Village one and yes over the first hurdle we have all the right papers. Slight stumble when we discover relevant person is in a meeting. I put on my best crestfallen face and the lovely woman behind reception says she will see if her colleague can do it for us seeing as we have come such a long way. I neglected to explain that a pasport was not actually necessary between the Dordogne and the Gironde.
We see the colleague. He checks the paperwork we hand over the cheque in anticipatiion of receiving a key. Ha ha ha. Big, nay moutainous wall in the way. The girl in the room will be there till next Thursday. Ok I thought the paperwork said the 18th but I decided a discussion was futile and who wants to annoy people who are doing things for you. However I can forsee problems next Thursday trying to collect a key the day before a holiday which is also the day before the weekend and the weekend before going back to school. Wish us luck.
The moral of the story is don't believe everything you read and the more inane the question the more necesary it is to ask it.
See you soon Helen 

Helo All

Hello Everyone
The title says it all they will be available on Friday at Riberac Market. Be brave this weekend and risk a trip to the market I believe the weather will be pleasant or at least that is what the lovely weather  people are saying today.
We will be having an exciting weekend searching for wood I suspect as yes we are going to have to relight the fire my girls will be delighted as it is number 2's favourite winter time job.
We have a new ram. His name is ..............wait for it........ "Poppet"! I did suggest to Gavin that maybe Fred or Steve might be more appropriate but he did remind me that our last ram was called "Pinkie"  and the other ram is Skippety so I guess he may have a point. However he seems to have settled in and is doing all the things that rams should be doing.
At a delivery point this week it was suggested that people didn't know how to get in touch with me as looking at the website it always looks like I am out, so if you wish to talk with me directly I am usually in the house after 7pm in the evening.  
See you soon Helen

Hello Everyone
Well sorry for my absence I have been in the uk with my friend  
preparing early for Christmas for the family in anticipation of being rushed of my feet in November and December with the Christmas orders I will have.
I have to recommend shopping at the beginning of October as there are no queues, some sales and you are not too early for purchases of christmas puddings, cake and mince pies.
Funnily enough the weather was drier in the UK than here though I have to say not warmer. We were lucky enough to have smooth crossings on the car ferry in both directions but were hampered by roadworks on both sides of the channel. 
For anyone interested Rouen has a bridge closed, there is a diversion as you exit Calais and the Le Mans autoroute has a deviation around Brionne. Of course there are the usual speed controls and some single lanes going on the N10 wherevever the high speed rail works are close to the road. The UK felt like one long roadwork going round the south side of the M25.
Our favourite thing was the clear instruction given to drivers as we came along the road towards the M25 at 3.30am stating "Dartford Tunnel 15 feet 9 inches".  Seeing as we were accompanied on the boat by 99 percent Portugese/Polish/Italian/German/in fact anything but UK drivers we wondered whether this was sufficiently helpful for the more metric continental Truck driver. Not to mention the younger metrically (is that a word) educated UK citizen. Ho hum.
Market day in Riberac this morning was wet and very quiet but all us brave stallholders were there eating all the tasters of sausage, cheese and cake. What a hard life. 
Tomorrow I will be at Eygurande as usual and on Monday at The New English Bookshop Bazac from 12.30 till 1.30 followed by a delivery run through Montguyon, Cercoux, St.Martin de Coux and St.Aiguilin.  
See you soon Helen