eek.

Mum's broken her wrist in 3 places. boo-hiss. apparently playing near the swimming pool (clearly they need one of those 'no running, no jumping, no splashing, no having fun' signs near the pool..)

and speaking of the pool:




nice eh! :o)

update - in case anyone ever reads this...

Ok so should've posted this long ago.... but didn't. Anyway here's 2 nice pics from my last visit to La Charriere (back in May)

the parentals (very 'tom and barbara'...)

and the pool - not quite finished at the time!

Le Grand Depart / Arrive...

STILL jo posting on behalf of the parentals... but hey, they may get their act together sooner or later!

If anyone IS reading this and keen to hear the latest from the Braithwaites Abroad I'm delighted to announce that they are safely and happily settled at La Charriere. The departure went smoothly (except for a minor hitch at the ferry port... PLEASE ask them about this as it's most amusing but I'll be cut off from my inheritance if I spread the story online...)

Both Braithwaites and furniture all made their way to the lovely house and there are now rooms full of boxes and beds and sofas and stuff - a home from home really!

I stayed with them for a week and was honoured to be their first 'sort of' guest at the new residence permanent. In case you're wondering, they're loving it and seem utterly at home (not really a surprise). They are enjoying digging the vegetable garden, planting fruit bushes, planning the next lot of work that needs to be done on the gites to get them ready for the summmer, and basking in that glorious view across the back fields every evening.

They promise to be online very soon - so expect more communication in the coming months.

Le Depart... *sob*

* jo writing on behalf on web-illiterate parents*

Well Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th were suitably emotional days all round as everyone at Kings Church Catford bade a fond farewell to Mum and Dad, there was a lot of laughing and remembering and crying and hugging and a lovely testimony all in all to almost 3 decades of the Braithwaites in Catford.

All that remains this week is (as far as I understand it):
Pack up house to leave
Have yet more final leaving meals with friends and colleagues
Move out of Stanstead Rd forever on Thursday
Help fit a kitchen in Dorset (...yes... i know...)
Visit parents
Go to the ballet (?!?)
31st - sail to France (hopefully into a fittingly lovely sunset)

wow.
Bonne chance.

Quick pic

This is just a taste of how lovely it is out there....

Will this work?

Ok annoyingly the last blog I set up for mum and dad doesn't want to allow them to post on it....which is kind of annoying....

lets hope this is better:

over to you guys

x j x