St Christophe, France - first weekend.
Although the French school is new and situated in the city of Rouen, the house I am staying at is outside a tiny village called St Christophe . It is about a 40min drive from Rouen using both motorway and windy single track country lanes.
It’s the best of both worlds. Tom and Eleri, with whom I stay work in town, yet have a real country getaway so close by.
The house, which is in the traditional Normandy style, is set on a rural acreage, with enough space for the 3 horses, 3 cats and 2 dogs to live in, not to mention the bountiful garden patch, Japanese garden and fruit trees. Cutting through the middle of the property is a crystal clear spring, the water from which is piped directly into the house for first use drinking water.
The property is set in green leafy undulating ground and looks over a lush small valley. Much of the time it is blissful silence, save the birdsong and distant farming sounds of tractors or children playing in the adjoining acreage. It’s a joy to sit reading in the sun, breathing in the clean air, looking skywards at the big sky, or out to the horses grazing in the paddock, whilst the sun kisses the neglected skin which has previously been cooped up in airconditioned confinement.
The house pets are constant companions and will follow you around all day long or be seen lazing around on the tiled terrace. The sound of trotting dogs, with their collar tags is reassuring and pleasing to the ear. Though not a cat person, the harmony of the house pets has found me enjoying their company too, and some nights one of the cats will even steal into my room and sleep at the foot of my bed.
Eleri has taken the time to let me into her kitchen and learn many dishes, but using local ingredients and also other faire. To date we have made from scratch, chicken liver pate, cream of vegetable soup and magret du canard (duck breast) with apricot sauce. Most ingredients purchased at the local markets.
The first weekend saw us travel a short distance to the market village of Bernay. It was market day, and we purchased the famous Neufchatel cheeses and Camembert. The cheese is "Au Lait Cru" (Non pasteurised) so has a particularly stronger taste. We purchase a farmers loaf of bread, in season cherries, which are so sweet and ripe, as well as purchasing vegetables, lime coloured beans which I havent seen before, and taste delicious. After the purchases, we have some time to stroll the cobbled streets and take in the quaint biscuit tin architecture and atmosphere.
It’s the best of both worlds. Tom and Eleri, with whom I stay work in town, yet have a real country getaway so close by.
The house, which is in the traditional Normandy style, is set on a rural acreage, with enough space for the 3 horses, 3 cats and 2 dogs to live in, not to mention the bountiful garden patch, Japanese garden and fruit trees. Cutting through the middle of the property is a crystal clear spring, the water from which is piped directly into the house for first use drinking water.
The property is set in green leafy undulating ground and looks over a lush small valley. Much of the time it is blissful silence, save the birdsong and distant farming sounds of tractors or children playing in the adjoining acreage. It’s a joy to sit reading in the sun, breathing in the clean air, looking skywards at the big sky, or out to the horses grazing in the paddock, whilst the sun kisses the neglected skin which has previously been cooped up in airconditioned confinement.
The house pets are constant companions and will follow you around all day long or be seen lazing around on the tiled terrace. The sound of trotting dogs, with their collar tags is reassuring and pleasing to the ear. Though not a cat person, the harmony of the house pets has found me enjoying their company too, and some nights one of the cats will even steal into my room and sleep at the foot of my bed.
Eleri has taken the time to let me into her kitchen and learn many dishes, but using local ingredients and also other faire. To date we have made from scratch, chicken liver pate, cream of vegetable soup and magret du canard (duck breast) with apricot sauce. Most ingredients purchased at the local markets.
The first weekend saw us travel a short distance to the market village of Bernay. It was market day, and we purchased the famous Neufchatel cheeses and Camembert. The cheese is "Au Lait Cru" (Non pasteurised) so has a particularly stronger taste. We purchase a farmers loaf of bread, in season cherries, which are so sweet and ripe, as well as purchasing vegetables, lime coloured beans which I havent seen before, and taste delicious. After the purchases, we have some time to stroll the cobbled streets and take in the quaint biscuit tin architecture and atmosphere.
posted by j a s o n at 1:10 pm
5 Comments:
Sounds so perfect!!
Reminds me of Carrefour.
Okay, so you are living in dream land.
agree, not dissimilar to E. Leclerc either
jason,
i am moving to rouen in september for a language assistant post in elbeuf. i have been researching the city and housing and your blog came up (nice pics). im curious how you got the work/stay arrangement. the house looks so lovely and as im bringing my border collie, something similar would be ideal. perhaps you could email me with some info/advice at alicewillett@yahoo.com if you get the time? thanks.
best,
alice
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