Transiting 2012

 

The transfer from the Provence to Amsterdam has not been a particularly easy one. We spent two weeks packing the car most carefully and even amazingly considering all that we got into her. We departed on 2 January at 09:30, but by the time we reached the very next town, Melissa had a complete meltdown. The battery light came on and would not go off, the power steering vanished, there was no heating, and one of the liquid tanks under the hood was bubbling or boiling and in any event making a horrific racket. Petit Claud is now on holiday for the month. Eventually we got the bus to the train station in Les Arcs and walked the kilometre and a half from there to a Hyper U car rental. We got a seven-seater Fiat van, but Richard was not allowed to be a driver because the insurance company would not accept his California driver’s license. And we almost could not fit everything into the van even though it was larger. Somehow, we still managed to leave the same day and got as far as Macôn where we stayed in a Hotel Formule on the autoroute.

The following day got us to Reims. This became a highlight. We stayed at the Grand Hotel des Templiers which was delightful. We walked to the train station – stopping for sandwiches of cheese and fries at the Brasserie Thiers on the way. At the station I was able to get our Aix to Paris train tickets printed out and also the cancellation of the double booking I had inadvertently made and for which SNCF had originally told me could not be cancelled. We next visited the magnificent cathedral – undoubtedly along with Notre Dame in Paris and the église in Chartres being one of the most beautiful in France. Back at the hotel we enjoyed both a sauna and the swimming pool and, having picked up various delights from an Italian deli before we had got back, a quiet and pleasant dinner in our lovely hotel room.

Our third night we spent with Ralph in Bruxelles and got to meet his Indonesian friend Francis. We had had difficulty finding Regina’s apartment but came across the Best Western where we had stayed for the Tools of the Sacred conference and got from them a map. Once with Ralph, we were immediately served gin-and-tonics and lunch. Napped afterwards until being served hot port followed by champagne, wine and a lovely South Asian dinner.

As we were approaching Amsterdam the next day, I then realised that I had left behind my security bag containing not only my passports, the cash I had withdrawn in case of a bank closure, my external backup drive, mobile phone and tarot cards but also the keys to the house that Warren had mailed to us. Pierre and Gunter in the hotel next door allowed me to phone Warren who came by immediately and let us into the house. After unloading the van, we took it to Stephan and Koen’s for parking – returning later to them for a lovely and relaxing dinner with hefty Glenfiddich’s to start and ease the pain and exhaustion.

The next two days were full of menial things. I opened a safe deposit box, took care of various banking affairs, walked all over in search of Birkenstock (it had moved several times and when we finally found it learned that they do not handle repairs). On Saturday I bought a pair of Campers and while in the shop ran into Ian and Celso. As Saturday was the anniversary of our first wedding (39 or 40 years ago - we cannot remember which), we celebrated by going to Barney’s next door and eventually to Freddy’s Bar in the Hotel de l’Europe. With the remodelling, it is no longer the hidden hideaway it had been, but they did not ruin it, and it still possesses much of its former charm. We had margaritas and eventually had the Estonian piano player who was more than excellent all to ourselves. It was utterly delightful.

Sunday, the following day, we were off on the road again. Ralph and Francis met us at the Bruxelles airport with my valuables and then led us to the road to Luxembourg. We got to Nancy and stayed at the Hotel Crystal, a Best Western. We had visited the impressively magnificent Place Stanislas before checking into the hotel while it was still daylight and then returned in the evening and had foie gras and quiche Loraine at the Brasserie Jean Lamour. We completed the drive home the next day. And as soon as we reached the Midi, the clouds and rains disappeared, and it has been unmitigated sun ever since.

Tuesday I managed to get eight bales of hay to cover the garden but not the thirty I originally wanted. I was able to write a response to Rachael and Gavin on the Pagan Group. On Wednesday, we returned the Fiat to Les Arcs and got the bus back. Not until dark did I remember that it was the first Carmentalia. And slowly I have also been realising all that I left in Amsterdam by mistake in the mad scramble: my calendar, my laptop wifi connection, my Paris metro card, my Intermarché fidelity card, etc. But we are healthy at least.

Thursday was spent mostly arranging the final closing down affairs for Tellus et les Étoiles. Today, Friday, as we are now carless, Joanne will pick us up within the hour for an aioli lunch in one of her favourite restaurants. And tomorrow we leave with Renaud for the TGV gare in Aix and are then off to Paris.As today is the Ides, we have performed our oak tree ritual, and I walked the labyrinth.

Returning to the Midi for this week has been poignant. I am re-stunned by the beauty here and feel completely gifted by the miraculous sunny days we have been enjoying. Our house is lovely, and we were able to re-warm her before long. Barbara came down for some oil and ice cream. Maria is here now doing a final cleaning. It is in all little short of heaven. But now it is time for us to move on.