Yeah, well I found the cable, I just have to figure out how not to have a humungous picture taking up the whole screen. I have figured out how to reduce the size of the files, now how to reduce the actual picture. I'll get there!

It must have been about night 3, I thought I'd have a go at roast chicken in the built-in oven that the old owners thoughtfully left for us. A few years ago we voted roast chicken, roast potatoes, stuffing, yorkies and veg and gravy the BEST MEAL EVER.  It is the official Smith family favorite meal (French branch). Using a new oven, when you are a cook for a living and by instinct is probably a bit like a surgeon using someone else's knife. Anyway, the chicken was in and browning nicely, quite quickly, but normally. I popped in a tin of oil to get hot to put in the parboiled potatoes to roast. The next thing I know, the pan is actually on fire in the oven. I grab the tea towel and whisk it out and put it on the hob which is not on, of-course. I soak the tea towel in water and throw it over the tin, all the time calling for Dave. The flames appear to go out and Dave appears on the run. He takes the tea towel off, thinking the flames have gone out. They flare up again wildly and he jerks and the whole thing gets knocked onto the floor. Flaming oil everywhere. Luckily the floor is tiled and Dave missed spilling it on himself - thank god, thank god - I run off and grab a bath mat and soak it and run back and throw it on, by which time Dave has got it out.Jeeeez, it is one of my worst nightmares, having a fire, and I think it should be against the law leaving an electrical device as dangerous as that in a house you have just sold without mentioning it. It turns out the thermostat doesn't work, and it just stays on top heat. My other nightmare, by the way is drowning and becoming fish food. YUK. I just know that that is going to happen.

Anyway, we got lucky and our time is obviously not up.Today.  I do, however, have to get quicker with the photo taking. Dave is like a dynamo. The restaurant is nearly stripped already. I have sorted the cutlery (bin), crockery (bin), tupperware storage containers (bin) etc . You get the gist. Here's an interesting thing: I contacted the electricity people, EDF, and told them we would be moving on the 23rd Nov, back in Oct. I phoned them today and said that actually we had been 2 months late and only vacated the 21st Jan. and here are my meter readings. They said that, no thanks, they had terminated our contract on the 21st Nov and sent our last bill 2 months ago. All they needed was for the new owner to contact them with their details. So who pays, says I, for the 2 months elec? It is lost, say they. Tant pis. That's life. So here's a good ruse. Phone up the elec people and say you're moving and then get free elec!!!! Yessir, a good deal! We had 2 months free elec at the coldest time of year. Hurrah.

So here's a little summary of here we are: we have bought a fridge, new oven (!), washing machine (posh steam version), dryer, Freddy is under veterinary care and looking a little better. We have had one quote for central heating. Tomorrow we sort out the bank, a professionnel kitchen co is coming to have a look, we have made contact with the hygiene people and they will look at and approve or not our plans. Things are moving at full tilt. Tomorrow the yellow pages are phoning for our requirements. Luckiliy we haven't missed this years print. It is probably one of the most important marketing tool we can do. A carpenter has been round to measure up for a door to completely close in the bottom terrace, complete with push bar, so that it serves as an emergency exit. It's amazing how much we can get done in a day. And that's with me spending most of the pm shopping to fill our new lovely fridge. Well, we're going to eat well, anyway!

So, dear folks, maybe tomorrow I will have figured out the photos. If not, it will be more drivel. Hurrah! Lunch in the sun, by the way. 18° today. Mmmm. It was a good move.