When we told people we were house sitting in Normandy in February they looked at us as if we were mad!! - In the winter! Oui Oui why not we said.

We caught the train at 1.45 and arrived into Lisieux at 3.30pm the closest town to Moyaux where we will be staying its about 13km's away. Emily bounced into the railway station to greet us and we pilled all our bags into the back of her car and went off to have a coffee and get acquainted in person. So here we are in a traditional Normandy house, with big fires, loads of wood, surrounded by quaint small villages, we have 2 bikes to get us around, 2 chooks, 2 goats, 2 cats and a few fish to look after.

We managed 100km's in 5 days in the cold during the middle of the day, we have had a few blue sky sunny days but most have been grey. The cold is tough on the hands and feet not matter how many layers we have on.

Valentines day was a treat, I received red roses from Rod and we went to a restaurant in the village, they had decked it out with roses, red and white tablecloths, the set menu was delicious and way too much food. It was a lovely evening and walking home was nice in the crisp air.

For a change we got a ride into Lissieux with a friend of Emily and caught the train out to the coast, a town called Deauville - Trouville. We were told its a small place!!! Not to us its huge. Its like the town is split in two. One side of the river is designer shops and squares, beautifully laid out, restaurants & cafes. There is an olympic size swimming just back from the beach that they pump salt water into and heat it - apparently you can buy disposable togs - we found this very funny. We entered the building and found a vending machine, eager to find these disposable togs, mmmm yes you can buys togs out of a vending machine but these weren't disposible for 25 Euros - speedo's, caps & googles - amusing for us.

We then walked over the bridge to the other side of town - Trouville, this side has a huge boardwalk along the beach, tennis courts, playground, restaurants and behind this are huge houses, all closed up - apparently owned by rich Parisians that come out for weekends in the summer. This place must really buzz in the summer - no way would all this ever be allowed on beaches in NZ. We walked through the back streets looking at the all the buildings and then yep - time to act French we must have lunch!! Another reason was to warm up. We decided on a restaurant in a back street with a set menu for the day, moules, fish & mouse chocolat for me and it was all delicious, the mussels are nothing like our big fat green lipped ones at home, they were small but flavoursome. Rod opted for cockles, fish & tarte, he enjoyed his cockles, with the thick heavy mayonnaise.

Our 2nd week saw us retreat more inside the weather was cold, rainy and no blue skies, we shopped in the local village for supplies, went to the local Tabac to drink espresso, and a drink I discovered the 1st time in Paris and really love Picon Bierre, its an orange liquer they put in beer its delicous quite a different flavour to Contreau, - one is enough. We snuggled in at night with the fantastic big fire & watched episodes of Game of Thrones, there are all 6 series and we only managed to get through 2.5 seasons - what story!!

Tomorrow its back to Paris for the night before heading to our next house sit in Limousin area and we are really looking forward to it. Spring is coming - Wild Primroses are poking their heads out, buds are forming and new life is beginning, even a couple of lambs down the road. 

We have something exciting planned for our night in Paris.........