One. Bite. At. A. Time.

Keys to the new abode--two sets.  No idea what they fit.

I suppose this should be another new chapter in the Carcassonne period of my life.  It has taken some doing and some major hoop jumping, but I now have my own unfurnished two bedroom apartment here in (barely) the Bastide. 

New view from the bedroom window

Fancy new sink--needs bleach badly

It will mean saying good-bye to #34, which has been a nest and safe haven for me (and for others) for the past year.  Jason is a superb landlord, and I highly recommend him and his properties for anyone considering a short or long term stay here in the Aude.  He takes exceptional care of his tenants, going above and beyond normal landlord duties, especially lately, with tenant injuries and an untimely death.  He shelters us from the storm of French bureaucracy, taking care of the electric bill, paying the fonciere taxes, providing attestations to tenants' actual residency when it comes to opening a bank account or renewing a carte de sejour.  He even takes those without cars on "field trips."

Corner of the kitchen.  Space is for dishwasher

This space is for the stove/oven

But try as he might, Jason ultimately could not deliver on the one thing I needed--one extra room.  It's not that living here has been uncomfortable and Betty and I even managed it for three weeks and still remained friends.  But I am not a transient.  I do no look upon this time in my life as an interlude between events.  I live here.  I am not and never will be French, but I am doing my best to make this corner of France my home. 

Shelves, glorious window

A small table by the window for coffee

And that meant navigating the waters involved in renting an unfurnished apartment.  I had a frightful experience with the first real estate agency I contacted.  Let's say that I let everyone I come into contact with know about them should the topic ever arise.  They made me feel unwelcome.  Saying, "We don't rent to Americans," can have that effect.  It's telling that the apartment I was panting to see and probably rent still sports a For Rent sign.  It makes me want to contact the landlord and tell him/her that a responsible tenant could have been paying rent for the past few months and that the agency is NOT acting in the client's best interests.  But why pick a fight? 

A small fridge can live between the windows

I have never signed so many papers in my life.  At the signing of the contract, I had an hour's lesson on French rental law. I am still wrestling with getting the electric account in my name; now that I have the meter reading, I have no place on the website to put it! 

To the left--the bathroom.  Right to the kitchen

Looking at the entry and into the living room

Yesterday was the "etat de lieu," the walk-through where we determined the condition of the place--marks on the walls, places for pictures already in place, water runs and the pipes don't leak, all the windows open and close as do the shutters.  Cleaners had been in since the first (and only) time I saw that space, but there is still much to be done.  

Betty, can you believe this?

Or this?

Summer has decided to make one final giant push--this week is hot, hot, hot. I am not keen on being up to my elbows in bleach, sweating up a storm.  So, I will try to work in the cool of the morning.  And after all, how does one eat an elephant?  One. Bite. At. A. Time.  

My cherry red toilet seat

The apartment is two bedrooms, with a kitchen big enough for a table by the window.  I will need to buy a fridge, stove and a dishwasher.  The bathroom feels spacious enough for a barn dance.  I have the hookup for a washer and will get one of those.  Something simple.  Not a combination washer/dryer like Jason has provided.  I never use the dryer feature--everything dries on the rack--mostly because electricity is very expensive here in France and more importantly, the dryer simply doesn't work very well.  Now I have an outdoor clothesline and will continue to use the rack.  Simplicity.

Bathroom vanity--who needs more?  I have only two towels

Living room with odd little glass door

Living room "alcove"

Living room into my bedroom

There is a sunny living room big enough for sofas and chairs and even a small dining table and chairs, which could sit by the wall when not in use and moved to the window for guests.  The living room also has this odd set of glass doors.  I am not sure why you'd close it unless it was for noise or heat control.  The spare room is turning out to be my favorite room of the house, even though I have been warned not to clutter up "Betty's" room.  The "master bedroom" isn't overly large, but it doesn't need any furniture other than a bed because there is an ENORMOUS walk in closet adjacent to it.  With shelves and bars and everything!  I don't own enough clothes to fill it.  And I am aiming to keep things that way.  Because as we all know, "stuff" seems to fill whatever space is available to it.

Looking into the spare room

Spare room-er Betty's room-reading corner

I am excited about finding treasures to furnish my place.  There are several antique and brocante shops nearby that have fascinating things.  I am happy that I don't have to rush to fill the space, but can do so as I find things that make my heart go "thunk."  After all, I spent much time this time last year getting rid of things and have managed to stay relatively "stuff-free."  

Spare room "alcove" for futon

Bedroom closet

As in "walk in" closet.  Luxury!

So, now, there is a true place for visitors as I make my nest.  One. Bite. At. A. Time.