Interesting…I would have thought the stumbling around in the dark would have happened at the new country house! I guess after all the hard work in Blois by the time you got back to Paris you were perhaps totally ‘epuisee’! As in….didnt know if you were Arthur or Martha 🙂 (is that an aussie saying????) Jill
Fraussie
April 20th, 2012 at 10:39 am
Strange, isn’t it? The “épuisement” was probably there too! I’m searching for an equivalent expression in French, but can’t find one.
Bonny
April 20th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Speaking of stumbling, I have just stumbled on your blog, old thing. Remembering that the 21st is a day of significance for you, and being of maturing years myself, my thoughts after all these years, turned to wondering how you were and what you were doing. It being a lazy Friday night here, and also moi being at a loose end, (not feeling like watching the Anzac test), on a whim, I googled the required name. I was excited to find your page and blog and have been utterly engrossed reading about your adventures. I have just now been amused reading the washing machine post from earlier in the year, which reminded me that I had clothes in my top load wish wash which I had duly set on drip dry. Honest!!!! I have just hung same garments under the house. Some things never change for some of us in Ayr, NQ!! So I just had to reply. Hope you have a great day on Saturday and receive a bunch of Roses from somewhere.
Fraussie
April 20th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Too many coincidences not to know you! Roses, birthday, Ayr, etc. Hockey? Sugar chemistry? Have I guessed right?
Bonny
April 20th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Hints galore there Captain. Of course you guessed right. Best Latin tutor I ever had!
Fraussie
April 20th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
So great to catch up with you! Brings back the years! I’m still in contact with Maureen, Eunice and Bernadette.
Wisteria is one of my favourites too. Just lovely.
I enjoy reading your blog so much. I’m relocating at the end of this year from Cairns Australia to Rouen France to be with my partner.
When reading your writing, and following your experiences I get a strong sense that I’m at the very beginning of a big change and huge learning experience.
I wish you a happy day Fraussie 😉
Alex
Rosemary Kneipp
August 30th, 2013 at 4:18 pm
Thanks Alex. Relocating from Cairns to Rouen will certainly be an exciting change! Is your partner French?
He is! He’s originally from Paris and now lives and works in Rouen.
I spent almost three months there at the beginning of this year. Freezing cold but just beautiful! I can’t wait to see France in the sunshine.
Rosemary Kneipp
September 6th, 2013 at 10:41 am
Then you know Rouen at its worst! Lovely town. We spent many Christmases in the area and always did our Christmas shopping in Rouen. Definitely better in the sunshine though.
Yes the count down is on. Two weeks! I couldn’t be more excited!
It’s all happening at once it seems – as my solo exhibition opened last Saturday (I am a painter here) and now that that is all sorted, it’s a mad dash to organise the apartment and pack my life into a suitcase! I really feel like I’m gearing up for an adventure.
It will be so nice to be reunited with Guillaume. Also only a few days after arriving, I’ll begin french lessons with Alliance Francaise in Rouen.
I’ve been studying French on and off since High School but it has never been intensive enough to really develop or stick. I think this will be my time, as you can’t be lazy when learning becomes a necessity!
I will let you know how I go 🙂
Talk to you again Rosemary.
Rosemary Kneipp
October 25th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Hi Alex, good luck with packing your life into a suitcase! I added a trunk when I left … It’s a good move to begin French lessons shortly after you arrive. It will give you something to take you out of the house immediately (as well as being useful!). Do you already have friends through Guillaume?
I look forward to hearing how it all goes.
And best of luck with your solo exhibition.
Hello Rosemary,
Today is the day. I’ve spent the last three days driving down to my sisters house in Brisbane, and tonight at midnight I’ll be saying my goodbyes at the airport. I’m excited, but I’m more nervous than I imagined I would be!
Yes I agree that beginning language lessons right away is a good plan, for all of the reasons that you mentioned. I did have a good mutual friend in Rouen through Guillaume, but she has recently moved away! I’m hoping to meet some nice people through the French class though. I sure I will, and if not, I will have plenty of new things to figure out and keep me busy!
I can imagine it would be easy to feel lonely and disconnected without a good grasp of the language so it’s going to be my main objective, and I’m prepared to work hard on that.
My second objective is to work toward having a small exhibition of my work somewhere in France, so I’m happy that I wont be lost for direction.
I will let you know how I go with that! It will be interesting to see how my work is received here!
Ok!… It’s time to check my tickets, passports, and luggage for the 23rd time 😉
I’ll be in touch.
Enjoy your day Rosemary
Rosemary Kneipp
November 6th, 2013 at 3:55 pm
Hello Alex,
By now you should be in France! Welcome!
I’m sure everything will go well.
Stay in touch and maybe we’ll meet up soon (I’m sure you will be able to do day trips from Rouen to Paris).
Rosemary
Hello Rosemary!
Yes, I’m well and truly in France. 🙂
It has been a turbulent time! Changing countries has been so interesting and so challenging! I like to joke that, for me, doing every little task here is either an adventure, or a real pain in the bum, depending on how you look at it! haha. There are so many differences here that I couldn’t comprehend before leaving Australia. The language, the weather, sure… but it’s the little things that I’m discovering, some I can’t yet put my finger on, or get my head around. Like the french sense of humor! 😉 I can see now why you write your blog!
I am now in my 9th week of french lessons, and although I’m not at the point that I can hold a conversation, I am beginning to vaguely follow conversations, and I can get by at the shops, and post office etc.
Rouen really is a lovely little city and I’m enjoying my time here with Guillaume so much.
I have even commandeered my neighbour’s spare room to use as my painting studio. Luckily for me too, that my neighbour a very lovely, speaks fluent English, and has a taste for drinking tea! 😉 Perfect for when my brain needs a break from desperately trying to understand French all day long.
Yes one day it would be lovely to meet you. I’m sure it would be fun to exchange and although the metro still scares the boots off me, I love to visit Paris.
I hope that your Christmas was lovely, and that your new year has started off on the right foot.
Talk to you again!
Alex
Ps- I love the article – “How to Look French”, I have often wondered if I blend in, but I don’t think so!
Rosemary Kneipp
January 25th, 2014 at 11:03 am
Hi Alex and welcome to the world of France, French and the French! I’m glad to hear you’re doing well and that your level of the language is gradually improving. It’s wonderful you have a painting studio too. So kind of your neighbour.
The metro isn’t nearly as scary as you would imagine and the train trip from Rouen is very short. Maybe in spring you’ll feel more up to coming. Also, since the train arrives at Gare Saint Lazare, you wouldn’t even have to take the metro because you could walk to lots of interesting places (and even to the Palais Royal!)
[…] to change our lifestyle completely – moving from the Palais Royal in the centre of Paris to a 400-year old house in the Loire Valley, where you can’t do anything without a car – without having to rethink our […]
Interesting…I would have thought the stumbling around in the dark would have happened at the new country house! I guess after all the hard work in Blois by the time you got back to Paris you were perhaps totally ‘epuisee’! As in….didnt know if you were Arthur or Martha 🙂 (is that an aussie saying????) Jill
Strange, isn’t it? The “épuisement” was probably there too! I’m searching for an equivalent expression in French, but can’t find one.
Speaking of stumbling, I have just stumbled on your blog, old thing. Remembering that the 21st is a day of significance for you, and being of maturing years myself, my thoughts after all these years, turned to wondering how you were and what you were doing. It being a lazy Friday night here, and also moi being at a loose end, (not feeling like watching the Anzac test), on a whim, I googled the required name. I was excited to find your page and blog and have been utterly engrossed reading about your adventures. I have just now been amused reading the washing machine post from earlier in the year, which reminded me that I had clothes in my top load wish wash which I had duly set on drip dry. Honest!!!! I have just hung same garments under the house. Some things never change for some of us in Ayr, NQ!! So I just had to reply. Hope you have a great day on Saturday and receive a bunch of Roses from somewhere.
Too many coincidences not to know you! Roses, birthday, Ayr, etc. Hockey? Sugar chemistry? Have I guessed right?
Hints galore there Captain. Of course you guessed right. Best Latin tutor I ever had!
So great to catch up with you! Brings back the years! I’m still in contact with Maureen, Eunice and Bernadette.
Wisteria is one of my favourites too. Just lovely.
I enjoy reading your blog so much. I’m relocating at the end of this year from Cairns Australia to Rouen France to be with my partner.
When reading your writing, and following your experiences I get a strong sense that I’m at the very beginning of a big change and huge learning experience.
I wish you a happy day Fraussie 😉
Alex
Thanks Alex. Relocating from Cairns to Rouen will certainly be an exciting change! Is your partner French?
He is! He’s originally from Paris and now lives and works in Rouen.
I spent almost three months there at the beginning of this year. Freezing cold but just beautiful! I can’t wait to see France in the sunshine.
Then you know Rouen at its worst! Lovely town. We spent many Christmases in the area and always did our Christmas shopping in Rouen. Definitely better in the sunshine though.
My flight is booked for the beginning of November so I’m in for a Wintery Rouen Christmas myself!
Lovely talking with you Rosemary.
I will keep in touch 🙂
Beginning of September is not far off. You must be excited! Hope to meet you some time.
Yes the count down is on. Two weeks! I couldn’t be more excited!
It’s all happening at once it seems – as my solo exhibition opened last Saturday (I am a painter here) and now that that is all sorted, it’s a mad dash to organise the apartment and pack my life into a suitcase! I really feel like I’m gearing up for an adventure.
It will be so nice to be reunited with Guillaume. Also only a few days after arriving, I’ll begin french lessons with Alliance Francaise in Rouen.
I’ve been studying French on and off since High School but it has never been intensive enough to really develop or stick. I think this will be my time, as you can’t be lazy when learning becomes a necessity!
I will let you know how I go 🙂
Talk to you again Rosemary.
Hi Alex, good luck with packing your life into a suitcase! I added a trunk when I left … It’s a good move to begin French lessons shortly after you arrive. It will give you something to take you out of the house immediately (as well as being useful!). Do you already have friends through Guillaume?
I look forward to hearing how it all goes.
And best of luck with your solo exhibition.
Hello Rosemary,
Today is the day. I’ve spent the last three days driving down to my sisters house in Brisbane, and tonight at midnight I’ll be saying my goodbyes at the airport. I’m excited, but I’m more nervous than I imagined I would be!
Yes I agree that beginning language lessons right away is a good plan, for all of the reasons that you mentioned. I did have a good mutual friend in Rouen through Guillaume, but she has recently moved away! I’m hoping to meet some nice people through the French class though. I sure I will, and if not, I will have plenty of new things to figure out and keep me busy!
I can imagine it would be easy to feel lonely and disconnected without a good grasp of the language so it’s going to be my main objective, and I’m prepared to work hard on that.
My second objective is to work toward having a small exhibition of my work somewhere in France, so I’m happy that I wont be lost for direction.
I will let you know how I go with that! It will be interesting to see how my work is received here!
Ok!… It’s time to check my tickets, passports, and luggage for the 23rd time 😉
I’ll be in touch.
Enjoy your day Rosemary
Hello Alex,
By now you should be in France! Welcome!
I’m sure everything will go well.
Stay in touch and maybe we’ll meet up soon (I’m sure you will be able to do day trips from Rouen to Paris).
Rosemary
Hello Rosemary!
Yes, I’m well and truly in France. 🙂
It has been a turbulent time! Changing countries has been so interesting and so challenging! I like to joke that, for me, doing every little task here is either an adventure, or a real pain in the bum, depending on how you look at it! haha. There are so many differences here that I couldn’t comprehend before leaving Australia. The language, the weather, sure… but it’s the little things that I’m discovering, some I can’t yet put my finger on, or get my head around. Like the french sense of humor! 😉 I can see now why you write your blog!
I am now in my 9th week of french lessons, and although I’m not at the point that I can hold a conversation, I am beginning to vaguely follow conversations, and I can get by at the shops, and post office etc.
Rouen really is a lovely little city and I’m enjoying my time here with Guillaume so much.
I have even commandeered my neighbour’s spare room to use as my painting studio. Luckily for me too, that my neighbour a very lovely, speaks fluent English, and has a taste for drinking tea! 😉 Perfect for when my brain needs a break from desperately trying to understand French all day long.
Yes one day it would be lovely to meet you. I’m sure it would be fun to exchange and although the metro still scares the boots off me, I love to visit Paris.
I hope that your Christmas was lovely, and that your new year has started off on the right foot.
Talk to you again!
Alex
Ps- I love the article – “How to Look French”, I have often wondered if I blend in, but I don’t think so!
Hi Alex and welcome to the world of France, French and the French! I’m glad to hear you’re doing well and that your level of the language is gradually improving. It’s wonderful you have a painting studio too. So kind of your neighbour.
The metro isn’t nearly as scary as you would imagine and the train trip from Rouen is very short. Maybe in spring you’ll feel more up to coming. Also, since the train arrives at Gare Saint Lazare, you wouldn’t even have to take the metro because you could walk to lots of interesting places (and even to the Palais Royal!)
[…] to change our lifestyle completely – moving from the Palais Royal in the centre of Paris to a 400-year old house in the Loire Valley, where you can’t do anything without a car – without having to rethink our […]