Sunday, March 04, 2018

From Moscow To Cottage

If you've read last post and are now reading this one, you might wonder if I published them in the right order...

Si vous avez lu mon dernier article et que vous lisez celui-là, vous devez vous demander si je les publie dans le bon ordre...

 
Winter is always mild in Brittany thanks to the Gulf Stream's influence. That's why, as I showed you in the previous posts, flowers start blooming in February. But this year, on the very last days of February and on the first days of March we had an unusual cold wave coming from Moscow, according to the TV news.



L'hiver est toujours très doux en Bretagne grâce à l'influence du Gulf Stream. C'est pourquoi, comme mon article précédent le montrait, les fleurs éclosent dès le mois de février. Mais cette année, les derniers jours de février et les premiers de mars ont été marqués par une vague de froid venue tout droit de Moscou, d'après ce qui était expliqué à la télé.

 
The temperature went as low as 0°C (that's 32°F) in the enclosed front porch. 


La température est descendue jusqu'à 0°C à l'intérieur de la petite véranda d'entrée.

I brought most of my paint cans back in the living-room, fearing they would freeze in the shed... And I was right to do so as the can where I keep the brushes did freeze.


J'ai dû rentrer mes pots de peinture dans le salon car j'ai eu peur qu'ils gèlent dans l'atelier. Apparemment j'ai bien fait car le pot dans lequel je garde les pinceaux a bien gelé.

 
Milo decided the sunny window was the best spot to nap. Sorry about the dirty window... It has been cleaned since... And of course, it has cat paw marks again...


Milo a choisi le rayon de soleil derrière la fenêtre pour sa sieste.

And all would have been well if I hadn't had a medical appointment on March 1st. It was a triple appointment to check several things on my eyes. I don't how it is in your countries (since I have readers living in many different countries), but that kind of appointment is very difficult to get in France. I had actually called more than six months ago... There was no way I wasn't going or they would never give me an other appointment...

Cette vague de froid ne m'aurait pas dérangée si je n'avais pas eu un rendez-vous médical le 1er mars. C'était un triple rendez-vous avec des spécialistes dans un cabinet d'ophtalmo & co. C'est le genre de rendez-vous difficile à avoir, que l'on prend des mois à l'avance auprès de secrétaires pas toujours très aimables... Bref, il fallait que j'y aille ou l'on ne m'aurait jamais redonné un rendez-vous.

 
I worried all night long as they had announced snow on the weather forecast... Now don't make fun of me if you live in a country used to snow... Here just a few snow flakes can transform any journey into a nightmare.

Toute la nuit précédente, je me suis inquiétée car la météo annonçait de la neige. Si vous vivez dans un endroit habitué à la neige, ne vous moquez pas... Ici, le moindre flocon transforme un trajet très court en cauchemar.

 
I got up several times during the night and there wasn't a single snow flake... In the morning I got ready and of course, just as I was about to leave Cottage, it began to snow. When I arrived in town, it was like driving on an ice rink. Even if all the weather forecasts had forewarn that snow fall, the town  - which, may I had, is the main town of our "departement/county" - hadn't thought of salting the main streets...

Je me suis levée plusieurs fois dans la nuit pour regarder par la fenêtre et, soulagement, par un seul flocon. Le matin, alors que j'étais prête à partir, il a commencé à neiger. En arrivant en ville, la conduite ressemblait déjà à du patinage pas très artistique. Même si la météo avait annoncé la neige depuis une semaine, la préfecture de notre département n'avait apparemment pas prévu de saler, même les grands axes...

 
My first appointment was at 9 am... I got out at 11 am... I was happy I had put my Timberland boots in the morning because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to make it back to the car with the slippery paved pavement.... The car was covered with a thin dusting of snow... It had kept snowing and nothing had been done on the roads.

Mon premier rendez-vous était à 9 heures... Je ne suis sortie qu'à 11 heures. J'étais bien contente d'avoir pensé à mettre mes chaussures Timberland car sinon, je n'aurai jamais rejoint ma voiture tant les trottoirs pavés étaient glissants. Il avait continué de neiger et rien n'avait été fait sur les routes.

 
The trip back to Cottage was a stressing one, especially when I left the motorway as it seemed I was the first one to drive on the white streets of my village. But I made it home without a scratch on the car. 


Le voyage de retour a été stressant, surtout quand j'ai quitté la Nationale et que j'ai emprunté les petites routes de mon village sur lesquelles personne n'avait encore roulé, semble-t-il. Mais j'ai réussi à atteindre Cottage sans accroc.


Shadow tried to go out, but he thought the white stuff was too cold for his paws.


Shadow a tenté une sortie, mais il a trouvé que cette poudre blanche était trop froide pour ses pattes.


Desperate times call for exceptionnal measures and the cats agreed to spend the evening on the same sofa for once. No cuddling though! Did you notice I bought a two-cat sofa? And I think I need a one human seater...


Dans les temps de crise naissent des situations exceptionnelles : les deux chats qui se détestent ont accepté de passer la soirée sur le même canapé. Chacun de son côté, tout de même ! Avez-vous remarqué que j'ai acheté un "canapé deux chats" ? Je crois que je vais devoir trouver un fauteuil "un humain"...


See you next time,

A la prochaine fois,

Hasta la proxima,



PS: I didn't lie about driving back home without a scratch... The huge scrape that is now on the back of the car was made the following day - when there wasn't snow anymore - on a supermarket parking lot by someone who, of course, didn't leave a note...

PS : Je n'ai pas menti quand j'ai dit que j'avais réussi à revenir à la maison sans encombre. Mais il y a tout de même une grosse éraflure sur l'arrière de ma voiture... Elle a été faite le lendemain - alors qu'il n'y avait plus de neige - sur un parking de supermarché, par quelqu'un qui n'a évidemment pas laissé ses coordonnées...


30 comments:

  1. You were very courageous to drive in that weather. I'm glad you were safe, but how nasty of someone to bump you and not leave their insurance details.

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  2. Dearest Magali, I am with you here on so many levels! Our February was BRUTALLY cold to the point that the school building where I teach was terribly unbearable. I love my students and I enjoy teaching but all of February, it was hard to walk into that building. It was so drafty and felt like a meat locker! And another thing: YOUR EYES. I have some issues with my eyes as well, but months ago, in fact a few years ago now, I had to go into an emergency clinic. I just have "floaters" but I need to be watched. I go in this Thursday to have my 6 month check-up but I notice that I have more of these floaters. What is the situation with your eyes? Be well my friend.

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  3. I do hope your eyes are ok you didn't mention the problem but I hope all is well. I hate to drive on roads that are even slightly icy. Here in Arkansas USA we do not get a lot of snow and this winter we didn't get any at all. I have heard of the weather you all are getting over there and it sounds like you are not used to it at all. Sorry your car was damaged the next day.

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  4. I know exactly how you feel about driving in snow and ice. This is how it is here when we get the white. Slipping and sliding and driving is avoided if possible. So good you made it to the eye doctor and back without incident. What bad luck to get the scratch with no note, not nice. Cottage looks so pretty with snow all around and Milo sure has the right idea. Both kitties look quite comfy on the sofa. LOL, peace at least if no cuddles:) Have a great week.......

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  5. Quelle belle image que les chats partageant le même canapé.
    Même si la neige est belle, je n'en suis pas fane......nous n'y sommes pas habitués ici non plus et on a eu notre part, c'était énorme, je ne voyais plus les marches de l'escalier extérieur.
    Mais je vois qu"il doit faire bon vivre chez toi. Je suis sûre que ton poêle à bois est un précieux allié.
    Es-tu en vacances scolaires
    Bises et grosses caresses aux griffus. Babette

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  6. Hi...I hope you got good news at the eye Dr, I was afraid you were going to say the office was closed when you got there, glad you made it there an back without incident, I'm not sure who here decides about salting, but 1 yr that stupid person had them put sand on the rd, that was horrible, they've used salt again ever since, snow is the most beautiful weather event to me, altho I've never seen the aurora borealis in person, altho driving in it does as you say, make driving a nightmare if you can't just stay home in your pj's comfy cozy with some cats all day.

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  7. It doesn't matter how good a driver one is, ice shows no mercy and is impossible to navigate. I found that out the hard way.

    How is your eye?

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  8. Snow can be very pretty when you only have to stay inside the house. Glad your trip to your appointment was done without any crashes or slips on the ice for you. We are so use to this stuff here in the United States in the Midwest so they salt and plow so travel is good. I am sure when this is not the norm for you it is hard to get on top of it when it does happen by you. The kitty's have the right idea stay in on the couch and take a nap. You will have to curl up tightly in the middle there! Have a good start to the new week.
    xoxo
    Kris

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  9. So sick of snow and cold weather!!! I had to laugh at your cat paw on the windows. For years I couldn't figure out what all these little opaque dots were that kept appearing on the lower half of all the windows in the house until I realized it was from the cats putting their noses against the glass. LOL! The things you have to live with when you have pets ;) xox

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  10. Oh wow you did very well,so glad you made it home safely even though you had no where to set,haha! Our animals do need their space. Some people don't care about others.The snow is always pretty if you can stay inside, thanks for the great pics and have a great day.

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    1. My cats actually believe I bought the sofa for them... I should have bought a three seater!!!

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  11. Sorry about the huge scratch!

    Cottage looks so different in the snow.

    We too had crazy weather here the beginning of March in Southern California - they called it the Arctic Express.

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  12. Every time I read about your climate, your flowers, your weather, I think we must live in parallel locations--but I'm on the Oregon Coast in the U.S. Our ocean water is cold, but it does keep the temperature here from getting too extreme either direction. We had a storm blow through about the same time you did, and did get a dusting of snow, which is very unusual. (It didn't stick for very long.) I'm so glad you made it to your appointment and then home safely. Never having grown up with snow, driving in it is very scary to me too.

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    1. I think you're right and Oregon and Brittany have the same kind of weather. Our water is cold as well - at least too cold for me who grew up partly on the Medietrranean sea... I don't miss many things from the south, but I do miss being able to bathe in the sea without being cold!

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  13. Tu as eu de la chance, hier soir je regardais la télé, un homme était en train d'interpeller les automobilistes car un camion lui avait embouti sa voiture (sur une route fort enneigée) avant de s'en aller comme si de rien était, je suis sure que celui-là n'était pas un routier en règle à n'en pas douter.
    C'était dangereux la route, je suis contente de n'avoir pas eu cette obligation de sortie, remarque ici ils étalent du sable dès que des fortes chutes de neige sont annoncées, c'est un avantage en province par rapport à des villes moyennes qui ne s'encombrent pas de se genre de choses, ils laissent tout en l'état et aux automobilistes de se débrouiller
    Passe une très bonne soirée

    P.S. j'espère que tout va bien côté santé

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  14. Cottage et votre coin de Bretagne sont magnifiques sous la neige !!! et j'adore la photo des pattes de chats... dans le Nord il a fait très très froid et nous n'avons eu qu'un peu de neige vendredi mais pas aussi épaisse et jolie que chez vous et aujourd'hui il fait doux, donc il pleut...
    bonne semaine !! mmonique59

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  15. It definitely looks slippery. So glad you made it home safely, but I hate the someone scrched your car. xo Laura

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    1. I'm sorry about my car, but it's not a big deal as I have an old car. But I found it prety ironic to manage to drive on icy roads without a scratch and then to get a huge scratch the next day when the roads were perfectly fine!!!
      Magali

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  16. Snow can be very scary, especially when it also gets icy. They need to salt the roads. My car was always getting hit in parking lots until my doctor issued me a handicapped sticker. No one has hit me since!
    Brenda

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  17. Sorry about the scratch that is so mean of people who damage another person property. The snow looks pretty, but I wouldn't want to drive in it.

    Hope the weather warms up. Kitties sure like the warmth of Cottage.

    Mary

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  18. My small town is similar. When snow arrives, it is crazy chaos. Schools and businesses closed and everyone stays home! Your cat sofa looks like my dog sofa. All blanketed and cozy for the animals..not for the people!

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  19. Wow what a change from your previous post! I live in Minnesota, USA and it is still winter here but I am dreaming of spring. By the end of March we should see some early bulbs in flower.

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    1. Here the weather is back to Brittany-normal, only a litte chilly. I'll be able to keep making you dream of spring in the next posts!

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  20. Any weather event that isn't the norm comes your way, it is a big event. I hope your eye appointment is all good. Love the kitty paw prints in the snow.
    Kathleen in Az

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    1. The eyes are all good, only a few drops to use when they are too dry.

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  21. I'm so glad you were safe! It can be very scary driving in the snow....of course the ice is much worse. We are used to it here, but I am still very cautious!

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  22. Your little village looks lovely...with and without snow. I am still looking for tiny cottages in France and some of the nicest ones seem to be in Brittany...Good to know that the weather is a bit more mild there. And your cats...oh my...don't they always find the best spots for a nap. :)

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  23. Habitant près de Strasbourg, c'est vrai que cette "panique" pour quelques centimètres de neige dans une grand majorité de la France fait sourire. Je crois que la ville la plus hystérique, vraiment très ridicule, c'est hélas Paris qui sale pour 1 cm de neige sur la route. Du sel gaspillé pour rien, avec 1 cm la circulation fait tout disparaitre rapidement. Enfin bref je m'égare. Ce que je voulais dire c'est que la salage ou sablage ne se fait pas sur une route sèche mais uniquement sur une route déjà un peu enneigée. De plus le salage ou sablage n'est que peu efficace sur le verglas.
    De plus beaucoup de français persiste à rouler toute l'année avec des pneus dit "été". Ceux-ci ne sont pas du tout adaptés sur une route froide. Le pneu "hiver" ou plus communément appelé pneu "neige" doit être installé sur tous les véhicules dès que les températures descendent en dessous de 7°C. D'ailleurs c'est une obligation en Allemagne. Malheur au petit français qui viendrait en touriste dans le pays avec des pneus "été", c'est l'amende assurée. Les 3/4 de notre pays devraient en être équipés. Ca éviterait cette hystérie.
    Loin de moi l'idée de me moquer de vous, je sais qu'au début quand on a pas l'habitude de rouler sur la neige on n'est pas rassuré. J'étais pareille au début quand je suis arrivée en Alsace. Maintenant ma foi, plus aucune importance. Le véhicule est correctement équipé et mes pieds aussi :-)
    PS : désolée pour les fautes.
    Fleur

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    1. Cela va être difficile pour moi de m'habituer à rouler sur la neige... Il ne tombe jamais que quelques flocons en Bretagne... Et cela faisait bien quatre ans que cela n'était pas arrivé ! Même les températures froides sont rares ici... C'est bien la première fois que je dois rentrer mes pots de peinture dans la maison pour ne pas qu'ils gèlent !

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  24. We get a good amount of snow, but even still, I hate driving in it! Glad you made it safely and hope all is well with your eye exam.

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