A friend of mine has nearly brought a house in the middle of nowhere, just outside of Lyon. I say nearly because despite signing his life away several times and getting the mortgage approved, before he can get the keys the Notaire has to arrange for 7 feuding siblings and my friend to be in one room at the same time to sign the last piece of paper...

Anyway, he was keen to show me the house so yesterday we went for a drive out into the country. We had arrived at the house, which was originally a farm and had just got out of his car when we heard another car coming up the driveway. A rather nice mercedes pulled up and parked alongside and out popped a very French looking man. Both him and my friend looked at each other in a slightly puzzled way as if to say 'Who are you and what are you doing here?'
Introductions were made and it was quickly established that my friend was the new buyer and the man was one of the siblings who was selling the house. Comments were made about how fortunate the timing was and we were then treated to a tour of the grounds (unfortunately neither had a set of keys, so we were unable to go in the house itself.)
M Duboeuf provided my friend with lots of information about the land and how it had been used. His mother was a keen gardener and had not just had flowers around the place but also an orchard (apples, pears, quinces) soft fruits, and a large vegetable patch. There had also been chickens and rabbits. I was both mightily impressed at how active Mme Duboeuf Sr had been and with how much of the guided tour commentary I understood.

There is an old falling down barn as part of the property and M Duboeuf explained how it had been used - part abattoir and part storage, and he pointed out the new boundary lines across the field. We then wandered back to the cars and he tapped on the window of his car and his wife (who I hadn't noticed till this point) stumbled out of the car and promptly apologized for being asleep as she was suffering having been at a party the night before. More introductions were made as well as promises of meeting up again and going out for a meal. Suddenly two bottles of wine appeared from nowhere and were pressed into our hands. Laughter and bisous goodbye and then just as suddenly as they had appeared, the Duboeuf's drove of again.

Another example of how welcoming and hospitable the French really are!