Villefranche

As today is a Sunday I had the time to go for a drive. I went to the medieval town of Villefranche, which is on the way to Perpignan from Osseja. The journey was winding along the mountainsides, as you would expect in the Pyranees. I was amazed at how many drivers are prepared to risk killing themselves by overtaking at the most inopportune moments. I never saw any accidents, or even the aftermath, but there must be many of them.

A view of La Clinique from a distance

If you enlarge this photo you will see the complete Clinique in the middle of the hillside.

A rather different view of La Clinique

The Clinique was extended last year to provide better exercise rooms and more bedrooms to accommodate greater numbers of patients. Unfortunately, though the interior is completely finished and operational, the exterior cladding has yet to be started. They will be cladding all the surfaces in wooden planks, when they get round to it. Meantime, the outside view is rather depressing.

Another exhausting day

Today we walked up a mountain for 2 hours. It had snowed heavily the day before, but today the mountain was bathed in sunshine. There was a biting cold wind however. Seeing that we started from the Clinic at 1,900 metres, it was absolutely necessary for me to walk with supplemental oxygen in my backpack. It was so exhausting, but the programme is quite intense, so it was followed after lunch with gymnastic exercises in the swimming pool. After all that I needed to recover with a sleep for a couple of hours. I've done one week so far, out of four, so the next three will be more of the same.

A gruelling start

I have had a battery of tests, and the most interesting result is that my breathing is 40% below the normal level. My diet, which is halfway through with another 10kgs to go, will help enormously. A good Body Mass Index of 25, combined with daily exercise of walking and/or cycling will be able to improve the breathing by 20 - 25%, so I am told. So the odds are good, and I am determined to succeed. The food at La Clinique is just right for a diet - I just can't eat some of the food, as I find it repulsive, so the diet is well on course. The people here are mostly aged and very overweight, so I feel quite chipper being around them. None of them seem to be on a diet, as they take massive servings of everything.

Today the weather changed from full sunshine to heavy snow, which has blanketed everywhere. You can see pictures of what the place and the environs look like at this website.

Life at the Clinique

 

 

Here are a couple of photos I took of my room, and the view out through the window. The exercises are very tough, and the altitude of 1,900 metres does not help.

La Clinique Du Souffle

On the 13th March I am going to this clinic at Osseja, in the Pyranees, for one month. My Consultant has recommended I go to take exercise, diet and lose weight. The clinic specialises in treating people with breathing difficulties, hence its name. Fortunately, my health and state insurance will pay for everything, including travel expenses. Once it finishes on the 11th April I will be travelling to stay for a week with my Aunt who lives in Moraira, near Alicante. Amanda is taking the opportunity to visit Seb, Ann and Leo in England for a couple of weeks too.

La Boivre is still rising

 

We have never seen the river higher than it is today. I hope the bridge doesn't get washed away.

Yet another day of rain

 

The level has risen another 6 inches today, turning parts of grassland into a lake.

The weather has changed

 

The outside temperature is now 9 degrees Centigrade, and the sun has emerged. We have started clearing the garden of fallen branches, and pruning the fruit trees.

Snow has arrived

 

At last, the snow has arrived. Not only that, but there is sun too. The temperature is running at 4.2 degrees outside (read from indoors, courtesy of Ann's & Sebastian's birthday present of a weather station), so the snow and ice should not start melting too quickly.

Getting rid of staining

With a morning session of powerful water jetting, all the staining has been removed at Bas Etang 2. Here is a "before & after" composite photo.

Xmas at Bas Etang

This is our contribution to the festivities.

Frosted spiders' webs

The temperatures have been steadily dropping in Lavausseau. Just look at these webs that are accentuated by the frost.

Leo is watching you!

 

Bas Etang 2

The flooding is slowly encroaching the lawn, but is still a foot below the bridge. 

Winter rains pour down

The river "La Boivre" that runs through our gardens has risen by another foot overnight. We have not suffered any flooding yet, but are keeping a close watch on the levels. 

Dining at the Heendeniyas'

 

We had dinner recently at the Heendeniyas' house in Boussais, Deux Sevres. This shows how welcoming they made their room for the dinner. 

Alex visits Bas Etang

 

Alexander came for an extended weekend to visit his parents, Mimi and Tony, prior to flying off to Egypt on holiday with his family. Alex is starting a new job shortly with Johnson & Johnson. 

MG TF news

The work on the car has only just begun, and I've been told that it will cost 1,250 Euros. Seeing that I'm only driving a few hundred miles each month in it, I'm annoyed that it is costing so much. C'est la vie! It is due for completion in a week's time.