Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
missing and smashed windows. Then, all too frequently, we saw cars with beaten-up body
panels just abandoned on the sides of the road. It had been a devastating event.
Luckily for us, our route was clear and, for the moment, conditions were perfect. We
arrived at the impressive entrance to the property nicely on time. The
domaine
appeared to
be fully fenced which, as we later learned, is a major advantage for the owner in protecting
their rights to enjoy a
chasse privée
(private hunt).
The gates were electrically operated and activated by an intercom built into the pillar.
This system is usually a fine idea, especially when there is a long drive leading up to the
house, but only if it works. It's clearly an added bonus if the owners know how to activate
it.
Nicole pressed the button and announced our arrival. Nothing happened. She tried
again. Same result. The third time she was lucky and we spent the next ten minutes twid-
dling our fingers whilst she had what appeared to be a dynamic discussion with a man at
the other end.
He was bellowing at such a pitch that the speaker was almost vibrating, making it hard
for even Nicole to understand him. But they did sound like instructions. Luckily, just as
Jack (already irritated) was about to reach for his jemmy and pry the gates open, someone,
somewhere, did something and the gates finally swung back allowing us access.
One thing I learned very quickly in this house-buying process is that estate agents do
not
always
listen to one's perfectly detailed search criteria as accurately as they might. It
was just as Jack had warned. They are apt to make all sorts of guarantees about sourcing
exactly the right property. They do this whilst making various reassuring noises that, in the
early agonising stages of the search, are music to one's ears.
Although extremely comforting at the time, the technical term for this is known as
being 'fobbed off'. This supportive guff is often extended to the written word and asso-
ciated property literature. 'Imaginative', in this case, would have been a mild description.
Each version we read was gushing with positive information almost none of which came
remotely close to the reality.
As we drove towards the (several) buildings ahead, the first things that grabbed my
attention were the extremely steep hills that seemed to surround the property. Contrary to
the blurb, these definitely did not 'undulate' and there was nothing 'gentle' about the in-
clines. It would surely take most of the day for the sun to rise over the top of that lot; it
was just like being in the base of a V-shaped valley. Fortunately Jack hadn't noticed them,
detailed observation not being a strong point of his and anyway he was otherwise preoccu-
pied. Judging by the rather grim sucking sounds, he had found another remnant of breakfast
in his dental cavity.
As we drew up in front of the buildings we saw there were actually two houses, not
one. It beats me how a property specification can actually omit the mention of a complete
house, but there it was, clear as day, another dwelling. I was mystified. I was just consider-
