THE PRESENT AND THE PAST

THE PRESENT........

To begin with, a quick update on my man Chris-- he is cheerful and seems to be making good progress. He is still in intensive care but has been helped to a chair today, so that is the first time he has been out of bed. He said it felt soooo good! The Doctors and nurses have been very cheerful and informative, which makes such a difference. Fingers crossed it is hopeful that he will be home sometime next week, but then he must not do anything much at all for one month at which time he will have to go back for tests to see if the damage to his heart has healed.He will be allowed to walk for about half hour a day, they say. At last- a target to focus on! With this encouraging news I feel able to resume my story.

THE PAST.......

Back to Spring 1990 at Chateau La Roche Hue.

We were open for business at last! What a strange feeling that was! 'People' were milling around our home! They were trying out all our facilities , wandering around the grounds, asking endless questions like how and why we came to be there, booking horse-rides ( yippee, the horses would all be fit) using the gymnasium, playing tennis, having a drink at the bar,

playing pool and table-tennis,

and swimming in the pool.....

FANTASTIC -- everything was working! and you would never guess --NO ' EXPECTED' COMPLAINTS! We were estatic, it made all that hard work and worry worthwhile.

Then we had a call from the "Sunday Times" who had heard about us, and they asked if they could do an interview!!!! We were amazed, but, of course, said YES! I would be good publicity for us. The end result was a double page spread in their sunday supplement, the headlines really made us giggle..............

but it so embarassed our four daughters who were absolutely horrified that we were " going public "!

Ah well-- they eventually got used to us and our passion for Chateaux.