My sincerest apologies for being off the radar for the past month or so, moving house is bad enough, but moving countries has its challenges. There’s been more admin signing out of Switzerland (e.g. changing addresses and cancelling health, accident, house and car insurance) than signing in to Wales (though getting car insurance has also been a bit difficult, due to our Swiss driving licences). And crossing the border, especially out of France, with a van load of our belongings, turned into a bit of a nightmare. (We had to empty almost all the van, which took a day to load, to prove that we had no migrant stowaways). But we’re here now and all is well…
As you will see from the above header photo, we have a lovely view and plenty of wildlife has been to welcome us to our new home. There are 3 buddleia bushes in the garden, so several butterflies have visited over the past 3 weeks, as has at least one dragonfly and a very friendly pheasant. The previous occupant had obviously fed him as he comes running when you open the kitchen window. We’ve called him Phil. (He looks a bit bedraggled below as it was pouring with rain the other morning).
I still have at least 2 Swiss walks to post sometime, but I thought you might like to know that Jude and I are still alive and well… 😊








Glad you made it pretty much intact Mike. It’s going to take some getting used to, all that rain instead of snow 🤣🙄 Pob lwc, lechyd da!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, thanks Brian. The weather had been pretty good up until this week. It’s quite bright outside now but blowing a gale! I don’t think I’ll ever master the Welsh language, so well done to you for knowing at least some of it! (I had to use Google to translate the first bit!)
LikeLike
So glad that your move from Switerland to Wales went well (a part from the problems at the F/UK boarder….ppffttt terrible. The view you have from your new home is awesome. Make from your new house also a new home 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks and, yes, it’s a wonderful location. Trouble is it’s going to be hard to beat when it comes finding and buying a permanent property. (But we like a challenge!) 😊
LikeLike
Oh .. good news Mike, you have finally settled, safely and securely, in your new home. The header says it all, it’s a lovely place you have chosen, which is also confirmed by your beautiful photos in the collage. Nice to meet Phil too..😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Anita. As you will appreciate more than most (if not everyone else) moving does take up a lot of your time. But at last we are here and finding our way around. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sorry to hear the ordeals, but glad to hear from you and you’re both relocated safe and sound! And oh-so close to the grandbaby now too! 🙂 Pretty shots, Mike!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Donna. We’re still a good drive away from the little one (though probably not by your standards), but it’s a lot closer than we were. We also picked up a nice ‘new’ car yesterday, so we have no excuse not to go over… 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you are now in the fun stage of settling into your new home. Your surroundings look amazing. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Irene. It is a fun stage as you say – with new surroundings and different people to meet (plus a new language to learn!) All very exciting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you made it safely and great to see you have a handsome Philip visiting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Maxine. Phil is ever present, expecting his morning feed. He even tries to jump up and into the kitchen window, if we’d let him!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! He’s very tame! Such a joy though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’ll peck out of my hand if I go outside, so yes, he’s pretty tame. Though always wary, by looking all around after 3 or 4 pecks. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ours have always come to the house and even knocked on the window asking for food but never eaten out of our hands, how incredible!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess you have to be calm or still and be patient (and them hungry!) I just squatted down and held out my hand and it took him only 2 minutes to pluck up the courage. Be warned though they do peck quite hard, but the beak (or at least Phil’s) is quite blunt. Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will put my gardening gloves on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let me know how it goes. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Croeso i Cymru / Welcome to Wales | Alittlebitoutoffocus
Oh yes ❤️ more views! Just beautiful! I hope you both will be VERY HAPPY in your new home x welcome back!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Corrina. We are (like little puppies) now looking for our forever home… 🧐 But the views we’ve had at our last 3 properties (lake, mountains and now sea/estuary) are going to take some beating!
LikeLike