Find a job!!!
Well back to reality with a bump as it were, spent most of the day in Aire sur L’Ardour searching the agencies for work … at the moment to no avail. First stop was Manpower who took my CV, I did explain that I’m happy to do anything, cleaning, grape picking etc etc she nodded very seriously and said that it is quite difficult for women to get a job in the area!! Next stop was Adecco who looked at my CV and said it would be easier for me to sign on on line mmm to much hassle you think!
Finally went to the local equivalent of the job centre and though explaining to the very enigmatic lady that my French was slightly limited spent the next hour and a half explaining the options she felt were available to me (including retaking my schooling so my qualifications were in French!) in very quick and technical French.
Have come away with a few ideas of local companies to contact (including the Caves which import and export their wine and might have the need for an English speaking administrator - free wine?) and on Friday will start doing more tours around the area dropping off CV’s directly. What seems to be the norm is that agencies out here seem to work quite differently from ours, i.e. they actually have jobs! But hey, live and learn.
On the otherhand, we were in the bar last night, had to meet up with some friends who are going back to UK and say our goodbyes etc, and bumped into a chap who does new builds in France, with a team of two other guys, and is looking for a fourth to join his team. A few glasses were quaffed and we’re meeting up with him tomorrow to discuss Carl going to work for him - I keep trying - it falls in his lap, of course. The only downside with it is - if I went out to work, Carl can carry on doing up the house ready to get on the market, if he goes out to work (which now looks likely) I’m limited in the work I can do i.e. plumb a new bathroom and although I can do the painting and collumbage etc it will slow the process up slightly, however, at least it’s money coming in!!
Carl had a productive day and got some of the framework up in one of the back storage areas to change it in to a bedroom, our friend Steve came round to give him a hand and it has moved on quite a bit - really exciting!!
Anyhow, have a busy next couple of days so will catch up all the gossip at the weekend.