Januar to April 2005
We have now taken up our winter quarters in the heart of Marseille (Vieux Port) at the CNTL Club. We have been guaranteed a berth until February so now the priority is to get a job so as to ensure that Caryn’s pension is paid out at 60 by the French. She has signed on at temp agencies, internet sites and goes through the papers every day for anything suitable as well as calling on contacts who may know of anything going.
We have made friends with a young couple (Anne Laure and Laurent) who also live in the harbour while Laurent does a year at the Merchant Navy College in Marseille.
Plans for Xmas are starting to come together. Caryn`s mother is going to stay with here sister-in-law in Lot et Garonne and we are going to join them for the festivities. We shall take the train and they will meet us in Marmande. It should be fun as that side of the family has not been seen for many years. In addition to Mary other members of the Irish side of the family also live in the vicinity and some of them have not been seen since 1978.
We are enjoying life here at the pace of the South of France however this can be quite frustrating when it comes to finding a job!!!!!
The months seem to fly by and in February we moved to another harbour East of Marseille. It is a new harbour and is only taking large boats so we managed to negotiate a rental contract without having to pay the introductory fee!