Happy days

Today we went to Prades for the formal signing of the documents for the TT's new house purchase, you can see it happening here.

Instead of the English way - signing the documents in advance because on the day you're far too busy - in France, it is a very formal occasion. The Notaire addressed numerous statements for affirmation to the vendors: for example "the area in which the house is located has a medium expectation of seismic activity" and the vendors were expected to, at the very least, nod their affirmation... this was all a far cry from English practice where you'd get no more of a response from the vendors than "the buyers must rely on their own survey" or "the buyers must take the property as they find it". I did wonder if the French practice was meaningful, but it did feel very reassuring - in England you always wonder what you've let yourself in for - here it was all spelt out.

And after the signing I became chief photographer and took photos of the group (which included the estate agent and the Notaire) posing in the sunshine. Unfortunately none of the pictures were on my camera so you'll just have to imagine the results of my moment of glory as photographer in chief.

It was a very joyful day for the TTs and this brightly coloured sunshade, which I spotted on my saunter out to the shops to buy something for dinner, says it all!