Phil Mercer

Thursday, June 15, 2006

The End

 

Over the last couple of weeks the saga's in the Mercer family continue to unfold. Upon returning from France, I find out that my Uncle has had a stroke. Since he is only 51, this came as a shock. After test he was taken to the Royal Marsden hospital where it turns out, he actually has CLL (Chronic lymphocytic leukemia)

Ever since my Grandmother died over a year ago he hasn't looked well. But I think we all put this down to the stress of losing a parent dealing with the estate and then house hunting. Somehow we failed to see the signs: losing weight, a gaunt look etc.

It reminded me when I was younger and a family member developed an eating disorder. It wasn't until a friend pointed it out the it became obvious that they had lost an unhealthy amount of weight.

I suppose you can put it down to being to close to the issue. When things
develop slowly you an barely see a difference. It's when you take a step back you notice the changes.

Its a little bit like when I visit my home town, I go back every month or so, and slowly it changes. There was a time when I always spotted someone I knew while wandering around Church street. That happens rarely now.

Since I only see my Uncle on a similar, monthly at best basis, I should have spotted the changes and I think I did. I'm just rubbish at actually talking to people about the things that matter.

However, it is mainly down to the individual to do the actual hard thing. It's typical of a man to be rubbish at going to see a doctor... is that a pride thing. I'm not sure!

# posted by Phil @ 9:39 pm

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Friday, June 02, 2006

France, Saumur and the Loire Valley

 

For many year my parents friends Pat and J have owned a property in France.
I don't know about you, but I begin to think about the novel "A year in Provence" and the good life. Over those years Mum and Dad have visited many times, to relax and take a break and also to help out with the referbishment of the dream property. They come home with all sorts of stories and saga's on the project.

The type of house Pat and J chose is different. Not to surprisingly it was and still is in need of a bit of love and repair, although they have done an amazing job so far. More interestingly the building requires a respect of geology and history. For some mad adventurous gene drove them to buy an abandoned troglodite cave (with house and views attached!) and what a cave it is.

The entrance to the cave.

It has taken them a lot of work, but now they have a beautful garden with a lovely view, plus a nice house with well appointed bedrooms and living space (even a flushing toilet!). Unfortunately geology got the better of the cave, and a bit of the room came down onto one of the beds last year - thank fully no one was in it at the time!



So there is a challenge ahead for the cave and Its not one that Pat and J will be taking on, but thats another story.

The area around the house is riddled with caves that date back centuries. Originally dug out to provide building materials for the towns, villages and cities of the area along the Loire they have since become homes, wine cellars, mushroom fields and places to hide away. Just to walk out the back takes you in to a spooky world of mainly disused houses built into the abandoned caverns. Its hard to imagine what life would have been like.

But turn another corner or wander around a village nearby and people are still living in those caves. Its wonderful, the kind of place I wish I'd known of as a child, to run find places to set up camp and to explore (with torches!).

Return to the Travel section of my website. Go...
Have a look at the rest of the pictures from my visit at my Flickr site. Go...

Labels: France, Loire, Travel

# posted by Phil @ 10:04 pm

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