Day 59

"Smokey" the Maintenance Man.

We are still in recovery mode from a long weekend away and Monday would be spent trying to get back into the rhythm of things.  Despite my best efforts, I could not remedy the toilet situation, so the agency managing the property for Madam Chabou sent out a handy man to tend to the problem.  He arrived at the appointed hour and was as friendly as the day is long.  Absolutely no English, but we managed.  He is a waif of a man in is 50s I would guess.   Hair slicked back with an unfiltered cloud following him around like Pigpen from the Peanuts.  Not quite menthol, but the smell was unique and like everthing else here, I imagine the tobacco here is a bit more potent that that being produced under the watchful eye of Joe Camel.  He took a look around at the issues that needed tending to and made notes in his handy dandy notebook.  That's a Blue's Clues reference for those of you that don't have small children.  Sputtering around in French and leading me from location to location, it was conveyed that he would be back tomorrow at 8.  By the way, you use the thumb as the first digit when describing numbers with your hands.  Three is the thumb and the first to fingers.  If you use the first three fingers as we do in the States, you are likely to be misunderstood as meaning 4 rather than the intended 3.  Just a little cultural lesson for those that find these things as interesting as I do.

The remainder of the day was quiet and I spent my time trying to rehab the pool water that had taken a turn for the worst in our absence over the weekend.  I am affraid it is going to require a full overhaul and another trip to the store for more chemicals.  I have always wanted a pool at our house, but the constant maintenance is starting to make me think that it isn't such a grand idea.  French lessons start tomorrow, so I am quite certain we will have a whole lot more to discuss once that day is done.  Wish me luck.  Until tomorrow . . .