Dramatic Leap Towards Aspiran

MERCI TOUT LE MONDE – or, as we say in my country, THANK YOU

Everything’s taking shape.

We’re not there yet, but during these last few days we’ve taken a dramatic step forward.

It’s been a harrowing two weeks for me. At times, when I’d heard nothing for days on end, I thought we’ll never get there. At other times I had serious doubts that I should be doing this at all. But your response has heartened me, and made me believe that you really share my hopes for what the house in Aspiran can do for us.

Up until yesterday we had a total of 4,900 euros from 23 wonderful people, but now I have had a promise I can rely on, from someone who wants to remain anonymous, of a significant sum that will take us half-way to the 40,000 euros I asked for.

With almost a month to go, I feel sure now that we will make it. So sure that I have begun the process of purchasing the house.

I have to sign what is called a Compromis. Then it takes three months to go through the formalities. But in the middle of November I am going to fly to Paris, take the high speed train to Montpellier, rent a car and drive to Aspiran where I will meet with the owners, Patrick and Aileen Naylor.

They are British, and I think it’s fair to say that they have never been engaged in a transaction like this one. They watch this web site eagerly, and Pat wrote to me, the other day, that every morning they come down to breakfast for “Ted Talks”.

They say I can stay at the house while I’m there with them, which is a really kind gesture, and will allow me to get a feel for it. I’ll tell you all about it, of course, but before then I hope I will have more good news about the fund.

So where are we now?

Hooray!