FOR SALE!

Due to having had to move closer to Bergerac, we are able to offer our residential, static, caravan (38’x13’; 12mx4m) to a discerning buyer.  The ‘van is already sited in a quiet, family-owned, and run, site in the Gironde Départment (33) in SW France.  The nearest large town is Coutras; while Bordeaux, with its airport, is only some 40 kms (25 miles) away.  Bergerac, with its own small airport, is a little over 80 kms (50 miles) away.

If you are looking for a Club, a large swimming complex, two Bars, and a Disco, then Camping Le Chêne du Lac is definitely not for you.  However, if you seek a peaceful site, with friendly, helpful, English-speaking, owners who live on the site themselves, and who are constantly upgrading it (for example, since the top photograph was taken, the roadway has been fully surfaced), then you will love this beautiful corner of France.    Although there is no pool, we do have a private lake, with a sand beach.  There is also free access to pedalos, rubber tubes, kayaks, etc.  How many pools can boast such an array of water activities? Of course, one may swim in the lake as well!

The ‘van, which was privately built to our specifications, is still less than three years old, and has not been host to either smokers or pets.  There are two bedrooms with double beds; one bedroom with bunk beds; and the lounge area has seating that may be made into a full double bed.  This provides sleeping for up to six adults and two children.

The lounge area has the above-mentioned seating, plus a coffee-table, and a TV table — complete with a TV!  We are leaving a clock on the wall, and a Monet print on the opposite wall!  There is an outside aerial that allows the reception of French TV programmes on a number of channels.  By the way, the master bedroom also has TV reception through a wall-mounted aerial socket, with a power socket beside it.     Luxury!

The kitchen area is well fitted with a stainless steel sink; a gas hob, and oven; an electric cooker hood; and oodles of cupboard space.  We are even leaving a microwave!      Safety is of paramount importance, so there is both a smoke alarm, and a fire extinguisher.  A dining-table and four chairs  are also provided.

There is a full bathroom, with wash-hand basin, toilet, and a proper bath with over-bath shower and a glass screen.   Other fitments are in place as shown in the photographs.  There is also an additional, separate toilet — a boon when up to eight people are in residence (or when someone is relaxing in a hot bath!) — complete with wash-hand basin. 

The ‘van boasts full double-glazing, and full, gas-fired, central heating.  The lounge area also has an electric fire, complete with remote control (luxury!!). There are curtains, or venetian blinds, at every  window.  This includes the patio doors that lead from the lounge area to the  verandah which, at this point, also has a roof. 

All of this allows for all-year-round living and, indeed, we have lived in the ‘van as late as November, and as early as January!  The site, of course, is open all year round.  Free Wi-fi is available, and we could usually connect from the ‘van!

The verandah stretches all the way along that end of the ’van, and beyond the front door.  Inset  steps  lead  to ground  level.    At the end of the verandah, but on the ground, is a wooden shed for storage purposes.  The verandah has a full balustrade which provides a level of privacy.   The pitch is clearly marked by shrubs at one end, a low fence at the back, trees at the other end and, of course, the verandah at the front.  There is also room to park a car beside the shed.  The ‘van has a Gas Safety Certificate that is valid until April, 2017, and it is insured until the end of August 2016.  There will be a full bottle of gas left, together with whatever is in the second gas bottle (currently almost full!).  The site rental is currently a mere €160 (app. £125) per calendar month.   Having the ‘van already sited provides a saving of some €1200!  This is not simply a “holiday chalet”, but a fully-fitted residential ‘van.

The price for all of this has now been REDUCED to only £26,500 sterling (or €34,980) - oVno. 

Viewing may be arranged, or questions asked, by contacting me by e-mail at

author@minister.com        

Additional photographs (and enlargements of those provided!) are also available, on request.

This is a wonderful opportunity to own your personal spot in the sun, in one of the most beautiful areas of a beautiful country.   Lots to see, and do, in the area, e.g. St. Emilion, Bordeaux, Bergerac, the Atlantic coast, weekly markets, wine-tasting, walking, horse-riding, cycling, fishing, golfing, and other attractions. There is also the potential of hiring the ‘van  -  especially during the summer months, and over the Easter period.    If one were to do so, even for those periods alone, the anticipated income should more than cover the site rental for the whole year.

Don’t delay - contact me today! 

Wheat - and weeds!

Today, my wife and I drove up from our static caravan in The Gironde (S.W.France) to Arques (close to Calais) - a distance of some 475 miles (almost 800 kms).  As we did so - leaving the warm sunshine of the South-west for the colder, dull, windy weather of Pays de Calais - we passed, not only field after field of regimented rows of vines, but also many fields of golden grain.  As we sped past one particular field, I saw something of which I had often read but, as far as I can recall, had never before seen!

The high grasses at the roadside, combined with the speed at which we were travelling, meant that I cannot be absolutely certain that the main crop in the field was wheat.  However, there was no doubting the large clumps of green growth that towered above the grain.  They were certainly weeds!

In Matthew 13:24ff is recorded one of the parables of the Lord Jesus.  In it He refers to weeds that are growing in the midst of wheat.  The parable is one that is illustrating the Kingdom of God - on earth.  So how may it be interpreted?   The usual interpretation is that the weeds (more properly a degenerate type of wheat) represent hypocrites in the church. Strongly resembling Christians in their experience, and, in some respects, their lives, it is well-nigh impossible to distinguish them from genuine disciples of Jesus, nor can they be separated until it is done by Father God at the day of judgment.

How may I be assured that I am wheat, and not weed?  By living my life in full accordance with the written Word of God; by walking closely with my Saviour; by confessing every sin, and claiming the forgiveness that was gained for me, at the cost of the precious blood of Jesus, at Calvary; by keeping in touch with my Heavenly Father, in prayer; by reading His Word, and studying it, to the best of my ability.

The great day of Reaping is, I am convinced, very close.  It is certainly closer, today, than it was yesterday.  Let us be certain that we are gathered into the Father's granary - and not cast off to eternal damnation!

Puzzle time!

It's a quiet Sunday afternoon, here in the static (mobil-home) near to Bayas, in the Gironde Department of France.  The process of purchasing a permanent home closer to Bergerac has commenced and, by the summer, we hope to be given the keys, and to be able to attend to a few jobs that will be more easily completed if we are not in full residence!

With only about eighteen days to go before the UK General Election - probably the closest one in generations, if the polls are anywhere close to the truth - and with the promise of at least one more post on that subject, I thought that it was time for some light relief with one of my, now famous (!!), quizzes!  This one has to do with celestial beings.  I wonder how much you know!   The correct solution will be posted in a few days!

1.  Heavenly creatures, having four faces, four wings, hands like a man, and wheels full of eyes., are called .......?

2.  Isaiah saw some other celestial beings.  "... each one had six wings; with two he covered his face; with two he covered his feet; and with two he did fly." and they cried "Holy! Holy! Holy! is YHWH Sabaoth (the LORD of Hosts)."  They were .......?

3.  Satan's name, before he fell into sin was ......?

4.  In a dream, Jacob saw some angels of God who were ascending and descending a ......?

5.  After the angel of the LORD announced the coming birth of Samson, he ascended to heaven in the ...... of an altar.  What is the missing word?

6.  The name of the heanenly being who told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus was ......?

7.  A donkey saw a threatening angel, and saved a prophet from death by its actions.  What was the name of the prophet?

8.  The angel who strove with the devil over the body of Moses was named .......?

9.   Disciples of Jesus will, one day judge which celestial beings?

10. Angels are more powerful than humans.  True/False? 

Thorns and brambles.

It's been a long week - with a lot of it spent in travelling, as we (my wife and I) made our way back to our static caravan in the Gironde area of France.  We are, once again, so very grateful to friends who provide us with hospitality on out journeys - on this occasion, specifically the Loudons in Maidstone, and the Rouffets in Seclin.

This afternoon, we took a wee walk around the lake at the camp-site in order to gather some brambles (blackberries in the UK furth of Scotland, and mûres in France!).  A lot are not quite ripe, so there will be much more harvesting over the next week or two!

As we gathered, I recalled what was probably the first time that we had done so in our married life together.  We were on our way back from a wee camping trip to the northernmost part of Scotland, having stayed at a site with the delightful name "Grannie's Hielan' Hame", and driven up to John o' Groats, Dunnet Head, Wick, and Thurso.  Of course, in those far-off days,  the site didn't have the heated indoor pool, and the other attractions that are advertised on its website today!  It was on our way back home, travelling along the northern shore of Loch Ness (and keeping an eye out for Nessie, of course!), that we spied a veritable plethora of those delicious black berries near to Fort Augustus.

We quickly realised that berry-picking is not as straightforward as it might be thought to be!  In spite of the abundance of that delicious fruit, it took us some time to fill every available container.  The problem was the thorns!   They tore at our hands; they caught on our clothes; they made collecting those berries a difficult task.  However, we persevered.  Why?  Because we knew that there would be a great reward - a freezer filled with bramble and apple pies that, with some custard, would provide pudding for many, many meals - and for a few months!

The life of the disciple of Jesus can be a bit like picking brambles!   There are those who claim that, if we yield our lives to His control, then everything in the garden will be, forever, rosy; that all of our problems will disappear; that life will be one big party.  That, I have to make clear, is a lie.  It is, indeed, a lie that comes from the very pit of hell.  Strong words, you might be thinking, but they are true.

In spite of the pronouncements of certain well-known preachers, Jesus never promised a life of ease, prosperity, material wealth, and freedom from disease.  Rather, throughout the Gospel records (contact me for a list of references!), He makes it clear that being His disciple will bring hardship, persecution, imprisonment, and even death.  He assures His followers that they will be despised, and reviled.  He speaks about counting the cost.   In terms of our bramble picking, He clearly points out the thorns!

However, this is the same Jesus Who has promised that He will be with His true followers to the end of the age; that He will never leave them, nor forsake them; that He has gone to prepare a place for them, and that where He is, they will be also.  That, we might say, is the brambles!

So, what I am trying to share here is simply this - that if you are a true disciple of Jesus, you may expect that life will not be smooth and trouble-free.  Indeed, it will be the very opposite as the devil prowls around, like a raging lion, seeking whom he may devour.  However, you may also be assured of His company through even the most difficult of times.  If you wish concrete proof of that, get involved with the persecuted believers in some 50 countries worldwide!

We enjoyed an apple and bramble crumble this evening.  It made the thorns worthwhile.  When we reach that eternal dimension that we refer to as 'heaven', then we will see that all of the difficulties were worthwhile, as we then spend that great eternal day in His wonderful presence - seeing Him, face-to-face, and knowing even as we are known.  Hallelujah!

It woz a cat wot did it!

It hit us as soon as we got into the car!  A fragrance; an aroma; actually a vile smell. We immediately knew what it was - feline urine (that's cat's pee to the less sophisticated/more vulgar!!!).  A few days earlier, my wife had transported some 'broken-down' cardboard boxes to the local Recycling Centre.  I remembered that one of them had been standing up against the bin.  It would appear that one of the local cats had taken a liking to it.

We sprayed the inside of the car with air freshener; we left the windows open; the smell lingered on.  I vacuumed the back,where the boxes had been transported; the smell lingered on.  I even shampooed the back of the car; the smell lingered on. Eventually, my wife suggested that the source of the offending pong might not have been a box in the back, but something that one of us had transported on a shoe.  We checked the front carpets.  The one that sits at my dear wife's feet was quickly identified as the culprit!  The front of the car was now subjected to a full valet service - with that particular piece of carpet receiving special attention!  What a difference - and just in time for the long journey to the static, in the Gironde area of France.

As I reviewed the situation, I realised that the whole episode was something of an analogy of life! So often, we are accosted by situations, and circumstances, that we find to be, at the very least,unpleasant.  We turn over a new leaf here; we make a New Year resolution there; we promise ourselves that we will do better. It's all to no avail!  The new leaf is no better than the old; the resolution rarely sees the end of January; we discover that we cannot even keep a promise to ourselves!

What we need to do, of course, is get to the root of the matter; the source of the problem.  We find it identified in the written Word of God - the Bible.  Writing to the believers in Rome, Paul makes the statement that "... all have sinned, and fallen short of the standard that God has set." (3:23).   Sin is the problem - and it effects every single one of us - no exception!

So what can be done?  Well, when my wife and I discovered the source of our little problem, we dealt with it by washing the carpet.  Sin is dealt with in a similar way - but the 'washing' is not with carpet shampoo.  In Acts 22, we have one of the records of the personal testimony of Paul.  In the 16th verse, he shares some words of the Lord to Him: "Have your sins washed away by calling on the Name of the Lord."; while John writes that it is "... the blood of Jesus, His Son, [that] cleanses us from all sin." (I John 1:7).

As we approach Good Friday, and a time when we especially remember the sacrifice made, for us, at Calvary, may we come to Him, Who alone can deal with our sin and shame - because He has already borne both - and seek His cleansing power. It is only as we are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, that we will enjoy His resurrection life - both now, and in eternity!