My Life Today: At the Abbey with my brother Philippe

in story •  7 years ago 

In 1963, my parents bought a big house that was originally a priory that in the family we call the Abbey.

The Abbey belongs to myself and my brothers and sisters.
Sometimes, my mother and other members of my family go there for small sojourns.

This is where my eldest brother Philippe lives alone.


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Philippe in front of the Abbey


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Entrance of the property

I left the farm of my brother Benoît last Thursday, just after taking delivery of a used car, a black Nissan Qashqai. I will travel in Europe starting next Tuesday with this car.


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My new Qashqai in the back of the Abbey


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Front of the Abbey

The Abbey is a rather big house. A long time ago, there are been periods where more than 20 people were sleeping there.
These days, it is rather deserted and Philippe is sorry that the family is not coming more often.


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With Philippe, this year we are replacing all the windows of the ground and first floor or the Abbey.
This will make the house more comfortable, and maybe it will encourage people to go to the Abbey more often.


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These trees were planted by my father 50 years ago


Last Wednesday, before coming here, I went to Versailles and I had lunch with my 97 years old mother in her retirement home.
Unfortunately, I forgot my camera there: all the pictures on this post were shot with my cheap French cell phone.

So, next Wednesday, on the road to Bonn to go visit @shortcut, I will have lunch again with my mother and recover my camera.

-- Vincent Celier

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Pictures are great and welcoming.
This is huge.
Enjoy your big vacation and you pick the right time too cause , It is spring.

Beautiful .. The place looks amazing, it is worth taking care of it more
Great pictures from you, well done
Thanks for sharing

These old memories of our life are not easily forgotten. The Abbey looks in good shape, and with the replacements planned for the windows, it will be appealing to attract people there once again. I remember when we parked into our new apartment in 1993. We still live there now - 25 years on. Anytime i live home for school or travels, i feel less comfortable. No wonder people say "there is no place like home". I know you feel that way too @vcelier

Beautiful photos. I love your story about your brother and the Abby. Left me wanting more to read.

This trip is already sounding like such a great experience for you. I'm curious how long it has been since you were home last. I always find going home brings back so many memories. The pictures show so much history. The Abby looks like it could be 150 years old. It appears to have mostly original buildings and structures. Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us. This is just the beginning I know.

I'm curious how long it has been since you were home last.

I have been there last year.

The Abby looks like it could be 150 years old.

Indeed, but the "bones" are almost 900 years old!

Wow, that's an amazing property you have on your hands. I would love to have something like this as a project. It will be hard work for sure, could you post some pictures of the interior too. I really like to see older buildings and how they become repurposed and brought up to date for a modern world.

@vcelier memories of childhood ,specially with parents are such like feel paradise ever. play with brothers and chilling with friends , visting with parents is such a feeling you can,t explain in it words. it is very beautifull to visit with you in your memories ...stay blessed

great life story

Wow great story about the get together among family. Your abbey looks great, the trees inriches it's beauty greatly. I like your post specialy you have mentioned about the bond between your 97 years old mother and you. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful post.

Your place really nice and open.And also spaceful. I really wanna visit such place.

This sure is like the Downtown Abbey :) I love us Europe and everything that smells of it :) WE need to treasure our family and take time for them. I am super glad you mom is still with you at 97. Enjoy your time with her and this place called home :)

That is certainly a big house with plenty of space in the surroundings, it must have been nice to live there.

it must have been nice to live there

I never really "lived" there, I have only been at the Abbey for vacations.
Only my brother Philippe has been living there alone for years.

Hi@vcelier, I like to be your story that your family and house!I respect your father and appreciate for his afforestation. Keep up the good work.
It's always nice to see good content here on Steemit

good post

Family is everything.
Please do recover your camera. By the way, the cheap French cell phone's camera isn't that bad after all.

the cheap French cell phone's camera isn't that bad after all

No, it's not bad at all: 5 Mega pixels!

Beautiful building Besides being very interesting the decision of your parents to acquire this type of construction as a home. Too bad they do not all meet for your enjoyment more often. You can see that part of the building is made of stone with earth, it would be interesting to know if they are adobe walls. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Much health for your 97-year-old mother, mine is 81 and she still climbs the stairs to cut tree branches.

magnifique bâtisse! Et je me dis quel entretien! Profite bien!

This is in England?

No, this is in France, in Breil.

It must be lonely for your brother living in such a large space all by himself. It looks to be in the countryside rather than in a town or city. It is very beautiful.

Look amazing !"Entrance of the property"
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Wish a good luck and happy all of them......

Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home... it's your responsibility to love it or change it.