how are your parents doing?
They're doing really well- I think the French lifestyle is suiting them, although the fact that almost all the local tradesmen were having a month long holiday has been driving my obsessed Dad nuts- he's got to the point where he needs roof trusses and he's struggling to find anyone to make them. Their house is coming along well though- they've almost finished the bricking (it would have been finished over a week ago but they ran out of bricks and the builder's yard is shut for 2 weeks). My mum's asthma is also a lot better, they've only been there about 3 months but the cleaner air is doing wonders for her.
Despite the fact I miss them so much, I'm really glad they've moved out there- my dad has worked long hours (and been away from home most of the week) for years as a HGV driver and its good to see him being able to slow down a little (well, he will do once the house is finished anyway).