Work Begins........

On Monday 15th June, first work begins.....the old roof is being stripped off and prepared for the new roof being layed. The price which we're at now is much more what we expected and almost half where we started from.

We've also had the plans (initial drawings) from Peter (the architect) and to see the reality of what could be, was so exciting. All the doubts that I'd ha

d in February, sitting in the foyer of the hotel in Clermont-Ferrand centred mainly on how we were going to be able to get upstairs to the bedrooms, avoiding the A frame - (that's the picture in the last blog). We had tried many ways of positioning the stairs, but did not have the brilliant idea that Peter came up with. We suggested a split staircase, but the clever bit is that Peter has extended the 1/2 landing to take you under the beam and then back on yourself, allowing room for the bathroom too - simple when you know how and proves the value of employing an expert.

Undoubtedly, Simon and I could have made it up as we went along, done a very DIY job, buying the materials from the Brico Depot as was suggested to us by the vendors - but when you see what can be done, when people who know what they are doing get involved. Yes, it costs you more. But the end product will be so much more worth while......and as we intend to be there for a long time - v

ery worth while.

I've already planned where my Christmas Tree can stand, in the dining room in the space created as the stairs return on themselves. The space is full height to the roof - and I can decorate down the hand rails with greenery and we'll be so snug and happy.

Mentioning the snug - thats the room that the fire place is in (see left) at a good 5' high, it must be 6'wide. The hole in the centre goes through to the bread oven behind! The story is that the village would come and light the oven in the morning and put their bread in and then come back later, when it was cooked - great history. The room itself is approx 17' sq (not very European yet am I?)

The top picture shows the room above the snug, which also has an 'A' frame which we (Simon and I) had wondered how we were going to get around the fact that only someone of my height, in bare feet, could walk underneath without potentially knocking themselves senseless. We'd decided that this would be a guest room, as people who were not going to stay for more than say 2 weeks, would find it all part of the charm. Again - Peter to the rescue (why didnt I think of something so simple?) The bed is on the wall as you come in, so you only need to negotiate the beam if you want the bathroom. Hope you dont need it in the night, cos that might be when you bang your head!!

And best yet - when we had to pay for the house - we managed 1.104 euros to the pound and were happy, as it meant we just had enough to pay all the purchase and notaire fees. Now, we are getting 1.174 to the pound. It means that our money will go further for all the renovations, cutting down the time it takes us to earn the money to pay for it all plus a reserve :-) That is the bit that is the most exciting - lets hope that the trend carries on for the foreseeable!