On the 14th August, after weeks of wondering if it would really happen, the sale of our home in the UK went through. We think that all things considered, this went through really quickly from first putting it on the market at the end of March, having an offer made and accepted in May and finally, completion.
This means that we can now start the business of renovation in earnest. Peter has sent us the full plans, which have dimensions on and for the first time, we see the front sectional view (as though its a dolls house, with the front removed.) That was so exciting, as it made the dream less vague and more visible. I'm now visualising us living there and finishing's much more clearly. Even down to knitting jumpers to wear! (The mind conceives', the mind believes. the mind achieves. My Dads favourite saying!)
I found a bolt of material in a local store which I just fell in love with instantly - to make cushions for the snug.
Everything is in store now - except for the things we need on a more every day basis. Packing was an eye opener. We have far to many clothes. Two weeks after moving, we still have not looked in the big suitcase, but we are managing perfectly well for clothes. Will I ever need to buy anything again? Perhaps only when it's worn out!
James rang last week and he will visit the Mairie next week to get a verbal agreement for the re-roofing to go ahead. Like us, he wants to have the place water tight by the winter. Then he can work on inside the house, as it's only the barn that requires the planning permission for internal changes.
The floor level in the middle section needs to be dug down, as Peter identified the problem with the levels (see previous blog [so as not to bore you!]). Then James will lay a waterproof membrane, a layer of aggregate, then 6cm of polystyrene insulation, before the final layer, which will be a concrete slab. On top of this, we will lay an oak floor - it will look so beautiful. The wood of the beams being brought back to the original colour, with the advantage of them being so well seasoned that they will look just spectacular and as oak becomes like iron with age - as said before. Those beams that are not rotten, will not be a problem in the future. That's why Tudor houses etc., can last so long. Perhaps the only thing we will need to take into account is humidity. We have a de-humidifier (in store) so I dont think that should be too much of a problem either.
We thought that the Fosse would be the next big outlay - but James advises that we leave that to the end of the project.
