tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63493535007767834552024-03-14T07:25:08.256-07:00First StepsFirst steps - to a new way of life......
This blog is a tale of how Simon and Angela made the leap to a life in FranceSimon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-24840576513579875112016-12-31T09:21:00.001-08:002016-12-31T09:26:21.921-08:00The Phoenix has risenHere we are at the turn of the year, looking forward to 2017, as we will finally achieve the goal which we set ourselves in 2009.<br />
<br />
The house is now habitable, we have a functioning bathroom and one to finish off. Next step will be to start on the barn.<br />
<br />
Annie, has offered Simon a part time job of gardener at the Chateau, it will be so good for him, as he will be able to get away from the house for a couple of days a week. A reverse working week.<br />
<br />
Below are some pictures to show the progress since our last blog.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZ6lng6Y7BIF7FxnDqGkYMC4X7gZuT0XBNc1sAPhRav14T5XcRGwVnTloBmTbN_0qrDH22ju67wrT4xSveyUbQsf-ZwihoBo1thLv9xi8iNKeoabfY68S8FErdbyYCSy5T2WQbp5m66w/s1600/IMG_20160907_092655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZ6lng6Y7BIF7FxnDqGkYMC4X7gZuT0XBNc1sAPhRav14T5XcRGwVnTloBmTbN_0qrDH22ju67wrT4xSveyUbQsf-ZwihoBo1thLv9xi8iNKeoabfY68S8FErdbyYCSy5T2WQbp5m66w/s320/IMG_20160907_092655.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K9XT5iezUSs/VgQDRAeYn_I/AAAAAAAACEY/ZVKLpzCztiszcMCTb2J-4t5mD_O5AF6CwCPcB/s1600/IMG_20150919_084724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K9XT5iezUSs/VgQDRAeYn_I/AAAAAAAACEY/ZVKLpzCztiszcMCTb2J-4t5mD_O5AF6CwCPcB/s320/IMG_20150919_084724.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrligZfAaKfSZln4tRVmLSBfTDkXj3O84SqZA1jt1EY5sgjjIySGO9WRfpAO4iqgAGQW-exW0zGECRkHj0XznTm1N2-yO8eq3dScfCLfQwhrkxXak-85XMlclnGRXiIiFhI7lfBXEdeU/s1600/IMG_20160907_092711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrligZfAaKfSZln4tRVmLSBfTDkXj3O84SqZA1jt1EY5sgjjIySGO9WRfpAO4iqgAGQW-exW0zGECRkHj0XznTm1N2-yO8eq3dScfCLfQwhrkxXak-85XMlclnGRXiIiFhI7lfBXEdeU/s320/IMG_20160907_092711.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6U3ZBWtJWpOgAQRfKfe9aFWwG2k1v8ZsV1paSN1-4ymeZoXxfVJTLMVyBhX3svuwHw2P47qZE8_mDJ9yZ5g7eruYXUzOZzn31-q0nt5WyLm1rI0NsGd4OhKZOIo9nXJu_gp8W99XitU/s1600/IMG_20140912_121550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6U3ZBWtJWpOgAQRfKfe9aFWwG2k1v8ZsV1paSN1-4ymeZoXxfVJTLMVyBhX3svuwHw2P47qZE8_mDJ9yZ5g7eruYXUzOZzn31-q0nt5WyLm1rI0NsGd4OhKZOIo9nXJu_gp8W99XitU/s320/IMG_20140912_121550.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We are very excited and know that this isn't the end of the journey, but another beginning, as we now have to</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
make our life in France, and start a business.</div>
<br />
<br />Below is a link to our website, where we hope to achieve bookings for our Chambre d'Hote and Gite. We hope that you find it easy to use and that we will see you very soon in France :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://frenchcountrylivingholidays.weebly.com/">LaMaisonEtoile - French County Living Holidays</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A bientot !<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-8147222831254001502015-03-19T06:11:00.000-07:002015-03-19T06:11:40.218-07:00ProgrèsWell - It's been a while since this blog was updated and thankfully, there has been some great progress - we're not there yet; but there is light at the end of the tunnel at last and not some one with a torch, switching it off!!<br />
<br />
<br />
First visit was April and after we'd been there for a few days and got the house ready, Josh (my son) and Georgia (his then girlfriend) arrived. It was Josh's first ever visit and I was so excited, but also very nervous during their journey down. It was the first time Josh had driven abroad and they called almost as soon as they got off the ferry that the SATNAV was not working and they had no maps and didn't know where to go. After some frantic texting and a couple of calls, they were on their way and did very well, only getting lost at the interchange outside Caen (Alencon). However, their journey should have meant that they arrived about 8 in the evening. I made a curry for them, thinking it would be very forgiving if they were late. Good job I did, they eventually arrived about 10.30. Simon went to meet them off the motorway and guided them in - they had to coast all the way down any hill's as they only had 6 miles of petrol left!!<br />
<br />
<br />
It was pure joy to me, to have them there. Josh was such a great help to Simon and he's got so many skills that he doesn't realise his worth. Georgia was amazing too. When they arrived, her nails were beautifully manicured, with bows glued on to some nails. I was afraid that the work we had lined up would ruin them. But she put on some gloves and set to work. Her first job was to paint the metal work of the well with blue Hammerite. She did a great job, even ensuring that her buttocks don't go rusty either! (Thankfully, they did have some warm and sunny weather.) We ate in the (not yet created) courtyard as often as the weather would allow. <br />
<br />
<br />
Josh and Georgia got engaged whilst they were there on the Saturday - it was a lovely day (although the weather closed in!). Josh had gone to such lovely lengths with regard to preparation for his proposal and I was impressed that my son was such a romantic, planning it all out and just needing somewhere to 'pop the question'. We suggested that he take Georgia to a lovely spot just outside Ebreuil; an old church which gave the most spectacular views for miles as it was in a very elevated position. We all went out in the morning to Gannat under the pretext of going to the Saturday market. Georgia was looking lovely, very much like Daenerys Targaryen and as a blond in an area where most are quite dark haired, I think people were looking and wondering if she were actually Daenerys. Simon and I then suggested that they go off and explore by themselves for a while whilst we went to the supermarket. (This was all a set up so that Georgia didn't know what was about to happen). So they went of. By the time we got back to the house, they were already there, waiting for us. Georgia was so excited and it was lovely to share in their moment. <br />
<br />
<br />
Because I'd had a heads up from Josh, before they came, I thought to buy in show bubbles and also some sparklers for birthday cakes. I made lunch look as lovely as possible and lit the sparklers and took it all in.<br />
<br />
<br />
As the weather had closed in, Simon put a film on the ipad for them and they spent the afternoon watching the latest Wolverine film! Hope they look back on the day with as much warmth and love as I will.<br />
<br />
<br />
Georgia also pointed the end of the dependence and appeared quite happy doing it - Josh built a couple of low walls, set about the stump of the fig by the barn with a very sharp axe, went on the roof to finish the cementing/sealing of the top of the wall into the bard and set out the footings for the wall which was to be our boundary from the dependence to the house. He helped me cook and the evening that Annie came around, they were both such a help in the prep; I think they were really enjoying themselves. <br />
<br />
<br />
One night, we were all relaxed and having dinner when thunder and lightening started - it was really dramatic to see the 'bones' of the roof of the dependence lit up in stark contrast to the night. Georgia who is usually frightened of thunder and lightening felt very snug and cosy, knowing that the house had seen it all before, many times and lived to tell the tale.<br />
<br />
<br />
They day they left came to soon. Simon and I said that we would stand on the bridge over the auto-route which is about a 15 minute walk away and waive to them as they went underneath. Whilst we were waiting, the occupants of many other cars waived and flashed their lights and eventually, we saw the bright red C1 coming into view. Georgia was driving and Josh held up a sheet of paper but we were unable to read what they'd written. Simon and I turned to watch them disappear into the distance - I was finding it very difficult to contain my emotions. I felt so sad to see them go. Simon put his arm around my shoulders and we went home. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Last September (2014) the framework for the bedroom in the middle part of the house was made. We used the 'monster' beam, which is the talk of the village to provide the main support. Simon, a colleague of Simon's called Roz and I worked solidly for the first week in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees to make a patio and courtyard.Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-9091728005600535832015-03-19T06:09:00.000-07:002015-03-19T06:09:52.798-07:00What a difference a year makes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I can't believe that it's a year since this blog was last updated - so much has happened.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In April, Josh and Georgia came out - that was absolutely lovely for me, as it was the first time Josh has visited. It as a real pleasure for me, topped by the fact that they got engaged whilst they were there :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Both Josh and Georgia have left their marks on the house, Josh helping to build walls, renovate the well and finish off the closing of the roof to the barn wall... That was a whole story on its own. But suffice to say that it gave us a really good spring board for work that we did last September. This is the finished product for the courtyard - the patio which you can see in front of the door is 5m x 3m and we moved 2 tonnes of gravel in a day. By that evening, we were sitting on the patio, with a bottle of very nice Sencerre and a pizza, cos I was too tired to cook! It was <u>lovely</u> watching the moon come up :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKArpH4GEUGlVH26LU40y9ccO_45h1AaaOCslXfN7IG8UE9zbKvgRx_0y2SAFs3Ee-ul7f_Slm0c9wYju4AM0eu4t2qlKlB0pJ9qh1-wrY7Lx90rrzvTb_9NEOD2Y2cou8ihX0BPuJpU/s1600/IMG_20140912_121550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKArpH4GEUGlVH26LU40y9ccO_45h1AaaOCslXfN7IG8UE9zbKvgRx_0y2SAFs3Ee-ul7f_Slm0c9wYju4AM0eu4t2qlKlB0pJ9qh1-wrY7Lx90rrzvTb_9NEOD2Y2cou8ihX0BPuJpU/s1600/IMG_20140912_121550.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is showing that the hole in the dependance has been re-built (thanks to Simon's hard work in April) and we re-pointed it and started planting :-)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUJZoqwpEHkzVNDqH-QgjKanmUtEdCENk2wJ5NEOoYfM4QBTCZ8VpjDzxaNpGoSTLLzQYAn5JDCYSksEPQzGMhS5LWF_08xK5_NR-M8lig1O4Vih1LPdUsXsawh0hum8xmw3nWHIAwUU/s1600/IMG_20140912_121554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUJZoqwpEHkzVNDqH-QgjKanmUtEdCENk2wJ5NEOoYfM4QBTCZ8VpjDzxaNpGoSTLLzQYAn5JDCYSksEPQzGMhS5LWF_08xK5_NR-M8lig1O4Vih1LPdUsXsawh0hum8xmw3nWHIAwUU/s1600/IMG_20140912_121554.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the view from my sitting room window. In the corner of the flowerbed is now a lovely honeysuckle as well as several other plants. I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks this summer</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoGG8sOGS8UL85e_PNYW6-zZm2Ynd4VdtUkiO9WVkI_DYbLBnm0dt7907NJugy0d2_ouPybX5LiR9sK903DV66dIp9ijBBjnTa4CUv67g6pqhzyGul70uBJa6lnf4mf5FUMb2LzMrCvg/s1600/IMG_20140912_121506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoGG8sOGS8UL85e_PNYW6-zZm2Ynd4VdtUkiO9WVkI_DYbLBnm0dt7907NJugy0d2_ouPybX5LiR9sK903DV66dIp9ijBBjnTa4CUv67g6pqhzyGul70uBJa6lnf4mf5FUMb2LzMrCvg/s1600/IMG_20140912_121506.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's been progress on the inside too. Whilst we were there, Simon and Pierre 'sorted out' our monster beam, which has now become two posts, supporting the upstairs floors. Here, you can see the beginning of the mezzanine floor, which then became a bedroom (see pics below). The height when you got up onto the floor was amazing. It's the first time we've seen the height like that. The cross beam in the pic below is actually at the height of my chest!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmZyEsPxrS_j4avviygODvHJP2DA6e9kwnQEDd5Ggriv69OdMz76RvO9PQDjNIrMmWUv0LolTRQ6bhBghWwkIoTczra6-jrbDiF3X12JrQZRfesFLVWCYbkaEwdZTbmwQ-JMBpChQHg0/s1600/IMG_20140912_121530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmZyEsPxrS_j4avviygODvHJP2DA6e9kwnQEDd5Ggriv69OdMz76RvO9PQDjNIrMmWUv0LolTRQ6bhBghWwkIoTczra6-jrbDiF3X12JrQZRfesFLVWCYbkaEwdZTbmwQ-JMBpChQHg0/s1600/IMG_20140912_121530.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnA4pIxufqqBLROII15c0DHifk038SzA9CpoZwfgN2w2c8fbGTJuO_9AwO383WSNnYxR3qLxd1_A5PjZjuHwoIPNreSfoSh_v7sr5IFvhc24YpX9uREpcRISaibV6mKAzYptK2GWil4U/s1600/IMG_20140912_121527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnA4pIxufqqBLROII15c0DHifk038SzA9CpoZwfgN2w2c8fbGTJuO_9AwO383WSNnYxR3qLxd1_A5PjZjuHwoIPNreSfoSh_v7sr5IFvhc24YpX9uREpcRISaibV6mKAzYptK2GWil4U/s1600/IMG_20140912_121527.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>This picture shows what will become my kitchen, under the bedroom.</div>
<br />
<br />
You would think that it would be quite dark, as there is only a small rectangular window - but this picture was take without flash, with only the light coming in the door. The patio not only stops the mud being walked in, but is also reflecting light into the house. Once this space has been plaste rboarded and painted, it will be amazingly different.<br />
<br />
<br />
After we left, Pierre was on a fast track to try to get work done, before he left the area for the Mayenne. He managed to get the space for the bedroom plaster boarded and the bathroom shell created. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RFiIA5Yjtnf9bHqfiUME_rpar95hBrGdM-Tdla_bSm2F-p5TS8s67vuhd29j8n9tWFNwd4DP42Qu3EoVPe3GkDhFeAgPBORLU-80SHPCWNKtZ0U3Kp6fT7FesljHGerq7XHZLkT6JJA/s1600/Doors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RFiIA5Yjtnf9bHqfiUME_rpar95hBrGdM-Tdla_bSm2F-p5TS8s67vuhd29j8n9tWFNwd4DP42Qu3EoVPe3GkDhFeAgPBORLU-80SHPCWNKtZ0U3Kp6fT7FesljHGerq7XHZLkT6JJA/s1600/Doors.jpg" height="137" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bedroom door and bathroom sliding door</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8v6pZfmqqE_xbN_iBnJYi2IIPwDfYh-XSjLexFMOUwWAMCGMCL2Ij0qbY17KaTaZh1VM1R6D0nYrTbc8ndLMBPYLS3CtxZMwD6dj4iBIe67xBQkVHNCSrTzRKuboFp9wRmXpTrEU7h4/s1600/Loverly+beam....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8v6pZfmqqE_xbN_iBnJYi2IIPwDfYh-XSjLexFMOUwWAMCGMCL2Ij0qbY17KaTaZh1VM1R6D0nYrTbc8ndLMBPYLS3CtxZMwD6dj4iBIe67xBQkVHNCSrTzRKuboFp9wRmXpTrEU7h4/s1600/Loverly+beam....jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the beam built into the wall.... how lovely will this be to wake up to?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwp_WJ0q0uCODyGtyHE7CLTUmt7GBf4vfy0P9ZydfwtTu_S2X_WC6CaxUKuXpKLhkqYDUOs2B1uYDyofrKe9XHmXLt5yHmoaD1m19YoW9uIeuk1nzaTV0P7340GnPQBOK5zQ4JsZkQCA/s1600/wall+for+paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwp_WJ0q0uCODyGtyHE7CLTUmt7GBf4vfy0P9ZydfwtTu_S2X_WC6CaxUKuXpKLhkqYDUOs2B1uYDyofrKe9XHmXLt5yHmoaD1m19YoW9uIeuk1nzaTV0P7340GnPQBOK5zQ4JsZkQCA/s1600/wall+for+paper.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bed head wall - opposite the A frame beam<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsc0_f7dI82c06ouAfiUmmJc5cqC3IFx92zWTnEIFA8AnrHyXHg2sPuy_FLr2Dbg9Td3VZDVmW5XZeFEzr1AzDmqfayA0_-6M8OqqfsxJtLfZQBB4zS9si3SuiznhMPGUtbHIO2cWh1E/s1600/window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsc0_f7dI82c06ouAfiUmmJc5cqC3IFx92zWTnEIFA8AnrHyXHg2sPuy_FLr2Dbg9Td3VZDVmW5XZeFEzr1AzDmqfayA0_-6M8OqqfsxJtLfZQBB4zS9si3SuiznhMPGUtbHIO2cWh1E/s1600/window.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">window - opposite the bathroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Because Pierre moved in December, Simon suggested we should make a quick visit in January to find a new builder, which we did and he is starting next week. When we next visit, hopefully in May, we should see good progress, including getting the log burner installed, We will finally be able to have heating that isn't electric:-) Then by September, we will have stairs.... M. Beaudonnet of Bellenaves is making us some stairs in oak - it'll be fab. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Whilst we were there in Jan, we managed to get M. Faure to come and see us too, re making the parking area. That should also hopefully be done this year - so then next year, we really hope that we will be on to the barn and the final lap of this marathon!!</div>
Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-43393721348788431112013-09-29T12:15:00.000-07:002013-09-30T13:35:30.306-07:00Petit a Petit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mDwtHCorEvftVHqleA6nASEAuGwV-GpI-bRdlQfZTBgOL9l7ZKITZTaPPtZnn7vQH4iWK3AHKa1wZ5mNw_8ptUGokwd4lGlzW4T8ZAcA9i7Mj0ng-vKSdnvxR4cMpethaIurs_oIDkM/s1600/naves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mDwtHCorEvftVHqleA6nASEAuGwV-GpI-bRdlQfZTBgOL9l7ZKITZTaPPtZnn7vQH4iWK3AHKa1wZ5mNw_8ptUGokwd4lGlzW4T8ZAcA9i7Mj0ng-vKSdnvxR4cMpethaIurs_oIDkM/s640/naves.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our house is just in view, bottom left is a gable end and ours is just visible behind it and to the left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
l'oiseau fait la nid...<br />
<br />
We have just returned from another two weeks. This year has been great for progress - but during this stay, the house joined the 21st century.<br />
<br />
Taking the Thursday night ferry from Plymouth, we arrived Friday tea time at our house. As it has been very dry for a while at the house, we parked (for the first time) on our own land. What a great feeling.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
We were hoping, but afraid to hope, that my niece had been right with her translation of a text received from Luc Faure, the contractor who was to install our fosse septique. <br />
<br />
After receiving an email from Ruth & Gareth (the english couple who have managed to achieve their fully fledged new life in France) that they had their new fosse, I sent an sms to M. Faure to ask if we could speak with him whilst we were in France in September to see when he would be able to install ours. The reply was 'Je suis entrain d installer votre fosse.' I understood all but the word entrain. Google translate said 'trying'; which could have meant I am trying; I have been trying (for the last 3 years but cant get access); or I will try. I really wasnt sure. My niece said it meant 'I am doing it now.'<br />
<br />
The hope was that he would, as we could then install a toilet, even if we needed to take a bucket up to make it flush. (Still had no water to the interior). However, the down side was that the money which we had saved over the last 3 months was now about to be swallowed up in paying for the fosse, rather than progressing the house..... Always, a double edge to the sword. We have been managing for the last 4 years, so maybe we could wait a bit longer.<br />
<br />
Looking at the ground around the soon to be parking area, we could see the signs that heavy machinery had been there when there had been wet weather........ Looking passed the trees, nearer to the dependance, we were able to see that sure enough, we had a fosse. The mound of earth which had accumulated from the excavation for the new floors had gone (definite bonus) and there were 'manholes' in the garden, for inspection of the pipes work with a very definite impression left in the ground of the actual receiver of the 'evacuations' as the french call it.<br />
<br />
Next, we had to investigate the work which had been done by Michel le Pierre - which was to render the wall of orange block which had been built by M. Mazeau. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xIMSOiBX6ZEq4llqcLakTzhVWxGKgZIHmUM-F92nF88SDW-4rZPxf2_pPi5733nBZRgbZ91ns0Yqle9FAM13VRhMN-o2I0g1nADXLAI1IuIENxtzZJa8K6HQXi-6rnIEDXGZBzAx9Rk/s1600/IMG_0888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xIMSOiBX6ZEq4llqcLakTzhVWxGKgZIHmUM-F92nF88SDW-4rZPxf2_pPi5733nBZRgbZ91ns0Yqle9FAM13VRhMN-o2I0g1nADXLAI1IuIENxtzZJa8K6HQXi-6rnIEDXGZBzAx9Rk/s320/IMG_0888.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3jzb9ESpcT3DnL4QYgC5YKzlMuQS8X_hD5eeAjJVSib1fGDVfb_TpxaLc6NQlpzts1bKYVpSsN9MlhVK2NC6AOkbm6ucSCubKvwzMfz3I7F0nooPBi1o2yG5Y1SoH0O2_7HgGEgNn2E/s1600/render.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3jzb9ESpcT3DnL4QYgC5YKzlMuQS8X_hD5eeAjJVSib1fGDVfb_TpxaLc6NQlpzts1bKYVpSsN9MlhVK2NC6AOkbm6ucSCubKvwzMfz3I7F0nooPBi1o2yG5Y1SoH0O2_7HgGEgNn2E/s320/render.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We weren't disappointed - this is what it looks like now.<br />
<br />
We unpacked and soon had set up - We had both had a terrible sleep on the ferry. The pillow should be ashamed to be called such.....it was flat as a pancake and I dont think either of us slept much. An early night was necessary.<br />
<br />
Before we left England, we had contacted the company who had been holding the Rayburn which we bought about 18 months ago and asked them to arrange delivery.<br />
<br />
I was assure that it was no problem and it would be with us by the end of the first week.<br />
<br />
You might think that it is rather early in the progress of the house to think about the range being brought out, and I would agree. However, having had a couple of experiences now where we have ended up out of pocket by trusting people with our money, I suddenly had an instinct that we should get it delivered, as we might end up without the money or the goods, again. (I hasten to add, not at the hands of the company who had referbed our Rayburn, but others.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqKTYhty6LdymKowDTzxay0cLGmjoEZ1koxyeo49O7GDjVbcK2GpLa_J8cjZ-ogGhKSeOAvgezNxy-JYQ3agzsbix2lng6OGBq1NGU-NbOZkWKIf1X5olnlHnL1ro2x_ho7REMHCbzrQ/s1600/loo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqKTYhty6LdymKowDTzxay0cLGmjoEZ1koxyeo49O7GDjVbcK2GpLa_J8cjZ-ogGhKSeOAvgezNxy-JYQ3agzsbix2lng6OGBq1NGU-NbOZkWKIf1X5olnlHnL1ro2x_ho7REMHCbzrQ/s200/loo.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
Thinking that we had everything under control, we headed into Gannat to look round the market, which we had not allowed ourselves the time to do for over 2 years! We did find that it is a bit smaller than the last time we went, but I guess no one is immune to the effects of the recession. <br />
<br />
George had come along for his usual road trip and we were a little concerned that he might not behave well around the geese, ducks and chickens for sale, but he wasn't in the least bit interested. Maybe that bodes well for when we have our own?<br />
<br />
We also visited a shop called WELDOM. They have just about everything we could think of. Buying a toilet which was on special offer, we had to find the correct connector, as Simon was quite stressed that the hole was in the wall for the pipe work, but might not be at the right height. We managed to find a flexi hose and some other bits, like a sealing cement and headed home. (It's so nice to use that word. Sometimes, it feels that we dont have a home and that we are lodging somewhere, rootless. I do look forward to when I can live in my home.)<br />
<br />
The toilet was surprisingly heavy, so we got the wheelbarrow to the back of the car, to transport it over to the house. I suggested we unpack it to get it up the ladder and into the bathroom, which we did, and Simon attached the hose to the loo and the hole in the wall, using the cement to seal. We now just had to wait 24 hours for this to set before we could risk putting water into it.<br />
<br />
We carried on like this for a couple of days, savouring the pleasure of having a loo in the house. It was only a slight dampener to have to carry water from the back of the house, around and up the ladder. The pleasure was amazing. You certainly appreciate the convenience of things, when you have been without for a prolonged period.<br />
<br />
Simon and I carried on as usual, getting what jobs we are capable of, done. I discovered that the door to the end of the bread oven, where the pigeons used to roost, had come off one of its hinges in the intervening months, and Dominique, our immediate neighbour had removed it totally, as it was flapping in the wind and might have come off and damaged her car.<br />
<br />
When I investigated the door, it was obvious that it was not worth re-instating it, so said to Simon that we should make a new on. We thought it would be easy enough....... a bit of T & G and a bit of wood for a brace, how difficult could it be?<br />
<br />
We measured the door hole and off I toddled to Cheze. The chap was so helpful. I bought two lengths of T & G and he cut them to the length we had not so accurately taken. I then wanted a piece of batten like wood to use for the brace. Sure enough, they had the perfect thing, already chamfered, so that saved me a job. He was going to cut this for me too, but was concerned as to the length of the cross piece. He spoke to a colleague and they were trying to work out on paper how long it needed to be. Me - ever practical, took my tape measure off the pocket of my jeans, as though I was drawing a sword...Pulled out the tape and measured the distance between the two pieces of wood........ Job done. Next, I wanted something to fix it all together with. Having acted as Chippies mate in a previous life, I knew that a professional would nail each tongue to the brace..... Sorry, but I needed something a little more simple, as my control of the hammer is not that great and I usually end up with bent nails, painful thumbs/fingers and a cross temper. (My saw action isn't bad though.) Again, Cheze had just the thing, so I headed the the Caisse and paid. <br />
<br />
Proudly returning home with all my goodies, I showed Simon what I'd bought. I think it all cost about €20. I got the drill and bits and all the little gadgets that go with the drill and set to work - using the step as a work bench, I'm not that professional. Also, we dont have a work bench, and as with most things, use what we find and make do. There is a certain song which goes through my head, you might know it by the video... "Push me". Placing all the T & G pieces together and then 'professionally' measuring where the ledges should go, proceeded to drill holes and put these 'bolts' that I'd bought through the holes and tightening up the bolts. Just about finishing the last one, Pierre, the chap who had done the work over the last winter for us, appeared with Gareth who was coming to aid with translation. Pierre was here to find out what we want him to do and so it was quite important to ensure that we were understanding each other. As it turned out, Gareth thought that I was doing just fine and didnt really need assistance.<br />
<br />
Pierre asked what we had been up to since we arrived. I proudly (yet rather shyly at the same time) showed him my door...... It was just about ready for varnishing. Pierre picked up the ratchet screw driver and put the right socket into it and showed me that rather than leaving the studs exposed on the other side, all we needed to do was to tighten the nut up and it pulled the stud into the wood. Hey presto, I now had a professional looking studded door. I fell in love with those bolts there and then. We also told him that we had installed a toilet and that we were putting water down it to flush. Pierre went up and had a look and was impressed with what Simon had done. He said he would be back the next day with the necessary bits and he would connect up the water for us, so that we would have a flushing toilet! HEAVEN! He also said he would let us have an old kitchen sink as a temporary measure to make life easier. He would connect it all up and discounting that we would still need to boil up the water on the stove, we were now also able to boast a functioning kitchen sink!<br />
<br />
This proved to be a bit more of a struggle than expected in actual fact, as the 'kitchen' was still in the snug as was the table, so all dishes had to be transferred with no work surface to put them on and then go back for the hot water, washing, drying and returning for more dirties in relay...... But we were getting there!<br />
<br />
We have arranged works for the winter with Pierre and when we return in April/May 2014, (5 years after we bought it!! ) we should be able to put up the kitchen in the room where it will actually go in future, even if it is still the camp kitchen.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39EczFkjav6rJcltUfjK2y0K8ZPZ7QL4BiFGfl7R0SQhR2m8ieI61H6ZEDz-30g5p0dsHYnHXmXG6aI2BsD6CxcRkm14OAV8F4DWFZZ-T4fA9cJQ5_53MTg45-oFetdlfkGwZ5Lxg-vM/s1600/wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39EczFkjav6rJcltUfjK2y0K8ZPZ7QL4BiFGfl7R0SQhR2m8ieI61H6ZEDz-30g5p0dsHYnHXmXG6aI2BsD6CxcRkm14OAV8F4DWFZZ-T4fA9cJQ5_53MTg45-oFetdlfkGwZ5Lxg-vM/s320/wall.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Simon cracked on building a wall down the side of the barn to retain the pipe work taking the rainwater away from the back of the house. He did a really good job....<br />
<br />
<br />
Here you can see that the pipe is about to disappear under a step.<br />
<br />
During all this time, there was no sign of the rayburn.<br />
<br />
On the Wednesday of the second week, I was starting to get quite anxious about it. In the afternoon, I received a call from the French delivery company. They were shocked with the news that we were due to leave on the Sunday and would not be back for several months. I was told that the package would not arrive in Paris until Thursday and there was no way it could be delivered in time. EEEK! He said he would call me back the next day. Sure as eggs are eggs, he called me back Thursday afternoon to say that they would be able to deliver on Friday. Amazing..... it was being brought down over night I guess.<br />
<br />
Friday dawned and we had no idea when the <i>package</i> would arrive, but amazingly, it arrived about 10 am. This then became the next instalment of the fiasco's. I dont know what a Rayburn weighs, but I'm sure its pretty heavy. The guy only had a manual sack truck and could not get the delivery wagon down the Impasse because it was too tall to pass under the wires. He got it off the lorry and onto the sack truck. He looked at the Impasse and said no way, could he get the range down to the house. <br />
<br />
I wonder if I'm a good negotiator, or just plain determined. Suffice to say, we did get him to deliver it, on the sack truck to the double doors of the house. Stage one of delivery complete. Now how do we get it into the house. I wondered if a local farmer (of which there are many) might have a tractor with a fork on the front, who could just lift it over the threshold for us.<br />
<br />
I went hot foot up to the Mairie, as it clearly could not stay where it was.<br />
<br />
On reaching the Mairie, Dominique who works there (and a different person altogether to our neighbour who is also called Dominique) was concerned as I was out of breath and she realised I had rushed up the hill. I think she thought that we must have a dire emergency, as in all the 4 years we have had the house, we have never asked for help. <br />
<br />
I explained the problem as best I could and the Maire was in his office at the time. One of the deputy Maires (Christian) who I had passed on the way up as he was mucking out his cows, was working just behind the Mairie. M. Ragacki, our Maire, leaned out of the window and asked if Christian would have a look at our problem and see if he could help. Christian said to give him 5 minutes whilst he went and got his van - he'd be right with us. I route-marched Georgie, who had been conned into thinking that he was going for a nice walk, back to the house. When I got back, Simon couldn't believe I'd even gone, it had all been so quick. Two minutes later, Christian arrived. He wanted to know what was in the packaging and proceeded to unwrap the cling-film and cardboard which was protecting my range. I didn't want this to happen, but it was fair enough that he wanted to see what he was dealing with, and after all, we were asking for his help. When he got to the range, we could see that one of the new lids had come off its hinge in transit, but the good thing about all of these less technical bits of equipment is that you dont need to be an expert to fix it. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhUz8kyiR3v_AKy1opVznlFIuAKhDyISdi9ceUXJCmpV3eXrPT-YJi9vVY6M0-SH6_Jg1HMVB-Mi0iJW5cmnNfyyVi60ZWoEDE0jE4bGZHmcB0cNgRqSrONxe6hlzaiB31SrxhXOiQo8/s1600/range.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhUz8kyiR3v_AKy1opVznlFIuAKhDyISdi9ceUXJCmpV3eXrPT-YJi9vVY6M0-SH6_Jg1HMVB-Mi0iJW5cmnNfyyVi60ZWoEDE0jE4bGZHmcB0cNgRqSrONxe6hlzaiB31SrxhXOiQo8/s200/range.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Christian thought that our Rayburn was 'beau' but wanted to know how much of it he could take apart to lighten the load. Now I really was getting concerned. He might take it all apart and leave us to put it back together. I didnt want that to happen at all. I think he could tell from my expression, so stopped trying to take it apart.<br />
<br />
He asked if there was someone else in the village we could ask for help, I said Pierre Benedetti was helping us and doing some work, maybe he was in the village today and would help us. Christian said he would call on Pierre and they would be back at 2pm after lunch. <br />
<br />
Simon was worried that I hadn't understood Christian properly and that we were supposed to call Pierre. I was doubting myself by this time and so called Pierre (I didnt want Christian turning up and we were no further forward than in the morning.) Pierre said that Christian had been to see him and he would see us at 2pm. <br />
<br />
Once again, bang on the dot, Christian and Pierre arrived separately in what appears to be the favourite vehicle in the area, the Berlingo. Pierre's 2 year old son, Angel was with him and he was sucking on his dummy, telling us he was here to help his Daddy work. He is such a little cutie and is about the same age as my Granddaughter. I wondered if they would meet at some point and play together? It would be lovely if when Kayla visits, she knew there was a little person that she could relate to.<br />
<br />
Whilst the men got to work, I took on the role of child minder. Angel wanted to build, tie things up with rope and wrap the rope around his arm in his best impression of copying his dad. The he saw the cement mixer...... He wanted to load it up with everything he could find, tip water in it from every source he could find water and wanted me to turn it on. I told him it was broken and he very obviously didnt believe me! He just kept on putting everything he could find into it and wanted me to lift him up every now and then, so that he could see the progress he was making, filling it up. <br />
<br />
Then he spied the trench Simon had dug to bury the rain water pipe which came down the front of the house. Oh, was that like a kiddy in a sweet shop! He found a spade ( my mortar board for pointing) picked up sand from one of the bags of sand (the big kind, which hold 1 cubic metre) which Simon had almost emptied and was now well within the reach of a two year old and proceeded to fill in the trench (which still needed filling in). Angel has obviously closely observed his dad working, he knew just what to do and after filling the hole with sand, started back filling it for us. What a helpful boy!<br />
<br />
Its a pity he spoiled this good work. George, who is not used to children at all, had been following Angel all this time, and thought he was great - Angel however, decided that an old bramble cane which he found, and which was flayed on the end, was the perfect thing with which to hit George. Poor George had no idea what was happening, he's never been hit in his life and was cowering away from Angel. I was trying to hold Angel at arms length so that he could no-longer reach George and at the same time reassure George that it was ok, no one was going to hurt him like that. The men, by this time, having finished getting the range over the threshold and into the house were standing around talking and having a beer. When Pierre realised what was going on, I think he was mortified. He came over to Angel and said in a very firm but not unkind way "Non! Jamais, jamais' Which was telling Angel ' you dont do that'. Angel look very unhappy at this, but soon recovered when it came time to pick up daddies rope and put it into the back of the car. And so, the latest crisis had been averted and my range was at last in its new home, even if it is too soon to fit it.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cPLcjna0RP6O6qx65Q3fhk081dUQN5a9RfQsE-iio12lZYD0HJAsHruU7f_XAYHlp-Qq4iYACTKjQw5uxvZLM4-PUeIqej9mCWLl4P4n8ONzt-Fx530CLj4Ydt5Jdol1QaQLeH0D2wc/s1600/champes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cPLcjna0RP6O6qx65Q3fhk081dUQN5a9RfQsE-iio12lZYD0HJAsHruU7f_XAYHlp-Qq4iYACTKjQw5uxvZLM4-PUeIqej9mCWLl4P4n8ONzt-Fx530CLj4Ydt5Jdol1QaQLeH0D2wc/s200/champes.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
On the social front, we were invited to M. Benchereau's for Sunday lunch again. She is such a good cook and feeds us up very well. She also plied us with Rothschild champagne! She had told us during the week, that it had been her 65th birthday in August and that we were to come for lunch. We were a little worried that it was going to be a full on birthday party. Conversing with Guiguite on a one to one basis is one thing. I feel relaxed and can manage (I think, unless she is extremely polite, which is quite likely!) but to be in the middle of a gathering for someones birthday..... different matter altogether. I went the Gannat the day before to see what I could find as a present. I went in to two or three of the nice dress shops, looking for inspiration and finally settled on a lovely scarf which hopefully would keep her warm in the winter.<br />
<br />
It funny really, Guiguite would not be flattered to know that I think of her like a Grandmother figure - she is only 13 years older than me, but I think its because Camille was so much older, I forget that she was 20 years younger.<br />
<br />
We managed to wade our way through the enormous lunch she provided. We could not eat anything else for 24 hours! Poor Simon was fit to pop (and that's saying something, cos he can pack it away!) I think (hope) that Guiguite enjoyed our company as we enjoy hers. I certainly make her laugh, but that's probably with my bad French. Like the time that I told the gardener that Simon was having an affair (my bad french) when I was really trying to say in answer to his question as to why simon does not speak much, as he understands the language. I was trying to say that he's anxious of making a mistake.... but it was me that was making the mistake, using the wrong word!<br />
<br />
On the Wednesday, Annie, Denis and Michel came around for dinner and we had a lovely evening as always. We certainly got through the 'supplies' and the next morning, it took me until lunch time to wash up. I put it down to the relay that was necessary moving things to my new sink and back and boiling water. The truth is somewhere between there and a headacheless hangover. <br />
<br />
When we went to the Chateau on the Friday for dinner, Annie greeted us with a lovely glass of fizz with a lychee in. I thought this was lovely and really enjoyed it, until it occured to me that the Lychee looked like an eyeball in the bottom of the glass..... then I had difficulty actually eating it! <br />
<br />
Annie is such a savvy lady. The fizz she was serving came in a bottle with an orange label and I immediately thought OMG... she's serving us Veuve Clicquot....... She was wearing this lovely blue dress and cardi, with contrasting shoes and a fabulous ring that was an inch square and blue.<br />
<br />
During the evening, after we'ed all had a bit to drink, I asked if I could look at her ring and asked her if it was a saphire. She just told me to look at the back. Being blind as a bat close up, I had no chance of reading anything but that wasnt what I wanted anyhow. It was just lovely to hold it and admire - the nearest I'm ever going to come to such a jewel.. Simon asked to have a look and the next day, he told me it was Cartier. I guess it was real then!<br />
<br />
But back to the fizz. After Annie invited Simon and I for a tour of her private apartments which are in the process of being done up ( and let me tell you, they are mind blowing. Not my style but boy...... amazing all the same) we settle down to chat around the kitchen table and have a little more to drink. I picked up the bottle of fizz saw that it wasn't Veuve. Phew! I really would feel like the peasant at the big house, as I'd only been able to afford Blanquette de Limoux, which is rather nice, but not in the same class, obviously.<br />
<br />
I thought I'd make a mental note so that I could buy some, as it was rather nice. You will never believe me if I tell you how much it cost! I brought a couple of bottles back with me, but only two, as I wasnt sure when I saw the price, whether it was the Lychee's and juice making it so nice. Let me just say, I wish I had known then what I know now. I would have brought a couple of cases back and still had change from the price of one bottle of the Rothschild, which was on the shelf at €25! I could learn a lot from Annie, that's for sure! Maybe it would mean I could own a Cartier ring!<br />
<br />
Sadly, the end of our stay came and when the alarm went on the Sunday morning, I told Simon I would rather stay where I was, with all the inconveniences that we were dealing with that return to the stressful atmosphere that we live in. I know that each time we have to come back, it is going to get harder, as the house becomes more habitable. But here and now, let me apologise to all those who felt my blues on the return. When reality of the next 7 months dawned on me, I sank into a pit of dispair...... I'm not the biggest fan of Dr Who, but when David Tenant regenerated his last words were "I dont want to go" and I'm afraid that I really felt it this time. <br />
<br />
Life is beginning to return to my house - Gareth and Ruth have a self sown Cherry tree for us (and they are told by the village elders that their cherry tree is the best in the village). Ruth has said that she will come and plant it for us and also water it until it take. The live at least a mile away and I cant get over the generosity of making the trip every few days to water a tree for us. I offered to fill out water but up, so that they only had to use the watering can across the garden. Ruth was adamant it wasnt necessary, she would bring some with her in the car. She is also putting some herbs into my little kitchen garden, so when we go out next year, it will be starting to look like someone does love it and will be living there. (In the picture above of the render, you can see Simon placed some stones to mark out my kitchen garden. I'm not thrilled about the squareness of it, but I dare say, it will change.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp4KOjAGzPlvhfh5gc1K7cfTbmCnvgF2ngOD4wNWXwC-1EBPNJGanTQG94tX2yFtaNXH5Tvy4cI5s8wenGMedjy_Ei810q7NiU-37gA2lyJ_q9XTm-xy9AqSNEB-ThKPOFORcutmwaQY/s1600/and+now.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp4KOjAGzPlvhfh5gc1K7cfTbmCnvgF2ngOD4wNWXwC-1EBPNJGanTQG94tX2yFtaNXH5Tvy4cI5s8wenGMedjy_Ei810q7NiU-37gA2lyJ_q9XTm-xy9AqSNEB-ThKPOFORcutmwaQY/s200/and+now.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and now - Sept 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtccYxgWrM-4tanbxy-UTgSYqML0X6REbd93J3ZwaG921kWth50PPFiN54-sgI2549JfNt7zIsfLUv_SLylllDPMLylEHU8hRoyO4jXZPXIWrGidYCOZ_UjiDzr654bZDzgNsOI6TQJqA/s1600/love+at+first+sight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtccYxgWrM-4tanbxy-UTgSYqML0X6REbd93J3ZwaG921kWth50PPFiN54-sgI2549JfNt7zIsfLUv_SLylllDPMLylEHU8hRoyO4jXZPXIWrGidYCOZ_UjiDzr654bZDzgNsOI6TQJqA/s200/love+at+first+sight.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is how the house looked when we bought it.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-70942100676728377632013-08-14T02:39:00.000-07:002013-08-14T02:39:22.212-07:00Mid Way between here and there....<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN6CpGTAxNcgvtDm57ZRUgGc7urvkFZWONCgFl8Zhzr66m4SIbEanZVXZtWE9xCZ5xi-yBDtiwesmfBPTF6p4CFCz0ea0LI4YFArEx14H2GCkBqSORO3qePT3In1tIcCKowu1B9isCp4/s1600/bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ksa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN6CpGTAxNcgvtDm57ZRUgGc7urvkFZWONCgFl8Zhzr66m4SIbEanZVXZtWE9xCZ5xi-yBDtiwesmfBPTF6p4CFCz0ea0LI4YFArEx14H2GCkBqSORO3qePT3In1tIcCKowu1B9isCp4/s320/bedroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I say that, because we are mid way - in so many ways. We are starting on the inside at last, for one. Pierre has done an excellent job in removing all the rubbish insulation and plasterboard from the room above the Snug and has completely re-insulated, put up new metallic battening for the plaster board, put in the pipe work to the bathroom, made the shell for the bathroom, put in the electrics and done such an amazing job on the plaster boarding that the room is looking fab.</div>
</div>
<br />
Simon spent the best part of the time we were there clearing up the mountain of debris which had amassed over the 4 years...... Stone, wood, tiles etc and the difference is amazing......<br />
<br />
There were many more installments for the 'diary'. One involved a 5.5 metre oak beam, which was 30 x 30 cm..... They reckon it weighs about 600 cwt. I was pressing for its delivered in the hope that the first floor in the barn could be started....... Pierre was worried as to how Cheze would even be able to deliver it, as the gap between the houses at the mouth of the Impasse is just car width and the new entrance at the other side is no wider........ Luckily, they obviously have lots of experience with problem locations, as this amazing delivery 'trike' forklift just picked up the beam and traveled sideways down the alley..... In hind sight, I wish I had some photo's but at the time, other things were more important.<br />
<br />
We had arranged with Will, Michel and Denis to come around for 3 pm as this was the time Cheze said they would deliver...... Nearly 3 hours later before it arrived. This was lucky really as Madame Benchereau's<br />
(previously aka Pearl because of her silvery crash helmet and now know as Giguite) son had arrived and he offered his help. A neighbour also arrived at their house and Thierry, (Giguite's son) went and fetched him (another Bernard as it turned out) to help too<br />
<br />
When the trike delivered the beam, as the ground was very soft and the beam and trike weighed a lot, it got stuck in the ground. Our lovely new access road became a target for the forks on the trike, as the only way out for him was to push himself backwards. We then ran around like headless chickens throwing old roofing tiles into the holes he had created, so that the trike could have some traction to move forwards. Eventually, after a bit of sweaty anxiety on both sides, the trike was freed and went back to the lorry for loading.......<br />
<br />
So there we now were, a 5.5 metre beam of oak - We all looked at each other to see who was going to have the bight idea and to figure out how we were going to get this 600 cwt beam the remaining 30 metres. Bernard said he would fetch his tractor and we could drag it to the barn. Small problem.... A pile of stone that had taken Simon 4 days to amass, ready for a wall, lay in the way. Whilst Bernard went to get his tractor ( I think he is now destined to be known as Bernard le tracteur) the remaining group set to work and set about clearing the stones......... 20 minutes, that's all it took to part the stones like the parting of the seas.....<br />
<br />
Bernard arrived with his trusty old tractor and proceeded to tie it to our big beam, whilst we placed fence posts which Pierre produced from the back of his van, along the expected path. This worked really well until the tractor reached the limit of the land, before the ditch which currently is taking the drainage pipes from the rear of the house, but which will become a patio. We then had to improvise, using a couple of stout beams to guide the monster oak beam into the barn, whilst Bernard used a third beam to push the monster with his tractor. Finally, as light faded and the rain started, we managed to get the beam into the barn. One thing for sure, no one will run off with that without a fight!!<br />
<br />
<br />Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-67148086324669498912013-08-14T02:38:00.000-07:002013-08-14T02:38:51.914-07:00Returning Home
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nMKVrXOxjvYrtptjAgmCOEvTZWmr-o0PB0fxY1TH4Sov6MZeQE4UY5GCMeEacLStUhhPrjpmZYBfWWIUP6uXMj8CWFvqJGN7LvNb-3FOgXS1gAwZRHKAoa0lLA0s9reuE2C73B4X2aI/s1600/Charrous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ksa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nMKVrXOxjvYrtptjAgmCOEvTZWmr-o0PB0fxY1TH4Sov6MZeQE4UY5GCMeEacLStUhhPrjpmZYBfWWIUP6uXMj8CWFvqJGN7LvNb-3FOgXS1gAwZRHKAoa0lLA0s9reuE2C73B4X2aI/s320/Charrous.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charroux<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
This is a view of the village just the other side of the valley - Charroux. It is Medievil and very lovely to visit. It is also able to boast the cleanest public convenience. I mention this, because we have, up until now, had to visit the public loo's in either Bellenaves or Charroux; however I have it on good authority that when we arrive in just a couple of weeks now, we will have our Fosse installed (at last). </div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
I think it may be our own fault that M. Faure had not been able to carry out the installation before, due to the large amount of rubble etc., which had accumulated during our work on the house. As mentioned in our previous blog, Simon spent a lot of time an energy in both sweltering heat and bucketing rain last April, clearing up the mess outside the dependance.( see below)</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7senMUjhj7gELbg7GUsssS3CGZACguLsjObPWy4_Vk0GxNn3ywVeiw01RZzAnEIx0cVsSqGO2jb-eHj_XqPuo-ihVNxd3THGgGdfJqGIAlTDmeoIwfgB11NQ-Y2g6gnb0y3kFmUL0Y7A/s1600/mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" ksa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7senMUjhj7gELbg7GUsssS3CGZACguLsjObPWy4_Vk0GxNn3ywVeiw01RZzAnEIx0cVsSqGO2jb-eHj_XqPuo-ihVNxd3THGgGdfJqGIAlTDmeoIwfgB11NQ-Y2g6gnb0y3kFmUL0Y7A/s200/mess.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
We haven't been able to see so much of this area for a good 3 years!</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
M. Ragacki, the Mayor of Naves came to see us one day and I spoke to him about the possibility of the Fosse now being installed, as we have the new entrance. He thought that our original access was the most likely access way - and this may have proved to be the case. I'm sure we will find out more in just a few weeks.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's always good to look back on the pictures to remind us of how far we have actually come. It is taking a long time, and this year, the problem has been keeping up financially. Having jumped the hurdle of James running off with our money and leaving us with no roof, to clearing the hurdles of redundancy and temping at a time of year (Christmas) where there was no work around, I think we are actually doing ok.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The view from the bedroom door will be of the dining area, kitchen and exposed beam work of the other bedroom opposite (which still has to be created) but you get an impression of what it looks like in this picture.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCZGYDB9kcHdxWrCmA5OGjqfW8aE_Akeozb5JGZtlMO22Eauwz_NZgOaQGZ7VYNYwrsreSQDgCXfMagabJ5hMQx1jxQUt9x55YnIaehw6SQuZ4CX75nKdTL1IEDGMZQftZqjYipuYIfs/s1600/new+bedroom+to+be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ksa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCZGYDB9kcHdxWrCmA5OGjqfW8aE_Akeozb5JGZtlMO22Eauwz_NZgOaQGZ7VYNYwrsreSQDgCXfMagabJ5hMQx1jxQUt9x55YnIaehw6SQuZ4CX75nKdTL1IEDGMZQftZqjYipuYIfs/s320/new+bedroom+to+be.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once the roof is insulated you will only see the major beams but it will be awsome and I dont use that word often!<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: left;">
Looking back on the improvement to the floors! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqsrbX3xBYJ8Vk9iq9tFVRuY_BCu6xT1t6C6Ak4lj99OhcChIV-oJFbObu34VDnUkJEN_lWCppyHkweh-pATHbe1-1VSrzI_rBQCMDTkNNkuKcFuwxKWSZEj6k-pZFD3-lXGRQbzGOA8/s1600/where+we+started.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ksa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqsrbX3xBYJ8Vk9iq9tFVRuY_BCu6xT1t6C6Ak4lj99OhcChIV-oJFbObu34VDnUkJEN_lWCppyHkweh-pATHbe1-1VSrzI_rBQCMDTkNNkuKcFuwxKWSZEj6k-pZFD3-lXGRQbzGOA8/s320/where+we+started.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxB8GPPn34AgAHqQFZlzpNJMgI93X7ICJCjziR1INbfse0EA2aYrxM_xcGmEQGuwOTJwHDghAgod3Gpvfyn6fT46awRTUNkycJ1P9ZO2wxOuhjoJRShuk6CwtJ9Ax2idV2c1O4i_7R7c/s1600/and+now.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ksa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxB8GPPn34AgAHqQFZlzpNJMgI93X7ICJCjziR1INbfse0EA2aYrxM_xcGmEQGuwOTJwHDghAgod3Gpvfyn6fT46awRTUNkycJ1P9ZO2wxOuhjoJRShuk6CwtJ9Ax2idV2c1O4i_7R7c/s320/and+now.jpg" width="320" /></a>All the pipe work is now in for the evacuation for the kitchens and bathrooms, so all we need is the Fosse and we can start to function more normally :-)</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">
Lets see what the next trip brings.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-21753090827390260272013-02-14T08:03:00.001-08:002013-02-14T08:03:49.183-08:00The start of a New Year :-)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6cXoHIbrLHymiBEGZYIO-Ec1D5M-lB2os56h0Lg2zV-NXhvdGekQucs6kbIEbls2IfpBJmjvRg7gNxO18940bbkz5yzIUIlQi2q3P6aUkMipUP3AgOxS5jEbY2WmQnCS4S_HYF0_Bfw/s1600/P1000958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6cXoHIbrLHymiBEGZYIO-Ec1D5M-lB2os56h0Lg2zV-NXhvdGekQucs6kbIEbls2IfpBJmjvRg7gNxO18940bbkz5yzIUIlQi2q3P6aUkMipUP3AgOxS5jEbY2WmQnCS4S_HYF0_Bfw/s400/P1000958.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
M. Beaudonnet delivered :-) we are soooo happy.<br />
<br />
Work is starting on the inside this week and we feel that we are finally actually starting to see the house that we have always envisaged. <br />
<br />
I'm actually lost for words. We'll be there in just a few weeks and we can't wait to see it 'in the flesh'.Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-39540385501362896532012-10-30T14:01:00.000-07:002012-10-30T14:01:42.137-07:00O.M.G SO exciting - hot off the press.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WJEZbwLxA4qNlUXLLLTFG3yYD-BSkmDa3imQUGtmXDLXbJdCsReg4zn8B1JHB0zotTz1iznp5L5Yk49iT_84Xsr1lCoFHPdhUCpQAit43Ex5kygHhOKTwi1TgM3vNHbZhhzH6OhyphenhyphencG4/s1600/P1000746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WJEZbwLxA4qNlUXLLLTFG3yYD-BSkmDa3imQUGtmXDLXbJdCsReg4zn8B1JHB0zotTz1iznp5L5Yk49iT_84Xsr1lCoFHPdhUCpQAit43Ex5kygHhOKTwi1TgM3vNHbZhhzH6OhyphenhyphencG4/s320/P1000746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This will sooo change the look of the front of the house. The porte-fenetre is being made by a carpentry workshop in the next village.... cant wait to see what it will look like when its installed.<br />
<br />
Thierry is to to the left of this picture and is the person who opened this up for us :-)<br />
<br />
In the picture below, you get a true picture of the height we are looking at.....Thierry is same height as Simon - 6ft 3 inches.........<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAfQFM6LUbKarxPw9H4U3Td2OTY3OITZn5evbOH74hLm35L764MlTcrWJHq_2VYY3m_NLXhMNNH5mS1ZlMkhElyjEywmAZl4DFjY4NGhKG28-wUloDf2rk8uRvec37cEtmrx1LkxTW08/s1600/P1000747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAfQFM6LUbKarxPw9H4U3Td2OTY3OITZn5evbOH74hLm35L764MlTcrWJHq_2VYY3m_NLXhMNNH5mS1ZlMkhElyjEywmAZl4DFjY4NGhKG28-wUloDf2rk8uRvec37cEtmrx1LkxTW08/s320/P1000747.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Below is the view from inside. When the window is installed (and all the rubbish cleaned up) imagine that there is a courtyard in front of you, which is walled on three sides........ filled with sun in the summer and winter.<br />
<br />
Amy had a particular song playing when she came to stay - white wine in the sun...... It will be the perfect place for it :-) I'm sooo happy :-)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81Hq0uUCl5MhO0LlNlV-DN7eJxnBa4MnF2BjmE9idoRSBaXdPwu464ceQkcRn_ab3gS09e3ZR2hyRLOQQhuIFxbek0E_wmc9NMzZBOem6i7-AGcJsKDs6e00ASYQKyALtQKZKRHD1PeE/s1600/P1000748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81Hq0uUCl5MhO0LlNlV-DN7eJxnBa4MnF2BjmE9idoRSBaXdPwu464ceQkcRn_ab3gS09e3ZR2hyRLOQQhuIFxbek0E_wmc9NMzZBOem6i7-AGcJsKDs6e00ASYQKyALtQKZKRHD1PeE/s320/P1000748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-41442168819525464542012-09-30T05:13:00.002-07:002012-09-30T05:13:11.279-07:00Turning the Corner<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
We have returned from another two week stint at the house and this time, it feels like the house is actually turning the corner. Simon, Amy and I arrived early evening on 1st September to beautiful sunshine and about 25 degrees. Bearing in mind that this was the day that we saw the first blue sky for weeks, we were all in high spirits. It was interesting that the cloud bank actually lasted as far south as Tours! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCHHmTPMMcaRvibqH-uYv2yjwOu84z5BExL9zhksdRKyNv5bi_yV6cuLl-oLz9HL20wJ9eRJHAOQGBErwaTJiVRpw6SodHp3alDHxkREbRny2MkjkW3vy9vSZPSBJGf2d0LaNTM-LEe8/s1600/mms_img1200303233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCHHmTPMMcaRvibqH-uYv2yjwOu84z5BExL9zhksdRKyNv5bi_yV6cuLl-oLz9HL20wJ9eRJHAOQGBErwaTJiVRpw6SodHp3alDHxkREbRny2MkjkW3vy9vSZPSBJGf2d0LaNTM-LEe8/s320/mms_img1200303233.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we arrived, Mme Benchereau was outside her house and after the usual bisous, her first words were 'you have 4 cats living at your house'. Where had they come from? We were a little worried at first that there would be fur flying, as George hates cats with a passion. Luckily, after about 36 hrs they decamped. I found out much later that they hadn't gone far, only to chez Bernard, about 100m away. I hope that when we left, they returned to their earlier residence.....you'll find out why later! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Within an hour of having arrived, Simon bumped into Mon St Michel (formerly Michel le lip) in Bellenaves. Michel told him that Annie has closed the pub permanently and so Simon invited Michel, Annie and Will (We met him on a previous visit) round the next night....... We hit the ground running socially! Luckily the supermarkets were open on the Sunday morning, so whilst Simon got us organised at home, Amy and I went and got the necessaries. We had a lovely evening with Annie & Co., as usual, ending in an impromptu invite to the Chateau for a late supper. Amy, Simon and I had eaten at lunch time at La Belfoi in Charroux, but an invite to the Chateau couldnt be turned down, so the party decamped to Veauce and we carried on in Annies kitchen. Visiting the Chateau for the first time was AMAZING. Annie has a white peacock, which we think she said was called Cedric. It was roosting in this massive tree which is in the courtyard of the Chateau and is visible over the castlated walls..... The evening ended in the early hours of the morning, having been treated to roast chicken (carved by Will....but really it looked like a bomb had gone off inside......I think we had all had rather a lot to drink by this time!). Apologising to Annie for eating and running, we ended our first full day back at home - and what a day it had been :-) </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The next morning being Monday, Michel (le Pierre) who does all the stone work for us arrived at 8am as promised. Simon and I had been up early thanks to setting the alarm. This was our holiday and we were setting the alarm to get up for work!! Whilst I went off down to Cheze with Michel (le Pierre) to order sand etc., Simon started to collect stones to build in the opening which we were hoping to enclose. Michel was amazing - Cheze said they couldnt deliver until Friday and Michel said not good enough, I need the sand today. Its amazing to me that he was able to 'demand' the sand and cement be delivered urgently, but as a Frenchman, I suppose he knows what he can get away with. I would have just looked like a rabbit in headlights wondering what I was going to do, if I had gone on my own!! We went home and Michel said he would be back after lunch, the delivery was due until apres midi. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvxglQCQXeTuzxe2hcgOsCfSkHkdzt_DP7Qg-7E-CwMPM2yLClsNOnwhdVMTqsAnway50_UGyOsKrU335LtNJhRSakz_viavDv1GAN3MA3nG3yuXygZLPE_5x1JGM2__C56Ddh6YXMR0/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvxglQCQXeTuzxe2hcgOsCfSkHkdzt_DP7Qg-7E-CwMPM2yLClsNOnwhdVMTqsAnway50_UGyOsKrU335LtNJhRSakz_viavDv1GAN3MA3nG3yuXygZLPE_5x1JGM2__C56Ddh6YXMR0/s320/photo.jpg" title="" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy - pointing up where our new windows have been installed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvxglQCQXeTuzxe2hcgOsCfSkHkdzt_DP7Qg-7E-CwMPM2yLClsNOnwhdVMTqsAnway50_UGyOsKrU335LtNJhRSakz_viavDv1GAN3MA3nG3yuXygZLPE_5x1JGM2__C56Ddh6YXMR0/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvxglQCQXeTuzxe2hcgOsCfSkHkdzt_DP7Qg-7E-CwMPM2yLClsNOnwhdVMTqsAnway50_UGyOsKrU335LtNJhRSakz_viavDv1GAN3MA3nG3yuXygZLPE_5x1JGM2__C56Ddh6YXMR0/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvxglQCQXeTuzxe2hcgOsCfSkHkdzt_DP7Qg-7E-CwMPM2yLClsNOnwhdVMTqsAnway50_UGyOsKrU335LtNJhRSakz_viavDv1GAN3MA3nG3yuXygZLPE_5x1JGM2__C56Ddh6YXMR0/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvxglQCQXeTuzxe2hcgOsCfSkHkdzt_DP7Qg-7E-CwMPM2yLClsNOnwhdVMTqsAnway50_UGyOsKrU335LtNJhRSakz_viavDv1GAN3MA3nG3yuXygZLPE_5x1JGM2__C56Ddh6YXMR0/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvxglQCQXeTuzxe2hcgOsCfSkHkdzt_DP7Qg-7E-CwMPM2yLClsNOnwhdVMTqsAnway50_UGyOsKrU335LtNJhRSakz_viavDv1GAN3MA3nG3yuXygZLPE_5x1JGM2__C56Ddh6YXMR0/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvxglQCQXeTuzxe2hcgOsCfSkHkdzt_DP7Qg-7E-CwMPM2yLClsNOnwhdVMTqsAnway50_UGyOsKrU335LtNJhRSakz_viavDv1GAN3MA3nG3yuXygZLPE_5x1JGM2__C56Ddh6YXMR0/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To back track a little - about 2 weeks before leaving England, we had tried to order a window on the Lapeyre web site. As our house had not been inhabited for about 30 years previously, it does not show up on data bases, so we could not manage to use this facility. So I faxed the Vichy branch with a picture and dimensions and said that I had sent them a cheque but as we were unable to use the online facility could they please order a window for us to collect from 2nd Sept onwards. Before I tell you whether we were successful, ask yourself this. Would it have been successful if a local builder received a fax from someone in France ordering 1 window?? We had checked our postbox that morning to find a letter from Lapeyre in Vichy confirming that our window would be ready for collection from 2nd onwards. An additional bonus was that the price had gone down from that advertised on the web, so we had sent a cheque for over 50% - yeay!! So back to the story.......</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Simon and I said to Amy that we would go to Vichy and pick up the window and be back before the end of the lunch break, so she would not be alone when the delivery of sand arrived. Guess what - it arrived about 30 mins after we left, so we had sand by 11 am that morning - amazing. Michel had said that he wanted the camion to back into our courtyard and deliver there as barrowing from the Impasse was hard work (in temperatures of 25 degrees plus.) Poor Amy, she has little French and isnt confident to use what she has, so we ended up with the sand dumped behind the car which Henri & Dominic have rusting in front of their garage. Needless to say, they weren't too amused at 3 ton of sand sitting where they usually put their garden table! Amy was good as gold and started shovelling. When we returned from Vichy with the window, she had already moved quite a substantial amount into our courtyard and remembered that Michel had said that we should put the polythene down which he had bought previously...... so was loading the sand onto this. We had a quite bite to eat and Simon set to in earnest, moving the sand. Michel arrived and work on blocking up the old animal entrance, which will become the window over my sink, began. (By the way, whilest at Lapeyre, we saw the most amazing sink..... it comes under the category of I.W.O.T and as it is 400 euro's its a good job that Simon totally agrees. In fact he spotted it, so that's deal done. Just need to get to the part where we can buy it and install. May have to buy it and ask someone to look after it for us. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR05rU-VWame2YO1uafVt4JcIyJir1tz4PSdS7Pv1Kux7DdDQEcDm5Bc9R43_OBxBcXrk8mVFhVtwXT3EOdYjJC3U3QCPWN_LR5gicyyluuqT2pMM-yopGqCaMXyAUncwp3WwjD0l5a1I/s1600/IMGP1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR05rU-VWame2YO1uafVt4JcIyJir1tz4PSdS7Pv1Kux7DdDQEcDm5Bc9R43_OBxBcXrk8mVFhVtwXT3EOdYjJC3U3QCPWN_LR5gicyyluuqT2pMM-yopGqCaMXyAUncwp3WwjD0l5a1I/s200/IMGP1614.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a> under the ladder, you can see the hole which we were about to start work on, building in. To the right, you can see the finished product. The window fitted for width, almost as though made especially... This will give me a view over the courtyard when finished. We'll put trellis around, to soften and are planning to 'plant' an oak beam over the surface of the concrete lintel which was there when we bought the place. The wall being what it is, we didn't want to mess with it by taking out the lintel.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnazjXda_P-A3QwYvZ6XhJ2Y9E37njPPl9sh87iLVcYR-io7nQeIJ34CAiWxeY3EHhMp3sJ2I_fXuCWO6IFhuhGFKUBcKzPb9GJX2SR19O5qwZgs3u22wcVMD8rFbmsh17j8YVXFhg8U/s1600/DSC_0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnazjXda_P-A3QwYvZ6XhJ2Y9E37njPPl9sh87iLVcYR-io7nQeIJ34CAiWxeY3EHhMp3sJ2I_fXuCWO6IFhuhGFKUBcKzPb9GJX2SR19O5qwZgs3u22wcVMD8rFbmsh17j8YVXFhg8U/s200/DSC_0057.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3xC3WUpX0KBGXjAahXN54Zl13CxSQmjLi7DEbSrwGTde5lgGsNXMf5RkandwJL4G5HRrMv-sMlKcYnfFdHdGq4Vx5w0I47Mlzcl02bRxej3vgQD2sl0B6RWERihjmIMv50on78M6Uqg/s1600/IMGP0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3xC3WUpX0KBGXjAahXN54Zl13CxSQmjLi7DEbSrwGTde5lgGsNXMf5RkandwJL4G5HRrMv-sMlKcYnfFdHdGq4Vx5w0I47Mlzcl02bRxej3vgQD2sl0B6RWERihjmIMv50on78M6Uqg/s200/IMGP0428.JPG" width="200" /></a>Whilst Simon and Michel were working on building this wall up (2ft thick of stone!) Amy and I began pointing up the end wall of the barn. Simon and I had often sat looking at this wall and saying what beautiful stone was in the wall, how regular it all was and how it wouldn't take long to point because of that. This is what it looked like when we started....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
and this is what it looked like after about 10 days of attention....... </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEeSZfkCUz0oNX_nBFcmX_EVi4qlDWTD2EzEq8zBG_-SQqQfoeEtcJxFWVVz__iJQtnS4ne5xOPFVCuKIZah4HkIGCA0jIXbiAAJPnyeiTnzaFVns2kfQEElG5k6FKVW7xGeCK7Vm2kE/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEeSZfkCUz0oNX_nBFcmX_EVi4qlDWTD2EzEq8zBG_-SQqQfoeEtcJxFWVVz__iJQtnS4ne5xOPFVCuKIZah4HkIGCA0jIXbiAAJPnyeiTnzaFVns2kfQEElG5k6FKVW7xGeCK7Vm2kE/s200/DSC_0040.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had previously had a problem with how the end of the barn roof had been left, balancing on a piece of wood which stood on the outside edge of the wall..... We had asked Celine & Pierre (of Atelier) to secure the roof for us. When we arrived, we could see that work had been done internally but the external looked just the same. When we asked Thierry (who had done this work for us) about it, he told us that the roof was nailed to this piece of wood, so he couldn't remove it, as I had suggested. As we were nearing the top of the wall with the pointing (more accurately, I was) we had to find a way of making this look good and getting the guttering up and the roof over this part finished. (Another bit of the roof which still was unfinished!) Thierry came up with an ideal solution, practical and aesthetic :-)<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3B95PQ-4BPGHYaCfdSfc6Tz-ZatUyRcgi8HKp_gzN5urDhwd4Q_WwxBbZByIySVu_gfYo0-G2NWTZ6n8fKjq2LKot6KVSGnAXmbNwV6iVjJOxLewuZJpJRAyq-WVDc7n41hViUCfrGs/s320/DSC_0037.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm so proud of this wall.... I now want the same effect along <br />all of the front of the house! You can just see our new window<br />too, which when we spoke with M. Mazeau a year ago, thought<br />was 'bizarre' I dont think it looks that bad and it actually looks<br />like its on the same level as the one on the end of the barn.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-Or2WepsWjnJ0jU7qhdLmpv5d_6x3s1OMjM7I-kgl3HVgNfXbOgV9MW_IL9XHsqLDYdsgC0usqJXQRqINzY0Aq-lQ0zsSPNdYSovSSdVsDhIIxLK7TAT-KX4LPLYJpp8S-doNEthXTc/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-Or2WepsWjnJ0jU7qhdLmpv5d_6x3s1OMjM7I-kgl3HVgNfXbOgV9MW_IL9XHsqLDYdsgC0usqJXQRqINzY0Aq-lQ0zsSPNdYSovSSdVsDhIIxLK7TAT-KX4LPLYJpp8S-doNEthXTc/s400/DSC_0038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7akxcj3Izgio-EoX39jzntbidnv2p_lpfWyyBKvQZu9uQaC3AlvadqYhWpJlBm_CWNLX_n8pFRV_zmt4tiXIrIMP4HV0JeBMADlVByy_DuKn9EOtOMKvpradkCUBcn9mUuJ4XjbL0g6k/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7akxcj3Izgio-EoX39jzntbidnv2p_lpfWyyBKvQZu9uQaC3AlvadqYhWpJlBm_CWNLX_n8pFRV_zmt4tiXIrIMP4HV0JeBMADlVByy_DuKn9EOtOMKvpradkCUBcn9mUuJ4XjbL0g6k/s320/DSC_0033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Next, Simon decided to rebuild the steps to the door which is used as our front door..... Thierry offered his advice, which at first, Simon was dubious about, but following his suggestion, was pleased with the outcome - as was George. He loved how cool the stones were to lay on in the sunshine. Its now safe to sit with a chair and there is room to pass by.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thierry worked with us for about 3 days and in that time, what he achieved was phenomenal. if we could only have him for the whole of the three weeks when we go next year..... We'll get a lot done but it does come at a price! Any how, the best news of all, is that we have now got the roof finished. After 3 years of battling with it, we have now finally sealed it..... IT FEELS SO GOOD, to finally be moving on passed the bloody roof!!!!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In this pic, you can see the port fenetre which was put in last October and also the two windows which Michel le Pierre has done for us during the time between our last two visits. You can also see where Amy has been pointing around the windows for us. It is certainly starting to look like a house in the making.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5HxEluUaLFTr9wu_G1aDx8gd0Qu-2phtXU1yj9DbU9HYqX_apEtqFfaL1-pEgsaveEI-BbxEGT5i4CG36RWpsl67XrqNemUBs6m-QbBjJA-jHtWnOvsUFmE85dSTNpdPfTl_uLuF2Y4/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5HxEluUaLFTr9wu_G1aDx8gd0Qu-2phtXU1yj9DbU9HYqX_apEtqFfaL1-pEgsaveEI-BbxEGT5i4CG36RWpsl67XrqNemUBs6m-QbBjJA-jHtWnOvsUFmE85dSTNpdPfTl_uLuF2Y4/s200/DSC_0042.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
The shadow being caste by the tree over the windows was gratefully received by Amy whilst she was working in that area. Below is the same picture, taken from the edge of the land which we also bought last September. It gives you some idea of the distance between the barn and the edge of our land, just by how small the barn looks in the picture. The trees mark our old boundary.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1Sc3C0VkAybajZlPvIh_uCfd_Wsu7rLdCsqDY6DXXiz8B-5fSdRq6rOo5n81wACDpbsc6WnvCzTjd9RPZaneRINIHeHMTNxErOU-l-iwVP7qrtq-xd64Mw27SSIm8SqjsrEi1eM9sAY/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1Sc3C0VkAybajZlPvIh_uCfd_Wsu7rLdCsqDY6DXXiz8B-5fSdRq6rOo5n81wACDpbsc6WnvCzTjd9RPZaneRINIHeHMTNxErOU-l-iwVP7qrtq-xd64Mw27SSIm8SqjsrEi1eM9sAY/s200/DSC_0043.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziKySPGe9Pc__W9hF9GZ7ZWRpSOmzsRi4znAQw9ZzZPzudjfP8KnEzP1Ff-tAFkXjcMswvH8XY2lDZWIXCRS2eJ6tASrwYePll7uG_66sMxgB6jCY25uj3B2BJmNcQM3USNECb4pIS-w/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziKySPGe9Pc__W9hF9GZ7ZWRpSOmzsRi4znAQw9ZzZPzudjfP8KnEzP1Ff-tAFkXjcMswvH8XY2lDZWIXCRS2eJ6tASrwYePll7uG_66sMxgB6jCY25uj3B2BJmNcQM3USNECb4pIS-w/s200/DSC_0048.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
This pic shows where Simon spent a couple of days dealing with a couple of issues which had been concerning him. Both Michel and Thierry say that we have no worries, there is no movement on the walls. This work will definitely show if anything is moving - when we arrive next year, we will be able to measure this pic against what it looks like then. As you can see, that back corner, which was always a worry to Simon has now been filled with cement to make sure that its secure, along with where the walls meet in the corner. I dont this was ever properly tied together and the water ingress over the years of neglect did the rest.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DkD6J9RGlvYLOXp4G4DlZ0Dmjk74N0vVH_mFTfyc4ILzXwfy0WOSm4UhSQ-kKGITHIqrky424UqBM4j2DU4uk558JIX1RioMC-Y2yqHhQJG6VcwSwLgsX9OnWbIctUoyE1949e5GYxc/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DkD6J9RGlvYLOXp4G4DlZ0Dmjk74N0vVH_mFTfyc4ILzXwfy0WOSm4UhSQ-kKGITHIqrky424UqBM4j2DU4uk558JIX1RioMC-Y2yqHhQJG6VcwSwLgsX9OnWbIctUoyE1949e5GYxc/s320/DSC_0054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DkD6J9RGlvYLOXp4G4DlZ0Dmjk74N0vVH_mFTfyc4ILzXwfy0WOSm4UhSQ-kKGITHIqrky424UqBM4j2DU4uk558JIX1RioMC-Y2yqHhQJG6VcwSwLgsX9OnWbIctUoyE1949e5GYxc/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Our lovely windows from the inside..... They will look amazing when its all done. The light which they let in now is making such a difference. Bearing in mind that the colour inside the barn absorbs any light which comes in.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkuNwVBHw6volXE3SLknQvF2MRb7o7kWpwJcrOvbZvuwV5Ke4QGp5yi4e_O7jKhz-HnmpbqRilumP0edEJa1r0eal_Va6906nRBSPwyRJY1CVzBy4fofs0gG_UEvp9qg3F-e2j381Xh0/s1600/DSC_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkuNwVBHw6volXE3SLknQvF2MRb7o7kWpwJcrOvbZvuwV5Ke4QGp5yi4e_O7jKhz-HnmpbqRilumP0edEJa1r0eal_Va6906nRBSPwyRJY1CVzBy4fofs0gG_UEvp9qg3F-e2j381Xh0/s320/DSC_0055.JPG" width="320" /></a>Thought this pic would also give you a better ideal of how it will look, looking through the porte fenetre of the barn, out onto the garden, which will have a terrace onto a raised area and then the vegetable garden. Thik we'll have to put some kind of attractive hedging up.. maybe. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had several lovely evening with people in the village, but there was a bit of bad news. Mr Benchereau, who has always been so lovely, encouraging and kind, has been taken into hospital, seriously ill and I am afraid that he won't be there when we come back next year. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On a lighter note, when Gareth and Ruth came for a visit, they told us that the cold snap we had experienced in April had meant that there were very few trees in the village with fruit this year. They were amazed when they saw just how heavily laden our plum trees were. It is something that will take me several years to become immune to the pure pleasure of picking a plum off the tree and eating it, warm from the sun.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There were so many on our trees though, that we couldn't eat them fast enough, so we made jam. My bread maker has a program for jam making and so all I had to do was buy some preserving sugar and off we went. It was so successful that I think Simon and I must have picked 10 kilo's of plums without making much of an impression on the tree- all of this I turned into confiture, giving Annie, Michel (Mon St Michel) Mme Benchereau, Dominique a la Mairie, Gareth & Ruth a pot each.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPf1LLZkJq58DfS6DkokvR8PcNwc63bqeCIDr2kQSltanX2LzhOIy79T15jC8BO9I_HiB7RBC5RYJwAzT9LRRol2W_wb2NzaCKaeJNbqCxw8AAuy0QQ-c5RLoqxb_fCpRynW_K7melZI/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" width="320" /></a> First batch, standing on top of the armoire we bought from the Brocante at Charroux in April. Ruth and Gareth have also offered us a couple of self sewn Cherry trees - I cant tell you how much being there makes me smile, 'strokes' and soothes my soul and fills me with a peace. I love making things and as I said in my previous blog, it always feels just the right place to be - baking bread, cakes, making jam, craft work - you name it. I can't wait until I'm there for good to be able to vent that part of me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We have left the house with reluctance, except for one thing....I mentioned the kittens earlier. The reason for hoping they come back is some of the 'wild life' which is in residence. One morning, having heard scrabbling all night, I saw a mouse sitting in the corner of the room, just looking at me. He/she wasn't a bedraggled, sick, horrible looking thing, it was actually very lovely and only the thought that they constantly piddle everywhere made me want to do something. Fortunately for him/her, they disappeared before I or George could do anything, but I do hope that the kittens move back and deal with this for me. I have read that cats urine cuts down the breading ability of mice - three cats, predating would sought the problem out, I hope!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-20308522388985057592012-05-31T08:13:00.000-07:002012-06-20T11:58:57.911-07:00And the Wheel Turns.......As things start to go better in France, then the wheel turns and things in England arn't so good as it looks like my job will cease to exist past July. Thankfully, Simon's job, which pays the bills appears secure! We think that if the worst happns and I am layed off, then I will go to France for a while and progress the work#<br />
<br />
It is a case of watch this space!!<br />Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-24618301450305850082012-05-21T09:31:00.001-07:002012-05-21T09:31:33.473-07:00Transformation takes time!When we left the house at the end of June 2010 we were happy that the roof was going on. In between time, as you have seen, there has been much work done and little by little our house is turning from a pile of stones held together by shear force of will to something which will stand for many more years to come, certainly see us out. As you can see in this first photo, the end wall above the bread oven was looking decidedly sorry for itself. In April, Simon and I made our annual 'pilgrimage' to start the ball rolling for this year. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdVS2GtfSlgJQe_vf3-Ymep3WRAyrN3oHgVGvhKFpUnFO0VPDO5ripa08uvhyHKhUxtNLZjhQvjzjd94tXcK3chHDijz0aQCiZHlUDrZ0cJ__ugMyCWaiTeV8mQR25kB4By_s-Os4GkA/s1600/%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdVS2GtfSlgJQe_vf3-Ymep3WRAyrN3oHgVGvhKFpUnFO0VPDO5ripa08uvhyHKhUxtNLZjhQvjzjd94tXcK3chHDijz0aQCiZHlUDrZ0cJ__ugMyCWaiTeV8mQR25kB4By_s-Os4GkA/s320/%231.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
As you can see below - thanks to team work and Simon being prepared to sit on 3 pieces of wood over the bread oven, balanced on the top of ladders which were either side of it, the wall now looks a whole lot safer and less at risk. We also finished the front of the Bread Oven and discovered that the door at the top of it (far right of the pic) was actually a pidgeon coop where the pidgeons were kept warm in the winter by the warmth from the oven!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JEBMTdLDti0dPU4wHT1oqcLe3ZSHzbaru-tV9FRdA1sRDOpo45Lu6lH41xL2y8b4jonlQwP3DkxUCykmq64VDu-gtp-SOx9IoZUM2qOLxq8NjCBb2V7cSQ2giunEU5n-ViEWabMklgM/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JEBMTdLDti0dPU4wHT1oqcLe3ZSHzbaru-tV9FRdA1sRDOpo45Lu6lH41xL2y8b4jonlQwP3DkxUCykmq64VDu-gtp-SOx9IoZUM2qOLxq8NjCBb2V7cSQ2giunEU5n-ViEWabMklgM/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JEBMTdLDti0dPU4wHT1oqcLe3ZSHzbaru-tV9FRdA1sRDOpo45Lu6lH41xL2y8b4jonlQwP3DkxUCykmq64VDu-gtp-SOx9IoZUM2qOLxq8NjCBb2V7cSQ2giunEU5n-ViEWabMklgM/s320/6.jpg" width="320" /></a>I have to admit, we could have done with some warmth this time. The house was like a meat locker when we arrived! I'm sure that 30 years without habitation or heating may have something to do with it but that first night, Simon and I clung to each other for warmth and the first thing we did the next morning was buy a convector heater. Within a couple of days, the room was lovely and warm, but the weather didnt improve at all - however we did manage to get work done, as you can see. We also arranged with a couple of local contractors for work to be done and fingers crossed, by the time we return in September, the first floor will be in in the barn and the fosse will be in. Luc Faure came to meet with us and said he had been passing our house and wondering how he would be able to get his machinery in to make the fosse (the shared access problem). He also confirmed that the Mairie have asked him to quote for clearing/making the Chemin to access our property and he asked if we owned the land in between. Beaming, we were able to say that we do and he was happy about that too. He said 'now there is no problem, your fosse will be in by September'. Which will be great for us - we can actually attach a toilet to save us having to go to another village.....Yeay!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W_CpyaId87gdt3BpW8ruhpWGKctfATkpAkOdlZ6maMOHZyCGjvxeNRrhsdWfg9WGePlXwUWVlg2Ng6dKiW0uU4kksa8iLO5WajmWMQDwxjaFyz2LAn2bYBnqk_oHMmgAgFeHKpvdfUQ/s1600/%233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W_CpyaId87gdt3BpW8ruhpWGKctfATkpAkOdlZ6maMOHZyCGjvxeNRrhsdWfg9WGePlXwUWVlg2Ng6dKiW0uU4kksa8iLO5WajmWMQDwxjaFyz2LAn2bYBnqk_oHMmgAgFeHKpvdfUQ/s1600/%233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W_CpyaId87gdt3BpW8ruhpWGKctfATkpAkOdlZ6maMOHZyCGjvxeNRrhsdWfg9WGePlXwUWVlg2Ng6dKiW0uU4kksa8iLO5WajmWMQDwxjaFyz2LAn2bYBnqk_oHMmgAgFeHKpvdfUQ/s320/%233.jpg" width="320" /></a>I looked down the Chemin, which will become our private access, as this goes no where but to what is evidently the old access to our property in times gone by. When you first turn into the Chemin, you cannot see our house, hardly at all, so the idea will be that as you arrive down the Chemin, and the house appears 'out of the ground' it will entice you to come and investigate. The wall on the right is the back of the Dr's property and the fence to the left is a property at which we have never seen anyone other the gardener.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Michel Williaume is putting in the windows on the ground floor of the barn, almost as I type this. We have put the drainage in at the back of the house and due to running out of time on this visit, it will be something to finish in September, when we plan to finish the pointing on the back of the house. As you can see, we have started but the weather was not really very helpful.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffVoxLcmhsfun7h7GiQULYMlk_4ZZwnvI4sNYcnwKdAjZezQ5v1psiXX3OM3S-4s51ddWJuSUYQzCY5AE4AgpslJJ62RhRD8Y1rFJUamarbdpMzP7C4XHF8ddoroxrSh9cUvFnHVfeWo/s1600/~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffVoxLcmhsfun7h7GiQULYMlk_4ZZwnvI4sNYcnwKdAjZezQ5v1psiXX3OM3S-4s51ddWJuSUYQzCY5AE4AgpslJJ62RhRD8Y1rFJUamarbdpMzP7C4XHF8ddoroxrSh9cUvFnHVfeWo/s640/~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Thankfully though, there are people in the village who do want to see us succeed. Mr Bonchereau watches us from his patio door/veranda. If the weather is a little warmer, he comes out and waves at us but we notice that he has become more frail since we saw him last year. He tells us he is 86 in August. One morning, Simon and I were walking to the car, talking, looking at the house and discussing what we were going to do that day. It was a warmer day and Mr Bonchereau came out without us noticing and shouted to Simon - Bon Travail! He had been watching Simon sitting on our make shift scaffolding over the bread oven, rebuilding the wall to the gable end and as you can see - it is certaily looking better. He has asked me what we are going to do about the window at the back which you can see next to his lilac tree. Someone has done a very poor job of fitting a window which is too large for the hole and butchered the wall to get it in. This will be another job for our Michel. We shall call this Michel 'Michel le pierre', as he is our mason....! He is going to help Simon to create the large window at the front which we have seen in many of the houses in the area. It will need a large oak lintel which the porte-fenetre will sit under, with windows each side and a small wall each side which will sit under these windows. Beaucoups de lumiere !! :-))</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Then we start on the inside. As I say, we hope that the first floor will be in place in the barn in the next few months. We have a price for French oak. It's half the price of English oak and I'm sure that purists will say that this is because there is a difference in quality. My answer to that is what is currently in the house has lasted for the last 200 years, so I'm sure that we wont have too much to worry about. As much as I might like to live there for ever, it's not likely to be that long!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Anyhow, progressing to the social side - Annie is her usual lovely, bubbly and irrepressible self. We did have some fun, especially when she came for dinner one night. I had invited Michel le pioche, (who is renamed by Annie my self as Mon St Michel) Annie and our new friend Denis for dinner and the gas ran out the night before they were due to come. As it was a Bank Holiday in May the next day, I wasnt able to get any gas, so had to manage on a 1 ring gas stove, start the meal off and then put it into the 18 ltr oven which Id taken with me. With copious wine, we had a ball !</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
One of many evenings and lots of hospitality - On the last Sunday, as we had made sure that we didnt have any food in the house as we were leaving early next morning, we had decided to go the the Auberge in Charroux for lunch. Simon said I should go and book a table, as we hadnt managed to get in the week before. Again, she was fully booked and I'm not suprised as they offer a very good meal at a good price. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Consequently, I went round to another restaurant I know of in the village, which has a good reputation and the minute I saw it from outside, I knew it would be good. Luckily the owner just happened to come out as I was approaching the door to see if I could book. After a few moment chatting, it was all arranged for 12.30 - when I gave our name, he looked slightly puzzled and asked 'Etoile?' when I said yes, he smiled. I think he liked it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Here is a link to the restaurant - if you are ever in our vacinity, we hope you'll stay with us and this place will certainly be worth a visit ! <a href="http://www.fermesaintsebastien.fr/restaurant.php" target="_blank">http://www.fermesaintsebastien.fr/restaurant.php</a> . Unfortunately, since we looked at the site after returning, I think some work is being carried out, as the video has been removed, but I will keep an eye on that and try to upload again later.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
A Bientôt </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-4350184410613319612012-03-13T09:51:00.000-07:002012-03-13T09:51:36.820-07:00The Art of Positive Thinking!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi9FvObSKBDx3xwld_0BnPkk1gwGbMFqAsXyMyAAnZbndBDMPMxy-ud2N6MVrD3Hbe9TDFqTKQJESqD1KdRO9FsVf0XktFftM9kVOaPt6SZGY2H6xNzr-O-NpFX3ukn3po25h8sor_S4/s1600/Yippee.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi9FvObSKBDx3xwld_0BnPkk1gwGbMFqAsXyMyAAnZbndBDMPMxy-ud2N6MVrD3Hbe9TDFqTKQJESqD1KdRO9FsVf0XktFftM9kVOaPt6SZGY2H6xNzr-O-NpFX3ukn3po25h8sor_S4/s1600/Yippee.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're gearing up for our next trip over. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The plan is for more pointing, but also now have appointments with four different trades so that we can push the work forwards. Each little bit of good news (just a response from the contractor) lifts our spirits and now I begin to feel that this is not just a dream but will become a reality.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My latest epiphany was regarding the entrance/driveway. Simon likes Pink Lady apples, which are enourmously expensive and seeing as the ground there is so fertile and we have fig trees, apricot trees and there was a pear tree (but it died!) I dont think it would be too much of a stretch to grow a pink lady apple tree. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whilst I was awake in the night a few nights ago (I do that a lot.....think about the house and our plans in the small hours) it came to me that rather than just have a boring rectangle of space as a 'homage' to the car for parking, why not plant an apple tree in a raised bed in the middle of the space, with a lovely wall which will reflect the stone of the house/barn and the well and then the car/s can come in and progress around the right hand side (as we're in France) park along what was the old boundary between our land and our new land, and then they can continue around the circle to exit! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once the wall has been built on our boundary between us and Dominique, then the aspect of the house will turn around all together.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Simon and I have talked about having a water feature in this area (which will then become a courtyard) as this will provide white noise. So then we thought that it would be nice if the water feature was actually part of the wall.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We just need to get things to move forward this year.........I need to turn into a terrier and keep nipping people heals!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This isnt where the positive thinking ends tho! I also have plans for my chickens. Not just 'chickens' either. I want to choose the chickens for the colour of the shell of their eggs as well as many other considerations! When we have people staying, especially those with children, how lovely would it be for them to go on their 'egg hunt' and find different coloured egg shells??</div>Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-60584333705475213882012-03-06T09:56:00.000-08:002012-03-06T09:56:55.228-08:00News from HomeThe news is that the cold spell we had from Siberia caused lots of burst pipes in the village and at the Chateau. The Mairie emailed us and asked if anyone had a key so that they might go and check on our house for any leaks - how kind of them. Luckily, (or unluckily depending on the circumstances) we only have a branchement at the moment, so the water does not come into the house. If there had been a leak there, it would have caused havoc for the neighbours, turning the space outside their house into a skating rink, so I think we would know about it, if that had happened.<br />
<br />
Michel (of whom I have spoken numerous times in these blogs) called us to tell us about the bursts pipes at the Chateau and in his house. He also went to Charroux for us to see if he could speak with M. Mazeau and find out why he hasnt responded to our emails requesting Devis' for work we have discussed. He was quite disappointed to hear that we have not heard anything from the builder since September last year. C'est la vie! We'll look for another route!<br />
<br />
We're on a count down now until we go home - for three weeks this time which will be bliss even if we will be working hard.<br />
<br />
We have made a pact though that we will not work on Sunday's!<br />
<br />
We need to contact M Faure, who has a Devis with us to install a Fosse. Now we have the additional land, access for his machinery will be easier, so we need him to come and have a look and confirm a date for him to start work.<br />
<br />
We are going to a Menuiserie in the next village whilst we are there too. We need a very large patio door making and I think they need to come and have a look at what we want. <br />
<br />
We hope to be seeing Bernard and his wife again whilst we are there. Simon and I owe Bernard some very generous hospitality!! Hopefully, I wont want to be site foreman again next day - I have suggested to Simon that we see them on Saturday night, so that if we are a little lethargic on the Sunday, it wont matter!!Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-28403121459800338442012-02-20T07:59:00.001-08:002012-02-23T07:52:32.832-08:00Whoop Whoop - :-)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUPugH67bv5mw2lpivdxzkVBguF0npajicTGdmGgEKBAUTk86MZde10qxkOwwgIaBaJounYR6Qe4xFXNfWwC9g7_UKx34sXinUsqXqX8nVCBSsm1KgYsd2fRmJCH0bhEQghZm0Cq3xxw/s1600/view+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUPugH67bv5mw2lpivdxzkVBguF0npajicTGdmGgEKBAUTk86MZde10qxkOwwgIaBaJounYR6Qe4xFXNfWwC9g7_UKx34sXinUsqXqX8nVCBSsm1KgYsd2fRmJCH0bhEQghZm0Cq3xxw/s200/view+1.jpg" width="200" /></a>Well..... progress on the house may be slow but we have now got a cooker for it!!<br />
You might remember from a previous blog that we want wood fired to run central heating, hot water and cooking. We looked into several makes - Esse, which I thought were beautiful but they could not produce enough BTU for our needs. Aga - dont do wood fired and dont run central heating (strange really when Aga is the first range cookers everyone thinks of.) Italian ones, you name it, we looked at it. I looked at a company in the Midlands who would sell us a Rayburn (Woodfired) and export it for us so that we didnt have to pay VAT on it. It would still cost us £4,200 including delivery.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDFDLMMo0EgHp9UByCl3y0FtOr4vUvMtWyWKyIshTjrPPmNVY83Wdu6LdZLk5PyXpbyoMC0oQBtiBkQm7lJNZsDfHmWcvHwDLzCLzaets93NYLDaqUe7j4wKMNW0KEfpilFIUBoQ6Wic/s1600/view+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDFDLMMo0EgHp9UByCl3y0FtOr4vUvMtWyWKyIshTjrPPmNVY83Wdu6LdZLk5PyXpbyoMC0oQBtiBkQm7lJNZsDfHmWcvHwDLzCLzaets93NYLDaqUe7j4wKMNW0KEfpilFIUBoQ6Wic/s200/view+front.jpg" width="200" /></a>Finally, just after New Year, Simon found a local business who reconditions ranges so we went along and had a look. We looked at his showroom and he has so many to choose from of all different ages and prices. He's also converting oil-fired to wood as he is finding that is what everyone is going for. If anyone reading this is looking for a range - go and see this guy at AGA House, Scorrier, Cornwall.... The only additional item that we paid for (other than reconditioning) was to have two brand new chrome lids.<br />
It's now finished and has a rap round boiler which has a capacity of 65,000 BTU - excellent!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And.....it looks fab. Unfortunately, as it was only just finished and still in their work shop, my photography is not doing their work justice. (BTW we plumped for a matt finish, rather than the enamelled finish and I think that it looks more in keeping to go into a 200+ year old house - you be the judge!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It'll be delivered whilst we are out there in a month or so - Sooo - we need the house to crack on now!! :-))</div>Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-9685419276112120492011-12-06T15:01:00.000-08:002011-12-06T15:13:36.476-08:00Ski Season is almost upon us....The first snow of the year has fallen and the official ski season begins 17th December, through until April.<br />
<br />
Click the link below and check out the Office de Tourisme website: you can click on all the ski slopes - Mont Dore, Sancy, SuperBesse<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sancy.com/" target="_blank">www.sancy.com</a>Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-17797036449608586582011-11-01T14:44:00.000-07:002011-11-01T14:44:42.156-07:00And now we do!See the previous blog for the comparison. Beginning, lintel falling down, interim - lintel now secured and repaired, end - door in place :-)Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-47075665254034233772011-10-29T03:31:00.000-07:002011-11-01T14:48:58.073-07:00Wish we had a picture!After all the delay's, we finally have a porte-fenetre in the barn entrance and so the barn is now totally enclosed....yeay! After this part being the part which needed the most work in terms of preparation (the barn was full of years of discarded 'stuff'; be it old washing machine parts, broken cookers etc., etc., not to mention a good foot thick of broken tiles and what looked like a chimney bar. If that house could talk, I'm sure it would have a very interesting story to tell - well it would be interesting to me!) As mentioned in a previous blog, Simon cleared the barn of all the timber (old oak roof beams, stair cases etc., as well as the 'stuff' and tiles) last September in preparation for the insulated floors being put in. Which happened February time of this year and it was then that Simon thought the best thing would be to get the door in. We got the quote and our visit in May came and no sign of the door....... The builder wanted our agreement to have it made to fit, so it was ordered at some time after that meeting, I cant say when. When Simon and I returned in September, we hoped to see the door en-situ. Mais non - because the factory had closed down for the whole of August, it was still not ready..... Where's my Fairy Godmother in all this? I do have a very solid porte-fenetre which does work but has no glass and doesnt fit any of the openings, perhaps she could bibbidy - bobbidy - boo it for us!<br />
<br />
At our meeting with M. Mazeau during our September visit, he had told us that he expected a final part to arrive just after we were leaving France for the final time for this year (the house really not being habitable in colder months) and that he would fit it in the couple of weeks following that.<br />
<br />
A month passed and we began to wonder what was happening. Simon has suggested that if only we had a web cam out there to see what was going on. I think it would be too worrying, at the moment we only worry about what we dont know. If we had a web cam, we'd be worrying about what we do know and not able to do anything about it! Anyway, I digress. I called our friend Michel and he went to our house the next day to see if anything had happened. Lo and behold the door was in the barn, waiting to be fitted. Michel said it looked very nice and of good quality, so that eased our minds. Then last Wednesday, we received the facture. Now bearing in mind that M. Mazeau has said to us quite vehemently, never pay until the job is finished and you are happy, this put us in a quandary. We trust him, but was he testing us? Would we offend his dignity by asking for a picture as evidence? I decided to take a two pronged approach. I emailed him back and thanked him for the facture and that we look forward to receiving the devis for the next phase of work which we had discussed; and could he forward a picture of the door en-situ? We then called Michel and asked him if he had heard from M. Mazeau. "Oh yes, he called at my house and picked up the keys last week and brought them back in the evening with another key on the key ring" - the key for the porte-fenetre.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7AVAVu-3RyA8UOUH_oIngBFSePfKK62rEfpYqesbvTJF1R1-G50geoZl6iMAJyGrenyApHDj942cfgyme-sepWIYoOWabSREikUfUB7plbFo7WJ-X3kLrogWrzYnCZss3Pxcqh451Ec/s1600/IMGP0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7AVAVu-3RyA8UOUH_oIngBFSePfKK62rEfpYqesbvTJF1R1-G50geoZl6iMAJyGrenyApHDj942cfgyme-sepWIYoOWabSREikUfUB7plbFo7WJ-X3kLrogWrzYnCZss3Pxcqh451Ec/s320/IMGP0342.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">barn wall when lintel was collapsing - had dropped a good 4 maybe 6 inches and wouldn't have lasted much longer before those bricks gave way and the whole things fell!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJznEE5yr0bK7MWi8M_mqdk2f4bYsN-FItk3FStOsMXUtLMlAXPVQKizUrjAtYN8r_3-Ca2yxDyPZHTaZgzU2Kt1CfEjDYLoplwd16HZBYsA1vY7z5Myj1YWQP19aiXs4BIdgii8rksJ0/s1600/barn+with+lintel+repaired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJznEE5yr0bK7MWi8M_mqdk2f4bYsN-FItk3FStOsMXUtLMlAXPVQKizUrjAtYN8r_3-Ca2yxDyPZHTaZgzU2Kt1CfEjDYLoplwd16HZBYsA1vY7z5Myj1YWQP19aiXs4BIdgii8rksJ0/s320/barn+with+lintel+repaired.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">same wall now lintel repaired - would you believe that a 6' 3" man can walk under that lintel, not trouble.......gives you an idea of the size of that wall - you're only seeing about half of it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I do look forward to seeing a picture of the porte-fenetre in place :-)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCHx-nKOTd587aNBg8iJ6Rl6_atS_Eu-rv7bdJcsSoSpsCyxMmEpziQPkEvZJ3TN92FcfBv6H1OwOHl7cZSM06wJGrc6Ws0LCoXFO18SychIKXhI45Ma9CCN8TVQtL7wYjD6GSlb8L14/s1600/porte+fenetre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCHx-nKOTd587aNBg8iJ6Rl6_atS_Eu-rv7bdJcsSoSpsCyxMmEpziQPkEvZJ3TN92FcfBv6H1OwOHl7cZSM06wJGrc6Ws0LCoXFO18SychIKXhI45Ma9CCN8TVQtL7wYjD6GSlb8L14/s320/porte+fenetre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeay! Door en-situ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-70061698505640200652011-09-23T06:43:00.000-07:002011-09-23T06:49:42.108-07:00Feels like we're turning a corner!<div style="text-align: justify;">Every time we 'go home' we have the most amazing time - although we work hard, we get time to play in the evenings and meet up with existing friends or make new ones.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've spoken before of Michel who helps us. He never fails and always helps in what ever way he can, whether its acting as a translator for those meetings with the builder which have involved discussions with technical terms, or whether it be that he cuts the grass for us with his scythe to make our life easier. It can take him up to two days to get the better of the grass and weeds!! Now we have some more friends - Annie who owns the Chateau at Veauce, an amazing lady with so much vitality and Denis who is our newest friend - the bar man. So much personality - he's perfect for the job. You can learn a trade, but if you have no personality, its something you cannot be taught!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another two week stint trying to achieve as much as possible in very little time and we feel very pleased with ourselves to have achieved the re-pointing of the front of the house and some of the side/Bread Oven. What we decided to do was work on those bits which were most vulnerable to damage over the winter, so whilst Simon pointed up the front (having to re-bed many stones) I started work on a large crack at the side. Where the existing render was still intact, we decided to leave it as it will protect the wall until next years trip when we will 'crack on' again. After several days, we were doing well - especially when on Saturday 10th, a neighbour came to tell us that he had heard that we were in the hottest part of France that day at 34 degrees. Simon and I knew it was hot and were struggling to move with any kind of speed - the mortar was drying really fast, including drying in the cement mixer!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpA0akSD7c_T97nhSPxv57tOfxkua1Rt4JnEyYX_drnunziWVrx1MoZ2mQL5vPBQSsrvb1Yv8sJwQacTfdbq8kf9n_-Y4DxFtuCEYfM78O9t2h2-WF4vhl8JysqjprBYN0CjrsVgOfIM/s1600/IMAG0120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpA0akSD7c_T97nhSPxv57tOfxkua1Rt4JnEyYX_drnunziWVrx1MoZ2mQL5vPBQSsrvb1Yv8sJwQacTfdbq8kf9n_-Y4DxFtuCEYfM78O9t2h2-WF4vhl8JysqjprBYN0CjrsVgOfIM/s320/IMAG0120.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO28Rcd5iC8_BRfagt7lxy18bfXz6xo6aaOQMsKjqCKNDDgBTR0flChP2wVNiCFkS1ANY4AwN1mjItZrQPYxNJLBCOf4Os8g9YUdmDKrCtEW5Dfhl1ArZE5k-37UZX3CPtXgUWExu38E/s1600/IMAG0117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO28Rcd5iC8_BRfagt7lxy18bfXz6xo6aaOQMsKjqCKNDDgBTR0flChP2wVNiCFkS1ANY4AwN1mjItZrQPYxNJLBCOf4Os8g9YUdmDKrCtEW5Dfhl1ArZE5k-37UZX3CPtXgUWExu38E/s320/IMAG0117.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bread Oven before and after the joint attention of Angela and Simon</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"> We have also now managed to acquire the land which we had been discussing with a neighbour for the last 12 months. The deed was signed on Saturday morning of the 17th which was a feat in itself, as the Geometre and the Notaire had to do their work in double quick time, so that we could pay for the land before we left on the following Monday. </div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
M et Mme Benchereau were very happy to have finalised the sale and invited us to their home for an 'aperatif' or two, or three...... </div><br />
<br />
We had some lovely and impromptu meals out - One evening, Simon decided he was hungry and couldn't wait for me to cook, so we should get a pizza from Ebreuil. When we arrived, we found that it was closed as it has been sold. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYzqRKqMTXIhoB7CN23GEJ1f3yCdxIUWhewONVWIIdMoyg5MJeuc04ddZNIIas-EG9D_peYTbuhHzZ87-5kg_wJAlwHzkl2zSknwAxAewXF4wFxqZqOfwrVw-nSvkR7T0kAWQsHoYqPg/s1600/IMAG0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYzqRKqMTXIhoB7CN23GEJ1f3yCdxIUWhewONVWIIdMoyg5MJeuc04ddZNIIas-EG9D_peYTbuhHzZ87-5kg_wJAlwHzkl2zSknwAxAewXF4wFxqZqOfwrVw-nSvkR7T0kAWQsHoYqPg/s320/IMAG0123.jpg" width="191" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Luckily a young girl had spoken to us as we walked towards the pizza shop and she asked if we were looking for somewhere to eat. She recommended somewhere that she had worked over the summer and had been under new Management. Simon, George (he was on his third visit to France) and I went to the Restaurant and asking for a table for two, I mentioned that we had a dog with us. The lovely thing about France I feel, is that animals are permitted (as long as they are behaving themselves, obviously!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We had a lovely meal, and the waiter also brought an 'aperatif' for George, which was lovely of him. George was definitely thirsty!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our meal was lovely and we recommended the Hirondelle to Annie & Michel who visited a few nights later.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We then went to a lovely restaurant in Lalizolle who specialise in Moules frittes - unfortunately, I'm not a fan of Moules and the owners were good enough to prepare something especially for me. It was a lovely evening, and it was really good to see Annie able to relax and just socialise. - Again, George was permitted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The last occasion, was on the Sunday lunchtime, the day before we were due to return to UK. I had packed up most of our things, but expecting to cook later in the day, I couldn't completely pack - Simon had been working all morning (by this time, I had wrecked my knee by twisting it on the ladder and so was sitting in the sun resting. The first time either of us had stopped for two weeks) and he decided we should go out for lunch, so that we didnt have to cook later.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brilliant idea, so we decided to go to Charroux, the Medievil Village only a few km from our house which is very pretty and has cobbled narrow streets in the centre. Approaching the bar, we asked for a table for two pointing out that again, George was in attendance - pas de problem........ We had a lovely lunch surrounded by a room full of local families and French visitors to Charroux. The meal was simple but delicious and the pudding was amazing.....! Well recommended. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're now just waiting to hear from M. Mazeau with the prices of some work which he will be carrying out for us and Simon and I are feeling much more comfortable with where we are now. We are still behind on where we should be ( thanks to he who now will not be named - what goes around comes around and much good may our money do you James!!) but we are at last going in the right direction and we have people around us in France who are trying to help us achieve our goal.</div>Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-84277397331339838212011-08-26T08:04:00.000-07:002011-08-26T08:04:30.258-07:00September 2011We are so looking forward to this next trip. Our aim is to finish to pointing and to arrange further work with M Mazeau. Also to finalise the purchase of the land..... Exciting times :-) XX<br />
Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-90867620655742886752011-05-21T08:02:00.000-07:002011-05-21T08:02:22.718-07:00Petit en PetitEach little step is getting us closer to our goal. We left for a working holiday on 5th May and I think we have achieved much in this visit. We arrived to find that our second 'roofer' had also let us down and still not returned to finish the work!! The walls having another winter without proper protection - it feels like a broken record. On the positive note though, M Mazeau has done the works which he was contracted to do and you can tell, he is a serious builder. Here are the latest pics<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD_Qpy232zyjWuuWHCw822Ca58-XGucKP-dWtNcrxbOo2K3YkF_8QF68wdyoGIGPCHs1OduYZyrCtHns2F6qxCWQ_vIrDp5Lr8VixyEd24vkRG1zYFATpcx7nvVrXzg3hh20CfzJs9UI/s1600/IMGP1605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD_Qpy232zyjWuuWHCw822Ca58-XGucKP-dWtNcrxbOo2K3YkF_8QF68wdyoGIGPCHs1OduYZyrCtHns2F6qxCWQ_vIrDp5Lr8VixyEd24vkRG1zYFATpcx7nvVrXzg3hh20CfzJs9UI/s200/IMGP1605.JPG" width="200" /></a> Relaxing after the first days hard work......getting a fridge from someone in the village who had one to sell - Big thank you to Gareth and Ruth for making our stay so much more civilised......The funny thing was that we couldn't get the fridge in the car. Not letting such a small problem get in the way, we managed to take off the door to the fridge and get it into our Peugeot 107.......Must have looked so funny! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJoJVY8VRWC2s8PqiwMh12LmyXUvkkIJQFnAwre6JpgrmbLS8-TP1PkQsE3cCQLSzINTnDVbHttQGHzBD8LPYLtr5RTfE6esafoIZLUF-igdx3P3SFRCZPgJxUYem0E-HdSBHTIfE_54/s1600/IMGP1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJoJVY8VRWC2s8PqiwMh12LmyXUvkkIJQFnAwre6JpgrmbLS8-TP1PkQsE3cCQLSzINTnDVbHttQGHzBD8LPYLtr5RTfE6esafoIZLUF-igdx3P3SFRCZPgJxUYem0E-HdSBHTIfE_54/s200/IMGP1607.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But at least we now had a reasonably functioning kitchen - with water on tap too...... all be it that the tap was out side and in the ground still - we bought some flex hose and a tap and there we were - independent !</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwaegWEdsvF9BMxGwqtts6OR_zTRQ15Zdg1RGLbBaTeXPzVZsSD1Vl0-Z03N8nE7oWwahEFAf0Ufldc0B8FZi2rcB3u6LaeUaObUNtRu38_aKDbzCv2607TcHoTK-DSJwfTWL3z4joZY/s1600/IMGP1611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwaegWEdsvF9BMxGwqtts6OR_zTRQ15Zdg1RGLbBaTeXPzVZsSD1Vl0-Z03N8nE7oWwahEFAf0Ufldc0B8FZi2rcB3u6LaeUaObUNtRu38_aKDbzCv2607TcHoTK-DSJwfTWL3z4joZY/s200/IMGP1611.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> After M, Mazeau's visit Simon and I could be found up the ladder putting on the last 4 rows of tiling which had not been put up and also finishing the guttering as you can see in this pic. I think that this is the first time, possibly ever, that this part of the house has had guttering of any kind. You can also see that we have started to point up the wall which will stabilise things. After the leg pulling about my bad workmanship last year, I have the last laugh as the corner of the barn looks exactly as I left it. Pointed up, with no cracks. Cheeky b'**@rs - I pointed a house up over 30 years ago and that looks just as good today as it did when it was finished! Maybe we need to believe in ourselves a little more!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR05rU-VWame2YO1uafVt4JcIyJir1tz4PSdS7Pv1Kux7DdDQEcDm5Bc9R43_OBxBcXrk8mVFhVtwXT3EOdYjJC3U3QCPWN_LR5gicyyluuqT2pMM-yopGqCaMXyAUncwp3WwjD0l5a1I/s1600/IMGP1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR05rU-VWame2YO1uafVt4JcIyJir1tz4PSdS7Pv1Kux7DdDQEcDm5Bc9R43_OBxBcXrk8mVFhVtwXT3EOdYjJC3U3QCPWN_LR5gicyyluuqT2pMM-yopGqCaMXyAUncwp3WwjD0l5a1I/s200/IMGP1614.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR05rU-VWame2YO1uafVt4JcIyJir1tz4PSdS7Pv1Kux7DdDQEcDm5Bc9R43_OBxBcXrk8mVFhVtwXT3EOdYjJC3U3QCPWN_LR5gicyyluuqT2pMM-yopGqCaMXyAUncwp3WwjD0l5a1I/s1600/IMGP1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> In this pick, you can see that we have managed to cover some of the front with pointing and are now moving on to one of the parts which has suffered the most.</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3SkWu-pCEpFo_LFi-uLbfqGSr5grAhiBR4JGlL5ARiXJY3Ltg7_LNqirWTg_fI095DwBS7EG_x_eLbQetwh3zdw8I6vUJaSrZQnl4V2kzR4Rg7C-5Xb3uTbkOGcx6O0qeljBaOewGKc/s1600/IMGP1616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3SkWu-pCEpFo_LFi-uLbfqGSr5grAhiBR4JGlL5ARiXJY3Ltg7_LNqirWTg_fI095DwBS7EG_x_eLbQetwh3zdw8I6vUJaSrZQnl4V2kzR4Rg7C-5Xb3uTbkOGcx6O0qeljBaOewGKc/s200/IMGP1616.JPG" width="200" /></a>This is a view of the village that you will only ever see from the fields and farm land - no road which is intended for regular use passes this way - but I think that it is just as lovely as any that you see....Village hanging on the hillside, with ruined 11th C chateau in the fore ground and 7th C Church towering over the village...... Our house can be found further right of this picture - didn't manage to line it up to get us in!!Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-85853490545663777652011-02-23T07:23:00.000-08:002011-02-23T07:23:04.002-08:00Developments!!It has been a long time coming, but we are now starting to see some real developments.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8eIrMakIBjeWp23HbIA4QkTfF58Oge30lyVAnHxfIjEp320YcEtosxO8eEmZq6WRKyqrTaxve1vt0Qn5pinGYuau7gE2K7Vg32P9icejcaKexsgZL-icP1ZcIXPXQzWJidl7UQ0eksk/s1600/Barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8eIrMakIBjeWp23HbIA4QkTfF58Oge30lyVAnHxfIjEp320YcEtosxO8eEmZq6WRKyqrTaxve1vt0Qn5pinGYuau7gE2K7Vg32P9icejcaKexsgZL-icP1ZcIXPXQzWJidl7UQ0eksk/s1600/Barn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn Door, Enclosed<br />
<br />
<div align="left"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Still a long way to go, but it feels like its going in the right direction now.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfqz3gfRoFZTaVucueywl0BjzS7X-PeVDsAkN1xORODeXgepMnYxkrWJsWZxg56-3KvpN8b62Hu-I_UEkFEGyeT23fzeOObtgRGpt4-9HpCCGxjNl-dBEXwgTwj4PGsGTSRFSoCQlwsw/s1600/Snug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfqz3gfRoFZTaVucueywl0BjzS7X-PeVDsAkN1xORODeXgepMnYxkrWJsWZxg56-3KvpN8b62Hu-I_UEkFEGyeT23fzeOObtgRGpt4-9HpCCGxjNl-dBEXwgTwj4PGsGTSRFSoCQlwsw/s1600/Snug.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Snug</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEkCojrTkDCC5aaI7vSLenWUNuDa8ypKYm2UpV6hyArNTV44ab_LEXjDFDLzuGTvhR1eveEvBsn24pI7bKrBOnDAZjEfQzNLCYZA8LGi-gmVMFY4mLKWdYU_X583j0asTJ9R0aRNW6Cg/s1600/Salon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEkCojrTkDCC5aaI7vSLenWUNuDa8ypKYm2UpV6hyArNTV44ab_LEXjDFDLzuGTvhR1eveEvBsn24pI7bKrBOnDAZjEfQzNLCYZA8LGi-gmVMFY4mLKWdYU_X583j0asTJ9R0aRNW6Cg/s1600/Salon.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A weeks toil to dig it out - looking good now.<br />
<br />
<div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="text-align: justify;">The last time we saw these rooms, the one on the below was so dark because of the exposed soil. It absorbed all the light and I wondered what the house will be like to live in. You can see from this picture though how the light is bouncing off the floor and reflecting on the back wall. The builder has contacted us to say that we need to dig the ground behind the house out, as it will press on the walls. I started to do this last May and Michel was helping, but when it began to rain at the end of May and pretty much for the next two weeks - the ground became too heavy and sticky as it is like clay. If M. Mazeau can use a digger, he will have it sorted out in no time at all. Shouldnt be too expensive, although it would be good excercise for Simon and I. We have had the quote to put in the doors to the other side of the barn and that was in the region we expected, so it's all systems go.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last year, we had a quote for Sheep Wool insulation which was <em>rather</em> expensive and whilst I would like to be as environmental as possible, as we don't live/work in France at the moment, we cannot get any of the grants which are available. However, the supplier has been in touch again and we are looking at almost half the price now. It needs some research on U's and R's (which I dont understand anyway). Also, we have to pay 900 Euro for delivery. This in its self is a little off putting, when the local Chez will deliver for only 33 Euro. Every Little Helps, to quote a well known supermarket.</div>Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-42641704083405410912011-02-15T02:03:00.000-08:002011-02-15T02:03:22.288-08:00More Good News!!Can we take all this good news? A neighbour, Michel, who has been helping us with work on the house, called us on the 2nd February to tell us that M. Mazeau was starting work on the insulated floor slab. It was such good news and we must have been glowing for the last two weeks nearly. We are receiving almost daily reports, thanks to Michel, who I think is an Angel in disguise. Without his help both practical, physical and linguistically, this process would be even more difficult than it has been.<br />
<br />
Of course, many people who decide to buy a house and live in France have all the money up front. We do things the hard way and last year, was definitely a hard year for us and the progress on the house. <br />
<br />
The latest information is that the concrete was being poured towards the end of last week and we have asked M. Mazeau to quote for putting in the patio door to the barn, on the side which had the collapsing lintel. It is amazing that the barn, which was the area which looked the worst from the day we bought it, with mess and rubbish and broken tiles, will be the first area to look almost habitable. It is hard to contain the feeling of happiness. Thank you also the Bernard de Paris, who spoke with his Architect to find us a good builder (M. Mazeau.) We call him Bernard de Paris, as there are so many people we know who are called Bernard, that it makes differentiation easier. Bernard grew up in Naves but lives in Paris, weekending in his family home in Naves. (think I explained this in a previous blog.)<br />
<br />
However, there is some more good news. <strong>From 21st May 2011, there will be direct flights from UK (Southampton) to Clermont Ferrand, which is only 45 minutes from us.</strong> Ticket prices at the moment look like just over £100 return including taxes per person. :-) See link to Flybe at the top of the page.<br />
<br />
My resolution for this year was to achieve a functioning bathroom in its proper situation eg the first floor and that we might be able to spend Christmas 2011 in France. Lets keep every thing crossed !Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-20243760531442235972011-01-18T03:14:00.000-08:002011-01-18T03:14:45.319-08:00First Post of 2011 - Some good News :-)The SIVOM have written to say that they have installed the 'branchement' and so now.......We have drinking water onto our property now! Yeay......No More hassling the neighbours for water to drink. Not that they have been anything other than gracious toward us. When we were there in September, Camille told us to help ourselves to water from his cellar any time, the door was always open....... It was lovely going in first thing in the morning - the sun would be streaming in the door and it was lovely and warm, with a smell of domesticity - Mrs Camille (I call her that as I havent learned her name yet) would have the washing on already and have left for Bellenaves for her shopping.<br />
<br />
Looking forward to our next visit - once the floors are in and the fosse in, then I think that will be three big steps forward. 2011 will not (famous last words) be as fraute as 2010 - I hope.Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-23650135401370779992010-12-28T04:27:00.000-08:002010-12-28T04:27:05.750-08:00Last Post of 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Due to compatibility issues between the camera and the MAC (new download lost the library!) we have struggled to upload the pictures from our visit in September. Finally, we have sorted the problem and managed to find the time to up load them!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9NyI6uiuq1dvpggVOAG5Gexeos29vn4sj9jVv7005o7wdKknc5aFjfhMVu5HdZzkooA_y3KXtE5MhLnrfH8VX8OYrbu7aFQPyVg11EKLLpy8hZJXxwJxI-ZjbF6aMR72d0eSNS2D3Z4/s1600/IMG_0522_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9NyI6uiuq1dvpggVOAG5Gexeos29vn4sj9jVv7005o7wdKknc5aFjfhMVu5HdZzkooA_y3KXtE5MhLnrfH8VX8OYrbu7aFQPyVg11EKLLpy8hZJXxwJxI-ZjbF6aMR72d0eSNS2D3Z4/s320/IMG_0522_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The next stage in the adventure began on 6th September. We left Portsmouth on the Normandy Vitesse heading for Cherbourg. We had George with us and we had no idea whether he was a sailor or not. The Vitesse has a reputation for challenging the best sea legs. Armed with passports, including George's, we went through check-in with no problems. George was scanned and we were given a sticker to indicate an animal in the car. The crossing was quite lumpy and when we returned to the car, 2 1/2 hours later, we were not sure what we were going to find. No need to worry though - our stoic little dog was just sitting in his bed, wondering where we had been!<br />
<br />
We then hot footed through the Normandy countryside down to Le Mans and joined the road which I had already travelled 4 times this year. Passing through Tours and then heading for Vierzon and Bourge. We knew that once we had cleared Bourge, it would not take long. Arriving in Ebreuil around 5 pm, we stopped at the Spar to pick up some provisions. Finally arriving at the house around 6pm. Unpacking and setting up camp in the snug, we cooked a quick meal and soon settled down to sleep. Having slept in the car the night before and then driven for 8 hours between us, we were glad to lie down and relax.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatf8Y9dbGLd_x9wpEwM6NpINRqBxTuOdWorkYOQ2S3L9npSlKPyycsoi7twhQTuggmiIV42QnDlhC-yxH90IP8h3NVhi8TiP8KpezVupYawyPPLyIyBaMSvbhQaR75yYnzRjCEluR6Ko/s1600/IMGP1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatf8Y9dbGLd_x9wpEwM6NpINRqBxTuOdWorkYOQ2S3L9npSlKPyycsoi7twhQTuggmiIV42QnDlhC-yxH90IP8h3NVhi8TiP8KpezVupYawyPPLyIyBaMSvbhQaR75yYnzRjCEluR6Ko/s320/IMGP1559.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Next morning we woke to the sound of rain.......But I felt happy, as the roof was doing its job. No water in the house. Yeay! You might think it strange that I felt like this, but after the events of May/June, it was a huge relief. After a quick visit to Bellenaves for some essential business, we began work. This time we were here to take up the floor. As mentioned in the previous post, the quote we had received to take this up was far too high and Simon and I decided we could do this ourselves. So, we set to work with what tools we had. Simon being the major element in this, he's like a human bulldozer. By lunch time, we had all the chipboard up and we could now see the extent of the challenge. We knew that previous owners had knocked down and internal wall and spread all the rubble over the floor; they then just covered this with a framework and the chipboard.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ0bZMRsyOWKjmDBkyIBhqUxf4dp1rYMGeexqZ9TNTc-5AH-saqFjONDKLMQh7pjrSy3EF-lzobectvxB83tVNn08WAVrYQDkHltTfA81nPPRxEzFlT3R9An0WREH8gH5RsncptB5iQU/s1600/IMGP1562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ0bZMRsyOWKjmDBkyIBhqUxf4dp1rYMGeexqZ9TNTc-5AH-saqFjONDKLMQh7pjrSy3EF-lzobectvxB83tVNn08WAVrYQDkHltTfA81nPPRxEzFlT3R9An0WREH8gH5RsncptB5iQU/s200/IMGP1562.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon having ripped up the chipboard flooring - <br />
note the level of the floor to the door.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
After clearing all the woodwork out of the way - much of which, we can re-use for stub work walls, we then had to clear away the masses of rubble. Along with hugh pieces of stone which created to large pile, Simon and Michel moved 150 barrow loads of rubble between them. Without the help and support of some of the villagers, I think we would be totally daunted. As you will see as this story unfolds. There are some wonderful people in the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In the afternoon, Michel, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">frère</span> de Bernard arrived. (There are many Bernard's and Michel's in this story - not to be confused!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Michel, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">frère</span> de Bernard was the person who rebuilt the front of our house, which fell down, thanks to the antics of James. We had engaged Michel to re-build the beam on the barn which was dropping. He told us that he had put an RSJ in between the wood, for support and that it was strong now. However, when he had put the needles through, to support the wall above where he needed to work, he removed the first stone and the whole lot fell on top of him. Thank God he hadn't been injured. He did say that you could see where rats had been using the branches of the fig tree to climb up and make nests in the wall. Another good reason to get it all sorted out and the tree removed. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhj-vbwhFd4DVGtAEBDYXTWJTkn0y-bi2gFcmt1VhSy6y-ggyNHxKAE4rNPqIld7w1W6mPLZqomeYrHbGoT7ZZUIEUcGW7qLfRtO_iR70G6ccdCK06m1PBgdU5v9POnK9oJ4t0CJ9Rjg/s1600/IMGP1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhj-vbwhFd4DVGtAEBDYXTWJTkn0y-bi2gFcmt1VhSy6y-ggyNHxKAE4rNPqIld7w1W6mPLZqomeYrHbGoT7ZZUIEUcGW7qLfRtO_iR70G6ccdCK06m1PBgdU5v9POnK9oJ4t0CJ9Rjg/s200/IMGP1565.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See where my head is, against the 'window' to my left. <br />
We are already several inches below the height of the floor<br />
on which I had pitched the tent, in May.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Cracking on the next morning, we removed all the rest of the woodwork and Michel who lives in the village and subsequently became nicknamed Michel the Pick came to see us. This Michel helped me when I was alone, earlier in the year and now he had heard that we were back and came to offer his help once again. He, Simon and I set to work clearing the rubble and we took down the silly wall which had been built up in what used to be the entrance to the animal shed. This now allowed us to take all the rubble and stones out of the room. You can just see the stones still filling the lower part of the wall, below the "window" in this picture. We were now able to make some serious inroads and after a few hours , the three of us had made quite a difference.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWg8bGmbfNs-oMqvy34jPu6APvoboVwXS4OVQtGz01B6tYGCSp_LTpF52XIYR31WnGpxIxLO_u1RmaG4vxM4G0toPMZvNPVDNMGAZ8SsMuxGfZ3IoK4g4NxaP2ZUu-Ymv8O8yJLdrc48/s1600/IMGP1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWg8bGmbfNs-oMqvy34jPu6APvoboVwXS4OVQtGz01B6tYGCSp_LTpF52XIYR31WnGpxIxLO_u1RmaG4vxM4G0toPMZvNPVDNMGAZ8SsMuxGfZ3IoK4g4NxaP2ZUu-Ymv8O8yJLdrc48/s200/IMGP1569.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New level, <br />
before Simon and Michel got to work with the pick</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">I think it took the best part of the first week to clear this room and it was hard work, as the sun had come out and the temperature outside was 25º so being inside was quite refreshing!</div><div style="text-align: left;">During this first week Bernard de Paris arrived and was to discuss the disposal of our scaffolding. He invited us to his house one evening for a drink. Little did we know how hospitable he is and 6 bottles of wine later, we were all much the worse for wear. Infact, it took me all morning to look up some telephone numbers and write a letter to M. Coulon the next morning! Simon said I could be site foreman for the day. :-) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9_KSLxb7OvKgb-MPT5epdx9Xg2jWMh22EhizU3Zg2ROQR8PE1PiTcz9Hm2AWvq1RwaHhRd6vn-ZLQ7MzxptYVc8o3krveOpsPOGLqC21wbIFfrb9T0B8MJFeUgOEKO4jlzJvW1oejfg/s1600/IMGP1579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9_KSLxb7OvKgb-MPT5epdx9Xg2jWMh22EhizU3Zg2ROQR8PE1PiTcz9Hm2AWvq1RwaHhRd6vn-ZLQ7MzxptYVc8o3krveOpsPOGLqC21wbIFfrb9T0B8MJFeUgOEKO4jlzJvW1oejfg/s200/IMGP1579.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two piles of stone either side of the door, <br />
which is almost 5' high. These came out of the floor, <br />
when Michel and Simon set to work with a pick!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Finally, the room was cleared and Simon and Michel got to work with the picks. I did help, but was very girlie and not much use really. By the time the men had finished, this is what we ended up with. Huge piles of stone, which is difficult to give an idea of the size. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcVnPygWU8uKy9lLOZRBPQoiP6D0PjMhhyphenhyphenCRW61St-mBzQNO0j98GmMk82Rz_aX7NXqO0DfqPY38FOr-gJPbplygD0p48bnSNK6W8vTRhMgF7ct9-HRh57igqjONl5VkFMfoZY19Sgz8/s1600/IMGP1586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcVnPygWU8uKy9lLOZRBPQoiP6D0PjMhhyphenhyphenCRW61St-mBzQNO0j98GmMk82Rz_aX7NXqO0DfqPY38FOr-gJPbplygD0p48bnSNK6W8vTRhMgF7ct9-HRh57igqjONl5VkFMfoZY19Sgz8/s200/IMGP1586.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the foundations of the original house, <br />
now partially exposed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKgoamBa0R6qab8NznL-HxhPZ39d5x5UsiNcDuVV_8GNB4IjOO6661RJ5BBfq7DgVIO09EmheBI4tNwTNynzcOEj4RJqWuBuVg4qV6UGvcPvz7Z1wMuX5sJBueK30m5lnxWzgvYypCcs/s1600/IMGP1582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKgoamBa0R6qab8NznL-HxhPZ39d5x5UsiNcDuVV_8GNB4IjOO6661RJ5BBfq7DgVIO09EmheBI4tNwTNynzcOEj4RJqWuBuVg4qV6UGvcPvz7Z1wMuX5sJBueK30m5lnxWzgvYypCcs/s200/IMGP1582.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the foundations below the door in this picture. See above picture, where Simon was standing by this door.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Once again, enter Bernard de Paris. He knew that we had had a difficult time with the roof and he also had known our house as a child. During our evening of wine, wine and more wine, we had spoken with Bernard at length about our hopes for the future. Bernard grew up in Naves and now lives in Paris, running and international business. He promised that when he had lunch with his Architect, he would ask for names of reputable builders, as putting in the floor will be a very important component in the structure of the house. Enter, M. Mazeau - M. Mazeau lives and works in Charroux, a medieval village just 6 km away. Building in Charroux is controlled by strict planning controls and therefore we thought that he might be a good choice. Of all the names which Bernard gave us, the only one to respond to us was M. Mazeau. Instantly Simon and I met him, we liked him. He exuded something that I can only call trust. We showed him around and he was quietly confident. Asking questions which made complete sense to me and he even was able to understand my French. He did say that the wrong tiles have been put onto the roof of the snug and that these should have been canal tiles. We told him of the problems we've had and how much it has cost us so far. He was astounded. He took our plans away to copy and promised to return them the next day. Having both felt the same trust towards him, we allowed him to take the plans. However, I did afterwards kick myself, as that is a cardinal no-no. Do not let your signed plans out of your sight. We were due to leave on Thursday lunch time and this was Tuesday night. If M. Mazeau <u>was not </u> good for his word, then we had just cocked up, again. However, trying to be philosophical about the situation, I decided that it would test whether he would do what he said he would do. And he did. We were out when he returned the plans, but He left them on the door step, with a Devis to put in the floors to all the rooms, put in a tie bar on the barn (which Thierry had told me we needed months before, but no one else had mentioned) and also to build in the large opening of the barn, putting in a window and the pipe work in the interior for the plumbing to meet up with the Fosse. The total price including TVA was now lower than the original quote for the floors. Simon and I had done what we set out to do, which was save ourselves money. But so much more had come out of it. Some of which is yet to come to fruition and so, I can only hint at it here. Other things were that people whom I had met in the 6 weeks i had been out there, were pleased to see us. Henri, our neighbour, said that my French was improving and that he could now understand me (big compliment, I can tell you.) We had made more friends and the best of all, we felt that were are at home in that house. At no time, despite all of the difficulties so for, have we looked at it as anything other than our home. We have even bought furniture for a house, which we cannot put the furniture in. You might think that crazy, but to my, its all about manifesting your dreams. Think negatively, and that is what will happen. Think positively and you will over come the hurdles that are sure to be placed in your way. Nothing worth having in this life, comes easily. If it does, we dont value it and often over look its importance. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If things transpire the way we believed they will when we left France on the 17th, then we will be very happy. </div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6349353500776783455.post-86451593075248406222010-07-24T03:19:00.000-07:002010-07-24T03:19:48.134-07:00Moving On!......We have now received a Devis for the down stairs floor to the house and barn.........Sharp intake of breath - Simon and I had already done our homework on the materials, costs and quantities and so we knew what to expect these to come in at. Let's just say, we are now doing further research into ready made concrete, delivered to site. <br />
<br />
We have also emailed the Mairie's office to find out who in the locality, has a lorry we could hire to take away all the rubbish that will be dug out of the house.<br />
<br />
Then, we just need to be organised with materials etc., on site, so that we can crack on. Dont think we'll be accepting this Devis!!Simon & Angela Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839845829847030476noreply@blogger.com0