Lots going on chez nous. Having finished the sandblasting in the bedroom - a bone of contention as we decided to do this having virtually finished decorating - we are a little underwhelmed with the finished result and looking now to polish it up and re-decorate. New windows ordered for both bedrooms - so it should be snug for the winter - even if we don’t yet have central heating. We have reclaimed another third of the field to make a potager/vegetable plot. As the field has been used as cow grazing for possibly 25 years plus there is much to be done to beat the nettles! We started with a strim, cut and plough and now the hard bit... digging it over by hand to remove the yards of nettle root. 25% complete now and 3 cubic yards of compost material to rot back. Some plants have been put in and watering and w**ding continues. In addition to all this, the removal of the lime and mud render to the rear of the property is underway and new lime mortar pointing applied; this has transformed the back and now matches the already completed side wall.
The weather is hotting up and thinking has turned to how to conserve waste water at various locations around the building to hydrate the plants through the summer. Being in a valley the site slopes and the well is down the hill a bit - the pump does a good job of extraction but is a bit like hanging on the a fireman’s hose; it doesn’t take long to empty and the plants can have a tendency to appear as if victims of water canon! A large water tank is needed to decant the well and water precisely - the w**ds can take care of themselves! In addition, the side aspect with its long sloping roof is a good point to collect rain water - when we get it, and ideally placed to water the bank around the pool maybe with a seep hose.
What’s next? Well, hopefully whilst I am busy decorating the two bedrooms and keeping the garden under control, Chris will be working on the kitchen...sandblasting, knocking a new doorway through the 26 inch wall, fitting a staircase, doors and finally kitchen. Let’s hope by Christmas 2019 dinner will be served.
The weather is changing. The potager is nearly free of w**ds. It transpires that we could have been eating and making flour from them. Pig w**d is edible as a greens and the seed can be made into flour - however time is short. The cows enjoyed eating them anyway - it’s always nice to have dinner guests - especially when they are so appreciative! We’ve managed to grow a few veg this year despite the late start, beans, tomatoes, cues, courgettes and peas. The broccoli and sprouts are yet to yield.
The greenhouse base is down and we are part way to completing the shed base - so lots of painting coming up. It will be good not to walk up the hill every time I need a different tool. There are possibly more important jobs indoors but we don’t want our shed rotting away under a tarpaulin before it is even erected!
The new bedroom windows are due soon so Chris has been making new shutters to complete the ensemble. As with everything in a French house nothing is straightforward - everything is full of ‘character’ eg - wonky. If it is square it looks wrong because it matches nothing else. Good luck with the windows Chris!
Today is the annual gathering of the commune for a picnic - so I get to practice my French... goodness knows what sort of a mess I’ll get myself into!
30th September, 2019
The summer has ended and so begins the rain as of yesterday - all day! A notable drop in temperature but still sticky.
Chris busied himself on fitting his first ever window - no easy task when not a damned thing in the house is straight or level! However, the window is in and it looks jolly good too. I think
the general term for what we have is quirky but we like it. Amazing how much noise the new window cuts out - especially noticeable when it is blowing a gale outside. One down and many more to go. Hoping we have a warmer winter as a result of the windows and some insulation...assuming we manage to get that in before winter comes and goes!
10th October, 2019
Rain, rain, rain - leaving time for the indoor jobs. The insulation is in on both sides of the house - an itchy, cramped and unenviable task - thank you Chris. I did my bit on handing the itchy stuff up the ladders having separated it from the mother pod. The work hasn’t stopped there either - the grass is scarified, cut and collected and Chris has today seeded the bits that are patchy. New year and new lush green grass to come. Today was a bit of a non event - went to Emmaus to see if any bargains were to be had - looking for a large stainless steel sink to use to wash the dogs in the utility ... no such luck. Instead we splashed out a whole euro on a large packet of wild flower seed - should be pretty. Shed base next - another Chris job whilst I finish the bedroom decorating. Room change coming before Christmas! Small steps.
20th November, 2019
A change in the weather has prompted some gardening. A carrier full of spring bulbs are planted and I look forward to seeing the results. Lots of w**ding and a few shrubs to plant. Fruit trees and shrubs are in along with some onion sets and garlic. Still waiting for the trees we ordered back end of the summer - it all seems to be taking shape!
Meanwhile, Chris has landed the worst job, yet again, with the sanding of the kitchen beams - messy, messy, messy. Windows for lounge, kitchen and utility are now in at Lapeyre and ready to collect - so things are moving along nicely if slowly.
The shed base is down and although a dubious start, it is looking like it has set properly. Hoping the weather holds long enough to put the shed and greenhouse up. Still need to treat the wood so a good 3/4 days work I’m thinking.
We’ve moved into the main bedroom and although no heating upstairs still. It’s warmer being above the lounge - with wood burning fire. The beautiful victorian style cast iron radiators are in situ but as we haven’t got to the room in which the pellet boiler that will run them is to be placed we will have to wait a little longer. The bedroom is also the middle room of the house so not as exposed to the elements. Curtains have been altered for the room and our new bed and antique wardrobe all give a stylish finish. Just need to retrieve the chaise langue from the outbuilding now. The exposed stone work of the wall adds a rustic charm and makes you appreciate the effort that went into building this house - imagine collecting all those rocks before you start to build; no modern bricks back in the 1500s. I can’t imagine how many times they walked up and down that hill to gather a pile big enough to work with.
It feels really good to look at the progress we’ve made before getting too daunted with the work to come. Onwards and upwards!
3rd December, 2019
The last few days have been focused on the kitchen. The beams are sanded, washed, bleached, worming treatment applied and lastly, varnish. They are looking the part! Chris has been working on renewing the electrics - making them safe. They have been given a much needed update. The kitchen is a work in progress still but evidently taking shape.
I have to say I am looking forward to a fully functioning kitchen, the current arrangement is situated in the lounge with some gas rings and shelving units - washing up and straining is through the kitchen to the utility room. It all takes soo much longer!
It is very cold now and a mixture of wood fires and paraffin heaters are keeping us warm. Hopefully this time next year the pellet boiler will be providing central heating.
Plans for January include the knocking through of a new door and blocking up of an old one - no mean feat when the wall is 2-3 feet thick and made of a mixture of stone and earth. Slowly does it. I won’t be here to see it happening so I am prevented some additional greys! I have been told the wall can collapse - great! Hoping all goes well.
The windows are picked up - not quite all according to plan as one missing and one not yet in. We also collected a dozen sheets of insulated plasterboard, 2 green board, and 4 wood worktops. Unfortunately, with an open backed truck, it rained all day and especially hard during loading and unloading - thankfully it all dried out - including Chris and I. A memorable day for all the wrong reasons! It won’t be long and we might be ready for staircase order.
17th January, 2020
Coming to the end of a post Christmas visit UK/home for me - which fortunately coincided with some rather messy works! My decision to have an alternative door from Kitchen to Lounge turned out to be a little more complicated than might be imagined. With assistance from an able friend who knows about these things, Chris is learning fast about the intricacies and peculiarities of stone built walls. The careful and slow removal of stone and earth and the shuttering up and pouring of concrete in sections is a far cry from the ease of forming an opening in a traditional house. The courtyard is now occupied by a large pile of stone and earth that was once a wall. Among the finds in the wall, an area which appeared to have been a larder - walnuts, corn and mice/rat droppings - thankfully no mice or rats! At some point in the distant past the house had more than human residents. Apparently, (I haven’t seen this myself) a portion of wall was lost in the forming of said doorway - over and above that required! At one point Chris said he feared for the newly formed bathroom above. On my return, I am expecting to find Chris a little more grey than when I left. In many respects, it is a good thing that Chris had no idea of the massive task he naively undertook as I never would have had my way. :)
The next job is to create a 4-5 stair access into the lounge - requiring the removal of 1.5-2 metres of earth.
Having purchased a few more things to complete the kitchen and create the utility, my trailer and car will be loaded and heading homeward come Thursday. Tiles, Lights, Worktop oil, Paint, Tools plus a host of associated home improvement/decorative objects. It will be lovely to see it all coming together. Hoping it won’t be too long before we are in a ‘receiving guests’ situation.
30th January, 2020
I returned from my travels on the 23rd following a slow journey with trailer in tow. I was shocked at the size of the door opening but can see that it will make a lovely link between kitchen and lounge and create more light too.
Chris has now taken a trip back to the UK and left me in charge. It is a new experience as I have never been here on my own. As we approach the ‘Brexit’ day I hope that we will be unaffected as residents in France - it is all very sad.
This is the first full day on my own and I am trying to get some momentum going! I plan to get some rubbing down of the kitchen ceiling completed and maybe walls too before Chris gets back - wish I could crack on and finish the kitchen but I know my limitations! I’ll stick with the garden and decorating.
Speaking of the garden, the spring bulbs are starting to emerge and I’m looking forward to a flourish of colour. I can’t believe that one area of bulbs that I planted way back have flowered pretty much all winter and are very pretty with their stems of vivid pink flowers. I think they are called Iridaceae. I can strongly recommend them. Hoping that the Sisyrinchium get established too this year as they are hardy and should give some good cover on the bank with some pretty lemon flowers. Another success in this location have been the cornflowers that just seem to go on and on through the harshest of conditions. It is all a case of finding what works in the conditions we have.
25th February, 2020.
Well, Chris returned on the 12th February - as planned. What a lot we have managed to achieve since then! We have collected our trees - the largest standing at approximately 7 metres and planted them in the top garden. Fingers crossed they all take. Some are likely to do better than others given their position but we will do our best to nurture them and ease them in to life here. The collection was a little worrying the trailer is only 3 metres long and as I say the largest tree 7 metres so a sizeable overhang which made the towing seem a little snake like! Slow and steady did it.
The second big job has been to erect the shed that has been waiting patiently under tarpaulin for around 6 months. I was a little worried about the condition it might be in but fortunately apart from the odd mouse/vole habitat it appears to have survived the ordeal. We managed (I should say Chris managed!) to get that built in 2 days. Though there are one or two things to finish - the basic structure is there and looking pretty good. I managed to knock a few planks in unaided but ‘the force’ (aka Chris) was much needed on some of the bowed timber! It has had one coat of wood preserver so far and we are waiting for some clear dry weather to get the requisite number of coats on top ready for the long hot summer.
Chris has managed to remedy the leak that occurred on the back door - some super duper mastic/sealant, patience and some thinking on how the frame needed adapting to prevent the seeping of water to the lower corners. We are home and dry! The ceiling too is nearing completion - maybe today will finish that - if Chris is willing. Now the kitchen is dry we can look at getting the bouncy floor tiles sorted and the kitchen fitted. It all seems to be coming together.
The pleasure of a fully functioning kitchen is eagerly awaited.
29th March, 2020
What a lot has changed in a few weeks. We are in the grip of a pandemic ‘Corona virus’ we are in lock down as are many countries. Sad times and too many deaths. Little sign of it abating at the moment with a vaccine sadly too far in the future. Hoping we all stay safe and follow the guidance our governments are giving us.
The shed is all but finished - just an inside floor skim to remedy the loose concrete. The roof and felt are all in place and all coats administered. The sand has been barrowed down to the greenhouse base ready for the concrete to be laid.
The grass has been cut, scarified and seeded. Hoping to rid ourselves of the w**ds that seem to have taken hold over winter. The trees have started to come to life and even some blossom on the prunus. Buds are visible so we’re hoping it won’t be too long before we see foliage. Watering is key for the next few months to get them well and truly established.
The kitchen is still empty having made the decision to replace all tiles having noted that they were poorly adhered - the reason was evident once we noted the wax floor beneath! Added the leaky step/door into the mix it was a recipe requiring a remedy. The doors have now been thoroughly sealed with the addition of some faux stonework to the exterior - hard to believe how water will find a way where none can be seen! Adding to the problem, we believe, are the planters on the back wall which lack drainage and were extremely sodden. Earth removed we will add some drainage or possible remove them altogether to prevent any further problems.
Unfortunately, due to the lock down the builders’ merchants are closed so we are lacking in some of the materials required to continue. Furthermore, the levelling system that Chris wanted to put the tiles down seems to be held up in transit from China - either that or it is on a very slow boat! Worse come to worse he will do them without - now we are sure the water seepage is at an end.
The garden is looking good with the tulips, anemones, daffodils and others in flower and with the change in the weather it is all looking rather cheery. It is just as well given the awful problems that beset everyone at the moment. Numerous seeds have been sown to help swell the borders with colour.
The potager is a little w**dy and I have been breaking my back to remove them - only a section at a time. The onions and garlic are coming up just as the broccoli are finishing. Potatoes planted and on the next plot for other root vegetables - carrots, parsnip, celeriac, beetroot etc., Hoping we get good crops to encourage us to keep going.
Chris, reliably, or at least I hope so, tells me that the kitchen will be complete and functioning before the end of the summer...must see if I can fast forward on that deadline!
28th April, 2020
Tiles in the kitchen are nearing completion - further delayed by the doors that were ‘made to measure’ yet seem to be mismatched doors and frame! The frame fits but that’s about it. We did get a glimpse of how it might look when finished and hopefully after lockdown ends we can get Lapeyre to re-order them. At the moment we have a shutter wedged in place - good job we are enjoying nice weather. Grouting to be done but Chris is giving his knees a well earned break. Still busy though in the workshop running up some chunky skirting from some wood.
Meanwhile, in the garden, I have been on the bank by the pool battling with the w**ds that have managed to claim space whilst my back was turned. This requires a pick axe like tool so no easy task. As I have been doing this in shorts and wellies I am developing an interesting set of tan lines.
We fear 3 of the trees we purchased may have succumbed to the change in location - glad I managed to get some red hazel cuttings but the American Oak and the Prunus are touch and go. We won’t give up on them. I guess it has changed from sodden to hot in a few short weeks and they just can’t quite fathom it.
The nights skies have been beautiful of late, shooting stars abound and the stars are just breathtaking. The birds are singing through the dark, possibly nightingales, robins, but I am no expert.
By day, the lack of traffic noise heightens the senses and the sound of birds, bees, flies etc fill the air whilst the lizards scuttle around in the leaves. The local bird man keeps some more exotic bird species and the sound of the peacock calling is clear around the valley. Wood peckers, Cuckoos and Hoopoes create a cacophony of sound and the distant bellow of cattle create a musical bar. I am sure when time permits lazy afternoons on the terrace more secrets of the valley will reveal themselves.
25th June, 2020
We have a date for Lapeyre to visit - 1st July, 2020. Meanwhile, we still have open house! The kitchen is largely done and I have pre-empted its completion and moved some of my things into it. The stairs still need sanding and repairing and the cupboard underneath making. The kitchen cupboard doors will need painting but hey - we are very close given where we started. A few more floor tiles and it should be there! It has transformed the room and is now light and airy. The upper landing is in the same colours and adding a large mirror and tarting up the few steps to the bedroom have made a big difference.
I will be popping back to the UK for a few weeks to be with family and leaving Chris in charge here. Not looking forward to the drive but it has to be done.
Still fighting with the garden - it rained for about 2-3 weeks and I mean torrential - I didn’t get out and now the weeks are once again abundant. I hope they don’t get too carried away whilst I am gone.
