Bath time!

Sunday night Phil botched the thermostat so that there was enough hot water for a bath. The bath was sitting in a very drafts large space (for those that know Evergreen, about the size of our lounge there. As he had been doing the most physical work he went first. After a few minutes he returned clean but blue. The water wasn't really hot enough and the room temperature probably wasn't much more than freezing. He said that I wouldn't even want to try so I had a strip wash instead. At this point he had worked out how to fix the thermostat and that was to be the first job in the morning. The instructions were poor and there were electricians forums on the internet where the professionals complained about the difficulty. Sadly the answers were hidden from us as we had to register as an electrician and be accepted before we were allowed to join that particular club. 

As promised Phil fixed the problem on Monday morning and the huge cylinder had the whole day to heat up. We Celotexed the rest of the bathroom area; walls and roof and Phil was determined to provide a cosy area for me to have a steaming hot bath by the end of the day. We had been out and bought a 2000watt fan heater and found an extension lead outside by the work bench. Phil put a little light on another extension  and set both up by the bath. I hear you shout 'Health and Safety' but we didn't care. To keep out the drafts Phil stapled blankets to the stud partitions and even fixed an old door in the doorway. Wanting things to be just right he even shaved it down so it would fit and proudly shut the door. There wasn't however a handle to be able to pull it open. Undetected a nail was banged in and abracadabra, we had a handle.

The bath was run and bubbles duly poured into the steamy water.

I have to say I think it was the best bath I have ever had. The blankets gave the feeling of being in a Bedouin tent but I came out smelling wonderful. Clean hair, all the cobwebs, Celotex, dust and grime washed away. Pictures if our makeshift bathroom from both sides below.

We decided that we deserved a day off so woke up Tuesday morning to pelting rain which dispersed fairly quickly and gave way to blue skies and sunshine. We hopped in my car and headed into Ruffec to get some diesel for my car. at 1.27 a litre an absolute bargain. I dug in my bag and realised i had forgotten my purse.. Fortunately Phil had enough Euros for my now full tank. We then headed for the Charente at Ruffec, where canoeing and kayaking take place. The river was high and two men were removing tape that had been put up to stop people walking over a series of little foot bridges   As the river must have covered them. I'd love to show you photos but I realised the camera was still sitting on the bed. A few minutes later i looked in my bag and found the camera. Fantastic, until I turned it on and a message stated 'battery depleted'. 

We then went to  a village not far away that we had heard was beautiful called Verteuil.  We got out of the car  and headed down the street where a huge chateau took up a large part of the skyline. A restaurant there had been recommended to us called the Porte Bleu but sadly it was shut. We wandered around for a while then drove on to Nanteuil. This is a beautiful old village with a silver coloured river running through it. We parked the car and wandered around the old streets. I should imagine it will be heaving in the summer. There is an abbey there that we will return to when it is open  after the end of March. There was a a lovely walk along a small 'canal' - actually only about 3 feet wide with the river flowing on the other side. It leads to a small arboretum and we found a seat and just sat in the sun for a while. There was definitely some warmth in it and all along the banks of the canal were signs of Spring; primroses, bergenia and even a rose in flower. We will definitely return here.

In the way home we stopped for a proper supermarket shop and then back here to prune the vine (which Phil did) whilst I lit a bonfire. That got rid of a load of cardboard and wood so we have cleared a bit of space now.

Whilst we were in the courtyard Phil spotted a man by our gate and shouted out Bonjour. It was a neighbour from about 20 metres away called Ian. He and his wife Marion moved here about 6 years ago although they bought the house in 2002. We were invited for an aperitif at 6 so it was great that it was one of our clean days! Their house is gorgeous and they were such a lovely couple. What a great welcome to the village. They were both so interesting. Ian is a wine buff and worked in software before anyone knew the word existed. Marion is so full of get up and go and great advice. Apparently the English meet up in a pub on Wednesdays a few kilometres away. We have declined this week but have said we will join them another time. Also there is a regular quiz that we can go to. Anyone who knows Phil will know how overjoyed he is at the mention of a quiz. Oh well we'll see.

As I write this the sun has gone in and the skies have darkened. The wind is blowing the little bell in our gate and it is dinging away and the rain has returned. Not as bad as the UK have it. Our thoughts go out to you. How much more rain can there be. Hope everyone is safe and sound - and dry.

Phil has just got the sink working so we can now wash hands and teeth upstairs. I had better go as there is more of my favourite job to be done. (Celotex has become a swear word here). 

Love to you all.

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