Concrete going down for gite floors, hallway and after much deliberation a downstairs toilet

Just to recap the first of the 2 gites in September was like this:

Then Trees arrived and with sledgehammer created this:

Gite 1

Gite 1

Fireplace Gite 1

After Phil's incident concrete making and spreading are out of bounds so a local and very lovely French man has come to help along with a friend of his.

Gite 2 - Before

Gite 2 - floorboards gone

   

The 'find' in gite 2 was below a cupboard that we thought may have been a 'fridge' or larder due to the latticing to let air in.

We have been told that what actually happened was that hot embers were put below - see hole that has been concreted in, in the photo and that the hear from these heated pans that were on a metal plate on the stone shelf above. So a cooker circa 1793 we think.

Cooker circa 1793

Cooker circa 1793

The gites are now concreted and once we have finished the main building we can start in there. Really pleased to have this done as the floors were rotten.
We have also had the courtyard dug up, a soil pipe and a water pipe are now connected in the second house so all ready to get started on plumbing.

Meanwhile, in the main house work slowed for a bit in the New Year. Partly colds dragging us down but a bit of the January blues I expect. The weather has been cold but also wet and grey, very UK so no wonder we have slowed up.

But we seem to be getting on a roll again now.

Plastering where the old sink used to be

Plastering in hall

New downstairs loo

Tiling is finished in utility room and the downstairs loo is tiled on the floor, plumbed in and painted. The doors have been painted too.

The hallway really is a huge job as all plumbing and electrics originate here so it really is the hub of the house. Next step - plasterboarding the ceiling so we can hide pipework and cabling. Not a job we are looking forward to but once the hall is done we can move on to the second guest bedroom. Something I am really looking forward to.

Aiming to open the two B&B rooms in April has meant I have had to do some marketing work.

I have built the website - check it out at www.lacourcharente.eu

Any comments gratefully accepted!

You can book online here as well as on the FaceBook page that I have also set up at - www.facebook.com/lacourcharente

This morning I registered the B&B with the Tourist Office in Ruffec and just in the nick of time as the insertions for their accommodation guide have a deadline of this week.

Paul very kindly helped me with the text for our entry - it had to be in French.

So right now things are starting to move in the right direction after what felt like grinding to a standstill.

Hope you like what we have done. On the 13th January we celebrated having the house for one year and on 24th we will have actually had the keys and been here for a year.

We haven't done too badly in that time really, have we?

Until the next time.

Much love  xx

Bonne année

We had a wonderful and hectic trip back to the UK for Christmas to see family and friends.
Phil was very excited to be able to drive back in the UK. It has been over 6 months since his last 'incident' and under Section 88 of the road traffic act whilst they are processing the return of his license he can drive - in the UK. Sadly French law requires you to have your license on you at all times when driving so we're not quite there yet.
Unfortunately on his first drive since March on the way back to Evergreen from Portsmouth a speeding camera caught him. A ridiculous 30mph zone on a wide country lane but nonetheless he was caught. 

As soon as we got back we were welcomed by Leigh who had lit a roaring fire for us. Wonderful!
That evening we met Martin and Sandra (who came top visit us here in September) and had a lovely evening at the Indian in Cheddar. Indian food is one of the few things I miss about living in France.

The following day we drove over to help Rich move his furniture to his new flat in Glastonbury. It a lovely flat and I am sure he will be happy there. Glastonbury High Street and all it's shops and pubs and cafes are on the doorstop. Much nicer for him.
After the move we went and did a B&Q shop. Not much required now as we feel much more confident about shopping for building materials in France. However paint and varnish are so expensive here we are still buying paint in the UK.

Our Christmas tree 2014

The following day we spent putting Christmas decorations up before meeting up with our friends for an evening. I hadn't seen them since October so it was great to catch up. 
When I was in Paris I couldn't resist buying each of them a French beret.

The girls

On the Friday Phil stayed in for deliveries (my Xmas present) and I went over to Rich's flat. He had been working since the move and we spent a lovely afternoon sorting a few things out and I got to see the flat properly.
That evening we got to meet his girlfriend for the first time and we met at the Crown in Wells - a pub familiar to those who know the film Hot Fuzz.
We had a meal at Ask by the Bishop's Palace - how apt! A lovely evening with great company - a pleasure to meet her at last.

Saturday was a day for preparing for the following day when Phil's children and grandchildren were coming over. We also had Dave and Ange from Villefagnan but currently spending some time in Wales over for lunch. So good to see them and slightly weird to see them at Evergreen rather than in VF.
The family Sunday was a great afternoon and passed so quickly. The children were great and we had a mini Christmas with them, turkey and everything!

I had a trip to the dentist and hygienist on the Monday - necessary but never something I look forward to. We managed to squeeze in a couple of hours with friends James and Mandy as well which was lovely, before meeting up with Phil's brothers and their wives in Bristol. 

After all this flying around we tried to slow down on Tuesday before starting up again Wednesday. We did get to meet at the Swan at Rowberrow with Jill and Melv for a very nice lunch and catch up. Pam and Dave surprised us by popping by and we had a lovely time. It was feeling very festive by this time.
The following morning I went to pick Mum up and my sister and family arrived shortly after we got back. Traffic was awful but by lunchtime the only person missing was Rich who had to work until early evening.
At 5.20pm we looked i the sky and saw Father Christmas going by on his sleigh. Seriously - we did. In reality it was the International Space Station but it was exciting for most of us. Sadly Tilly has a little fear of the big man in red so it didn't go down too well with her.

Christmas Day was wonderful. We didn't even manage to get through all the childrens' presents - some were saved till Boxing Day.
We got to say hello to David in the afternoon as well, which was a nice surprise as he had had to cancel meeting up the previous Friday.

The weather took a turn for the worse Boxing Day and our walk along the beach at Burnham on Sea wasn't as pleasant as we had hoped. Still, it blew away some cobwebs and we all went into Wetherspoons for fish and chips afterwards.

The following day we said goodbye to our guests and started dissembling the decorations and loading up the van ready for our departure the following morning.
It was so good to see Rich during our stay. I miss him so much and he has grown up to be such a wonderful son. I am bursting with pride and hope that he can make it over to France very soon.

We left in good time and had slowish trip to Portsmouth. Traffic along the A303 always gets snarled up around Stonehenge. The weather was cold but bright and after meeting up with Paul and Di at the ferry we had a good crossing.

They went on to their house and we went to the Ibis Hotel at Caen to rest before the trip to Villefagnan the day after.
I was back in the driving seat and we made good time. The weather was very cold but bright and we got back and decided to crack open a bottle of fizzy and watch a film before meeting up with friends at Chez David.

It was great to see everyone. New friends Linda and Anthony who have a lovely property on the outskirts of Villefagnan had just arrived back and it was like a reunion.

We had a to recover before New Years Eve which we spent at L'Etoile d'Or. Paul and Di came down for a couple of days to spend it with us which was wonderful. we didn't get to bed until about 3am - which for us is a very late one. Linda and Anthony's friend Neville came too and was such good fun. He danced with the elderly ladies and made them feel so special. A charming man.
He is also an amazing hairdresser and gave me a real pamper before he had to leave to go back to England to 'do' a wedding.

New Years Day we walked down to Linda and Anthony's for an exceptional meal and had a fantastic time. Paul and Di were welcomed too along with the guys from l'Etoile d'Or. 

Next year we hope to be in Villefagnan for Christmas. Therer was so much going on that we missed. In fact I nearly missed this little gem. Across from the church some barn doors had been opened and lights placed around them and inside was this beautiful nativity scene.

So as I write we are both recovering from colds and over indulgence. The work is continuing but at a slow pace as we haven't really got back in the swing just yet.

More of our progress next time.

Until then a very Happy New Year to you all.

Much love xx 

The work continues

With the build up to Christmas and our imminent return to the UK to see family and friends we haven't got as far as we had hoped.
Our intention was to start work on the second letting room and finish with the hallway and landing but we changed our minds and have been working the other way round.
The hallway is such a big job. This is where the floor was bad and has been dug up several times for soil pipes etc. Kim will remember this digging very well back in May. All electrics start from this point and the walls are in a poor state.

Stairwell plastered

We started by painting the ceiling over the stairs (what we are going to do with the ceiling in the actual hallway remains a mystery and will do until after Christmas now - we need to cover up cables). We continued by plaster boarding the wall at the side of the stairs where previously it was wooden tongue and groove but in a sorry state. Cracks have been filled and the overall effect after painting is much brighter.

Stairwell painted

Stairwell when we arrived Jan 2014

Phil knocked the old sink out in the hallway (was the old kitchen) and sadly it couldn't be saved. In fact it didn't want to break at all and when it did it clung on to the wall with grim determination. However it has finally gone. We plan on having a window seat in the alcove it has created. Also an opportunity for some extra storage.

Sink in pieces and where it used to be

The doorway from the hall to the second guest bedroom needed moving to the right. Here is a picture of the old and very short doorway going. Phil is so pleased. He has hit his head on it every day since we arrived. as you can see the new door is now in situ.

Bye bye to the head banging doorway

Hello new door to guest bedroom - slightly to the right

Whilst pulling up floorboards in the hall we discovered what I believed to be flagstones.
I got very excited and wanted to save them but Phil informs we they were just concrete stones and they had broken up beyond belief/ I still think it sad as they had obviously been around for a long time and it would have been nice to save them but I lost this battle.

Sad au revoir to some 'flag stones'?

Much of the hallway has been plasterboarded and plastered and the downstairs cloakroom is going in. The floor we discovered yesterday afternoon is too low and there isn't enough fall on the pipe so we had to raise the floor. Be aware visitors, there is now a step into the downstairs cloakroom.
We weren't sure if we would have room for this cloakroom but once the walls started going up it is a reasonable space - especially compared to some downstairs toilets so we think it will work well. It's an essential really as anyone visiting us won't have to either use the outside toilet or go through our bedroom to get to our en suite.

Plastered - you can see our double doors to kitchen in the background

A loo too low

Raising the floor

A heightened toilet experience

Meanwhile our friend Rob has been helping out as the window frame to our first guest bedroom was letting in water. it turns out the sill was completely rotten. Rob has replaced this and the entire frame. The sill measured 1.4m and was 12cm x 12cm square oak. We got this from a fantastic wood yard just outside Ruffec at Bernac for only €10.82!!

Sill and frame removed

We are so grateful to Rob. He worked up a ladder in  the road and it's not a low window. Phil and I aren't good with heights and Phil certainly mustn't work at heights after the events of this year. A great help to us Rob - many thanks. Rob is returning to the UK shortly for maybe a long time. He has become a great friend and we will miss him. Hopefully you will come back very soon.

New frame and shutters rehung

Last weekend we took the day out to visit a couple of Christmas markets.
the first in the old abbey at Nanteuil-en-Vallee and the second at La Rochefoucauld in cloisters near the beautiful chateau. Some piccies here.

Abbey at Nanteuil

Inside abbey at Nanteuil Xmas Market

Abbey grounds Nanteuil

Xmas Market - Abbey Nanteuil

Abbey grounds - Nanteuil

Chateau at La Rochefoucauld

Cloisters at La Rouchefoucauld

We also stopped at the memorial to the Resistance at Chasseneuil. Pretty impressive. It is on the N141 which is now named Route Claude Bonnier - also called the Chemin de Liberte - Freedom Way, a hero of the resistance during WW2 who after capture took his own life with a cyanide pill rather than give information under torture.

Monument to the Resistance - Chasseneuil

It's only a few days before we leave Villefagnan for the UK and Christmas so I hope to see some of you very soon.

xx

Paris

We have recently returned from a wonderful five days in Paris. It was my first trip there after many years of wanting to go.
We caught the train from Ruffec (only 10 minutes down the road) and the train went non stop into Montparnasse station. we arrived on the Friday just before midday.As we had a large case we decided to get a taxi so we followed the signs into the bowels of the station and asked the first taxi driver to take us to our hotel. He didn't know the hotel, nor it would seem the road until I got the confirmation out and showed it to hi, His response was that it wasn't far so we were left wondering whether he would take us or not. Anyway it transpired that he would. Once in the cab he tries to run over several pedestrians at crossings and rushed through lights whatever colour they were showing. On top of this he muttered constantly - certainly some swear words coming out. To cap it all he had body odour. As we got out at the hotel we knew it could only get better after a ride with scary, smelly Tourettes suffering taxi driver.
And indeed it did.

We were upgraded and had a lovely room (very small bathroom but as the hotel was old it had been created where ever space allowed). Staff were lovely and asked if we wanted to speak French or English which was great for Phil. From our very small balcony we could see the top of the Eiffel Tower.

We explored the area that afternoon after a lovely lunch in a nearby café and walked down to Notre Dame passed the Sorbonne. We were staying in the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement) on the left bank which is also the student area. It is named because Latin was the language in which lessons were taught. we found a great cafe/bar called Le Petit Pont by the river across from Notre Dame. Although it was November we sat outside under infra red heaters and watched the world go by.

Notre Dame

We returned to this area that evening for dinner. We had a wonderful meal in a little place in the small winding streets close to Notre Dame. The waiter was working on his own and had so many tables to look after that we feared we may not get served but as soon as we placed our order he managed to remain attentive and we couldn't fault the service at all.

The hotel had a lovely salon where there was an honesty bar so we had a nightcap back there.

The following day we headed out for coffee (espresso) and croissants. After this we got on a hop on, hop off bus as in our experience elsewhere (particularly Madeira, Edinburgh and Florence) this is a great way to see a city and orientate whilst learning some history and what is what. Sadly this tour was disappointing. The commentary was poor and we passed many buildings of note without any commentary whatsoever. Also the music was repetitive and the stops were few and far between.
We got off at the top of the Champs Elysees near the Arc de Triomphe and went under the road to come up under the arch. It is beautiful and the eternal flame and the tomb of the unknown soldier were lovely. Especially as only four days earlier we had seen the ceremony for Armistice on television. All the flowers were still fresh and it was quite a moment.

Arc de Triomphe

Eternal Flame at tomb of unknown soldier

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

We stopped for an expensive espresso in a Champs Elysee cafe before hopping on the bus again. This was the highlight for me as when I plugged my earphones in and we set of around the Arc de Triomphe, Gary Moore's Parisenne Walkways played into my ears. Quite an emotional moment for me. 

Our next hop off was at the Eiffel Tower. I wasn't prepared for how truly awesome it is - in the true sense of the word. It towers above the city and in my mind is very beautiful I thought it would be grey but in fact it was more burnished brown.

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower and fountains

From here we walked past the fountains to Trocadero. The fountains have a rythm and different fountains spurt at different times. Very beautiful. 

Fountains

Fountains

At this point the sun came out and we saw the first blue sky since we arrived. It was also the last for the rest of our stay.
There was an outside table (protected from the wind and under infra red lights)at the Trocdero cafe. We shared a plate of charcuterie and had a glass of wine with a great view of the Eiffel Tower - which by the way can change in height as much as 6 inches/15 cms depending on the temperature - Perfect!  A couple arrived at the table next to us and he staring taking photos of the girl's hand around a wine glass. On leaving I remarked on her pretty ring and she said that he had proposed to her that morning during their trip from Italy. Lovely!


We endured the rest of the tour, learning very little and finally got back to our starting point. Whilst we had a two day ticket we decided we had milked that route dry and wouldn't bother again.

Late afternoon we searched out Harry's Bar. The entire bar was brought over from the US during prohibition and was a big hit in Paris. Not far from the Opera. A friend had recommended it to us and it was where the Bloody Mary was invented. Had to be done.

Bloody Mary

Harry's Bar

The following day was Sunday and we set off to walk to Musee d'Orsay and en route found a typically French cafe for breakfast.

The Musee d'Orsay was once a railway station, built for the 1900 exhibition, but now is a museum housing a great collection of impressionist paintings.
What a stunning building and although I demonstrate a huge lack of knowledge about art it was wonderful to see paintings that are so familiar to me, such as waterlilies by Monet and ballerinas by Degas.

We had lunch in the restaurant there which has the most beautiful ornate ceiling and chandeliers. although the decor was rich the prices were reasonable and the service was great. Really beats some of these self service places the National Trust often have. Food was great too.

Restaurant ceiling - Musee d'Orsay

We left Musee D'Orsay in the rain and headed through the Jardin de Tuileries (lovely garden so called because they were built where tiles were once made). In fact a palace was built there for Catherine de Medici which is no longer there but the gardens still remain. We reached Place de la Concorde and the rain was getting heavier and heavier so we decided to hail a cab and go back to the hotel to get ready for our big evening out.

We left the hotel, dried out and much smarter, to head for our venue for the evening - the Moulin Rouge.
Still raining but at least we queued under cover.
Phil had booked this dinner and show and we ate a nice meal with champagne (of course) After we finished the champagne we wanted to order another bottle. A bottle of rose was an extortionate €75! During the meal a couple of singers who were very good entertained us. The other people stared arriving who had come for the show only. They managed to get six people on our table that was only intended for four. They even closed down the serving table that the waiters had used and managed to squeeze six on there as well as at all the other tables. The tables are set on layers like galleries around the room with a stage on one side. The lamps are red and very pretty.
The show was amazing. Costumes were stunning and the singing and dancing were superb. Only mild criticism was that I have now seen enough of other women's breasts to last a lifetime. Some subtly displayed and some not to much.
There was one act with a couple of roller dancers which was incredible. The girl was swung over the heads of the audience and swizzled horizontally whilst spinning around and around. Another great act was three acrobats, also over the audiences heads. One was thrown into the audience and whilst 'flying' over their heads the others pulled him back on stage. A ventriloquist was also superb.

So ended out third day.

On the Monday we headed for the Christmas market on the Champs Elysees.
A wonderful collection of stalls that run up and down the Champs Elysees.
Cheeses, sausages, food, trinkets, champagne, scarves, lots of wonderful stalls for presents.

Pink, green and blue cheese

One of the food stalls

Afterwards we walked to Galeries Lafayette as my friend Mandy said I must go. We walked for a long way in the wrong direction but eventually found it - next to Printemps which was a beautiful store as well. However in the main GL building the ceiling and galleries are a sight to behold. The lifts are also a pretty picture.

If you visit Paris you should go , but the flagship is this one by the opera and not the one at Montparnasse.

Stunning domed ceiling at Galeries Lafayette

Upside down Xmas Tree and galleries at Galeries Lafayette

We came out of this beautiful department store and walked past the Opera which inspired Phantom of the opera and realised we were very close to Harry's Bar. Because it was still raining we dived inside for a sneeky Bloody Mary. Perfect!

On the Tuesday we took an hour boat trip with commentary from under the Eiffel Tower. This was much more interesting than the bus and in spite of the weather the boat was heated and cosy and had a bar. Great view of so many buildings from the river. After this we headed on the Metro to Montmartre where our friends Mike and Maria were spending a couple of days. We got off at a stop called Chateau Rouge - not the best stop to get off at but we trudged up the hill from there to Sacre Coeur which has an amazing view looking down over the whole of Paris. We wandered around Montmartre and the Artists Square and found a lovely painting of Paris - perfect for our new kitchen/living space before meeting up with our friends and having a lovely evening.

View of Paris from Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur

Artists Square, Monmartre

Sacre Coeur at night

On the Wednesday we packed our bags as we were catching the train back to Ruffec mid afternoon.

We left our bags in reception and walked down towards Notre Dame. After croissants and coffee we crossed to Isle de Saint Louis to go to Berthillons. We have been told he is the best ice cream maker in Paris. When we arrived however we were so cold we decided that ice cream would have to wait until our next trip - hopefully in warmer weather. We wandered around this pretty area around and found after five days in Paris, a true French accordionist on one of the bridges. We had a lovely lunch at Le Petit Pont, a great spot for people watchig before leaving to catch our train. Be warned if you visit this cafe - a large glass of wine is nearly half a pint.

A fabulous five days.

Thanks so much Phil xx