After searching for some red table mats and coasters we decided to make our own
Cost 8.90 Euros for 6 table mats and 16 coasters
Am sure we will use that many coasters at some point. By the way they are red, not pink.
Much love xx
Saturday, 25 October 2014
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Orange land line in France - voice mail
Just a quick word about Orange land lines in France
Orange is the brand name for French Telecom. To contact Orange on an English speaking helpline from within France you can call 0969 36 39 00
If you want to call them from outside France then call 0033 969 36 39 00
I wanted to know how to:
1. Pick up messages that had been left
I discovered that messages were being left after a default French speaking message but had no idea how to pick them up. When logging into my account online I could see email messages. These are very clever as there are mp3 files attached and messages can be picked up this way but it was only after calling Orange English speaking help line that I found you can access messages by calling 888.
To listen press 1
It plays messages in order that they were received. listen all the way through
Then you can press 1 to hear again
Press 2 to save
Press 3 to delete
Press 4 to go to next message
Press * to go to main menu
Press # to call the person who called
2. How to personalise my outgoing message.
This is also done by calling 888 and going through various options.
2 then 1
This article may be of use to you
http://assistance.orange.fr/utiliser-la-messagerie-vocale-888-2101.php
Hope this helps
x
Orange is the brand name for French Telecom. To contact Orange on an English speaking helpline from within France you can call 0969 36 39 00
If you want to call them from outside France then call 0033 969 36 39 00
I wanted to know how to:
1. Pick up messages that had been left
I discovered that messages were being left after a default French speaking message but had no idea how to pick them up. When logging into my account online I could see email messages. These are very clever as there are mp3 files attached and messages can be picked up this way but it was only after calling Orange English speaking help line that I found you can access messages by calling 888.
To listen press 1
It plays messages in order that they were received. listen all the way through
Then you can press 1 to hear again
Press 2 to save
Press 3 to delete
Press 4 to go to next message
Press * to go to main menu
Press # to call the person who called
2. How to personalise my outgoing message.
This is also done by calling 888 and going through various options.
2 then 1
This article may be of use to you
http://assistance.orange.fr/utiliser-la-messagerie-vocale-888-2101.php
Hope this helps
x
October - at home and abroad
September was such a lovely month. Great weather (after the cool August) and friends visiting.
Whilst my back was bad Phil carried on with lots of little jobs that were so important but didn't make much of a visual impact.
In October we had a flying visit back to the UK to get Phil's defibrillator checked and to pick up a few things. Also the van had it's first MOT which reulted in some new brake pads being fitted but we are so pleased with her and expected there to be a lot more work than that.
Thanks to Paul who took care of all of it for us.
The van came back for the first time not packed to the sides and top.
We did a night crossing coming back on a Sunday/ It was rainy on the way to Portsmouth and got dark so conditions weren't superb and the traffic was abysmal. Probably a bad time to be on the roads.
We got back to Villefagnan at 2pm on the Monday afternoon. As we opened the gates the sun was shining on the stone walls and courtyard and the warmth was just like the house was welcoming us back.
Since then we have done lots!
The kitchen is plastered now and I have done lots of painting of windows.
Rugs have been cleaned in honour of our next guests.
The back door has been recovered on the inside which was a real state and I have varnished.
Here are some pics of the plastering.The ceiling has plasterboard on but is yet to be plastered. After that we can go shopping for floor tiles. I can't wait.
Bedroom 2 is virtually finished.
All that remains is the skirting boards to be painted and the wooden floor given a bit of TLC. We have brought back the new Ottoman bed and made it up along with a new firm mattress for our guests. we now have the bed that was in this room and the old bed is being stored for now. The mattress was easy to get out but the base would NOT go down the stairs so we asked our friend Rob to come and help us get it through the bedroom window. Last night was a chilly night and we brought a circular table into the kitchen which worked really well. Rob came round to get the bed base out through the window. Phil and Rob guided it out of the window on straps and I stood in the street to stop cars and to guide it safely to the ground. It made the trip successfully which means Phil doesn't have to cut it up to get it out of the house and we now have a bed base for use in one of the gites.
To say thanks to Rob we went to Chez David to have a couple of aperos and then back to our 'becoming cosy' kitchen for chilli.
Our first proper meal indoors
Bedroom 2 which will be our first letting room now looks like this.
Curtains and holdbacks up and a few finishing touches. A sneak preview for all my blog followers.
We really feel we are making progress now and we are so happy to be back here in Villefagnan with our new friends. In 9 short months we have come a long way and met some lovely people. My French is improving, as is Phil's. We have friends both French and English and are very happy to be here.
Very much looking forward to welcoming my lovely sister and brother in law and their beautiful girls here next week.
A bientot
xx
Whilst my back was bad Phil carried on with lots of little jobs that were so important but didn't make much of a visual impact.
In October we had a flying visit back to the UK to get Phil's defibrillator checked and to pick up a few things. Also the van had it's first MOT which reulted in some new brake pads being fitted but we are so pleased with her and expected there to be a lot more work than that.
Thanks to Paul who took care of all of it for us.
The van came back for the first time not packed to the sides and top.
We did a night crossing coming back on a Sunday/ It was rainy on the way to Portsmouth and got dark so conditions weren't superb and the traffic was abysmal. Probably a bad time to be on the roads.
We got back to Villefagnan at 2pm on the Monday afternoon. As we opened the gates the sun was shining on the stone walls and courtyard and the warmth was just like the house was welcoming us back.
Since then we have done lots!
The kitchen is plastered now and I have done lots of painting of windows.
Rugs have been cleaned in honour of our next guests.
The back door has been recovered on the inside which was a real state and I have varnished.
 |
| Back door |
Here are some pics of the plastering.The ceiling has plasterboard on but is yet to be plastered. After that we can go shopping for floor tiles. I can't wait.
 |
| Looking good Phil |
 |
| The space with exposed wall is for our TV |
Bedroom 2 is virtually finished.
All that remains is the skirting boards to be painted and the wooden floor given a bit of TLC. We have brought back the new Ottoman bed and made it up along with a new firm mattress for our guests. we now have the bed that was in this room and the old bed is being stored for now. The mattress was easy to get out but the base would NOT go down the stairs so we asked our friend Rob to come and help us get it through the bedroom window. Last night was a chilly night and we brought a circular table into the kitchen which worked really well. Rob came round to get the bed base out through the window. Phil and Rob guided it out of the window on straps and I stood in the street to stop cars and to guide it safely to the ground. It made the trip successfully which means Phil doesn't have to cut it up to get it out of the house and we now have a bed base for use in one of the gites.
To say thanks to Rob we went to Chez David to have a couple of aperos and then back to our 'becoming cosy' kitchen for chilli.
Our first proper meal indoors
 |
| Phil at our kitchen table after meal |
Curtains and holdbacks up and a few finishing touches. A sneak preview for all my blog followers.
 |
| View to window at front of house |
 |
| The bed |
 |
| View of window overlooking courtyard |
 |
| Shower room en suite |
We really feel we are making progress now and we are so happy to be back here in Villefagnan with our new friends. In 9 short months we have come a long way and met some lovely people. My French is improving, as is Phil's. We have friends both French and English and are very happy to be here.
Very much looking forward to welcoming my lovely sister and brother in law and their beautiful girls here next week.
A bientot
xx
Monday, 22 September 2014
A little bit of this and a little bit of that
The last 4 weeks I have been sadly lacking in my contribution to the renovations and have done very little over this period. I hurt my back - doing no more than sitting down to Skype Richard, my son.
In praise of the French medical system this is the service I received.
I rag a friend to ask if she could refer me to a physiotherapist. She called one of two doctors in the village and asked for a referral form me. The doctor said she would prefer to see me. 25 minutes later I was in front of the doctor. She was efficient and prescribed anti-infallamatories and painkillers which I got immediately from the chemist opposite She also prescribed 10 sessions with a physio also in the village, next door to teh Post Office. we went straight there after the chemist but think we may have hit lunch hour. Therefore we went back after lunch and the physion gave me my first appointment for less than an hour later. I cannot fault the efficiency of the system. without harping on as I know how borin it is listening to tales of bad health, unfortunately the drugs disagreed with me and I stopped taking them and the physio's methods weren't having the desired effect. From past experience with the same back problem I have huge success with Bowen therapy, a very gentle treatment and have now found a lovely therapist in Saintes. Enough of that anyway...
Phil however has been hard at it during this time.
The windows in the courtyard are looking better and just need a final coat. Amazing how white paint freshens everything up. The stonework around the windows and doors has had concrete removed (don't ask me why someone chose to put nasty grey concrete in as filler) and has been refilled with a chaux and sand mixture.
Some stud partition wall in the kitchen has been built and plastered and the double doors have been fited between the hallway and the kitchen. I did manage to varnish these - well most of them. Phil had to do the lower bits as I couldn't bend that low. He has also created shelves to house necessary stuff and at some point we will have cupboard doors. That'll be a little way off as the decision on what we'd like may take some time.
The first guest room that we call Bedroom 2 is nearly finished. Just a few bits to tart up. Phil finished painting ceiling, walls and beam and I managed to do a little painting around a window.
This was just in time for the first set of visitors.
We had a lovely couple of days with Martin and Sandra and spent last Monday visiting Oradour sur Glane.
This was the scene of the most atrocious brutality on June 10th 1944. To cut a long story short the German army rounded up the residents of this village and shot the men, mostly in the legs so they couldn't escape, at various locations around the village. They were then shot dead and burned beyond recognition. Meanwhile the women and children were rounded up and locked in the church where they were murdered. In all 642 lost their lives within a few hours with only a few who got away. The bodies were mutilated and burnt beyond recognition and stuffed in wells and sewers. Only 10 per cent were recognisable in order to bury in a named grave. This wasn't the only incident of this sort but others are much better known. The village has been left as it was and a new village built next door. There are cars from this day left in the streets and a pram in the church. The exhibition was very well done and some of the film footage extremely harrowing. A very sobering day for us.
Our next visitors came for a cup f coffee on their way back to the UK. Lovely to see Pete and Barbara who have been working really hard in their beautiful house near Cognac. As soon as they had left we had a quick lunch before driving to Limoges to meet my girlfriends.
It was so great to see Mand and Trees get off the plane and to bring them both back here. It is Mandy's second visit but all was new for Trees. We had a very busy few days or rather they did. Mandy has been gardening and Trees was desperate to knock a wall down, so we saved the wall in what will be Gite number 1 for her. Her face was a picture (so pleased I can provide you with something to demolish) and here is the result of her efforts.
In praise of the French medical system this is the service I received.
I rag a friend to ask if she could refer me to a physiotherapist. She called one of two doctors in the village and asked for a referral form me. The doctor said she would prefer to see me. 25 minutes later I was in front of the doctor. She was efficient and prescribed anti-infallamatories and painkillers which I got immediately from the chemist opposite She also prescribed 10 sessions with a physio also in the village, next door to teh Post Office. we went straight there after the chemist but think we may have hit lunch hour. Therefore we went back after lunch and the physion gave me my first appointment for less than an hour later. I cannot fault the efficiency of the system. without harping on as I know how borin it is listening to tales of bad health, unfortunately the drugs disagreed with me and I stopped taking them and the physio's methods weren't having the desired effect. From past experience with the same back problem I have huge success with Bowen therapy, a very gentle treatment and have now found a lovely therapist in Saintes. Enough of that anyway...
Phil however has been hard at it during this time.
The windows in the courtyard are looking better and just need a final coat. Amazing how white paint freshens everything up. The stonework around the windows and doors has had concrete removed (don't ask me why someone chose to put nasty grey concrete in as filler) and has been refilled with a chaux and sand mixture.
Some stud partition wall in the kitchen has been built and plastered and the double doors have been fited between the hallway and the kitchen. I did manage to varnish these - well most of them. Phil had to do the lower bits as I couldn't bend that low. He has also created shelves to house necessary stuff and at some point we will have cupboard doors. That'll be a little way off as the decision on what we'd like may take some time.
The first guest room that we call Bedroom 2 is nearly finished. Just a few bits to tart up. Phil finished painting ceiling, walls and beam and I managed to do a little painting around a window.
This was just in time for the first set of visitors.
We had a lovely couple of days with Martin and Sandra and spent last Monday visiting Oradour sur Glane.
This was the scene of the most atrocious brutality on June 10th 1944. To cut a long story short the German army rounded up the residents of this village and shot the men, mostly in the legs so they couldn't escape, at various locations around the village. They were then shot dead and burned beyond recognition. Meanwhile the women and children were rounded up and locked in the church where they were murdered. In all 642 lost their lives within a few hours with only a few who got away. The bodies were mutilated and burnt beyond recognition and stuffed in wells and sewers. Only 10 per cent were recognisable in order to bury in a named grave. This wasn't the only incident of this sort but others are much better known. The village has been left as it was and a new village built next door. There are cars from this day left in the streets and a pram in the church. The exhibition was very well done and some of the film footage extremely harrowing. A very sobering day for us.
Our next visitors came for a cup f coffee on their way back to the UK. Lovely to see Pete and Barbara who have been working really hard in their beautiful house near Cognac. As soon as they had left we had a quick lunch before driving to Limoges to meet my girlfriends.
It was so great to see Mand and Trees get off the plane and to bring them both back here. It is Mandy's second visit but all was new for Trees. We had a very busy few days or rather they did. Mandy has been gardening and Trees was desperate to knock a wall down, so we saved the wall in what will be Gite number 1 for her. Her face was a picture (so pleased I can provide you with something to demolish) and here is the result of her efforts.
Thanks girls for all your help. We had such fun and the days flew by - you will be missed.
Much love xx
Monday, 18 August 2014
Festival of Wind, a Wedding and Bric a Brac in Villefagnan
Villefagnan has been very lively during August.
On Sunday 10th there was a Fete de Vent at our windmill (Moulin de Pierre Blanches - windmill of white stone) on the outskirts of town. There were tractors and combine harvesters, so Phil felt right at home. There were machines from days gone by working in the fields. We missed the ploughing competition but saw some very handsome Shire horses.There were stalls full of local produce and we even had a tour of the windmill. We joined in with the 5 course repas which was wonderful and we sat next to the lady mayor and her husband. Charentais melon with red Pineau de Charentes to start, followed by some sort of meat crudites. Main course was a pig roast cooked by our new friend, the life and soul of the village, Jean Paul. Cheese followed with lovely bread and than a dessert of either apple or cherry tart. We had both and shared.
Such a lovely day and the rain held off before we made our way home.
A selection of photos and a video below.
The following weekend there was a big wedding. The door to the church was dressed and there were lots of people speaking English, French and Italian. (An English girl with a french mother married an Italian) I understand the wedding lasted several days and that there were 250 guests. There was a great feeling in Villefagnan this weekend.
Yesterday the 18th Annual Bric a Brac at Villefganan took place. in recent years it has been at the windmill but this year has been brought back into the streets of the village. Not a small affair either. They closed the road off just outside our house and also at the other end of the village. Stall holders were setting up by 6.30am and there were a couple of hundred in all the streets and the square and around by the church. People came from far and wide and I'm so pleased that it was held in the village as local businesses benefited. Helen at L'Etoile D'Or said they were going to open at 9am anyway but because there were so many people they opened their doors at 7am. They were fully booked for the special lunch they put on as well. Brilliant!
There were all sorts of weird and wonderful things for sale including a milking machine, local win, dried sausages, and lots of treasures that were seeking new homes. I bought a lovely Hibiscus Marais (huge flowers) from a lovely couple who are based at Champagne Mouton. Great quality and value so will definitely be visiting them in the future.
What a great event. Some friends had stalls so I hope they were successful. Maybe next year we can clear some of our treasures.
On Sunday 10th there was a Fete de Vent at our windmill (Moulin de Pierre Blanches - windmill of white stone) on the outskirts of town. There were tractors and combine harvesters, so Phil felt right at home. There were machines from days gone by working in the fields. We missed the ploughing competition but saw some very handsome Shire horses.There were stalls full of local produce and we even had a tour of the windmill. We joined in with the 5 course repas which was wonderful and we sat next to the lady mayor and her husband. Charentais melon with red Pineau de Charentes to start, followed by some sort of meat crudites. Main course was a pig roast cooked by our new friend, the life and soul of the village, Jean Paul. Cheese followed with lovely bread and than a dessert of either apple or cherry tart. We had both and shared.
Such a lovely day and the rain held off before we made our way home.
A selection of photos and a video below.
 |
| Bread made from flour from the windmill being baked in outdoor oven |
 |
| The repas |
 |
| Interesting guests at repas |
 |
| Views around the windmill |
The following weekend there was a big wedding. The door to the church was dressed and there were lots of people speaking English, French and Italian. (An English girl with a french mother married an Italian) I understand the wedding lasted several days and that there were 250 guests. There was a great feeling in Villefagnan this weekend.
 |
| The door to the church - wedding day |
Yesterday the 18th Annual Bric a Brac at Villefganan took place. in recent years it has been at the windmill but this year has been brought back into the streets of the village. Not a small affair either. They closed the road off just outside our house and also at the other end of the village. Stall holders were setting up by 6.30am and there were a couple of hundred in all the streets and the square and around by the church. People came from far and wide and I'm so pleased that it was held in the village as local businesses benefited. Helen at L'Etoile D'Or said they were going to open at 9am anyway but because there were so many people they opened their doors at 7am. They were fully booked for the special lunch they put on as well. Brilliant!
There were all sorts of weird and wonderful things for sale including a milking machine, local win, dried sausages, and lots of treasures that were seeking new homes. I bought a lovely Hibiscus Marais (huge flowers) from a lovely couple who are based at Champagne Mouton. Great quality and value so will definitely be visiting them in the future.
 |
| Add caption |
What a great event. Some friends had stalls so I hope they were successful. Maybe next year we can clear some of our treasures.
Friends to stay - and how hard they worked!
Our friends Paul and Di arrived for a couple of days. Paul said he was coming to help Phil clear the roof of sedum and moss that was stopping water draining away during heavy rain and consequently pouring in to our bedroom and also the new kitchen below.
Every time it rains heavily we have to bring in the buckets, bowls and saucepans.Well we relaxed Monday afternoon and Di and I had a dunk in the pool. Pool temperature was 30 degrees whilst outside recently the air temperature has nose dived. I understand it is connected to Hurricane Bertha that hit the US recently and has affected Northern Europe.
We had a BBQ in the evening just before the rains came.
Tuesday we got up and Paul had his overalls on before we had finished our coffee. He was up on the roof in no time and when he got up there he realised it was worse than we had thought. Not only sackloads of sedum but many tiles had crumbled.
Phil had discovered a rotting beam holding up the roof of the covered terrace on the house side so Phil and I went to our local builders merchants to get some wood to support the roof and old beam. Phil got that in fairly easily, but whilst fixing the guttering bove it the corner of the house fell down. A great big boulder fell but Paul again to the rescue managed to get it up and cement it in.
Boy did Paul graft. He had a break for lunch and then got back up there determined to finish.
Di and I were surplus to requirements so we went around the village and had a trip to the windmill. There was a little tour going on that a family had pre-booked so we saw the sails turning. The heavens opened whilst we were there and we cycled back in the rain, which had also stopped work on the roof.
Anyway just in time to get changed and go out to dinner the work was all done. We have sackloads of broken tiles to take to the dechetterie but the roof looks great.
Here are some before and after photos. This sedum was EVERYWHERE!
On Tuesday night we went to La Marmite restaurant in Mansle. Sadly it rained so we couldn't sit in their lovely courtyard but we had a great meal. Will definitely be going back again.
We got a look at the beautiful Charente river which runs through this small market town.
 |
| Bridge at Mansle |
Huge thanks to you both and we look forward to seeing you again in. September.
Xx
Saturday, 9 August 2014
The last 2 weeks
Since Rich left we have been busy again.
After dropping him off at the airport we explored the DIY stores in Angouleme. Many people have recommended we go to them but we have been happy to get building materials in the village and Plisson give us a good deal. However there are some things we can't get locally and/or the selection is not so large. We don't need the tiles for the kitchen floor yet but we wanted to check out what is available and the prices. I am hoping we will find some nice large tiles that are light enough to make the room look larger but mottled enough not to show the dirt for around €9 per square metre.
We have done so much in the last couple of weeks that it is easier to list.
I have put Ton Pierre (literally 'your stone') paint to cover the nasty grey concrete that has been used to 'mend' parts of the outside.
Work has begun in the kitchen. the day after Rich left the electrics and plumbing in for the washing machine were done. This was placed in situ and was working by that evening.
I have painted shutters to Bedroom2 - which Rich helped take off and bring in through the window when he was here.
Outside the door to what will be Gite 1 and the front door have also been painted in the blue-grey that is permitted here. I have undercoated the huge door to the new kitchen. After that only two windows to do on house number 1.
Since plumbing in the washing machine in we have the stud partition up for the utility room and it is plasterboarded and the door is hung.
we have chipped concrete out of the long kitchen wall. Someone went mad with it at one point i the past and it is hard work to get rid of. This wall is going to stay au natural and I have started pointing it using the same chaux and sand mix as when we did our bedroom all those months ago. This is yet to be finished as Phil wanted to get into the kitchen to install plumbing and electrics.
Of course this was easier said than done. Phil started to lay the electric cabling and came across stone under the floor. it was too big to go round and had to come up. the stone soon became a boulder and this is what we had to remove and take out of the house. Phil's words were - 'I only wanted to lay a bit of cable'.
The first night we had a kettle sitting on some worktop.
We now have a working sink - with hot water, after boiling kettles for 3 weeks. There is a plumbed in and working dishwasher and the cooker that Maria and Mike donated to us which Phil converted to LPG gas is in and working. We have to replace a couple of parts. The timer knob has come off and also a part that holds a small splashback at the rear of it is missing. Also the diagrams for the cooker knob showing cooker, grill and temperatures has worn away so we need to come up with a cunning plan so we know where to set the dial. We're managing well so far and it is a joy to be able to cook again. There have been some leaks and parts that haven't fit properly. The disadvantages of using English pipes. If we embarked on this again we would definitely use French plumbing. Poor Phil was solving one leak and another would appear but finally he has cracked it.
It's going to be a long haul but it's great to have it starting to look like a real kitchen.
Meanwhile outside we have been trying to keep on top of the garden and courtyard. Our honeysuckle is having a second burst even after Phil cut it back and the roses just keep on blooming. I guess dead heading works! Phil has put a new washing line and post up for me as the old post was rotten and invariably washing would end up on the ground when it collapsed. I have painted the legs of a table that we are rejuvenating for the kitchen and I have bought a colourful tablecloth and cushions for when we have guests. Phil has added more of the fairy lights to the covered terrace and it looks so pretty at night.
I have taken a few photos below which I will probably use for our website and Facebook page when I start work on that this winter. What do you think?
Hope to post more very soon. Thanks to my loyal followers - I hope you like what we are doing and get to see for yourselves very soon.
Much love xx
After dropping him off at the airport we explored the DIY stores in Angouleme. Many people have recommended we go to them but we have been happy to get building materials in the village and Plisson give us a good deal. However there are some things we can't get locally and/or the selection is not so large. We don't need the tiles for the kitchen floor yet but we wanted to check out what is available and the prices. I am hoping we will find some nice large tiles that are light enough to make the room look larger but mottled enough not to show the dirt for around €9 per square metre.
We have done so much in the last couple of weeks that it is easier to list.
I have put Ton Pierre (literally 'your stone') paint to cover the nasty grey concrete that has been used to 'mend' parts of the outside.
Work has begun in the kitchen. the day after Rich left the electrics and plumbing in for the washing machine were done. This was placed in situ and was working by that evening.
I have painted shutters to Bedroom2 - which Rich helped take off and bring in through the window when he was here.
Outside the door to what will be Gite 1 and the front door have also been painted in the blue-grey that is permitted here. I have undercoated the huge door to the new kitchen. After that only two windows to do on house number 1.
Since plumbing in the washing machine in we have the stud partition up for the utility room and it is plasterboarded and the door is hung.
we have chipped concrete out of the long kitchen wall. Someone went mad with it at one point i the past and it is hard work to get rid of. This wall is going to stay au natural and I have started pointing it using the same chaux and sand mix as when we did our bedroom all those months ago. This is yet to be finished as Phil wanted to get into the kitchen to install plumbing and electrics.
Of course this was easier said than done. Phil started to lay the electric cabling and came across stone under the floor. it was too big to go round and had to come up. the stone soon became a boulder and this is what we had to remove and take out of the house. Phil's words were - 'I only wanted to lay a bit of cable'.
 |
| I only wanted to lay a bit of cable |
 |
| Boulder leaving the house |
The first night we had a kettle sitting on some worktop.
 |
| The start of the kitchen |
We now have a working sink - with hot water, after boiling kettles for 3 weeks. There is a plumbed in and working dishwasher and the cooker that Maria and Mike donated to us which Phil converted to LPG gas is in and working. We have to replace a couple of parts. The timer knob has come off and also a part that holds a small splashback at the rear of it is missing. Also the diagrams for the cooker knob showing cooker, grill and temperatures has worn away so we need to come up with a cunning plan so we know where to set the dial. We're managing well so far and it is a joy to be able to cook again. There have been some leaks and parts that haven't fit properly. The disadvantages of using English pipes. If we embarked on this again we would definitely use French plumbing. Poor Phil was solving one leak and another would appear but finally he has cracked it.
It's going to be a long haul but it's great to have it starting to look like a real kitchen.
 |
| Coming together |
Meanwhile outside we have been trying to keep on top of the garden and courtyard. Our honeysuckle is having a second burst even after Phil cut it back and the roses just keep on blooming. I guess dead heading works! Phil has put a new washing line and post up for me as the old post was rotten and invariably washing would end up on the ground when it collapsed. I have painted the legs of a table that we are rejuvenating for the kitchen and I have bought a colourful tablecloth and cushions for when we have guests. Phil has added more of the fairy lights to the covered terrace and it looks so pretty at night.
I have taken a few photos below which I will probably use for our website and Facebook page when I start work on that this winter. What do you think?
 |
| Outside Gite 2 |
 |
| Outside Gite 2 looking towards Gite 1 and our bench under the honeysuckle |
Hope to post more very soon. Thanks to my loyal followers - I hope you like what we are doing and get to see for yourselves very soon.
Much love xx
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