The French Renovation

You think that's a rather boring photo, don't you? It's giving you a glimpse behind the hidden panel in the guest bedroom wardrobe, and it now contains pipes that connect to RADIATORS! That's quite thrilling, as far as I'm concerned! No, calm down, don't get too excited on my behalf... We don't actually have hot water to put in the radiators yet, as the wood burner isn't 'plumbed in'. We need to make a hole through the metre-thick wall for a flue/chimney. We'll do that soon.  We're still putting up insulation and plasterboard walls in the main bedroom. The tricky bit of plasterboarding around the window is now elegantly achieved. We just need to do another layer of filler, then we'll paint. The lower section of the wall is just a metal frame in this photo, but we have actually completed it now! We're on the look-out for a big black chandelier (not too chunky!) to fill that high space, so let me know if you see one on sa

We're still here! Although we've been distracted by guests, dog-sitting, harvesting and strained backs, the renovation continues in earnest. Most of our energies are being focused in the master bedroom, but the apparent slow speed of progress seems to make us even slower due to the accompanying low morale. And we're also doing this with a very limited budget, so accidentally breaking a panel of plasterboard can be more upsetting than you might imagine. Heavy lifting and leaning out at height is what takes its toll on the lower back, and Kevin and I have both suffered in this respect recently. (Okay. It's possible that our regular golf interludes on the field are at least partially to blame.) Daddy, Mummy and Baby Steps The stake This pokey-out stake needs to remain where it awkwardly is, as it appears to be playing an important role in keeping the wall stable; it's exerting a lot of possibly important pressure on the upright beam. Kevin'll work out

What's going on in the hay loft? Is it an errant cloud? Is it on fire? Is it a ghostly form?  No, it's Kevin resurrecting the ancient tractor again. Playing with the tractor is a pleasure Kevin had forgotten about. He needs a little time for play in his life of renovating. I suppose I do have my ride-on mower to provide my thrills... He said that when we return to Britain, the tractor is going with him. Hmm...

This was the delightful, typical-looking loft in cottage #1, where we now live. As is the French tradition, we emptied it, as it wasn't quite to our taste... That same space now houses our bathroom and the guest bedroom, which, in these photos, has been set up for a visit from the grandchildren! Much more comfortable, wouldn't you say?