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Catch up
It’s been a few months since my last post. Xmas has been and gone, so has what seemed a very long January, and a very short February. No serious flooding like we had last year, but a recent spell of cold snowy weather put paid to outside work. I’ve been busy working on clients properties,…
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First video up on Youtube and the locks off
Early in the New Year, I’ll be starting some big work at the old house. I’m going to need to take off the main double front door to renovate it as much as I can – or at the very least, use it as a template for an identical model in oak. I have to…
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Une idée folle ?
Winter’s around the corner, and I was up on the roof a few days ago checking on slipped tiles and the general state of affairs. It’s not in a good condition and I know I’ll have to replace it soon, but they are lots of things that are going to govern how it’s redone. I’m…
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Electricity connected
So after so many months, I am at last connected to the National Grid. I originally asked the local suppliers EDF in July 2016 (15 months ago) to come and connect up the electricity supply. Nothing can be achieved without some form of power, and although a generator helped out temporarily, no major work could…
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New YouTube account
Time to get the ball rolling with this. I convinced myself once I got the intro done, it would spur me on to start filming what I’m doing at the house. Go check out the new intro, which I just finished making. Just 19 seconds of some typically French pictures from really close by, and the new…
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Garden Clearance
I left it a bit late to start lopping the tops of the tree, as it wasn’t dormant when I did it last week. I read that a Lime Tree needs pruning or cutting back in the time when it’s ‘sleeping’. Apparently this is in between the time the leaves fall, and before it starts…
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Projects for the Spring
So, that’s winter over for another year! I’ve a period of a few weeks to try and gather my ideas for the gite before another work contract begins. There’s an old fold-up chair that I’m going to use as my ‘contemplation chair’ – somewhere I can sit and reflect and plan. Working without architect’s plans…
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Miracles do happen occasionally!
After a delay of nearly a month and a half since I’ve written a blog, I am forced into writing this one as I had some great news recently. I’ve been working in another village and got a call from my next door neighbour in St Frichoux. (The guy who disguises himself and goes on…
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Extra Land & Village Bulletin Entry
Some time ago I wrote about the strip of land in front of the house – and how I needed to buy it to make things safe for me and my plans to build the gîte. Here’s the original story: Exchange Date fixed So, apparently after some time, the mayor asked me whether I have asked the land…
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The ‘Fountain’ Terrace
Last year I went especially to visit a well-known restoration yard. They specialise in old fireplaces, fountains and stone architectural elements. It’s a 3 hour each-way drive from my town, but I’d seen some fantastic things on their website and considered the long journey well worth the effort. You get an idea of what these…