Yes - incredibly we have been here for one year now! So time to reflect on the year and our new life in France. Has it lived up to our expectations? Well I would have to say yes although we didn't have too many expectations because in a lot of ways we just came here with open minds and an open agenda - if we hated it we would have only stayed until the house had been done and moved on. It became pretty clear early on that visa allowing, we weren't planning on going anywhere else anytime soon! We have met some really great people - had some great times and are really looking forward to lots more of the same. We love our little place here - it really is very peaceful and the living is easy in many ways. Do I think we would have been further along in the renovations after a year here - well I would have to say yes but realistically it really is basically like building a house from scratch - and Paul has pretty much done all the work himself so it is a very good effort I have to say. We have also had lots of distractions like horses and motorbikes to enjoy and I would prefer to have a bit of a life outside of the house and it take longer anyway. Hopefully this time in another year we will be close to having everything done. Mind you we have met a few people here still renovating their houses after more then 5 years at it! So we are in the early days yet!
I have been trying not to think too much about the fact we are meant to be in Chicago this week for Chelsea's college graduation - this is what we missed out on :)
Never mind - we couldn't be prouder of her!
The past couple of weeks have been spent working on the two rooms we want to have close to finished when our friends Mark & Narelle and their two teenage girls arrive in a week or so. And Paul has also been doing the huge job of breaking though a very thick stone wall to put in a new door. We were fortunate to be able to get some stone and lintel for it from our friends Don and Anne who had bought them many years ago but had not had to use them so had been sitting in their garden. This huge job culminated in Paul borrowing a tractor with a forklift attachment from another Dutch friend and finally being able to put the big lintel in today. Here are some pics.
The tractor was also useful as we have a very heavy claw foot bath going into the spare bathroom - I have spent the last few days painting it white. Should look good eventually!
And a very old cupboard - also from Don and Anne's barn!
I am feeling pretty good now after my accident. Still can't do too much as I get pretty tired quite quick. Here's me in action yesterday!
And finished window..
I have a scan next week to see how I am healing - hopefully will get the ok to ride again. I have had Hans from the equestrian centre come and ride him a few times a week so he doesn't get too fat as I hate leaving him in one of the smaller paddocks on his own so he can't graze as much. It's much nicer for him to stay with the other two and help out with the fly chasing! Here is a pic of Ambre tonight doing her trick of reaching as far as she can under the electric fence. She is turning out to be a lovely little girl - very well mannered and friendly and she learns very quickly.
And here is the little man Will having a lovely little break on the citern in the evening warmth...
A bientot!!!
I have been trying not to think too much about the fact we are meant to be in Chicago this week for Chelsea's college graduation - this is what we missed out on :)
Never mind - we couldn't be prouder of her!
The past couple of weeks have been spent working on the two rooms we want to have close to finished when our friends Mark & Narelle and their two teenage girls arrive in a week or so. And Paul has also been doing the huge job of breaking though a very thick stone wall to put in a new door. We were fortunate to be able to get some stone and lintel for it from our friends Don and Anne who had bought them many years ago but had not had to use them so had been sitting in their garden. This huge job culminated in Paul borrowing a tractor with a forklift attachment from another Dutch friend and finally being able to put the big lintel in today. Here are some pics.
The tractor was also useful as we have a very heavy claw foot bath going into the spare bathroom - I have spent the last few days painting it white. Should look good eventually!
And a very old cupboard - also from Don and Anne's barn!
I am feeling pretty good now after my accident. Still can't do too much as I get pretty tired quite quick. Here's me in action yesterday!
And finished window..
I have a scan next week to see how I am healing - hopefully will get the ok to ride again. I have had Hans from the equestrian centre come and ride him a few times a week so he doesn't get too fat as I hate leaving him in one of the smaller paddocks on his own so he can't graze as much. It's much nicer for him to stay with the other two and help out with the fly chasing! Here is a pic of Ambre tonight doing her trick of reaching as far as she can under the electric fence. She is turning out to be a lovely little girl - very well mannered and friendly and she learns very quickly.
And here is the little man Will having a lovely little break on the citern in the evening warmth...
A bientot!!!
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