Well, I wasn't happy about the lumps in the lawn and I'm glad he's gone but I wish he hadn't died right next to the standpipe in the garden. He was quite pretty and the flies are a nuisance.
Days are now full of carrying, moving, raking, shovelling, watering, fertilising, hefting and entertaining electricians in order to find one who can rip out all the old and extremely dangerous cables at a reasonable cost. Evenings are spent trying to find a way to sit and then sleep with the minimum pain from my muscles. Every day, in addition, is a miracle of negotiation and thinking 'outside the box'. For example, Ian was digging a bed for the loganberries etc but found a wasps nest. Wasps were not happy and I didn't want to chuck a bomb into the nest until they had calmed down so I had to find somewhere else for the soft fruits. Not the end of the world, but I was trying to move a trailerload of manure [a shovelful at a time] whilst re-drawing the entire garden in my head.
Anyway, I am looking forward to a couple of days with Lyn and John this weekend, then a couple of weeks of frantic work, getting things ready for Chris to come. Then he can 'Ohhhh' and 'Ahhhhhh' at everything [before he gets down the the jobs waiting for him!!].
It is already cold at night and will, inevitably, get colder. The next few weeks will not be much fun.
I cannot wait to get back to:
my husband
my bed
my daybed
my clothes and jewellery [I know I'm shallow, but I don't care - I've been living in Primark clothes for 6 months]
Dancing Divas and my French group
a good South African breakfast [French toast, bacon and fried bananas with honey]
a decent spa
good meat
the jacarandas in bloom
so I've decided that this is the last blog.
On 14 March I wrote:
The purpose of this blog is threefold, firstly to keep a record of the
renovation of the house, secondly to let family and friends know where I am and
what I'm doing so you can send encouraging comments and finally to aid the
preservation of my sanity. A sort of 'Grumpy Old Women' meets 'A Year in
Provence'.
This year is going
to be great - or it's going to be terrible. I just don't know
Well, I don't know if it fulfilled its purpose. I guess it is a sort of record, one that Chris and I will recognise anyway. It has saved me having to write everything 300 times. People can read it or not, it's up to them. You know where I am and what I'm doing but sending comments seemed to be beyond the capabilities of most people, due to difficulties with the program. I know that it's a fiddly business and they should make it much easier. But people compensated by sending some great emails instead.
Did it aid the preservation of my sanity? I don't know. In many ways I enjoyed being isolated in a big field and having time to do what I wanted, to eat when I wanted and to get lots of exercise. But I found the bad weather trying and felt very lonely sometimes. I have made some new friends. It gave me time for myself but made me yearn for the people I love. Was it great or terrible? It was both. Do I regret it? No, because it had to be done. I have learned so much about construction already, not to mention garden design and landscaping. I have had the opportunity to see Kate more regularly and see her new home and also to pop back and see my little Beth at regular intervals. I've had some good times with friends, especially Lynne, who pops over for a weekend retreat whenever she can so that we can be wise women together. I think a couple of hundred years ago, we might have been regarded as witches with our discussions on organic gardening and the medicinal properties of herbs!!
But my heart has hurt every time I had to take Chris to the airport and every time I wanted to go with him. But I have achieved something new and something that is for our future, which is good..
Have I changed? Well, yes. I now make a sort of 'oufff' sound, like a deflated baloon, when I sit down and a sort of 'Awwww' sound whenever I stand up or make any movement which involves the upper legs. Everything sags. When did that happen??? I only go topless in the pool if the neighbours and the entire Poney Club are out for the day. The arthritis in my hands is getting rapidly worse. So, basically, I'm just getting old.
I have fallen in love with foie gras with Monbazillac. I've learned a lot of building terms in French, but I imagine that his limited potential. I can differentiate between bats' poo and rodent poo, again the potential isn't enormous. I now speak a sort of Franglais as I get confused as to which language is which [I notice Kate does the same thing]. But I do speak French confidently [apart from numbers] and I have gained confidence driving in France now that I have my very own Citroen Berlingo and I've done a fair bit of driving on my own. I multi-task well now, but I think I always did. I miss my children a lot but that would have been the same if I had stayed in South Africa. So I don't think I've actually developed any skills which would make me instantly marketable, sadly.
Will I do it again? Who knows? At the moment, I really don't have a clue.
Friday 21 September 2012
Monday 17 September 2012
More gardening
Overslept, didn't get up til 10!!
Very hot and sunny again, lots more pootling around the garden but pretty bored with it all now.....
After lunch I phoned the Dechetterie and they came to pick up the skip, hooray.
The electrician didn't turn up to give us a devis. Darren isn't coming tomorrow because he hasn't got enough screed, and I have asked Ian to defer to Wednesday because Darren was coming Tuesday. It all feels as if it's going pear shaped again. I really want to get the new lawn laid out but can't until Darren comes with more topsoil.
Anyway, the removal of the skip means that the garden looks amazingly different.
 |
| View from the caravan |
 |
| View of the caravan |
 |
| Trying to mark out the lawn |
The temperature was in the 30s but that definitely seems to be the last day the forecast is for a dramatic downturn and lots of rain. I sat in the garden in the evening and watched the sun go down, I must make the most of this!!
Sunday 16 September 2012
I should have killed the bastard when I had the chance.
Today the forecasters got it right, very hot and sunny, after a cool start. So I was out in the garden early doing a bit of weedkilling. Guess what, SEVEN effing molehilles: I should have killed the bastard when I had the chance. There was even one in the middle of the boules court - it got through black plastic and the gravel to leave a lovely pile of soft soil. I poured a load of strimmer fuel down the holes and heroically resisted the temptation to set fire to it.
The rest of the morning was spent marking out a new lawn where the woodshed used to be, with poles, string, scissors, wheelbarrow, tape measure etc etc. Some of the ground needs to be built up, hence the need for wheelbarrows full of hardcore.
The afternoon was hammock time, followed by a trip to pick some more figs from Mme B's unending supply. It's frustrating that I can't make preserves because I've got no way of getting them back to the UK or SA, oh well. Picked tomatoes, blackberries and even 2 strawberries [an anomaly at this time of year]. Wrestled with the temperamental hose and watered some of the garden. Crashed out with a glass of wine and some duck. Bliss
Early night, let's hope this one is more successful.........
The rest of the morning was spent marking out a new lawn where the woodshed used to be, with poles, string, scissors, wheelbarrow, tape measure etc etc. Some of the ground needs to be built up, hence the need for wheelbarrows full of hardcore.
The afternoon was hammock time, followed by a trip to pick some more figs from Mme B's unending supply. It's frustrating that I can't make preserves because I've got no way of getting them back to the UK or SA, oh well. Picked tomatoes, blackberries and even 2 strawberries [an anomaly at this time of year]. Wrestled with the temperamental hose and watered some of the garden. Crashed out with a glass of wine and some duck. Bliss
Early night, let's hope this one is more successful.........
The promised hot sunny day didn't materialise so I took myself off to the laundrette, on the basis that I might as well be fed up and warm instead of fed up and cold. It's not actually that cold 24c, I'm just making a fuss!
Darren started the screed on the path but could only do less than 50% because the shop didn't have enough in stock. He's going to Monpon to buy more on Monday and will finish it on Tuesday. He'll also bring the last of the top soil.
He solved the mystery of where the bats are roosting. They are actually living on the outside of the shutters, which have been permanently open this summer, providing a nice dark cool space between them and the walls. So the shutters will have to be closed every night from now on.
The remaining skip is preventing all sorts of things getting finished and it's frustrating so I decided to have a day off and do the houseworky stuff and cook myself a decent meal.
Had a lovely chat with Beth, and then Kate and then Chris.
Duck and red wine, 2 white chocolate Magnums and an early night but just couldn't sleep. Thoughts were whizzing around my head! Such a waste of time!
Darren started the screed on the path but could only do less than 50% because the shop didn't have enough in stock. He's going to Monpon to buy more on Monday and will finish it on Tuesday. He'll also bring the last of the top soil.
He solved the mystery of where the bats are roosting. They are actually living on the outside of the shutters, which have been permanently open this summer, providing a nice dark cool space between them and the walls. So the shutters will have to be closed every night from now on.
The remaining skip is preventing all sorts of things getting finished and it's frustrating so I decided to have a day off and do the houseworky stuff and cook myself a decent meal.
Had a lovely chat with Beth, and then Kate and then Chris.
Duck and red wine, 2 white chocolate Magnums and an early night but just couldn't sleep. Thoughts were whizzing around my head! Such a waste of time!
Friday 14 September 2012
Lynne returns home
An unseasonably cold night and heavy rain ensured a late and desultory start to Thursday. I awoke with a start in the full realisation that it IS Thursday and that I'd been a burke and taken all the rubbish to the end of the lane the previous night under the impression that today would be Friday. The neighbour had given me a funny look but I just assumed that he was still being unfriendly.
Neither the skip nor Darren arrived at 7.30 as arranged but I wasn't unduly phased by that. Darren turned up around 9 and I phoned the skip company to be told that the lorry had broken down so they were looking for another one and the skip would be here this morning. It actually did turn up during the course of the morning.
I had booked for us to go to a Tour de Finance about 1.5 hours drive away, a finance seminar with free apero and lunch but I felt I was needed here.
It wasn't a good day for me. I was standing on the step of the caravan with Darren's coffee in my hand and I hadn't secured the door open so an unexpected gust of wind blew the door shut, the coffee cup smashed a big crack in the glazed door and, worst of all, tipped the boiling coffee all over my chest and stomach. Of course, no burn cream in the house and 12 hours later it was still hurting.
Well, I just had to get over it, change my clothes and get out of the caravan for a while. A trip to the plumber to pay his bill followed by a trip to Veolia but the guy was not there AGAIN.
So, as a substitute for the Tour de Finance, we took ourselves to the Mekong [restaurant, not Delta] for an all-you-can-eat buffet which was pretty nice. Then a leisurely visit to LeClerc so that Lynne could stock up with goodies before going home. Then we went home to see Darren's progress.
This has definitely been the easiest, least stressful job that Darren has done for us so far. Fingers crossed!
I did a bit of sweeping in the house and managed to set off all the allergies that I thought I had escaped. So, what with the scalded tummy as well, the evening was spent feeling very sorry for myself.
Another cold night and Friday dawned very chilly. I did a bit of pottering and decided to stake out a circular lawn, took ages and it was hampered by the presence of the skip, which is going to stay until next week as USTOM are one lorry short and struggling to get everything done.
Darren popped in but he had to go to a meeting about TVA [which is VAT in French] in the hope we might be able to claim some money back. Lynne and I intended to go into town for a coffee but the day just slipped by and then it was time to take her back to the airport. Dinner and an early night for a change.
Neither the skip nor Darren arrived at 7.30 as arranged but I wasn't unduly phased by that. Darren turned up around 9 and I phoned the skip company to be told that the lorry had broken down so they were looking for another one and the skip would be here this morning. It actually did turn up during the course of the morning.
I had booked for us to go to a Tour de Finance about 1.5 hours drive away, a finance seminar with free apero and lunch but I felt I was needed here.
It wasn't a good day for me. I was standing on the step of the caravan with Darren's coffee in my hand and I hadn't secured the door open so an unexpected gust of wind blew the door shut, the coffee cup smashed a big crack in the glazed door and, worst of all, tipped the boiling coffee all over my chest and stomach. Of course, no burn cream in the house and 12 hours later it was still hurting.
Well, I just had to get over it, change my clothes and get out of the caravan for a while. A trip to the plumber to pay his bill followed by a trip to Veolia but the guy was not there AGAIN.
So, as a substitute for the Tour de Finance, we took ourselves to the Mekong [restaurant, not Delta] for an all-you-can-eat buffet which was pretty nice. Then a leisurely visit to LeClerc so that Lynne could stock up with goodies before going home. Then we went home to see Darren's progress.
This has definitely been the easiest, least stressful job that Darren has done for us so far. Fingers crossed!
I did a bit of sweeping in the house and managed to set off all the allergies that I thought I had escaped. So, what with the scalded tummy as well, the evening was spent feeling very sorry for myself.
Another cold night and Friday dawned very chilly. I did a bit of pottering and decided to stake out a circular lawn, took ages and it was hampered by the presence of the skip, which is going to stay until next week as USTOM are one lorry short and struggling to get everything done.
Darren popped in but he had to go to a meeting about TVA [which is VAT in French] in the hope we might be able to claim some money back. Lynne and I intended to go into town for a coffee but the day just slipped by and then it was time to take her back to the airport. Dinner and an early night for a change.
Wednesday 12 September 2012
Mallory Towers comes to France
Monday was an exciting day because Darren and Stuart came to start removing the old woodshed, which is a total eyesore and then Lynne arrived in the evening. I picked her up from the airport and we came home and chatted over some wine for ages and didn't eat until it was dark. We spent ages following a mole around the garden. The ground was obviously so hard that he couldn't dig a hole to go down and he seemed to be a bit frantic. Anyway, eventually he went to ground under the black plastic sheet containing next year's topsoil. Hopefully, he'll dig it about a bit and make it more friable for me. Then Lynne said that she was tired, lay on the bed and didn't move until 4.30am when the first rains for ages came and woke us both up so we shared a few cups of tea, philosophised for a while and hunted around for something sweet to eat. Just like a boarding school midnight feast. There was no tuck in the dorm, unfortunately. I couldn't find any biscuits so we ended up with prunes. The joys of getting old.............
Anyway we both crashed out again until we were woken by the sound of Darren's digger knocking down the woodshed.
Tuesday was another warm day and, after a slow start, we went to the agricultural co-operative, Bergerac, the garden centre, back to the co-operative and finally LeClerc. I bought strawberry plants, tayberry, loganberry and, joy of joys, thornless blackberries. By the time we got home in the mid afternoon, the woodshed was pretty much demolished and there was a dangerous big water-filled concrete hole in the middle of the garden.
We picked a load of figs from the trees in Mme B's garden and shared them with Darren and Stuart then Lynne lost consciousness for a couple of hours again. A quiet meal and a lot more gossip, while listening to the quiet patter of the gentle rain.
Wednesday was cooler and cloudy so I started the day by planting my strawberries, exciting stuff. Lynne and I went to Ste Foy to enjoy the architecture and then to try a new restaurant for lunch. It wasn't a warm day and the wine was free........... We cancelled our plans for the afternoon, such as they were, and returned the caravan for a French coffee [with brandy and cream] and a general laze around. We walked to the village and took in the sights but, as anyone who has visited will attest, that didn't take long.
We returned home to find that Darren had really cracked on with things and the hole had been filled in. It looks unbelievably different!
The skip is booked for tomorrow to take away some of the rubbish. Let's hope it turns up!
Anyway we both crashed out again until we were woken by the sound of Darren's digger knocking down the woodshed.
 |
| Going, going... |
 |
| ............gone |
Tuesday was another warm day and, after a slow start, we went to the agricultural co-operative, Bergerac, the garden centre, back to the co-operative and finally LeClerc. I bought strawberry plants, tayberry, loganberry and, joy of joys, thornless blackberries. By the time we got home in the mid afternoon, the woodshed was pretty much demolished and there was a dangerous big water-filled concrete hole in the middle of the garden.
 |
| Plunge pool |
We picked a load of figs from the trees in Mme B's garden and shared them with Darren and Stuart then Lynne lost consciousness for a couple of hours again. A quiet meal and a lot more gossip, while listening to the quiet patter of the gentle rain.
Wednesday was cooler and cloudy so I started the day by planting my strawberries, exciting stuff. Lynne and I went to Ste Foy to enjoy the architecture and then to try a new restaurant for lunch. It wasn't a warm day and the wine was free........... We cancelled our plans for the afternoon, such as they were, and returned the caravan for a French coffee [with brandy and cream] and a general laze around. We walked to the village and took in the sights but, as anyone who has visited will attest, that didn't take long.
We returned home to find that Darren had really cracked on with things and the hole had been filled in. It looks unbelievably different!
The skip is booked for tomorrow to take away some of the rubbish. Let's hope it turns up!
Monday 10 September 2012
The Hunting Season begins
Wed: too busy working in the house and garden to go out even for a few minutes. So tinned and dried food today. Drank gallons of iced tea during the day, peeing every 20 minutes all day. Haven't spoken to anyone else for over 24 hours and don't care terribly. I know that if I had lived a couple of hundred years ago I would have been a prime candidate for a witch but I'm getting used to being on my own with my organic gardening and my little caravan [probably going back to my Irish roots!![.
For some reason, probably related to lack of human contact and increasing pain from arthritis, I read a report about drinking alcohol, couldn't believe that I am so continuously over the recommended limit. I am obviously an alcoholic. In fact, an arthritic alcoholic. An early night beckoned but I had to keep researching. After hours of research, I acknowledge that I am on the cusp of serious liver damage. I must try and remember to write my will tomorrow, painful fingers permitting.
Thurs: took the day off from manual labour, went to the Mairie, Veolia, shopping, lounged in hammock and pool. Didn't have any alcohol. Early night.
Friday: Finished working in the house by 11 and headed off to try and find a cure for the yellow leaves on my lavatera. Bought some cheap plastic shelving and had lunch in a restaurant. Hammock and pool again - very hot - 32C!
Sat: Market, shopping, work in the house, hammock and pool. A routine developing!! Getting pretty bored now.
I made a drink from parsley, which is meant to assist arthritis. It is truly awful. Also haven't touched alcohol for 3 days, just to prove that I can. I'll have to find another substitute which tastes better than the parsley thing.
Sun: not a good night's sleep, partly due to the frequent need to pee, probably due to the parsely drink. Woke to the sound of the nearby hunt, shots followed sometimes by a fluttering and chattering of unhappy birds. An unexpectedly cloudy day. Later as the shots continued and moved across the countryside I assumed that the hunters were after wild boar and venison.
I drank another cup of parsley and decided that perhaps arthritis is better than that......... The sun came out in the afternoon so, after some chores, it was time for the hammock and pool again. I decided to have a couple of glasses of wine to finish off the weekend.
Lynne's arriving tomorrow, I need some company!
For some reason, probably related to lack of human contact and increasing pain from arthritis, I read a report about drinking alcohol, couldn't believe that I am so continuously over the recommended limit. I am obviously an alcoholic. In fact, an arthritic alcoholic. An early night beckoned but I had to keep researching. After hours of research, I acknowledge that I am on the cusp of serious liver damage. I must try and remember to write my will tomorrow, painful fingers permitting.
Thurs: took the day off from manual labour, went to the Mairie, Veolia, shopping, lounged in hammock and pool. Didn't have any alcohol. Early night.
Friday: Finished working in the house by 11 and headed off to try and find a cure for the yellow leaves on my lavatera. Bought some cheap plastic shelving and had lunch in a restaurant. Hammock and pool again - very hot - 32C!
Sat: Market, shopping, work in the house, hammock and pool. A routine developing!! Getting pretty bored now.
I made a drink from parsley, which is meant to assist arthritis. It is truly awful. Also haven't touched alcohol for 3 days, just to prove that I can. I'll have to find another substitute which tastes better than the parsley thing.
Sun: not a good night's sleep, partly due to the frequent need to pee, probably due to the parsely drink. Woke to the sound of the nearby hunt, shots followed sometimes by a fluttering and chattering of unhappy birds. An unexpectedly cloudy day. Later as the shots continued and moved across the countryside I assumed that the hunters were after wild boar and venison.
I drank another cup of parsley and decided that perhaps arthritis is better than that......... The sun came out in the afternoon so, after some chores, it was time for the hammock and pool again. I decided to have a couple of glasses of wine to finish off the weekend.
Lynne's arriving tomorrow, I need some company!
Tuesday 4 September 2012
La Rentree
Monday was a frustrating day, hours spent trying to get hold of people, such as the guy fromVeolia who has to give us a certificate for the microstation. [Is it like a dog show where you get a certificate for 'Best in Class' or 'Dog most like its owner' or rather like a ballet festival where you just get a percentage and a couple of comments like 'legs could have been straighter' or 'should turn out more from the hips']. God, I think my brain has finally gone completely haywire!!
Anyway, after a fruitless morning chasing the plumber and Veolia guy and doing a mammoth wash whilst explaining to several people how the laundrette works, I went to the Mairie to try and get a receipt for the Declaration lodged a week ago. The Maire's wife, who is the chicky in charge there hasn't got around to it yet because she has been sidetracked by things like organising the bus routes for the primary schools in the area - schools go back this week - so after some time reading my Kindle in her office I decided that strategic withdrawal was the best option.
Kate phoned to tell me she'd had a fab weekend. Rianna had joined Coldplay on stage and Nico's sister had obligingly given birth just a few hours before the concert so they could see the baby before seeing Coldplay.
At home I continued with the removal of carpets and laminate from the top floor, moved some more stones around, picked even more blackberries and researched the beneficial effects of rosehips on arthritis [3 times better than panadol, apparently].
The weather has warmed up and at last I had a warm night. Today was the first day of the gratuated return to school [la rentree] so Darren was late as he had to take his son to his new senior school. I made several trips to the Dechetterie to get rid of loads of dirty, musty, unwanted stuff. I met up with a garden company to talk about rotavating the orchard and then spent some more time moving stones. Despite the perfect weather for gardening, I really had to go and work in the house and start some clearing up. Then a French artisan came to have a look at what needs doing so he can prepare some estimates.
I deserved my big dinner and a couple of beers tonight.
Anyway, after a fruitless morning chasing the plumber and Veolia guy and doing a mammoth wash whilst explaining to several people how the laundrette works, I went to the Mairie to try and get a receipt for the Declaration lodged a week ago. The Maire's wife, who is the chicky in charge there hasn't got around to it yet because she has been sidetracked by things like organising the bus routes for the primary schools in the area - schools go back this week - so after some time reading my Kindle in her office I decided that strategic withdrawal was the best option.
Kate phoned to tell me she'd had a fab weekend. Rianna had joined Coldplay on stage and Nico's sister had obligingly given birth just a few hours before the concert so they could see the baby before seeing Coldplay.
At home I continued with the removal of carpets and laminate from the top floor, moved some more stones around, picked even more blackberries and researched the beneficial effects of rosehips on arthritis [3 times better than panadol, apparently].
The weather has warmed up and at last I had a warm night. Today was the first day of the gratuated return to school [la rentree] so Darren was late as he had to take his son to his new senior school. I made several trips to the Dechetterie to get rid of loads of dirty, musty, unwanted stuff. I met up with a garden company to talk about rotavating the orchard and then spent some more time moving stones. Despite the perfect weather for gardening, I really had to go and work in the house and start some clearing up. Then a French artisan came to have a look at what needs doing so he can prepare some estimates.
I deserved my big dinner and a couple of beers tonight.
Sunday 2 September 2012
A quiet weekend
Saturday dawned cold but luckily I was under 2 duvets. I went to the market in Ste Foy and then did some food shopping. By the time I got home Darren had arrived to do the steps. I finally started to tackle clearing out all the crap in the house. I decided to ignore the loft space, as there is still insulation around the pipes so started on the upper floor.
Unfortunately Chris had used all the face masks so I spent an hour or so without one. But then Darren suggested very strongly that I go and buy some more [by which time I was already coughing somewhat]. I completed the lifting of the carpet, which I cut up and through the hole in the floor of the loft space so it took up the entire kitchen. I lifted the laminate and left it in a pile because, although it was only 2.30 I was starting to feel grim. Another hour in the orchard, building piles of hardcore, bonfire material and horse shit. But at least I could breathe.
A cold north wind meant that the hammock was less than appealing so I snuggled in the caravan and did some reading. The weather is due to get considerably warmer over the next few days.
A little gadget Chris ordered has arrived from Amazon. It enables me to play my iPod in the car. Great!!!!!
The cough and uncomfortable feeling continued. I tried to have an early night but couldn't breathe so sleep was difficult to find....
Another cool night but things are improving, it's definitely getting warmer again. More work on Sunday clearing the house and garden, nothing exciting.
Unfortunately Chris had used all the face masks so I spent an hour or so without one. But then Darren suggested very strongly that I go and buy some more [by which time I was already coughing somewhat]. I completed the lifting of the carpet, which I cut up and through the hole in the floor of the loft space so it took up the entire kitchen. I lifted the laminate and left it in a pile because, although it was only 2.30 I was starting to feel grim. Another hour in the orchard, building piles of hardcore, bonfire material and horse shit. But at least I could breathe.
A cold north wind meant that the hammock was less than appealing so I snuggled in the caravan and did some reading. The weather is due to get considerably warmer over the next few days.
A little gadget Chris ordered has arrived from Amazon. It enables me to play my iPod in the car. Great!!!!!
The cough and uncomfortable feeling continued. I tried to have an early night but couldn't breathe so sleep was difficult to find....
Another cool night but things are improving, it's definitely getting warmer again. More work on Sunday clearing the house and garden, nothing exciting.
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