..... ’tis a charming sound,
Harmonious to mine ear;
Heaven with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.
(with apologies to Augustus Montague Toplady)
This house is resounding to the thud of hammer on concrete leveling the hardcore ready for the new kitchen floor.
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Diary of a house renovation
They assured us they were starting work week commencing June 1.
No-one came.
After many non-replied to phone messages we eventually spoke to a human on Thursday 4th
He assured us all work would commence June 8th
No-one came
Several phone calls and non replies later when the anger smoke was to be seen rising from ourselves, another assurance from the Project Manager(the architect), here after called the PM because he is about as efficient, that someone would come on the 12th (tomorrow) to at least stop the rain coming in. Watch this space.
He also assured us, though his assurances now are hollow promises to us, that the builder will grace our project on 15th and he himself, the PM, will hold a site meeting on 16th. We will not hold our breath.
No-one came.
After many non-replied to phone messages we eventually spoke to a human on Thursday 4th
He assured us all work would commence June 8th
No-one came
Several phone calls and non replies later when the anger smoke was to be seen rising from ourselves, another assurance from the Project Manager(the architect), here after called the PM because he is about as efficient, that someone would come on the 12th (tomorrow) to at least stop the rain coming in. Watch this space.
He also assured us, though his assurances now are hollow promises to us, that the builder will grace our project on 15th and he himself, the PM, will hold a site meeting on 16th. We will not hold our breath.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
We now have some of the replacement windows and doors in situ.
A very smart red front door and a door bell that, to celebrate spring, makes the sound of the cuckoo.
One set of patio doors arrived with the incorrect spec, so we are waiting for replacement.
We are getting used to waiting. The roof is still waiting to be fixed after the storm and we are expecting another roofer to come and quote this evening. Hopefully he will get back to us faster than the last one....3 months and still waiting.
We remain on the temporary electricity supply but with summer on its way and having purchased an all singing, all dancing, barbeque we shall not starve.
A very smart red front door and a door bell that, to celebrate spring, makes the sound of the cuckoo.
One set of patio doors arrived with the incorrect spec, so we are waiting for replacement.
We are getting used to waiting. The roof is still waiting to be fixed after the storm and we are expecting another roofer to come and quote this evening. Hopefully he will get back to us faster than the last one....3 months and still waiting.
We remain on the temporary electricity supply but with summer on its way and having purchased an all singing, all dancing, barbeque we shall not starve.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Friday January 30th
Telephone reconnected
Monday February 2nd
The sun showed it's face today and we spent time in the garden making a flower bed around the base of "The" tree. We are not walking too close to the house as there are a lot of loose tiles.
Photographs have been taken and the architect has visited so we wait, again, for roof repairers.
We have used 2 old oak beams as the borders of the bed. They have to sit on stones on 2 sides as there is a drop in land levels. Now have to fill it with soil.
Tuesday February 3rd
Happy Birthday Michael, 40 today. Happy Anniversary to us.
Had lunch with an old nursing pal who lives on the edge of the Landes forests and the drive there showed me, first hand, some of the devastation. I have tried twice to phone Michael, will try again tomorrow.
Returned home to find we have internet, yipee. They have replaced our live box which appears to have blown during the storm.
Telephone reconnected
Monday February 2nd
The sun showed it's face today and we spent time in the garden making a flower bed around the base of "The" tree. We are not walking too close to the house as there are a lot of loose tiles.
Photographs have been taken and the architect has visited so we wait, again, for roof repairers.
We have used 2 old oak beams as the borders of the bed. They have to sit on stones on 2 sides as there is a drop in land levels. Now have to fill it with soil.
Tuesday February 3rd
Happy Birthday Michael, 40 today. Happy Anniversary to us.
Had lunch with an old nursing pal who lives on the edge of the Landes forests and the drive there showed me, first hand, some of the devastation. I have tried twice to phone Michael, will try again tomorrow.
Returned home to find we have internet, yipee. They have replaced our live box which appears to have blown during the storm.
Sunday 25th,
Came home from the Inauguration Ceremony and following Vin d'Honneur to find we had electricity. Celebrated with a lovely cup of tea. Our village has been extremely lucky in comparison with many in the South West of France. The Forests of the Landes are now moonscapes having thousands of flattened trees.
Monday 26th
Went into the local town. Had to make several detours as roads are blocked by fallen trees and electricity poles. We still have no landline telephone or internet connection. Thankfully the mobile networks are working.
Tuesday 27th
Today we have a proper fire. The man has been and we have steel liners in the chimney for the wood burners. The second one was delivered and fitted in what will be the salon. It looks rather like a Dalek from the Dr Who series. Unfortunately it was missing one vital joint which will have to be ordered so another wait.
Came home from the Inauguration Ceremony and following Vin d'Honneur to find we had electricity. Celebrated with a lovely cup of tea. Our village has been extremely lucky in comparison with many in the South West of France. The Forests of the Landes are now moonscapes having thousands of flattened trees.
Monday 26th
Went into the local town. Had to make several detours as roads are blocked by fallen trees and electricity poles. We still have no landline telephone or internet connection. Thankfully the mobile networks are working.
Tuesday 27th
Today we have a proper fire. The man has been and we have steel liners in the chimney for the wood burners. The second one was delivered and fitted in what will be the salon. It looks rather like a Dalek from the Dr Who series. Unfortunately it was missing one vital joint which will have to be ordered so another wait.
Saturday January 24th, continued
23.00 The winds have now dropped and, for the moment the rain has stopped. Our wooden barn now has about 3 walls and one of them does not look too good. Our house roof has lost many tiles, and I have run out of containers to catch the water. We are spending our second night downstairs in the house but it is quite comfortable.
The dog insisted on an excursion outside just before 02.00 and woke me. Outside the sky was clear, not much moonlight but every constellation visible. It is hard to believe that 24 hours before I had difficulty even opening the door.
Sunday morning and we are still without telephone or internet link. I have walked around the back house, which took the full force of the wind. The storm has saved us some work as the old lean too garage now has no rear doors and very few tiles on the roof. Quite a lot of the house roof tiles have gone. Another part of the non-accommodation has lost quite a lot of glass complete with window frames. It will have to be a careful clean up and gardening in future as there are a lot of small bits of glass everywhere.
Have to get a bit clear as they are inaugurating ‘La Mairie” in the village. It has just been refurbished together with the Post Office so there is to be a little gathering of the village population.
23.00 The winds have now dropped and, for the moment the rain has stopped. Our wooden barn now has about 3 walls and one of them does not look too good. Our house roof has lost many tiles, and I have run out of containers to catch the water. We are spending our second night downstairs in the house but it is quite comfortable.
The dog insisted on an excursion outside just before 02.00 and woke me. Outside the sky was clear, not much moonlight but every constellation visible. It is hard to believe that 24 hours before I had difficulty even opening the door.
Sunday morning and we are still without telephone or internet link. I have walked around the back house, which took the full force of the wind. The storm has saved us some work as the old lean too garage now has no rear doors and very few tiles on the roof. Quite a lot of the house roof tiles have gone. Another part of the non-accommodation has lost quite a lot of glass complete with window frames. It will have to be a careful clean up and gardening in future as there are a lot of small bits of glass everywhere.
Have to get a bit clear as they are inaugurating ‘La Mairie” in the village. It has just been refurbished together with the Post Office so there is to be a little gathering of the village population.
Saturday January 24th, 2009
I wrote the first part of the following Saturday morning just before we lost all power. It was out for just about 12 hours but I will still post this as soon as the internet connection returns. It is trying to boot now.
I am composing this off line in the hope that later we will get a connection long enough to post. We are still being bombarded by incredible winds and have been since around 03.30 this morning (now 11.00.) We slept on the convertible sofa in the house as the campervan is on the side of the property hit by these winds. (NW to Westerly gusting 150kph). So far we have been lucky, we think, although we haven’t been around that side of the house yet, as it is difficult to stand. The barometric pressure has been around 950/951 for the last 12 hours and has only risen by 1 point this morning, so the winds may continue.
We have a very disgruntled cat that is using his litter tray but doesn’t like it. Dog took one look outside (on a leash) and reversed in the direction of the wood burner and has not moved since.
Houses in France have external shutters as the norm and it is at times like this when they come into their own. It makes it dark inside but protects the glass. We are getting intermittent electricity and internet so we are boiling kettle to fill a thermos , writing etc whenever poss.
Thank goodness for the battery pack on laptops, as I am typing this in alternating light and darkness.
I wrote the first part of the following Saturday morning just before we lost all power. It was out for just about 12 hours but I will still post this as soon as the internet connection returns. It is trying to boot now.
I am composing this off line in the hope that later we will get a connection long enough to post. We are still being bombarded by incredible winds and have been since around 03.30 this morning (now 11.00.) We slept on the convertible sofa in the house as the campervan is on the side of the property hit by these winds. (NW to Westerly gusting 150kph). So far we have been lucky, we think, although we haven’t been around that side of the house yet, as it is difficult to stand. The barometric pressure has been around 950/951 for the last 12 hours and has only risen by 1 point this morning, so the winds may continue.
We have a very disgruntled cat that is using his litter tray but doesn’t like it. Dog took one look outside (on a leash) and reversed in the direction of the wood burner and has not moved since.
Houses in France have external shutters as the norm and it is at times like this when they come into their own. It makes it dark inside but protects the glass. We are getting intermittent electricity and internet so we are boiling kettle to fill a thermos , writing etc whenever poss.
Thank goodness for the battery pack on laptops, as I am typing this in alternating light and darkness.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
We are now with heat.
Following the purchase of the wood burning stove, a visit from the chimney sweep and arranging for the insertion of the necessary double lined insert chimney tubing. We have put in 2 chimney liners so that we can have a fire in the salon as well as the one now installed in what will be a dining room.
After the snow and then the heavy rain we now know where the roof leaks are. I always knew I would find a use for all those old plastic bowls I kept "for a rainy day". The replacement of the roof is now on the priority list, together with the new front door and back door. The existing ones don't exactly fit anymore having dropped and warped.
Today the sun is shining in a blue sky following a night of windy rain. Some of the early bulbs are beginning to break through in the pots amoung the pansies.
Following the purchase of the wood burning stove, a visit from the chimney sweep and arranging for the insertion of the necessary double lined insert chimney tubing. We have put in 2 chimney liners so that we can have a fire in the salon as well as the one now installed in what will be a dining room.
After the snow and then the heavy rain we now know where the roof leaks are. I always knew I would find a use for all those old plastic bowls I kept "for a rainy day". The replacement of the roof is now on the priority list, together with the new front door and back door. The existing ones don't exactly fit anymore having dropped and warped.
Today the sun is shining in a blue sky following a night of windy rain. Some of the early bulbs are beginning to break through in the pots amoung the pansies.
Saturday, 17 January 2009
There have been happenings this week. A visit from the architect to consolidate plans. The arrival in the post of the first quotes for work to be done.
We decided on Thursday to invest in a small wood burning stove for the dining room. We will have to have the chimney swept (organised for Monday) and for a metal liner for the chimney which will be done when the roofer is up there working.
In the meantime we are using the fire and a different kind of warmth is slowly permeating the house. What a difference.
We have also painted the walls in both the dining room and the hallway. Just with white paint for the moment to make everything look cleaner and brighter. A definite improvemen, be it only temporary. Plain brilliant white is far too bright for this house.
We decided on Thursday to invest in a small wood burning stove for the dining room. We will have to have the chimney swept (organised for Monday) and for a metal liner for the chimney which will be done when the roofer is up there working.
In the meantime we are using the fire and a different kind of warmth is slowly permeating the house. What a difference.
We have also painted the walls in both the dining room and the hallway. Just with white paint for the moment to make everything look cleaner and brighter. A definite improvemen, be it only temporary. Plain brilliant white is far too bright for this house.
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
With the holidays over we were all set to recommence our renovations, but with temperatures well below freezing everything is on hold.
The hole for the water and waste has been filled in and we have a great deal of sand and gravel left over. I'm sure we will find a use for it.
We now have hot water so can shower in our own premises. We just have to be careful as to when we plug in the water heater as our only form of heating is also electric and we have a limited supply. The answer is that during the day we space heat and then water heat during the night. The camper continues to be our night time refuge where it is heated and the bed has an electric blanket.
We have had visits this last week from a couple of electricians to quote for rewiring. Now waiting for their written quotes. Also had a quote for replacement windows and doors. So things are moving be it ever so slow.
The other document received was the architects estimate as to the cost of the project, as seen by his eyes. When we recovered we set about making comparisons and eliminations. A tweek here and there.
Decided against going to the first day of the sales today. We may miss out on some items but the small roads in the village are like glass so better to stay in today and hope that the weather will warm in the next few days.
The hole for the water and waste has been filled in and we have a great deal of sand and gravel left over. I'm sure we will find a use for it.
We now have hot water so can shower in our own premises. We just have to be careful as to when we plug in the water heater as our only form of heating is also electric and we have a limited supply. The answer is that during the day we space heat and then water heat during the night. The camper continues to be our night time refuge where it is heated and the bed has an electric blanket.
We have had visits this last week from a couple of electricians to quote for rewiring. Now waiting for their written quotes. Also had a quote for replacement windows and doors. So things are moving be it ever so slow.
The other document received was the architects estimate as to the cost of the project, as seen by his eyes. When we recovered we set about making comparisons and eliminations. A tweek here and there.
Decided against going to the first day of the sales today. We may miss out on some items but the small roads in the village are like glass so better to stay in today and hope that the weather will warm in the next few days.
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