Timeline: 14 mars: February last year was really cold, just a
look back in this blog will show you what I mean. It’s been reassuring to know
that last year’s extremely cold winter was not the norm and late February 2013
saw me sunbathing on the terrace in just a pair of shorts. It was 15 deg in the
shade but a barmy 25 deg in direct sunshine and we had temperatures in the
mid-teens for a whole week, followed by rain, hail and general cold and dampness,
then snow, although only very little and now it’s fortunately warming up again.
The weather forecast however, varies depending which website you look at, but
the consensus indicates a steady rise now and I’ve today declared official
springtime in the village. Just as well, as we started taking the roof off the
barn this week and I don’t want it full of snow or people sliding down a
slippery slope.
Work is proceeding on several fronts, with the Maison d’Amis
really looking lovely inside now with
its new paint scheme and just some wall panelling and skirting boards to
finish. Besides the work to the barn roof and chimney, as soon as the ground is
a little softer, we’ll start preparing he gardens for sowing grass seed and put
in some roses and a few other plants and look to create some peaceful rest
areas.
After looking at several letting websites, we registered with Owners Direct a couple of weeks ago and have received a steady stream of enquiries and have just taken our first new
booking of the year. Our maçon and friend, Eric, called in yesterday to look at
some more work for us and told me about his own gites being fully booked from
May until September, mainly from repeat clients. I like the sound of repeat
clients, as it makes the marketing tariff so much lower!
I hope to bring our old Citroen here next month, it having
received a full medical and some minor procedures from a specialist recently
and I’ll then have the challenge of the notorious French system of red tape to
negotiate in getting Andre (all our cars have always had names) registered
here. It will be grand to see him wearing a French 49 registration again after
20 plus years under the DVLA.
I’ve just noticed that more than a trace of the maison
d’amis colour scheme is still decorating my hands, so I’d better give them a
scrub a’dub when I go and get my overalls out of the wash, ready for tomorrows
exciting exploits.
Enjoys yourselves everyone, a bientôt,
LC
Oh, how could I forget that great big truck which was reversed skilfully into the courtyard yesterday to discharge some goodies:
Just a couple of photos of Le Grenier, our large upstairs suite above the Maison d'Amis, nearing completion.More photos to follow.
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| Much sanding of beams ! |
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| Paint coming soon |
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