The store at the back of the house

It rained, rained and rained for the first three or four days and I began to panic about getting the work completed, but what's a bit of rain? As it happened, things got better albeit only one completely rain-less day.

I loved the visit. Its a pity I didn't get to meet up with Keith Eckstein. He could well have turned up during the hour I went awol but I didn't have his mobile number with me. I guess there is always another time.

Jobs completed...
Empty the proposed breakfast area / fit a shelf above the drawing board / fit an ikea shelving unit together / build up the window ledges in the dining area / chip the protruding stone and concrete from walls and floor of dining area / fit lock on living room door to the kitchen / render the dining room walls and inside of windows / fit the living room blind / seal the leak in David's bathroom / remove the shelves and contents from under the stairs to the new storeroom / render above door and under stairs top of wall / paint under the stairs / remove the slates down to the velux on outside store / re-slate roof, including the edge tiles / trim the store door and re-hang / fit three locks to the store door / fit feature stone inserts into the store wall / chisel around the stonework of the store / render the store walls / crepi the walls / move the pile of stone / trim the trees / clear the wood store area of scaffolding and boards etc. and relocate the timber / cover the wood store for winter / chop firewood / fit window flower box / put shelving (and everything else) into the new store / treat the canopy timbers / tidy up.

I had one surprise visit from the Vogel family who had read my blog and knew I was around. They kindly brought some crepes. It was so good to see them.

Photos...taking up where I left off.

What's going on behind the covers?

 Rendered and shaped around the feature stone inserts...

We still have the base to do and the stone to clean...

 We still have the left-hand wall to render and shape around the stone...

 Fitting everything in. It's a concrete mixer under the yellow bag. Note for any budding burglars...it's all very old stuff and not really worth the effort, but feel free...I think you'll be doing me a favour.

 On the day I left, the sun came out.

The breakfast area...

 Cleared, and window ledges built up...

 Walls rendered ready for plastering...

 Stonework to be cleaned and pointed in the Spring...plus floor tiles and ceiling etc!

Living room shelf...

Wood store area after I've removed the scaffolding and boards...

That's better!

It's amazing what the garden throws up when you start clearing up...

 Somewhere to put a bit of our stone for the time being...

All in all it was a productive time and I even had time to socialise; a lovely meal with Martin and Colette, also with the Vogel family and Gary and Carol and Derek.

I'm already looking forward to the next visit. I miss the place already.

After visiting Blu's blog I thought I'd post this last photograph. It of my mobile phone taken by my camera(not the phone camera) to show how dark it was all on my own as I sent a text to England. I've never done it before; it was a new experience, and I love new experiences (preferably in daylight). Can you see me? I'm holding the phone.

And this is another first time experience...taking a photo of my living room window at night to see if I can portray how isolated I felt. It's possible I was witnessed dancing by my neighbour who thought the  house had squatters after seeing lights on.

Boy, was it dark!

August 2010 visit

David picked me up from Dinard airport at 10:20pm and we arrived at Bel-Air in good time for me to get to bed at midnight.

I'm here until the 12th September and the first job will be to work on the landing as Bev arrives next week with Katy, Amy and Eileen and she will be disappointed not to see progress.

It turned out to be quite a visit. The main job was to build a store but the weather and planning permission were very slow in coming forward. Both were a struggle. To complicate matters, Bev had kidney stone problems and ended up in hospital in Ploermel.

Our new neighbours were still at Bel-Air as they waited to complete on the sale of Joel's house and land. It was an ideal time to address issues regarding our building project and attempts to purchase a part of their property.

Everything turned out fine although the option to purchase a part of their property was firmly but politely rejected. Trying to communicate and resolve issues took quite a lot of time as their attentions were really set on the sale and accommodating visiting friends. His wife also became ill and it looked like his daughter had broken her leg during their visit.

They are a very nice family and I'm looking forward to improving my French so that I can communicate better next time I see them.

The landing seat project from start to finish...

We've already jet-washed the stone and fitted a few feature pieces into the concrete blocks. Eileen thought it a good idea to create a seating area so I've knocked it about a bit to catch the vision.

We needed a window to look out of from this proposed seating area.

That's better. Stone is now pointed and blocks rendered, beams sanded and stained, walls boarded and filled, floor brushed clean...

Starting to take shape and feel clean...

Mmm! We need to build it up a bit to accommodate tops...

That's better...seat in place too.

Getting excited now...

This is what we did this time round...
Looks complicated, but...

I THINK I know what I'm doing...extra window bits to be glued and clamped before pushing into position...

Plasterboard screwed onto the wooden back supports and edging clamped...

More clamping

Pipe covers shaped...

Plasterboard rounded, filled, sanded and painted...

and stained...well done Bev.

Using the chain saw to shape the old timber...

The old timber in place and the end section finished (by the vase). The skirting is also in place although not fixed yet.

We love it! Eileen was right about the seat. We just need to varnish, add cushions and a blind to finish the job.

The store project...a continuation from the last post...
More hardcore and footings in place...

Almost ready for the concrete base...

Protecting the base from the rain using counterbalances...

David getting on with rendering the breakfast room and doing a good job...

And Helen...

Ready to build...

Bev, Eileen, Katy and Amy arrive...

The third dormer, breakfast room and pointing all done and looking good...

Cornerstone...

I badly sprained my ankle and am really happy that the pain has subsided enough for me to carry on working...

Roofing timbers and velux...soaked!

Ready for the roofing felt...see how the grass is growing...seeded 10 days previously...

David fabricating the guttering end and down-pipe...

A mouse for the mix? Just look at my battered leg...

Door almost fabricated...

The door was fitted and stained. The tiling almost done (just a small corner to do). The edging tiles are to be done and the painting of course. It's a shame we didn't get it all finished but we are looking forward to the next stage.

Other jobs completed...
Woodworm treatment for the fireplace canopy tops.
Woodworm treatment for above the front window.
Levelling of living room window ledge.
Fitting roman blinds onto the patio doors.
Windows sanded and re-stained for winter protection.


As for David...too many jobs to list.


Back to finish the job in November.