2004 visit

Jon drove us to Stanstead @ 4:45 am on Sunday 29th August 2004 and we jumped on the flight to Dinard where David was waiting to pick us up.

On the way to Bel-Air we stopped off at some Australian friends of David & Eileen who gave us a grand tour of the place they are renovating in Josselin.

It was great to see Bel-Air even though we haven't any electricity and are sleeping in a tent. David made dinner and we sat in the garden to eat just as Gary arrived. In the evening we sat in front of an open fire and candlelight.

In terms of work, not a lot was recorded other than...repairing the ascot flu, the sides of the big dormer and the bedroom studding. In reality, I wouldn't have stopped.

David & Eileen's living room  as it was in 2004 after putting beams in, and later...

Uncovering a hidden window...we replaced the rotting timber lintel above the window with a slab of stone we found in the garden.

as it is now...

The big dormer at the back...before

During (after we raised the kitchen windows and David's re-tiling.)

I don't seem to have a photo of us finishing it (the same week). I build a smaller dormer over to the left above the doors and this year (2010) there will be another smaller one.

Studding the bathroom ...the ancient ascot soon to be installed for temporary hot water linked to a gas bottle. The bath, toilet and sink are also temporary. In fact, there is a rather nice finished bathroom fully functional right now.

Almost finished in these shots...

This was the year that we discovered the joys of star gazing and looking out for shooting stars.

We left to go home at 4:20 am  on Friday 10th September and only just got to Caen in time (8:15) for a calm crossing to Portsmouth.

As was and as is.

David nicking some of my mix as he works on the stonework outside. We worked hard on this as we raced against time to protect it from the elements. Luckily it didn't rain. It was so hot in fact, that David stayed the entire summer to slate the roof. It did rain eventually (and when it rains, it really rains) but not often and not for long. It was a job well done.

As it is now...still unfinished...until May 2010.

Welcome to Keith Eckstein who lives just 15 minutes from us. I've been reading his blog for some time now which gives quite an insight into the area and what it has to offer. Actually, he has several blogs worth the visit.