Links...

December 2014 update...The links to the various projects didn't work. I think I'm going to have to just post updates as they happen here instead of my other blog. Watch this space for the bread oven renovation in our front garden.

December 2012 update...I've published a small book with all the photos of the renovation of the property. I've just got to figure out how to get it to this site so you can view it.

February 2013 update...We've also just sold our house here in Newark (subject to contract) and will be initially spending up to half the year in France once contracts have been exchanged.   Exciting times!

Now you see them...now you don't!

Martin emailed me yesterday (Boxing Day) to let us know what the winds have done.

Our tree protected corner by the entrance to our back garden where I was going to build my posh storage shed/summer house and art studio.

The same corner from the lane. Aren't I glad I didn't build my posh shed-come-summer house and art studio there.

Thankfully, Martin informed us that everything else is fine...house, telephone wires and outbuildings.

July visit...

I'm exhausted but satisfied at achieving the below tasks...

Strimming the perimeter grounds. David had already cut the grass so strimming was all that was left. The grass and verges are always the first to get attention.

Digging up the grotty tarmac weed haven outside the front door to create a temporary gravel area for flower pots. Perhaps in the future the gravel can make way for some nice York stone edged with something complimentary. For now, this gravel had to be moved from the back where the patio is to be laid and what better place to move it to?

I wished I'd taken a photo of the weeds before starting...

Sanding beams in the breakfast room. You'll probably catch sight of these in a later photograph.

Removing the stone circle from the back garden and defining the circle ready to begin building properly.

5. Tiling the floor in the breakfast room, part of the kitchen and the entrance to our living room, with David. You can see one of the sanded beams...window ledges to be completed next time when the ceiling boards come down to have the insulation put in (too expensive to buy from France...must come from the UK). Here is David, Eileen and their granddaughter Amy...plus my plate of spag bog. The table top was several pieces of old timber from a chapel in Derby and the benches from timber from a chapel renovation in Nottingham that David salvaged from the skip. He's done a fantastic job and this is our first meal on it...just prior to setting off for the airport.

6. Selecting stone and building a retaining wall by the patio. Selecting stone is the most laborious task ever...

7. Moving the patio slabs as they were delivered in the middle of our entrance.

The sand isn't in the way so can stay where it is...they ended up to the right of the entrance...

8. Repositioning the guttering to the bottom edge and roof tiles at the back of the property.

 My first-time soldering...cutting a hole and inserting a down-pipe at the correct angle isn't the easiest of jobs...

 Custom gutter brackets...

 All in place...including the lower level extension at the end...and re-painting the dormer.

9. Adding an inch to our table foot so that the table is level (photo not available).

David was involved with plastering Helen and Scott's bathroom and bedroom, boarding the dining area, making the dining table and benches and tiling / grouting the dining area floor.

It wasn't all work. There was that trip to the coast at Arradon, the mini-motorbike rides along the deserted country tracks, the cycle rides, walks in Yvon's woods, feeding the fish in his pond, chatting with friends, reading books, and chatting around roaring fires during those cooler evenings. I rarely finished work before 9pm and in bed before midnight.

No wonder I'm tired!

We had one visitor (Mr. T)...

I could really have done with the boat ride but was too busy...

Next time...along with the guttering above the windows and roof tiling at the front of the property...the work never ends...there is also the well to build (just in front of the boat)...and the renovation of the bread oven, and staining the windows, and...

The biggest disappointment was misplacing my boarding pass and having to pay 40 Euros for them to print another one. Rip-off or what!!

On my way

Now that my suitcase is being packed, I'm beginning to look forward to a quick flight, being picked up on arrival, Bastille Day celebrations, meeting friends and getting a lot more work done.

I hope to finish the guttering front and back, make significant progress with the patio and tackle a host of small jobs.

Rendering the main back wall

One of my main tasks this time around was to soften the edge and make the store more part of the main building.

I messed around with photoshop to get the  effect I was looking for and used it as a guide...

So here goes...after this is dry I will need to jet wash the wall as it looks pretty grotty.

All rendered and ready to paint...

There you go...all jet-washed and painted. As you can see, it needs another coat of paint before it's finished. As we aren't able to do the guttering yet, I temporarily stuck an extra bit on the roof to keep the dripping water off the render. Eventually, the guttering will be down on the bottom edge there.

Slowly getting there. Hopefully, the patio will be done during the next visit.

A lot was achieved this time round so I'll post again very soon with photos of another project.

On our way

The car is packed and we're ready to go.

No TV
No internet
No phone
No worries

Looking forward to walks and talks, bike rides, picnics, doing odd jobs, relaxing, playing games and visiting places.

Boy, are we ready for this!

Still in love with the idea.

I'm thinking about France at the moment and what it might be like to permanently stay in the place we've been renovating the past seven years.

I read about people who have made the transition and have later regretted it. I've wondered about why they might have regretted it. I've considered if their regrets might possibly apply to me.

To renovate is to sacrifice. Over the past seven years there have been many setbacks and struggles as well as the acquisition of new skills , borne of necessity. It would be true to say that blood, sweat and tears have gone into the making of our place just south of Josselin.

We want to live a simple life growing vegetables, making jam, painting and meeting interesting people and visiting interesting places...and we want to do all of these things based in rural Brittany.

Yes, the dream is still burning bright.