Continuing my little projects...

Well at the stage where it is waiting for roof tiles,which may be a long wait as they are in 'confinement' at a friends property! Still, I can press on with new door.

Also started chipping out old pointing to the rear of the barn to redo so no shortage of things to do!

What is normal?

You may have seen the 'Bupa' campaign running on TV which focuses on mental health and challenges.  What’s considered to be ‘normal’? Last night as Pauline and I sat in the midst of our current renovation project,small though it is, here in Barrou, she stated that 'this' is normal for us but that another kind of normal might be nice. One where you were not constantly eating dust would be good, or one that offered a settled lifestyle where you knew instinctively where things were, as they would be in their 'normal' place. One that meant we were at a point in our lives where time demands were less important and our choices were,well, our own!

It could be said that choosing me as her life partner was perhaps not her best decision if she had been seeking a 'normal' future. Life has a funny way of directing us down particular paths, some of us choose to go there and others choose not to, preferring the stability of what might be considered as 'normal'. We have chosen to take the paths, was there a plan, not really, a series of events have led us to where we are but through it all we are fortunate to have had,through the ups and downs, choices, where many less fortunate have not.

I am very much aware that Pauline may,like many others, have unfulfilled hopes and dreams that as she toils away (and she does) in the garden or finds her hands stiffening while sanding, she must reflect on but we are doing what our life demands of us and yes at our age she deserves a bit of 'normality' whatever that is. 

We also have children who,to some, might not be considered 'normal' but as lovely people they should not have to worry about fitting into a world that puts unfair demands on them as if it is their responsibility to save it or demands they conform.

All of us have our 'normal' lives to lead and we can only hope we can contribute to the lives of others in some small way to make their lives a little more like the 'normal' they perhaps are striving for...whatever that might be.

As to what brought me to thinking about 'normality', well a 'memory' came up on social media form 2016 (pic above) from when we were creating a corridor and new shower room upstairs here and here we are (below) at it again - for us,for better or worse, this is  'normal' for now!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (?)

A little project at the Old Walnut Mill for Christmas...we really do need to get a life!

The current project...

I have a number of projects on the go at present but the one that I am concentrating on at the moment is the facing of the block wall at the bottom off the garden behind the barn at the Old Walnut Mill.

I have completed the first part - replacing the missing blocks on the existing wall - I now have to face it with the stone that has, as Pauline reminds me, been moved by her over the years on a number of occasions. The anticipated good spell of weather should see a bit of progress, with the only cloud on the horizon being the need to dispose of 'stuff' from the barn becoming the priority. 

Shower room upgrade...

Seems ages since I posted on our small project here at the house (Old Walnut Mill) in Barrou but happy to report that we are actually nearly at an end, to this part anyway.

The new shower room is finished...

and a new corridor formed so it can accessed from both bedrooms.

I said it would be a temporary fix...

We will be going back to finish our Barrou project on our return to France part of which will be replacing the downstairs loo, the wooden handle of which had broken just days before we left. My trusty 'mole grips', which I bought as an apprentice in 1970 came to the rescue. Will probably still be there for a few weeks after we go back!

Benchmarking...my little project.

All the wood on this bench from 'Le Bourg' had rotted so it gave me another little project.

Fortunately I had enough suitable 'exotic' wood in my wood store of the right dimensions to replace the seating area and then bought and stained softwood for the back...job done...only needs delivered.

My first steps...part III

As part of the step project I am building a little retaining wall down one side as you can see above but had to stop as we had guests arriving. Will have to get back to this when I can - that and the retaining wall I am building at the bottom of the slope.

I have used some corrugated iron I had behind some reinforced pillars I built and will eventually  face it with the stone we have lying around.

My first steps...part II

At certain stages I could only get the concrete down by the bucket load - cheaper than a gym membership! 

Although it was hard wok I enjoyed the new challenge.

More on Monday...

My first steps...part 1

No, not as a child, I am referring to my June 'project' at 'Le Bourg' where the mixing and laying of much concrete lead to the ultimate formation of a new set of steps down to the 'lower garden' at the rear of the house. 

The steps have over the years had many incarnations - originally there was a straight set of stone steps down the side of the perimeter wall but it became overgrown and unusable.The next one which twisted and turned down the slop was formed using felled trees holding back earth and gravel. This lasted a long time but over the years erosion has made them unsafe.

Miki, the owner of the house had tried to improve the situation by adding tiles she had and again this helped for a while before they began to slip down the slope.

 Because of the twist and turns my first task was to come up with a framework that I could use to form the steps in sections...that done...

I could start to mix and pore the concrete.

More tomorrow...

Last supper...

...for a while anyway. Last night Miki (owner of ' Le Bourg') and her friend Cathy, who are over for a short stay from Toronto, joined us for dinner along with friends Mike and Liz. They (M &L) are being kind enough to allow Pauline to accompany them back to the UK today. She had intended visiting her mum on the 22nd of June (flights booked) for a couople of weeks but has to go earlier as she isn't in a great place at the moment. She will be taking over from her sister Eileen who is there until Wednesday.. She followed a spell of our youngest son Mark's caring - which was much appreciated.With our season 'up and running'  I have to remain here to do changeovers etc..

The 'tarte tatin' you see in the above pic. will be the last our kitchen will see for a while!

On Saturday night we were lucky enough to be invited to the inaugural dinner  at friends Dave and Jane's new 'entertainment' area. They have turned what was a cowshed into a wonderfully relaxing space which includes a lounge,the dining room above and a couple of guest's bedrooms. It is a fantastic job which features some of the original fixtures sympathetically. The job was completed in a relatively short period due to Dave and Jane's ability to 'get things done' - don't know where they find the energy!.

Photo from Colin & Elizabeth's visit

After my promotion of Chedigny's Rose Festival seems we were the only people who weren't there! Sadly work got in the way. I wanted to finish my 'step project' for Miki arriving and had set to work around 7.00 am to give me time to do this and free up the afternoon - but the truth is when I got back both Pauline (who has also had a heavy workload recently) and I, fell asleep. We did waken up in time to prepair for our evening guests however. 

The spice of life...

Yesterday I took a break from my current 'project' (more of this later) of concrete step making to do a bit of grass cutting in the morning for some friends/clients...

...and in the afternoon and it took all afternoon, to trim the hedge at 'Les Balcons' as our first guests of the season arrive on Saturday - thankfully.