Monthly Archives: November 2014

Sunrises, sunsets and bits in-between.

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Phill

This week has brought us some beautiful sunrises

And stunning sunsets

The weather has been really lovely, i can’t believe that we are still in T shirts in the middle of November.

Ive spent most of the weekend in the garden planting over 300 bulbs, tulips, bluebells, miscarries, and narcisi.

In the front of the house are three long patches of flag irises, which were really stunning last spring, but as we are making that area into a drive and parking they need to be moved, so i started that job this afternoon.

I have dug trenches along the wire fence at the back of the garden and have filled them with the dug up irises well some of them as there are so many and I’m only half way through digging them up.

So lots more beds to dig this week, Barnaby Pickles decided to help, pity he dug the holes that had already been dug.

Miel Miaow trotted along after all the hard work had been done.

And then promptly decided to have a rest.

The kitchen windows in, well not quite!

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Phill

We spent all day Thursday fitting the new window, all went well putting in the frame.

But when we came to hang the doors, they wouldn’t close, we tried so many things, adjusting the brackets, moving the frame up then down, but nothing worked, then we measured the actual door frame opening and it turns out that the top is 7mm wider than the bottom, we we weren’t going mad.

So there it is looking lovely but not working, so now we wait for the window company to come out on Monday to see it and hopefully work out how to make it all ok, keep your fingers crossed.

Its changed the whole feel of the kitchen, its so much brighter and the view of the garden is fabulous.

Categories: General posts | Tags: Fayssac, Fitting kitchen window, France, French blogs, French house, French Life, French living. Moving to France, Living in France, Living the French dream, Renovating a French house, Travel blogs | 4 Comments

A new roof, guttering oh & kitchen window, all in one week!

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Phill

It’s been a busy week here in Fayssac. We have had two sets of builders on site – one finishing off our new roof and guttering and the other knocking a big hole in the front of the house to create a space for our new kitchen window and doors.

The roof is finished so we are all watertight and now the builders are just adding the guttering all around the house and barns, so no more getting drenched when it rains.

The weather has been beautiful, but we had lots of rain on the weekend so the ground is soaked and very soft, so our lovely garden has been ripped up.

There has been so much old wood from the roofs, should help with the wood burning stoves.

Our two old windows in the kitchen are due to become one, and work begins.

The workmen have been fabulous, but it’s dust city everywhere.

Supports go in to stop the front of the house collapsing.

Finally the beams are added and here’s how they did it.

Pop back tomorrow to see the end result!

Categories: Living in France | Tags: Fayssac, France, French adventure, French blogs, French house, Moving to France, Renovating a French house, Travel blogs | 3 Comments

Muriers are planted

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Phill

On Monday our Murier [mulberry] trees were delivered, we have been waiting and waiting to get them as the ideal time to plant them is in November, so the local tree nursery told us.

We had booked John the dig for Thursday to dig the holes and do various other things in the garden that needed doing, but alas he couldn’t come as his new baby boy was born in the early hours of that morning [congratulations to him and his lovely wife]. So Kev and and I decided to dig the holes for the tree ourselves, we could only do the one side of the garden as the established tree have to be dug up using the digger and moved to a new home on the other side of the garden.

So dig we did and dig and dig and plant and plant until we hit a patch of solid rock which we had to break through using one of our industrial strength power tools. Just think of all the calories we are burning off I offered up to Kev in an attempt to keep him motivated.

We finally managed to get through the rock and plant the last tree and mighty fine they look as well.

Now just the other side of the garden to do, hmmm how long is male maternity leave?

Categories: Living in France | Tags: Fayssac, French adventure, French blogs, French house, French Life, Living the French dream, Moving to France, Mulberry trees, Murier trees, Renovating a French house, Travel blogs | 1 Comment

Re Roofing

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Phill

Well at last after waiting for an extra 6 months the roofs over Marion & Ian’s and our house has been started.

We have held out as everyone we have spoken to has said that our roofer Mr Coucoureux is the best roofer in this area, and also his quote was the cheapest.

I have to say we have not been disappointed so far, his workmen have been fabulous, very friendly and accommodating and most importantly their work is really good.

Here are a few pics of whats been happening so far.