We knew our water main pipe installation wasn’t going to be easy. If fact connecting the mains water supply into the house was going to be a mammoth task.
Month: November 2022
Raiders of the Lost Barn
When we escaped to France, high up on our list of ‘must have’ requirements for our Grande Maison was a large Barn. However, the one that came with this house was in rather poor condition and we may take several years to get around to restoring it.
Are Garden Fires Legal In France?
Many people ask whether Garden fires are legal in France. Smoke is often seen in the countryside especially around farms.
Bertie the Bat and the Butterfly Sun Lounger
We always wanted a Place in the Sun and although we weren’t quite escaping to a Chateau, what attracted us to this particular Grande Maison was it’s 3 storeys and the vaulted wine caves beneath.
With all that floor space combined you have nearly 300 square meters.
Oak Framed Window
I’d made some rather hasty repairs to the existing oak windows in the attic, but I decided to push my wood-working skills beyond their limits and try to construct a pair of Oak Framed Windows.
A Week On The Tiles
Is it possible to survive without a kitchen? We are still not connected to mains water, nor do we have other essentials such as a cooker, sink or drainage.
Smashing up a Terracotta Ceiling
We were very surprised to find a suspended terracotta ceiling. What a great idea! They would resist rot and fire, all whilst keeping the room incredibly cool during summer.
Hostile Environments and HAZMAT suits
downstairs Toilet was to be her biggest challenge yet. Left abandoned for decades the mold was inches thick and the ammonia smell was nauseating.
Lounge Ceiling Crashes Down
The ceiling in the front left room was showing damp and was simply made of hard-board. The joins were covered in oddments of scrap wood of differing sizes. Some pieces had screws, some nails and others were just hanging down.