Thick fog all the way down to St Jean - visibility often just 100m. But the journey time was not too affected and after a food shop at Leclerc, I was at the house by 1:30. Not much work has been done since I was last here, rather disappointingly. Steve the electrician has been in and done some things but he currently has a bad back and it is not clear when he will be in next.
As usual, unpacking the car creates chaos in the main lounge - so much to sort out and allocate to the correct places
This area, now largely debris, will eventually be Petits Chats terrace and outside dining area!
I cooked enough chilli for 3 nights this evening - so I'm not distracted by having to cook each night.
Tuesday
Grant and Simon were round this morning so I was able to unpack the cooker from the van and get it into the kitchen. Instantly, the room begins to look like an actual kitchen! While they work downstairs, I have started on the back bedroom next work - painting mainly.
Steve might be back later in the week - they are not sure exactly how he is
This afternoon I bought a dishwasher from Gitem in St Jean and we did a quick test of the sink arrangement. At the moment, we are rather confused by this and have obviously misunderstood something in the unit assembly. We will sleep on it and hopefully it will become clearer
Wednesday
Some post, other than junk mail, has arrived - a book on French Kitchen design sent from Amazon UK
Grant and Steve mainly do odd jobs, but we did decide today that the kitchen ceiling can't be saved and so will have to be replaced - another really messy job.
More work on the floor upstairs - lots of odd bits still need to be cut and fitted
The armoire that I started painting on the last trip has been moved upstairs and re-assembled in Petits Chats double bedroom. Still some painting to do on this, but it does look good in its new home.
The lounge downstairs is still rather a mess though - I won't be able to work on this until late March
Visited the Depot Vente in St Jean and the local Emmaus but no nice armoires - though the depot vente did have a rather stunning cupboard but it was E480 - way too much.
Ate chilli tonight for the third day in a row - perhaps it is time for a change
Thursday
A morning out with estate agent Dave. The first property is not featured here as it is a very possible one to buy and I don't want to risk publicising it as this stage
Property 2 has been infested with termites and all the floors have been taken out and the ground treated.
And property 3 had a good location but a huge crack down the front (caused by mis-tying the extension to the main house resulting in the extension pulling too much on the main house)
The rooms were universally awful, but there were a lot of working fireplaces
And it did have 2 acres of land with it - the best bit of it
Spent the afternoon fitting together the armoire and adjusting the doors with the help and Simon and some glued in match sticks. That finishes Grant and Simon's current visit and they won't be back till late next week
It was warm enough to sit outside and have lunch today - low 20s
Friday
Spent the morning tiling the downstairs bathroom in Petits chats. No Steve again
I have decided that I don't like the cladding's current colour and will be re-doing it in a darker red - perhaps "red earth" by Farrow and Ball.
The cat is back - Wife will be pleased he is ok
Cooked 3 portions of spaghetti bolognese this evening
Saturday
Visited St Jean market this morning for delicious duck moose and booked the Annexe restaurant for Valentine's day when I am here with Wife.
Lots of wood work on floors and skirting boards today. The top floor is progressing well - just a shame I can't do anything in the kitchen
I did repair the bed in the double bedroom so there is no longer the tendency to roll slightly towards the centre
The armoire looks lovely now the doors fit and the painting is nearly done.
I have put a couple of pictures up which look very nice. The one in the double bedroom was bought for £15 at an antique fair. The one in the landing is an original oil painting that cost E20 from a brocante
The tiling is just about finished in the downstairs bathroom and painting of the upper level has started - the same colour as we painting the main lounge as we have loads left.
As usual, the downstairs bedroom is a store room and workroom
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