12th. Well after quite an absence it is time for a major catch-up, especially as so many things seem to have fallen into place all of a sudden. The electricity was finally connected on the 8th and the Heat Exchange system on the 10th. So that evening I luxuriated in a lovely long hot shower followed by climbing in between crisp, clean sheets! The quarantine requirements in UK fell away and Jon was able to book passage to arrive in France on the 16th, so it will not be long before I have a kitchen.
In the meantime I have decided on the layout for the back garden, purchased some rather nice large planters and got the herb garden and some salad greens growing. I have ordered an arch that will be arriving on Wednesday, and a garden shed. The two water features are installed, powered by solar panels and along with the clear view from front to back and the clear passage for the winds I am happy that my Feng Sui is in good order!!!!
Inside I am getting pictures and ornaments on display and putting stuff away in cupboards. I am particularly pleased with the new “Office” set up and have re-organised my filing system. My bedroom has most of the large pictures in as it has most of the free wall space.
The TV man will come by on Thursday and install the satellite dish and a new TV. It will be quite a treat to have something bigger than my computer screen to watch stuff on!
I have bought a rowing machine and installed it behind the sofa so that I have a view of the garden. I am using it at least 5 days in every seven.
One of the added benefits of having the electricity on is the ability to raise and lower the blinds and so shut out the light which is hanging around till well after 10pm at the moment. This is certainly facilitating better sleep.
The only remaining items for the builder are the installation of the heated towel rail in the bathroom and the thermostat for the central heating control. These should happen next week then there will be the lengthy snag list to go through.
15th A flurry of deliveries today with the shed, the garden furniture and the parasol all arriving and news that the garden arch will arrive tomorrow. All in time for Jon, who arrives late tomorrow, to help me erect!
16th. The arch (s) (Amazon sent two by mistake!) arrived today and I had great fun unwinding the Passion Flower plants from around themselves and winding them up the arch instead.
Jon arrived something after midnight having been up since 5am . He came in jis van so that he could bring my posh new oven, my induction hob pans and all his wonderful tools.
17th. Jon made a good start on one side of the galley kitchen getting all the units in place. That did still leave a goodly pile of stuff still to be installed.
18th Today the units all got fitted to the other side and the Hob and counter top and back splash to the side he worked on yesterday. He has set up a cutting station on the driveway.
We cooked on the BBQ most days before the hob and oven were installed and on Tuesday (21st) had Tracey and Richard round for Aperos.
22nd Jon’s last day and everything fell into place. The kitchen is looking beautiful. It just remains for me to fill all the lovely draws! The shed is finally complete, a bit of a mission that but worth the effort. The herbs are under the kitchen window and the spare room is ready to receive friends and family.
26th. Jon’s visit was wonderful but served to emphasize how much I miss him.
The potted garden is beginning to flourish with flowers on the Butternut, Verbena and Passion Flower.
A tractor finally came and collected the hay bales from the field. Always something going on!
27th Had Luce and Michelle round for Aperos this evening, and very convivial it was too.
31st. The month finished on a high note with a surprise, although brief (largely due to three hot and bored teens who didn’t want to get out of the car!) visit from my friend Lison from St Jean de Losne day who was on her way to visit her parents who live in the same region. Then in the evening a pleasant drinks party with my neighbors Martine from across the road and Anna from a bit further down the road. Very remiss on both occasions for forgetting to get the camera out!
capetocarpe 