6th Took a drive by the house today and was pleased with the garden progress. The lawn has been lain in the back yard with the sand box for Cassidy in the back corner.
They have also started the fencing of the front and were working on the driveway.
However I was disappointed to hear from the gardeners that there have been no workmen from the builders on site this week.
In the meantime they have started cleaning up the beaches which the government had said would re-open on the 2nd June, however although it is the municipal workers that are undertaking this job there was a contradictory message in the window of the Town Hall yesterday indicating that they will not open till 24th July! Left hands and right hands!
My cousin is making scrubs for the NHS and has assembled for herself an impressive suit of protective wear.
Son Paul, in Cape Town, has made his own mask. Because elestic was not to be had (a bit like here in France) he cut up an old inner tube to make the ties. Ever inventive!
My dear 98 year old friend has moved in with another mutual friend, Patricia, and her family in St Jean de Losne and I am pleased that she is not alone in this fearful time.
And my daughter Marian and her husband Pete in their masks
9th. There has been more progress by the landscapists on the construction of the driveway and the lawn has been lain in the front garden as well as the post box installed. I met Anna who lives a few doors down the road on the opposite side. She has a 10 year old daughter called Salomi. Together with Michelle, opposite me they make the only residents in the development so far.
20th Although the site foreman has said that I will have delivery of the house by the end of the month I am disappointed with the progress. The plumber that was on site for Monday and Tuesday to install the heatpump and radiators was not here today and has not finished. In addition I was horrified to see a big black pipe in the corner of the front bedroom which is not even straight. I have no idea what it is for and I do not want it there. All other services are buried within the walls.
I have called for a site meeting as soon as possible but starting tomorrow is a four day weekend so I do not expect anything to happen before Monday.
In line with the relaxation of the lockdown the round-a-bout is being erected on the sea front and one of the restaurants has put tables and chairs out, reasonably distanced!
This banner is at every entrance to the beach – so there can be no misunderstanding!
25th. As the business day comes to e close the story about the house gets weirder. There was no one on site either this morning or this afternoon. The fan unit of the heating system is standing on the back terrace not connected. Wide open to being stolen! I have still not had any reply as to when I can have the site meeting but I did get a registered letter from the HO saying that they were recommencing work on the 4th May, they actually already did this on the 6th April! Then I got an e-mail requesting the final 20% which is the payment that is supposed to indicate that the house is finished and on receipt of the payment I can have the keys and move in. I then have one week to report all the snags and when these have all been dealt with I pay the last 5%. I made the afternoon visit just to be 100% sure that they hadn’t rushed in and finished off when my back was turned. They hadn’t. I can’t see into the bathroom so I don’t know what if anything has been done in there. However along with the incomplete heat pump there is a big box of rubbish standing in the living room. If I do not hear anything in the remaining hour I will have to head in there tomorrow and catch them in the office.
26th There were workmen on site today fitting the light well to the bathroom. They did not mind me going inside and the situation is less worse that I thought it was. Although like the outside element of the heat pump, the inside one is not connected either and the heated town rail is not installed, the wall tiles in the shower space are installed and the channel for carrying away the shower waste water. But the mosaic for the shower floor is still outstanding along with the rest of the bathroom furniture and the motor for lifting the garage door. If they really pull finger they can do it bay the end of the week but I am not holding my breath and I am still waiting to hear when I can have my meeting?
28th Back on site this morning there were no workers – so what’s new? It does seem that the black pipe exits the roof under the mushroom that was replaced by the light well.
The landscaper had openened a panel in the front fence so that workers could get to the house should they turn up because this afternoon he is throwing the slab in front of the garage. The raw material was dumped by a cement truck then a team spread it out and a large man in shoes made to the purpose flattened it our. It is going to look very good.
capetocarpe 