Sunday 30 September 2018

Barn/5

I know that you are all on tenterhooks as to whether or not we made our deadline aren't you? Well we did - just. The plasterer arrived last Monday and all was good. We did have a little leeway upstairs as he was starting on the bedrooms on the ground floor which meant that Andrew had time to finish the window alcove, which was really quite tricky, and the Velux reveals. The photographs are in no particular order.

It's like giant Meccano!
My task was to tackle the chestnut beams - clean and oil. It was a horrid job but I knew that it needed to be finished before the plastering was done as the linseed oil soaks in. First I had to sweep off decades of muck, then a thorough clean with a wire brush. I used a mix of 3 parts turpentine to 10 parts linseed oil which has given them a rich colour. I started work from a ladder (I'm not brilliant at heights and the ceiling is over 4 metres) and had finished the first two when our plasterer came upstairs to check progress. He look horrified and the following day brought in his tall scaffold tower for me to use. It made life a lot easier and meant I managed two coats.



You would think that we would manage a little break now wouldn't you? Particularly as Andrew's brother is staying with us for a couple of weeks. But no. It doesn't look like the plasterer will be upstairs for a few days yet so we are going to utilise his scaffold tower while we point the one exposed barn wall. This is not going to be an easy job as there are a lot of small stones and a lot of raking out to do.


I'm really hoping that we all get some time out to enjoy the gorgeous autumn weather that we're currently having.

This morning's walk

Friday 21 September 2018

Two go off to the seaside

If someone says "would you like a few days on the Côte d'Azur?" you don't say no do you? Particularly when it's a favourite aunt and uncle plus the opportunity to see your mother, who you haven't seen since you left England. We hadn't realised how all encompassing our renovation works have been, there have been times where neither of us can string a comprehensible sentence together. Couple that with adjusting to living in a new country and we were so in need of a break.

The original Grand Hôtel du Cap Martin

Each year my uncle and his French wife (guess who got to practice her French!) rent an apartment for a few weeks at the Residence du Grand Hôtel du Cap Martin, just next to Menton. Built at the end of the 19th century, originally as a grand hotel, its luxury suites welcomed the rich and famous - Emperor François-Joseph of Austria and his wife Elisabeth (known as Sissi), George V and Sir Winston Churchill amongst them. Exceptionally comfortable for it's time it boasted gas lighting on all floors, running water in the suites and included La Grande Vacherie du Cap Martin with 30 cows to supply guests with dairy products. It was extended in the early 20th century and had it's own tramway from Menton. The First World War started its decline and after a few attempts to reopen and diversify it was finally turned into apartments in 1959.





For us it was a few glorious days where the only decision we had to make was choosing from a menu. The apartment was on the ground floor with a small secluded garden. At about 7:30 a.m. we would don swimsuits, walk through the semi-tropical gardens to the sea and spend 45 minutes or so swimming. Back for breakfast outside, shower and then driven to Italy for lunch (the border is only 20 minutes or so away). A leisurely meal and stroll around, back for a late afternoon swim. Light supper and drinks on the terrace. Repeat the following day. 

Gosh I had no idea there was a washing line in shot...

Around Menton

Italian scenes

The scenery and architecture were completely different to what we have become familiar with in Corrèze. Palm, olive and citrus trees, the smell of rosemary and thyme as we walked to the sea. The area was once owned by Italy and this influence can be seen in the flamboyant colours and over the top decoration. We heard as much Italian being spoken as we did French.

Although brief, we certainly enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend the area. I believe that some of the apartments are available on Air BNB if anyone was interested.

Sunday 9 September 2018

First summer


The temperature is still summer-warm but there are signs that autumn is keen to make an appearance. The heat is more gentle and there is a softness in the air. Morning dog walks are cooler, one morning last week we woke to 6 degrees. Some of the leaves are turning yellow and the fruit of the wild apples are tumbling to the ground. The shutters of the French holiday homes are now firmly shut as families shuffle back to Paris and points north.

Our first summer in Corrèze has been wonderful, if not a juggling act. A social life we had certainly not expected for our few months here (it even included our first French wedding), an amazing amount of events to attend and still trying to hang on to our restoration schedule.


After the bitter cold winter it was lovely to see the countryside come to life. Mortimer loved his walks, wild flowers blossomed and the village flower seems to be the hydrangea. We fell in love with the gentle Limousin cows and discovering the beautiful scenery.


Music plays an important part of Corrèze life. The 'Nuits de Nacre' festival in Tulle was a revelation and we are certainly going to return for that one next year. We were enchanted by Duo Lyria, a harp and flute duo who gave a concert in our church. Chapitre V energised us with their ethno-rock vibe, played in our medieval square. All of these were free and well attended by residents and visitors alike.


As expected food played an important part in the summer and we only managed to scratch the surface of the food festivals: strawberries, raspberries and myrtilles. There was the bread fête and a honey fête. We missed the celebration of bleu d'Auvergne cheese but have the mushroom one to look forward to. Our village had regular evening 'marché du pays' in the church square. Tables and chairs laid out so you could eat what you had just purchased and spend an evening with friends. Local markets doubled in size and if I have choose just one food memory of the summer it will be the drippingly good peaches, we quickly realised they could only be eaten with a paper napkin to hand.


Saturday night aperos went on to late in the night, the swifts giving way to the bats, but still an early start on Sunday to search out bargains at a vide-grenier. We made new friends as French summer visitors reclaimed ancestral homes, many intrigued by the new English couple who have chosen to make Corrèze town their home. In the telling of their histories our understanding of French has improved, we still have a long way to go but the patience of people has been much appreciated.

Is there one image that sums up our first summer here? Yes, Mortimer standing in the cool river Corrèze at the end of each day, eyes closed, letting the water flow over his hot paws.




Sunday 2 September 2018

My washing line

Friends and family have long known that I have a slight obsession with laundry. I love doing both washing and ironing. What may be new to them is my love of washing lines! Andrew's Godmother has a watercolour of a washing line which I covet. I have countless photographs of other people's washing lines (that sounds wrong doesn't it?). Imagine my excitement when I stumbled across this street in Sicily.


When I hang my washing out, it has to be colour co-ordinated. After I took this photograph I swapped the two garments on the left around!


For me the view of the village is enhanced by seeing other peoples' washing.


I took this photograph in the old town the other day, I can't help feeling they bought the blue top by mistake. Or maybe it was a gift from someone who was trying to extend the colour in their wardrobe!



Our washing line is a traditional French one, you can still buy these concrete style posts with the triple lines. I think it has the best view I have ever had when pegging out, although I have to try and put something large in front of my lingerie or the whole village will see!


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