Having lived in a rustic wine growing village for almost 5 years we felt the time was right to seek new pastures.
Within 6 months our beautiful home was sold and we landed in what I would call "Suburban" living.
We purchased a house......well.....walls and roof . The inside left a lot to be desired.......what some may call a blank canvas.
The garden and situation of said house is.........location location location!
Beautiful historic village, large enough garden to accommodate all veg growing and chickens ,mature fruit trees, quiet, river views, walking distance to local boulangerie and boucherie, good cycling roads that don't involve gasping for breath hills and near enough to towns to buy items for the renovation on the "blank canvas"
I have to say it was hubby who chose the house....I took a bit of convincing. I still had the dream of living out in the sticks and being lost in your hectare of land whilst living in the beautifully renovated Longere. Back in the land of the real world Hubby did inform me that I was no longer young or fit enough to take on such a mammoth task . As usual he was right and so the compromise was made.
After leaving our old renovated house in near perfect condition with wine and glasses on table for the new owner, we arrived to our rubble strewn new home.
The builder, who was kindly fitting us in, was still plastering the walls in the lounge ........feeling very tired from all the preparations, packing and emotional parting I felt entitled to a little breakdown!
After a little weep, glass of wine and then a good nights sleep ( at least we had a bed) I was up for the new challenge.
Now....one week on....we have almost got all the electrics completed. Our open plan toilet now has a room of its own. The French plumber Vincent, who is like a whirling dervish, has almost completed the plumbing work so said open plan toilet can be replaced with one that doesn't need filled by hand and doesn't need lid lifted off to pull up the flush inside. New windows and doors are ordered.
We are camping in the lounge.....our kitchen is laid out on a trestle made with the door we took off to join it to the kitchen. The kitchen is .....well....just a room with a sink in it...and still has all the builders materials lying around ...so is ..to be continued.....
As for the garden......that is the where the work needs to be. As we can't afford a rotovator ..even to hire one is 50 euros a day....it's digging the old fashioned way! Years of weeds and roots are finding it hard to relinquish their comfy home....so it's slow hard work.
However if we want to carry on with our attempt at self sufficient cheap living we must get the veg planted as soon as possible...especially as we are already late,
So....rather than digging it all ...we are digging and planting bit by bit. We brought some raspberry canes and strawberry plants from our old house and they have already settled in well. The blueberry and black currant bushes are in and one set of potatoes.
I think we have to accept that this year may not reap the crops we have had in the past but at least we will have something.
The garden being a little bit wild is at least giving us lots of dandelion leaves for salads.
Here's to what week two will bring.
I have to say it was hubby who chose the house....I took a bit of convincing. I still had the dream of living out in the sticks and being lost in your hectare of land whilst living in the beautifully renovated Longere. Back in the land of the real world Hubby did inform me that I was no longer young or fit enough to take on such a mammoth task . As usual he was right and so the compromise was made.
After leaving our old renovated house in near perfect condition with wine and glasses on table for the new owner, we arrived to our rubble strewn new home.
The builder, who was kindly fitting us in, was still plastering the walls in the lounge ........feeling very tired from all the preparations, packing and emotional parting I felt entitled to a little breakdown!
After a little weep, glass of wine and then a good nights sleep ( at least we had a bed) I was up for the new challenge.
Now....one week on....we have almost got all the electrics completed. Our open plan toilet now has a room of its own. The French plumber Vincent, who is like a whirling dervish, has almost completed the plumbing work so said open plan toilet can be replaced with one that doesn't need filled by hand and doesn't need lid lifted off to pull up the flush inside. New windows and doors are ordered.
We are camping in the lounge.....our kitchen is laid out on a trestle made with the door we took off to join it to the kitchen. The kitchen is .....well....just a room with a sink in it...and still has all the builders materials lying around ...so is ..to be continued.....
As for the garden......that is the where the work needs to be. As we can't afford a rotovator ..even to hire one is 50 euros a day....it's digging the old fashioned way! Years of weeds and roots are finding it hard to relinquish their comfy home....so it's slow hard work.
However if we want to carry on with our attempt at self sufficient cheap living we must get the veg planted as soon as possible...especially as we are already late,
So....rather than digging it all ...we are digging and planting bit by bit. We brought some raspberry canes and strawberry plants from our old house and they have already settled in well. The blueberry and black currant bushes are in and one set of potatoes.
I think we have to accept that this year may not reap the crops we have had in the past but at least we will have something.
The garden being a little bit wild is at least giving us lots of dandelion leaves for salads.
Here's to what week two will bring.
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