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Work began in
2007 with the opening up of the doors ad windows, removal of the
old rendering, new re-enforced concrete floors, a new roof and
the balcony. Mr DuBois then fitted the new doors and
windows and we tiled the roof to make the place secure for the
winter.
2008 - a bit
of a slow year - The excellent French builder, Hervé,
is booked up until 2009, but with the exchange rate perhaps not
too bad a delay. Mr DuBois is progressing with the
internal walls, bathroom, wiring, plumbing and preparing for the
under-floor heating. We've also had the traditional French
zinc gutters fitted. And most important of all we painted
and fitted the new window and door shutters, so Lynn's happy
now!
Progress
photo's: 2008
June:
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House with newly made and painted shutters.
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Cornflower Blue shutters of course! |
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Progress photo's: 2007
October - December:
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View from the vineyard of the nearly finished roof. |
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View from a slightly different angle - you can just about see me on the kitchen roof. |
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Bedroom patio doors. Good job M. DuBois had clothes on when he took the picture! |
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Patio doors onto balcony. |
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September:
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Herve the builder has finished for now and the new roof is coming along well. |
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Hopefully M. DuBois (Doug) will get the filling under the eaves completed so we can finish before the winter sets in. |
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After a couple of minor hiccups DuBois and myself built up under the eaves and the roofers came back to finish the volige. |
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Next job is to re-tile the roof. I'll be flying out w/c 1-Oct for a few days to hang off the edge, so taking my climbing gear!!! |
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August:
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New kitchen's coming along well. |
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Window openings at front. |
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All render off end wall, ready for repair. |
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Downstairs bedroom and bathroom area. |
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Downstairs bedroom and bathroom area. |
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July:
After several
delays due to the abysmal weather in the Averyon, Hervé,
the builder, has been able to start. Progress has been
pretty swift and both upstairs and downstairs floors are in,
plus the foundations for the kitchen are built.
Good news - M.
Bernard, who has tended the vineyard for many years, advised he
had decided to ramp down his efforts and this was to be his last
year. When I saw him in July he told me that he "has his
health" and will do another year. How a 75 year old has
the energy to carry a 20kg spray compressor up and down that
vineyard I'll never know - better start drinking the wine it
produces. He drinks a bottle every lunchtime and water the
rest of the day.
Sadly, the
hailstorms of June have ruined a lot of this year's harvest.
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The super new tarmac approach road to the house, courtesy of the Maire. |
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Progress on the crepe removal on front of house. |
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Getting ready for the new downstairs window opening s |
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Acro props R'Us, holding up the concrete upper floor until it's fully set. |
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Small store under soon to be kitchen. |
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New, very expensive, re-location of electrity meter. 1500 Euro to move 4 metres (EDF). |
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De-plastered interior, new floors and Oak window beams waiting to be installed. The UPVC will replaced by Oak as well. |
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Soon there will be a kitchen here (hopefully). |
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View as I dragged myself out of my tent on Wednesday morning. |
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First of the new window openings made downstairs |
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Opening being made for second window downstairs |
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