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Work began in
2007 with the opening up of the doors and windows, removal of the
old rendering, new re-enforced concrete floors, a new roof and
the balcony. M. DuBois then fitted the new doors and
windows and we tiled the roof to make the place secure for the
winter.
2010 work is
ongoing and the electrical and plastering work is progressing.
The main news is the commencement of the extension. We
searched for stone but eventually bought new from a local
quarry. It's not an exact match but near and will age over
time to look somewhere near the original, and once the existing
stonework is "pointed up" it will look even less different.
Progress
photo's (click on photo to enlarge and use browser back
button
to return to this page)
2010 - May:
2009 - May:
2008/9 was a bit
of slow in terms of progress - Hervé,
the excellent French builder, was booked up in 2008 and stone
for the extension to match the existing building is proving hard
to find in the amounts we need. With the exchange rate
plummeting this maybe isn't too bad a delay. The heating and the electrics, plus internal plastering will be
completed during the winter of 2009, with potentially the floor
tiling (at a push) ready for 2010.
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Test fitting of the new staircase |
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2008 - June:
We've also had the traditional French
zinc gutters fitted and myself and DuBois fitted the staircase
before we came back to England for the winter in 2008. And most important of all we painted
and fitted the new window and door shutters, so Lynn's happy
now!
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Newly fitted and painted shutters......
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.... in corn-flower blue of course! |
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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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2007 - 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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2007 - 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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2007 - 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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