An early start! I woke up at 4.45am so decided to get up and have my shower. After breakfast and final checks round the house we were on our way by 6am. We arrived at the tunnel by 10am so a good journey, we managed to get an earlier crossing at 10.35am. Had a good trip down to Alencon arriving at 4.30pm. Had a cool beer and gin and tonic sat in the garden then an evening meal and an early night. The temperature had cooled and was only 20 degrees when we arrived in Alencon, much better for sleeping.
Monday 1st July
Woken up by thunder and then a quick down pour. By the time we had showers and were on our way it had stopped. Had a steady journey to the barn arriving at 1pm after calling for provisions. We emptied the car, had lunch before opening the freezer! Boy did it smell! Thanks Enedis, French bureaucracy! Fortunately the power is back on now, think I have learnt a lesson, not to leave anything ever in the freezer! We emptied it of all the food and then I got the job of washing it out using bicarb and lemon juice. Once cleaned I switched it back on again and am hoping for the best! Still not a pleasant smell when you open the door but much better! Kevin started cutting the grass, it's up to my knees and the garden looks like it's never been cut! So plenty to do in the next few days. I unpacked everything and sorted the caravan out. We then decided to put the awning up. Perhaps not such a good idea when we were both tired and hot! We eventually finished about 8.30pm, so after a salad tea we watched a bit of Wimbledon and then went to sleep with the windows and door open to keep cool as it was 36 degrees in the caravan!
Tuesday 2nd July
After a good night's sleep we woke at 6.45am. After showers and breakfast we decided to go to Ikea in Bordeaux for beds, a bedside cabinet and a chest of drawers for the guest bedroom. Method in our madness as we have decided if it gets hot again we will sleep in the barn. Unfortunately Ikea didn't have the single bed bases we wanted, so we bought the cabinets and a mirror and then decided to have a look at the beds in Le Clercs, we eventually got served and bought two bases. It was after 4pm when we got back to the barn. We put the beds together and unrolled the mattresses, good job we did this in the bedroom as they unrolled very quickly! We then pottered doing various jobs before having a BBQ at 7pm. Kevin then decided to cut the grass again whilst I washed up. A warm day 39 degrees at 4pm in the caravan, fortunately it cooled before bedtime.
Wednesday 3rd July
A busy day. Kevin strimmed round the pool whilst I cleaned the van and then did the ironing, this was all before 9am, trying to beat the heat! We both brushed round the pool before opening it. Elsie did a fabulous job cleaning the pool in the heat of the day! Kevin started work in the barn, sinking the nails on the skirting board and then putting the door lining in place. I weeded the new piece of garden whilst it was in the shade. After lunch I filled the gaps in the skirting and round the door frame in the guest bedroom before sweeping the barn. Kevin went to Brico Marche to buy wood and plaster board to start our bedroom ceiling tomorrow. After emptying the trailer we decided to sort the off cuts of plaster board out that we had stored in our bedroom, creating space for Kevin and Neil to start work tomorrow. Kevin then decided to take the bits to the dechetterie. Whilst he was gone I got in the pool and cleaned the waterline, it was lovely to cool down in the pool as it was 40 degrees in the caravan at 7pm! We moved the BBQ to the front of the barn before cooking as it was in the shade and much cooler.
Thursday 4th July
Happy 4th July to our American friends. A hot day here, 41 degrees in the caravan at 8.30pm! I nipped to Aldi for bread and then cut the front grass and did some strimming before it was too hot. Nev and Barbara arrived about 12ish, had cold drinks and kindly invited us for a meal tomorrow night. Kevin and Neil started working on our bedroom ceiling, putting in framing ready for the insulation and plaster board. It was so hot for them, between us we drank 8 litres of water today! After lunch I rubbed down and then painted the skirting board and door jambs in the guest bedroom. After Neil left I continued with the grass cutting and strimming before having a cool down in the pool. We ate our evening meal in the barn as no shade in the garden.
Friday 5th July
Another very hot day. Kevin and Neil continued with the roof framing in our bedroom, again very hot for them. I went food shopping and then started to cut the grass in the back garden. At around 10.20am Manuel and Yannick arrived and had coffee with us before handing over their house for rental for the week. After they left I finished cutting the back grass before it got too hot. After lunch I gave the guest bedroom skirting and door jambs another coat of paint. I had a quick swim before getting ready to go to Nev and Barbara's for the evening. We arrived back after a lovely meal and evening still sat in their garden at 11.30pm, it was still very hot in the caravan. We woke at about 4am to the sound of thunder and rain, it did cool down a little then.
Saturday 6th July
After breakfast we decided to go to Perigueux to collect the automatic pool opener, a velux window and various other bits. Whilst Kevin checked some design details I nipped to Le Clercs for the weekend food. We had a quick coffee on my return and then set off for Perigueux, calling at Brico Depot first for the velux, then went to collect the pool opener before going to Le Roy Merlin's for insulation and finally called at Grand Fraise for kebabs and some chicken portions. On our return we tried the pool opener, much easier than Kevin having to wind it open, at least I can open the pool myself! Another very hot day 40 degrees at 6pm! Going for a swim now before dinner, Kevin having a snooze as he still has a cold so not feeling 100%. Think we might sleep in the barn tonight.
Sunday 7th July
Well what a disappointment, we had decided to give sleeping in the barn a try so we climbed the ladders at 10.15pm only to find the bedroom was very hot, warm air rising! So we gathered the bedding together, Kevin carried it back down the ladders and we went back to the caravan! We actually had a better night's sleep as it cooled down during the night. It was cloudy when we woke up so I managed to change the beds, do four loads of washing and did the ironing all before the sun came out . We listened to the Archers whilst having coffee. I put the pictures on the blog and for the final week last visit. Kevin worked on the plumbing and I touched up the paintwork in the guest bedroom before sorting equipment out and sweeping the barn. Had a lovely swim, the pool is now 29 degrees. Kevin still full of cold and not feeling very well, might need to rub his chest tonight!
Monday 8th July
Another very warm day, 38 degrees today. Kevin and Neil continued and finished putting the framing to the ceiling in our bedroom. I did some ironing before nipping to Aldi for bread and sandwich fillings. I then strimmed the garden before it got too hot. After lunch I finished putting a final coat of paint just above the skirting in the guest bedroom. Guest bedroom finished apart from a bit of sealant round the window wall of the flooring and a good clean! After Neil left Kevin did some plumbing connecting the water filter. I did some strimming on the outside of the garden, the weeds and grass is just so long that the strimer wire kept breaking, very frustrating! I had a swim to cool down before having a BBQ for dinner.
Tuesday 9th July
A busy day for all. Kevin and Neil altered the brace on one of the lateral trusses before starting to put up the insulation and plaster board to the ceiling in our bedroom. I spent the morning strimming outside of the garden. After lunch I washed the windows in the guest bedroom and then cleaned the room. After Neil left we made up the bedside cabinet that we had bought at IKEA last week. The room is beginning to look ready for its first visitors, Andrew and Kath!. It was after 8pm before we finished working so quick showers and then a salad for tea. Didn't manage to find time for a swim today but another really hot day.
Wednesday 10th July
Another busy day. Kevin and Neil continued putting insulation and plasterboards in our bedroom ceiling. After doing my usual jobs and shopping I washed the outside of the caravan before it got too hot. David came for coffee and a catch up at 11am. After .lunch I helped Kevin thread electric wires through the conduit, this was then put into our bedroom ceiling for the ceiling light before they covered the area with plaster board. During the afternoon I took the empty bottles to the bottle bank, 40 bottles of larger in just over a week! I also did some cutting back of trees. After Neil left we put the chest of drawers together for the guest bedroom, think we could offer our services to IKEA! We have managed two cabinets without falling out! We finished the evening by putting up the mirror and putting the rug in place so the guest bedroom just needs bedding which is still at home! It was after 8pm when I had my swim so late when we finished eating.
A milestone day! Kevin and Neil finished putting the insulation and plaster boards on our bedroom ceiling, only our en-suite upstairs to complete now! I did a big shop as we have Nev and Barbara, Phil and Lesley and Neil and Dee coming for dinner on Saturday night. I then cut the grass before coffee. Whilst it was not so hot I put some weed killer around the edges of the pool area, cleaned the garden furniture and cleaned Elsie after she had cleaned the pool! After lunch I swept the whole of the barn as we will probably eat in there on Saturday night, did some gardening and whilst having my swim cleaned round the pool line. Just as we were about to sit down to dinner Danielle came round to ask Kevin if he could help her with a flat tyre, fortunately we had a pump in the car so she is now able to go and get a new tyre tomorrow. Another hot day.
Friday 12th July
A busy day, we were up at 6.30am and left for Chalais at 8.10am. We called at the saw mill and bought enough pieces of oak for the stair treds. We then went to Brico Marche in Chalais and Kevin managed to buy all the plumbing bits he needed. The next call was to Phil and Lesley's as they had kindly offered us a king sized bed. Whilst there Kevin helped Phil to move a pool table into their barn along with Neil and Andy. We had coffee and French pastries before the boys had fun trying to get a king sized divan base and mattress into our trailer! Needless to say we had a slow journey back to the barn. Fortunately we had no mishaps and arrived back safely with the bed still in the trailer! We put some cardboard on the floor in the 'dining room' and lent the bed against the wall covered with plastic over night. Hopefully our male visitors will help move the bed into the spare front bedroom tomorrow night! Kevin then decided to nip to Point P in Riberac to buy the wood for the stair stringers. Whilst he was gone I tidied up the front spare bedroom and put dust sheets down ready for the bed tomorrow, all went well until I tried to put the plastic dustsheet behind six sheets of plaster boards, it all came tumbling down on top of me and I fell back onto all the tools and equipment! I managed to push it off me and pick myself up but covered in scratches and bruises already! I then started preparing for the meal tomorrow night. We decided to watch the men's semi final, Federer and Nadal, what a brilliant game. We are also both full of cold so an early night is called for!
You wouldn't think I would get knocked over with those legs!
A busy day preparing for our visitors tonight. We decided to eat in the barn as it was too hot to eat outside. We prepared all the food and the barn in the morning so we could watch the Wimbledon Ladies semi final, a bit of a disappointing game but pleased with the winner. I had a lovely swim before getting showered and ready for our visitors. We had a lovely night. The men, with a little help from the ladies! managed to lift the mattress up into the spare front bedroom before anyone had a drink! A bit of a retro meal, Avocado and prawns, BBQ chicken with lemon sauce, new potatoes and green beans, cheese and then lemon possett. it was about 12.30 when we got to bed leaving the glasses until the morning! A lovely evening spent with great friends.
Sunday 14th July
Bonne fete Bastille a tous nos amis francais. Happy 14th July to all our French friends! A bit of a lazy day! We washed all the glasses and got everything back to normal, I changed the beds and did five loads of washing and ironing before the tennis started. We then spent the rest of the day watching sport, first the tennis men's final and then the end of the cricket. Kevin did some of the plumbing in between. It was 9pm before we had our evening meal! I am absolutely full of cold, thanks Kevin xx! So a rest day might be what the doctor ordered! Another hot day 38 degrees in the caravan!
Monday 15th July
A day of bit jobs! Kevin and Neil started by putting up a piece of plasterboard to the downstairs toilet ceiling, this was so Kevin can put the spotlights in place. They also put a piece of plasterboard on the toilet wall ready for the sink plumbing to be connected. They lifted the bed base into the front bedroom and I covered it with plastic. Next was putting the guest bathroom door on its hinges, we now have a door in place for Andrew and Kath's visit! Finally they started cutting two new rafters to support the new roof light in our en-suite. I went food shopping, took the bottles to the bottle bank and nipped to Vertiallac to post a card. I washed the car before coffee time. Then cleaned the pool filter whilst Elsie cleaned the pool! After lunch I did some filling of the plasterboard holes in our bedroom. After Neil left Kevin fitted the two spotlights in the downstairs toilet so a busy day.
Tuesday 16th July
Another productive day. Kevin and Neil took the rafters out of the en-suite roof and replaced with new ones ready to cut out the window opening tomorrow. A dirty and difficult job. They then put more plasterboard in the entrance hall lobby ready for a spot light. Neil cut a hole between the downstairs toilet and the kitchen ready for the plumbing whilst Kevin sorted the architrave in the guest bathroom. I had a bit of a lazy day, I felt rubbish, full of cold and didn't sleep much last night. I went shopping, sorted drinks and lunch for the boys and brushed up at the end of the day, not much else today. At 11am the farmer arrived to cut the wheat in the field so it was a quick dash to cover the pool and bring the washing in, everything is covered in a layer of dust now! The joys of living in the Country!! Another very hot day still 37 degrees in the caravan at 8.15pm. A beautiful sunset tonight.
Wednesday 17th July
Another milestone day. Neil and Kevin cut the hole out for the velux window in our en-suite and fitted the window in place. Kevin also fitted the spotlights in the utility room and entrance lobby. We have some downstairs lights now! I felt a bit better so after shopping gave our car and Neil's car a jet wash just to get rid of the straw bits from yesterday. After coffee I filled round the door frame in the guest bathroom. After lunch I put up the plastic membrane to the outside wall of our bedroom. This will help reduce air flow once the plasterboard's are in place. I also swept up all the filthy mess that had fallen to the ground in the en-suite. Had a swim before a salad tea. It cooled down during the evening so was a much better temperature in the caravan for sleeping.
Thursday 18th July
Another busy day. Kevin and Neil finished putting the tiles back on the roof and sealing the velux window. They then put the silver insulating fabric on the en-suite ceiling. After lunch they started putting in the stud walls in the en-suite so a good days work. Since it was a cooler day 28 degrees! I made the most of it and cut the grass, strimmed round the pool, swept round the pool, cleaned the pool with Elsie and did some cutting back of the trees on the outside of the garden. I also gave the guest bathroom door jambs a coat of primer.
Friday 19th July
A bit of a lazy day. We decided to go and buy the building supplies we needed from Perigueux so we set off after breakfast. We called at Desjouaux for bits for the pool and then went to Brico Marche and bought 8 sheets of hydro plaster board ready for the en-suite walls and ceiling. We then called at Le Roy Merlin's for insulation. After lunch we nipped into Point P for a ventilation tile and then Brico Marche for some staples for the staple guns, so all shops visited today! We then decided to nip to Nev and Barbara's so confirm going out tomorrow night. We ended up stopping nearly two hours chatting over cold drinks whilst sat in the shade under their abri. Once back at the barn we sat in the shade with cold drinks as it as just too hot in the caravan 39 degrees. I managed to get Kevin into the pool for a swim before we had our usual Friday tea. I seem to have got my cold back again today, still full of it. Hoping it goes for good soon.
Saturday 20th July
We were woken up by a thunderstorm at 6.15am. So an early cup of coffee in bed! The storm passed and it has been a warm but cloudy day. It's forecast 40 degrees on Wednesday so I decided to sort the caravan cupboards and start packing for going home next weekend. I then vacuumed the car before making coffee. Kevin has spent the day plumbing, with me as his occasional mate! I strimmed the front garden, cleaned the pool and tidied up after the storm. After lunch I put a coat of undercoat on the guest bathroom door jambs. After a swim and showers we are going to The Citronier restaurant in Riberac with Nev and Barbara tonight, really looking forward to it.
Sunday 21st July
Having problems with the internet, no access on Sunday so writing this on Monday! A good days work from both of us. Kevin continued with the plumbing and is just about ready to switch on the water into the barn! Fingers crossed and buckets at the ready just in case we have any leaks! I did the usual Sunday bed change and 5 loads of washing and ironing. I then finished painting the skirting and door jambs in the guest bathroom. I gave the bathroom a clean, it just needs some sealant and the cabinet making and putting up and it's ready for our guests! That's provided we have no leaks! Myriam and Freddie came across just after lunch and had cold drinks sat in the awning. Another hot day so we both had a swim before showers and a BBQ for dinner.
Monday 22nd July
Well a frustrating day for Kevin, he switched the water on after lunch and had several leaks from the threaded joints, fortunately he had only switched a small part on so we didn't have water everywhere! He spent some time during the afternoon trying to rectify the leaks and hopefully has managed several. We will see tomorrow! Neil and Kevin also continued putting in the wall studs in our en-suite and also put a vent on the roof for the extractor fan. I had a fairly quiet day, usual jobs and shopping and feeding the boys. Cleaned the pool filters and brushed up after the workers, a bit of plaster hole filling but not much else. Had a lovely swim at 7.30pm, 30 degrees in the pool! It was so hot in the caravan 43 degrees at 9pm! We decided to sleep in the barn so writing this laying on the bed! A first! Hope the beds are comfy and we manage to sleep.
Tuesday 23rd July
The hottest day so far 42 degrees at 4pm and still getting hotter, unbearable in the caravan. We worked hard in the morning, Kevin sorted the plumbing downstairs then extended the run to upstairs, all ok apart from one leak now which hopefully he can sort tomorrow with the new connections we bought this afternoon. Kevin then put sealant in the guest bathroom and we both then fitted the cabinet. So the guest bathroom just about ready for its first guests. I tidied up equipment and gave the barn a good sweep ready for leaving at the weekend. We decided it was just too hot to work so had early showers and nipped to Nev and Barbara's to look at a ladder they have kindly offered to lend us when Andrew and Kath come in September. We stayed a couple of hours chatting in the cool of their lounge. We decided it was too not to cook tonight so called at the pizzeria and both had pizza and a drink and then back to the barn and had a cooling swim. Sleeping in the barn again tonight.
Wednesday 24th July
Kevin and Neil worked hard today in the heat. They finished putting up the framing for the en-suite ceiling, put insulation and the vapour membrane then covered it with one piece of plasterboard. Put insulation and membrane around the veux window and then put the extractor fan in place. 40 degrees in the roof so they were shattered when they finished. I did my usual jobs, cleaned the pool filter, touched up the paint in the guest en-suite and then helped the boys by cutting the membrane and of course swept up after them. Robert, Caro and David are coming tonight for apperro at 6.30pm. Decided to have it in the barn as it is just so hot outside and no shade to sit in. Sat writing this laid on the bed with the air conditioning unit blowing cold air onto me and I am still sweating! Hoping for a cooler night!
Thursday 25th July
Another milestone day! Kevin and Neil completed the final high ceiling! Just a small flat bit to complete in our en-suite and all the upstairs ceilings are insulated and have plaster board. Kevin also solved the last leaking pipe so we have running water for Andrew and Kath! We took the awning down before 8.30am as the forecast was for another hot day, 47 degrees again in the caravan at 7pm! Hoping for rain tomorrow! I packed the outside furniture and did a final clean of the pool. Helped the boys and cleaned the guest bathroom.
Our last day till September so we decided to have a treat and visit Riberac Friday market, a first for Kevin this year! We had a wander around, I managed to buy a dress, a zester and melon baller! We saw Manuel and Yannick which was a nice surprise, they are back to clean their property ready for the next rental and we are eating with them tonight at Myriam's. I then managed to buy another dress from the only ladies shop in Riberac, it was reduced so a bargain! All set for my holiday in Portugal now! I treated Kevin to a coffee at Cafe Des Colonnes, thought I should after the shock of me buying two dresses! We then filled the car with diesel and called at Le Clercs for a fruit flan and ice cream our contribution of dessert for tonight. As we left Le Clercs the heavens opened and it started thunder and lightening. We got back to the caravan, glad we had taken the awning down yesterday. Kevin wired the water heater in and then drained it, cut the replacement tile for the guest en-suite and other pottering jobs whilst I did the final pack, ironed and got lunch ready. We measured our en-suite and the kitchen so Kevin can do some planning whilst we are at home and then had showers and are going to Myriam's hopefully for a BBQ tonight. Fortunately it has stopped raining and is now a pleasant afternoon. Much cooler 27 degrees.
That's all folks for this trip. A bientot xx
