Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all our past and future guests, friends and neighbours we hope 2014 brings you all health and happiness.

In the 21st Century

I have spent the majority of my working life emerged in technology and emerging technology but things move on so quickly it can catch your breath!  The youth of this world take the internet and mobile communication for granted but I can remember 1990 and the arrival of the first mobile satellite phone at work, we were amazed. Here we are, only 24 years later and everyone including the dog appears to have a mobile device that delivers 1000 times more that that massive 1990 mobile.

During the summer of 2013 I was working in the garden of Les Deux Platanes when I noticed a Google photo car drive slowly past the cottage.

Today I have noticed that these images are now available on Google 'STREETVIEW' . Using the wonders of the internet and amazing technology you can now travel through Le Breuil and past Les Deux Platanes. You cannot visit the beautiful and colourful cottage garden but you can pass the garden and explore the area.

www.instantstreetview.com

Those of you that have been visiting France for years will remember that choosing a gite or holiday cottage in the 1980's and most of the 90's required a book containing photo's and associated details. We have been visiting France for more than 40 years and remember that it was impossible to ensure the location was not next to a motorway or some other carbuncle. Our website already provides extensive information and detailed location information, with 'Street view' you have the opportunity to further confirm any details you require.

But remember that past guests comments are also a great source for recommendations, we have included many of these on this website.

Merry Christmas to all past and future guests.

Human travel guidance tips!

In the cottage we keep a comments book. This is of great value in that new guests read through the hundreds of comments left by past guests. Not only do they find comments about the cottage (we put many of these on this website under 'Guest Comments' ) but they also find these comments a treasure trove of first hand guidance into the many places to visit across the area.

In 2013 we had two guests who spent part of the holiday tracking down the places and locations mentioned in the recent book about Pearl Witherington the WW2 British spy (featured on BBC television) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23845199

Eventually they managed to track down the remains of a chateau that was destroyed by the German SS, they were also lucky to find a local French guy who took them down a track into what is now a forest and there were the chateau remains. So these guests along with many, many others over the years have written in the guest book so providing a source of first hand guidance to area.

Before guests arrive for the 2014 season we will as usual be preparing the cottage and ensuring everything is 100% perfect. After 14 years use the chauffe-eau (water heater) is ready for some TLC. I have recently stripped out the electrics and removed the access plate exposing the inside. As expected I found a good quantity of calcaire (lime crystals) - about half a bucket. May seem a lot but that's not much for the time period so I think the electronic water treatment device I fitted 10 years ago is having some effect. The renovation will also help the water heat quicker especially with a new and more efficient heating element.

OK, its back to work!

Good job! (apologies to Will Smith)

After 10 years I am very pleased we are on the final stages of the renovations of our property here in this beautiful and quiet part of central France. I was listening to the BBC radio late this afternoon and the travel advisor was explaining about the jams on the M25 and elsewhere, how unfortunate I thought as I turned onto the local main road with not a vehicle in sight.

During the past month I have been concentrating on the renovation of the rear barn wall and house wall under the roof terrace. Its been a long and dusty job removing the incorrect cement rendering and repointing the freshly exposed stones with a traditional and correct mix of lime and sand. (See an earlier blog)In addition I have constructed a roof to provide some protection for the logs and built a solid base for log storage.

My friendly French artisan who kindly filled and pointed the stones!



The roof structure taking shape

Log stand, limestone chips and tiles on the roof!

And today we went to the local quarry, bought 1.5 cubic metres of limestone chippings, spread these on top of weed fabric and then commenced the stacking of logs onto the log stand, so good progress is made.



And finally......the first logs stacked and protected from the winter weather.

The old ways are the best!

When it comes to building renovation in France it's best to stick to the old building techniques. Due to fashion and cost many traditional old stone built houses were rendered with cement and then painted. This can look OK but it has a downside, where the old stone walls would let any humidity escape through the lime mortar, the cement seals in this humidity (dampness) with the consequence that many of the old houses can be rather humid especially if there is no ventilation. We are busy renovation the rear wall of the house and barn and determined to use traditional methods - lime and sand mortar!

After more than 50 hours chipping off the old covering, cleaning out the joints and washing each area carefully we are now at a point where all the hard work is bringing results.

Dust masks, ear defenders and gloves required - its hard work removing the cement covering and mortar.



As you can see the wall is a mess  

For this work its better to find an old 'artisan' who fills the stones with a lime mix just like the old days!

50% complete and looking better already

The rear house wall completed in 2012.

 

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum

......and it wasn't anything to do with Frankie Howerd!

Chatillon has about 75 Associations, and this year it held it's 5th Forum of Associations. Each association is invited to put up a stand in the local gymnasium and the local populace comes along to see what is on offer and perhaps sign up to join one of them. As we aren't here in the winter which is when many of the groups meet, we didn't want to join any, but we had been told about a walk taking place in the morning which was leaving from the very same gym (Monique, our neighbour, is a great one for the local Randonees). We thought this might be a good way to start a Sunday, so we went along. Monique also told us about a lunch which would be available, so we duly paid our money and booked the 10 euro lunch.
We set off on an 8K walk, with a refreshment stop about half way.

Very nice refreshments provided by a local family

The walk took about 2 hours, and we returned to find the Forum in full flow. We walked around as we know so many people and wanted to say hello  (the French are very particular about greeting anyone they know). The little Majorettes entertained everyone with a display of baton twirling and pompom shaking - I just wish they weren't so serious, but I am told they are all concentrating really hard, and smiling doesn't help them do that!
We were invited outside where we were serenaded by the local wind orchestra, one of whom was our friend Carole

Carole is the one in the green

Then, there was a 'vin d'honneur' provided by the town, so of course we joined in!
Our four course lunch was nearly ready, so we joined the queue. John had ordered Andouillette while I was playing safe with chicken stuffed with mushrooms.
The lunch was very popular, judging by the packed seating.

We finally left the Forum at 2pm and went home for a siesta!
(We were off later to Saint Hippolyte for the Fete de l'entrecote - see yesterday's blog)

Moulin Rouge comes to Saint-Hippolyte

I know this is a strange title, but it's true!

Yesterday (Sunday) was the Fete de l'entrecote in Saint Hippolyte. This is an annual event, but one we haven't been to before. We had quite a busy day (more in another blog) so decided to go in the evening. We walked around the stalls, many of whom were packing up, but there was still the entertainment which continued throughout the evening (and into the night, but we didn't stay too late).
One of the acts was performing songs from American shows and had costumes to go with them!

It gets even better!

First there was the music (you know - the sort that builds to a crescendo!) Then 6 long-limbed young ladies poured from the back of the stage. John couldn't believe his luck - this next picture shows just how lucky he got!!

I know it's a bit out of focus - but you can hardly blame him!

He even managed to get some of it on video - stand by:

I suppose Saint-Hippolyte returned to it's normal sleepy self this morning - it'll take a year for it to recover from all the excitement!