LA CHAUMIERE (COTTAGE)

LA CHAUMIERE (COTTAGE)

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

FRANCE - AFTER 3 WEEKS - 20 JUN 2013

THE WEATHER
 
 
Sunny one minute.
 
 
Raining the next!
 
It hasn't bothered me much as I have been in the roof of the front house lining the Cathedral ceiling with insulation batts covered with multilayered space age foils. It's been good to look down on the passing parade of agricultural vehicles and the comings and goings into town.
 
 
I heard the sounds of a straining engine and the hiss of compression brakes and down the road opposite came this...
 
 
Holy Shi......! It's going to go straight into our house.
 
 
 
We survived!
 
 
Inside the roof so far.
 
 
A couple of years ago we went on a Randonnee (Walk in the countryside) for which we paid a fee. It was arranged to raise funds to save the local cinema " Cine Roch" which was in danger of closing because of lack of support. Happily we learned they received a government grant of 100,000 euros to update the cinema to digital as it is considered an essential part of local culture.
 
We went along the other night to see "The Great Gatsby" directed by Australian Baz Lurmann and filmed largely in Sydney. It was dubbed in French so, despite our reasonable proficiency, they spoke far too fast and the words were largely lost. However we were able to enjoy the cinematic qualities! We also went to see "A song for Muriel" which was in English. 


They kept the old projector which is now in the Foyer. Amazing how big it is.

Sunday day out.





Wild Foxgloves.




Monday, June 10, 2013

FRANCE AFTER TWO WEEKS, 10 JUN 2013


Big roadworks in progress on the road to Pontivy, 25km away.


Our lease car, a Renault Clio 4 door diesel. Diesel is 20% cheaper here and is favoured because it is less polluting than petrol.

 
Fresh Spring plantings. 


 
More advanced wheat crop.


 
The beautiful River Scorff.



Three headbanger beams now removed (one above camera) and preparations underway for insulating the roof.

 
Dormer window space tidied up ready for lining.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

FRANCE END OF WEEK 1 - 4 JUN 2013

No pictures of the ferry crossing as it was overnight. It was done in a howling gail and raining heavily. I wasn't feeling the best by the time we arrived at Roscoff and glad to get off!
 

Flowers arrived on our doorstep before we emerged on the first morning, put there by the daughter of our former neighbour Norbert, Patricia.


The new neighbour across the road is a landscape gardener so his piece of the river bank is vastly improved.


They're pulling down the old Girls school/catering college at the top end of town to make way for a medical centre. Can't see why they couldn't have made use of the old buildings.


The publican at the "Trois Marchands", Christian with his magnificent collection of LP's.



One old head banger beam on the mezzanine floor in our house. Gone already!

 
A cheese and wine evening with Gail overlooking the park from the back room. Our visit overlapped by 10 days before Gail returned to Australia.