Never wanted to spend big money in here but it’s also the heart of operations in some ways, so needs to work.
Layout went through the debate phase with everyone who has visited and it evolved with their good ideas. Le Cavernne in Angouleme had some sections of counter top leant against the wall and when Monsieur Le Gatekeeper of the Side Door Exit muttered ‘trente’ even the colour began to look attractive.
Key feature is it’s depth - much more than a standard top allowing us to cover the missing (under the original bath) floor tiles, house two machines and make a decent sized cupboard on the right. Splendid. Some French/English plumbing needed to get taps and waste for the highest sink I’ve ever experienced, in to use.
Final twist was the answer to ‘where does the toilet roll go?’ John and I have eaten a lot of curry.
Furniture into lounge and stove installed, this room is suddenly starting to feel less like a mucky corridor and more like somewhere to linger. No time for complacency yet.
For the first time in our ownership the sitting room is being used for its intended purpose; sitting, talking, drinking, and burning wormy wood.
With Angie and Ros’ arrival at Limoges creating a deadline we were pushing to get impactful stuff done to impress them. We got into the vicious circle of working until nine, then showers and dinner, then talking, drinking and maybe the odd cigar, into next day, then a bit of moaning and eye rubbing in the morning. Brilliant, fun ten days and a stack of work achieved. Merci Monsieur Hoggarth.
Colin repaired the steel shutter with some rivets in record time so that’s back and ready for stripping and repainting, merci Colin.
24 hours of girls’ input and the place takes on another feel altogether. More furnished. Flowers, cleanliness, fewer bodily noises, talk of pictures - that sort of thing. All great progress towards the comfortable holiday home goal and much more fun with more people playing in the sand-pit.
Les Nympheas for Friday lunch (fish day) then bumping around between shops, sights, mates, cafes and bars for the afternoon. Patterns of driving through field lanes between villages, stopping occasionally seems to be a Charente way of life thing. Stress free meandering variety with friends and all lovely.
Saturday and La Caverne for Ros to sift through the tempting tat. The van wasn’t challenged but we had a good laugh and found a new pastime - looking at the size of woodworm dust pile underneath each piece of furniture to see how long the item has been in stock. The glass and steel stuff seems to go really quickly.
Retired to Pat a Pain for reflections and speculation on what’s there and why? Glassware seems popular with us, until we get outside and wonder how to transport it intact.
We’re slow to decide on some stuff but fortunately (strangely?) nobody else had bought this mirror since we first cast eyes in December. It was a candidate for the bathroom on first sight but has bits missing, silver peeling and fire damage but maybe they’re part of the appeal, as usual the woodworm come free.
