January
DIY seemed to have been then main topic of conversation – planning it, buying parts for it and decorating the ‘bedroom that would become a lounge’.
We were planning our holiday in Hong Kong, and talking about book clubs, watching Masterchef (can’t wait for the next series) and watching wildlife, including the kitten who made his first appearance; he was later to become known as BB (short for Big Balls) for obvious reasons should you have ever seen him walking away from you. We went to the sales and did a bit of trolley browsing and went for a long drive in search of the ‘snow capped mountains’ in the Cantal but didn’t quite get far enough. We did, however, come across the smelliest woman in
Jon took advantage of the milder weather and did lots of work in the garden clearing land and making the cats a special shelter so that they could stay dry if we were out and it was raining.
We looked back on 2007 and forward to 2008, thinking that we would have got a little further with the loft (and so what?) and that we would have lots of visitors – that was true at least!
February
Our telephone supplier let us down very early in the month but we were off to
We have discovered a slightly faded but wonderfully placed hotel on one of
We had a wonderful fortnight’s holiday enjoying the sea, sights and smells of the
March
It wasn’t until 20th March that we were finally connected back with the outside world after our telephone was accidentally cut off and we found a new supplier. A very frustrating month!
The weather was fairly pleasant at the beginning of the month and Jon was busy outside clearing lots more land
Then it rained. And rained and poured.
We read more books, went to more reading groups and attended our village pub quiz for the first time.
It was a damp miserable Easter but finally on the last day of the month work started on our pool. They told us it would take two weeks….???
APRIL
We heard the first cuckoo of spring on 1st April last year – we were wishing it would shut up by the end of the month!
Work continued on the pool as Jon made a hole in the sitting room ceiling to give access to the loft.
Friends came over and they and Jon spent a day taking down trees and letting in more light (still loads more to do in 2009 though!)
Work continued on the pool and the weather wasn’t too bad. On Jon’s birthday we had a lovely sunny lunch outside a restaurant for the first time this year, and four days later we were drowning!
But later in the month the sun came out again and we had our biggest tree cut down
The pool was finished but the heater didn’t work!
May
3rd May we had our first swim!
We enjoyed sitting outside and watching the lights in the pool and down in the village so it must have been fairly warm.
The log burner was on order and we had the calcaire delivered for the garden paths on the hottest day of the year so far!
We tried to get our tax forms completed, unsuccessfully, and went to a plant fair which was more successful.
Amanda and Alice came to stay and the rain returned – fortunately not for the whole week.
June
Mum came to stay and the neighbours cats obviously decided she was a soft touch and thought they’d try and move in with her.
Fat chance.
We returned to the
Within hours of our return to
We had our new log burner fitted, after some bees had to be ‘rehoused’ from the chimney and enjoyed some of the hottest weather of the summer.
July
The weather was hot and sultry. Vic and Shirley came down and stayed in a nearby gite, we had some lovely meals together and swatted a million flies!
The new stairs and new front door were fitted
Robbie came to stay and helped Jon move tons of logs!
I had another series of arguments with the telephone company and the neighbours cats decided to break in while Jon and I were in the garden, eat our cats’ food and make themselves totally at home, one on the sofa and the other up in the loft! They were swiftly evicted – squatters rights? Not applicable!
August
The month started very hot, vegetables were springing up all over the place and the veggie plot needed frequent watering.
The floorboards were delivered but the delivery truck couldn’t get up our driveway and we had to shuttle them from the village in our two small cars – quite an eventful day!
Lizzie and Tristan arrived for their holiday with our lovely little boys. Poor Leo had chicken pox and wasn’t at his best. Jack learned to swim in the pool and Riley was just adorable.
The cats went into hiding as much as they could for the duration of this visit and Jon and I moved into the chalet with them at night, leaving the house to the family.
We enjoyed the BBC Promenade concert season and started ‘rehearsals’ for a scratch performance of the Messiah.
September
The month started with a continuation of the busy entertaining schedule, staying guests and local friends. Rolf and Christine came and took us out for a wonderful meal in a local restaurant.
We thoroughly enjoyed the scratch Messiah at Puycelsi in the
We went to
A week later we welcomed Bee and Steve to stay with us for a week.
October
Bee and Steve left us and Nicki and Marcus arrived. We had some superb weather and the leaves began to turn colour.
Jon had a major battle with the shower unit which refused to settle down and stop dripping.
Nicki and Marcus left and Merv and Maria came over to celebrate an early Christmas. Boxing Day (23rd October) was bright, warm and sunny.
Then, when our last visitors of the year had left (and the gout too), we were able to really get on with the loft.
Jon donned his Ghostbusters costume and treated all the wood, then laid the floorboards.
November
Suddenly the weather changed and we were out of t-shirts and into layers of sweaters. We even had a smattering of snow!
Jon finished laying the floor in the loft – which looks brilliant
We eventually picked up our Velux windows and a builder came to fit them. Just as he was packing up, it snowed again!
December
We took a quick trip to the
We both went down with bugs collected on our travels – Jon with a persistent cold and me with an inner ear infection.
The insulation for the loft was delivered and we have fitted it now, making the house so much warmer already.
Friends had a lovely big Christmas party where I sang(?) and Jon played the piano for me, some cellists and lots of carols.
On Christmas Day we had friends come to us for lunch, but on Boxing Day all our plans went awry when the snow came down bringing the local area to a standstill. Other parties were cancelled too.
And now, we are looking forward to a quiet New Year’s Eve on our own. A dinner for two and a glass or two of champers – what better way to reflect on 2008 and look forward to 2009.
We hope you all enjoy your New Years’ Eve, whatever you may be doing.
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