St Alban
It is one year today that I made my first post on this blog. Such a lot has happened and it was really interesting to read back over it and see what was going on this time last year. No new windows, no pool, no kitchen, no chalet.
We heard yesterday that the wood burning fire will be fitted on Tuesday and the stairs and new front door should be along the following week.
We re-established contact with our English friend who has worked out here as an electician and plumber for nearly 20 years and went 'missing' from our contacts for nearly 12 months. He has agreed to come over and fit the shower unit (which has been languishing in the garage since last August) and also do the electrics for us in the loft. He rewired the house completely 3 years ago, so we know he will do a really good job. Unfortunately he is about to go on holiday for 3 weeks so the shower will have to wait a while longer.
The sun is finally shining, the temperature has soared to over 30 degrees and farmers all around us are making hay. The hum of tractors and hay wagons has been continual now for three days and, as I write, Monsieur D is whisking our hay once again before he comes back later today, or tomorrow morning to gather it into huge rolls.
The potager is coming along nicely. I feared I would lose all my tomato plants to blight again but I treated them a few weeks ago and they seem to have recovered nicely. There are courgettes sprouting all over the place, bean plants are flowering and the three cucumber plants I put in very late seem to be establishing themselves nicely, as do the melon plants I bought on a whim and thought I'd try this year. Unfortunately I have lost one 'Charentais -type' melon but the other two are looking good and the watermelon equally so. The blueberry bush I feared would be washed away the other week in the latest stream/floooding incident is standing firm and has plenty of fruit waiting to ripen.
Both apple trees look as though they are very sparse this year, one is fairly new and in the wrong place so I suspect it will either be transplanted or removed this autumn, the other is very old but does give some lovely shade in the garden so it will be staying.
On a beautiful Sunday like today, there is only one thing to do. Find a good book, go and sit in the shade near the pool with a refreshing long drink and enjoy the weather.
Cheers, everyone.
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2 comments:
Jon & Sue
One year on! Having followed the ups & downs [well the ones you published on the blog anyway] it seems that at least five years have passed. It's great hear of the progress you have made in the time you've been there.
Im so pleased for you I think I'll go and open a bottle of red and toast your good health... and the future.
ATB
Jim
Aw, Jim. Thanks very much. (Actually we beat you to the bottle of red). Kind of you to say such nice things and to follow the blog. I know I've been a little lax recently in updating it but I promise I will try harder to do it every day.
Except for next weekend when I (not him) will be in the UK to cuddle a baby.
Keep watching folks - there's so much more to do here!
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