Bit’s and bobs for me to to do in the garden this morning. Every time we drive the car by the veranda and, what I assume is a loquat tree, it scrapes on the car. It’s therefore going to need a bit of a trim back. My first attempt is with the standard shears but it’s too strong for that. Matt suggests the long loppers that were in one of the garages. Nope, that’s not going to work either. Eventually we find the perfect tool in our garden arsenal – my new Spear and Jackson telescoping loppers. Nice, they worked a treat and I love them.

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Probably a good idea to consolidate all my tools in my potting shed. They’re currently scattered between the house, the mower garage and the animal shed. With the move we also bought a second set of hand tools so that Matt can help me in the garden in spring. It’s a quick job though and I get a chance to admire all the lovely things I have.

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Matt’s playing around in the mower shed. Apparently he is trying to jump start it using his new portable jump starty thing, like a giant portable phone charger. Not enough juice though so back to the drawing board again on that one.

Tonia’s up removing the rest of the lathe and plaster around the beams. They’re going to need some work but definitely helps to open up the room a bit.

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Another thing we’ve noticed is that all of the garages/sheds have some leaks. There does appear to be a pile of replacement tiles behind the well though so need to add that to the to do list. We also found a few replacement parts for the balustrade around the front door which may come in useful. We’re not too convinced that we are going to keep it though as have had some ideas and discussion about this already.

I’m back into the house and clearing all the remaining stuff away so that we can get started on this ceiling. Fingers crossed that what’s underneath it is good. Although either way it is going to have to go as it is terribly bowed.

Time for some lunch before we start on the ceiling. Pretty standard French fare, hams, cheeses.

So it’s quite a big job this afternoon to safely take down the false ceiling. Nous sommes pret (we’re ready).

Time to start work

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Glad we sent Tonia into the hallway to watch as she didn’t have a hardhat. Matt took out one piece and all of a sudden half the ceiling fell down on our heads. I stepped back to miss the metal bar but still got a donk from a piece of wood. Still would have hurt without it. Unfortunately she didn’t get any pictures of it falling as it all happened so quickly and she was quite concerned about our health and wellbeing. The timelapse also ends rather abruptly as it got hit by the falling roofing…

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So definitely have two different parts to the ceiling. One has some nice coving etc, the other is completely plain – clearly what was the original kitchen and why it has a small (rather rubbish) door. Seems as though we have a bit of a crack but also found a note from the previous owners – seems that roof hasn’t been up anywhere near as long as we thought judging by its condition.

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Now that is done Matt and I are off down to the basement to go and check the wiring points for the temporary oven so that we can cook Christmas dinner. Seems that we have two possible options so that sounds good.

Lots of work done today so time for dinner. We’ve been working too hard to do work too hard on it though so we’re having chicken cordon bleu, chips and veg.

Tonia is back upstairs steaming Room 7. She’s really getting through that room. Going to have to find her another to start cracking on with soon!

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Before I settle in for the evening I have to tidy up the kichen and while I do I find this. Even though it looks very dead I have no idea how it got there and don’t want to be too near it so Matt comes to dispose of it for me.

I finally have to finish the Friday blog, there are so many pictures to sort through though. Finally however it is done. I now need to make Mum’s present. I probably should have started on this before but she wasn’t exactly forthcoming with ideas. Will need to put it in the post tomorrow, and in case it doesn’t arrive in time I have taken photos so that I can message them to her!

Things then really dip as we spend our time finalising insurances and accounting questions. Fun, fun, fun. Time for bed.