Friday

Was hoping to crack on with house stuff today but work had different ideas. My weekly call with PSRL was extended. Then I had a call with the ever wonderful Rhys. It was very productive, but most importantly I got to briefly see Lucy before she went for lunch with her mum, she’s definitely getting close now. Quick trip around the garden afterwards and realised I had a couple of fleeces in the potting shed. Not sure how much help they will be but since some of the wisteria is out maybe I can protect it from the expected upcoming cold snap – the pear trees obviously are a bit big!

Lots of other bits and pieces to do but the weather has cleared a little so best get down to Intermarche to get the essentials before the weekend and potential snow in. [Pasta, wine, (reduced price) chicken, cheese.] Back at home for another conference call. Then time to crack on. Weather has started to close in so definitely a good choice to go out before.

I have a plan to surprise Matt by getting the walls in the family suite (rooms 3&4) stripped. Challenge 1: I can’t find the power cable for the new(ish) steamer anywhere. Eventually I asked Matt, but had already covered all those ideas. There was no option but to really go looking. The only way you can actually do this is to put things away so you don’t keep checking the same places – or at least that’s how I do it….

Still no joy so will need to use the old one instead, I guess it must work or we wouldn’t have moved it here?!? [I’ve heard that so many times and rarely does it work.] I also quickly realised upstairs that I’d underestimated one thing – the walls are really high (3.3m). However the scaffolding is in pieces in the hall and it’s one of those things that Matt always asks me to help him to put back together. I’m not sure if this means it’s impossible to do alone or just a nightmare. But I’m not one to be put off easily.

After dragging it up also I realise that I can’t do much until I clear the room. Nowhere to really put this stuff but clearing the bed and flipping it up on its end should be sufficient. Finally the scaffolding is up, with only minor bangs to the lights, which still seem to work thankfully. Now time to get the first part done. I can’t reach it all though so will need to be in two parts. Not sure what this is doing up here though as looks like a shoe print – I can only assume they were ‘dancing on the ceiling’.

I’m hungry so time for dinner and after checking the fridge there are a few eggs that need eating, as well as the ham Lee left behind so guess an omlette is the best choice.

Back to work though, this surprise for Matt isn’t going to do itself.

Finally job done and I get a message from Cressida about the snow – yep, dinfeintely snowing properly now. Still, time for bed.

[1 April 2022]

Saturday

Haha! I can sleep in as long as I like as no Matt to wake me up. I didn’t as I woke up around 11. I did however spend another hour and a half in bed because I could.

Snow was definitely falling last night and the place is a picture postcard, the snow on the old car was almost 30cm deep. Meow was still asleep and pleased not to have been outside, maybe that’s why she was so quiet and didn’t come to wake me up?!

First job of the day was to get my snow stuff on and go for a walk around the gardens. It had thawed a little since I first woke up but not too much. Interesting to see that the recently dug ground had clearly retained more heat than the rest of it.

Before I get to work I’ve realised that I’m hungry so time for lunch. Egg and ham wrap. I’m working through the ham Lee left and the eggs are past their due date but it all tasted pretty good. Also decided to put on the bread maker for some homemade bread, because yum.

After messaging the family I realised it would be a very good idea to make a SnowMatt. He’s just outside the kitchen window so I can keep an eye on him (I could also use the snow from the old car as well as being where he should last the longest as in the shade of the house).

Finally to work. Today’s big job is the big wall in Room 4 (kids room). A very small part of this is external but I can’t imagine that we will insulate the whole thing for 30cm. Of course Matt may decide differently but I wouldn’t think so. It’s a 3 part job based on the size of the scaffolding.

Snack in the middle (fresh baked bread and butter) but pretty much powered through. Some old beans in the cupboard that went out of date in September but looks like a good match for my fresh bread.. it was delicious. Beans on toast is massively underrated.

The cat demanded my attention, so I did what was needed. As a result can neither confirm nor deny a nap and decision to make chocolate cake if when I checked the clock it was before 23:00…

I did however play tug o war with the cat which was fun for both of us, and then finally got my first proper video call with Matt which was great, now off to bed.

[2 April 2022]

Sunday

Naturally since I am alone it was a late start to the day. The cat still hasn’t come up to wake me and so I decided to watch another quick episode of Doctors before getting up. Once I was on my feet though there was no stopping me.

First thing was to check on the cat. Seems it’s all fine, she was still asleep on the kitchen sofa and after a stretch sauntered up to greet me.

Quick cup of tea and time to survey the priorities. Scaffolding won’t fit through the doors so that needs to be taken apart to be put back up, obviously the place is a mess so need to clear Room 3 (the parents room) before any work can start, also need to think about where stuff goes. No point just dumping it all in the kids room (it will only put Matt off pushing forward), I need to think about what is needed where next – again just putting stuff in the basement will mean a 2/3 storey move up and down unnecessarily. [Do it once, do it right; it’s less work in the long run.]

Scaffolding had to go down first to make space in Room 4 and then back up in Room 3. Had much less trouble this time, partly due to having a convenient double ended space to prop things up against, and partly due to being increasingly awesome. Probably time for another cup of tea, I think I’m getting used to this builder stuff!

I contemplated some lunch but keen to get cracking (it wasn’t exactly an early start). However, before the walls there’s another job to be done. The forecast is due to be -4 tonight and -7 tomorrow. While the little greenhouse is working hard I’m not sure that it’s made for those kind of temperatures so best to bring things inside. [Also had a quick chat with Matt which was nice.]

Back to the walls. Thankfully the outer coat of paper was coming off really easily. [The top coats are often quite ‘plasticy’ so better if you can pull that off before steaming the paper undercoat. It can not only be much quicker, but more importantly means you don’t need to get it as wet which doesn’t just break down the glue/wallpaper paste but weakens the plaster underneath meaning a lot more repair work.] Time to get the paper off.

Stage 1 of stripping done, time for more tea. Then back to work. The paper was coming off like a dream. [Nothing like the pain I had doing the kitchen.] It was already half done before I got the steamer out. However I’m now hungry so time for some lunch (it was 6pm by this point).

No time to mess about though as there is a live light switch here and if I’m going to be super safe (advisable when on my own) I’m going to have to switch off the power and get it done before it gets too dark. So onwards and upwards. There’s been a crazy number of ladybirds knocking around this year so had to drop them off as I needed to take away the paper but they were ok.

My shoulders are really starting to burn at this point but I’m so close to finishing. Time for a restorative beer and back to finish the last section. Of course I also need to finish clearing up too, I have tried to do it as I go, not least because the wet paper is covered in glue and will be twice as much work if I leave it to dry on the floorboards. [Putting a long strip of the dry outer paper across the floor below has helped but it doesn’t get it all when dropping from height.]

Looking good and very pleased with myself. Surprises are rubbish, I’d usually drag Matt upstairs to tell me how well I have done but I can’t so I rang Tonia. Thankfully she obliged nicely in telling me how good a job I had done and how hard I had worked.

The cat is back and demanding dinner then time to think about what I was going to have. A quick search through the cupboards and it seems that we have a tin of Tartiflette. No idea how well or badly this might go but seems like an easy thing to make at least. Didn’t realise I was meant to grate Gruyere on the top (which of course I don’t have handy today) but Cress assured me Cheddar was fine, and it was.

Time to relax, kitten was pleased about that too as she’d started to follow me round shouting at me even after she’d been fed. Seems it’s relaxation time and to update the blog. Night.

[3 April 2022]

Monday

Up at the crack of dawn with no Matt here to manage the incoming workmen. 8am and the pool guys arrive. I was only expecting ‘French Matt’, but the whole team had descended. It seems that the worst of the weather had passed and these guys sure are keen to crack on. I guess maybe they’re like the French version of ‘Gold Miners’, soon as the sun is out they crack on as when winter closes in they’re out of there, probably pretty true too with the cost of it.

Slightly brusque start, as the first one said hello and asked how I was, I winced and shouted ‘faire attention à l’arbre’ (careful of the tree) to the driver of the digger. A few moments later I apologised, performed the standard pleasantries and explained that I’m not a morning person which made him smile.

Not long later I was out with a mightily impressive diagram (ok, it was rubbish but it was simple and necessary). I’d meant to spray the plans onto the ground at the weekend but things got away from me (and wasn’t much point doing it on the snow..) I explained that I had spoken to the boss and that we’d like to put in some lights at the corners of the terrace and a power point for the summer kitchen at the back (hence the drawing to show where I wanted them) and fetched the gaines from the garage for the cables to go in. I don’t know if it was exactly where Matt had planned but at least we should have some in and good job too as it wasn’t long before they covered up the run to the power so could be a nightmare to add them later on. [I’m basically taking that as though I did them entirely by myself since Matt wasn’t here, I’m very efficient, would have taken ages for him to dig and lay them, and I’d have had to help.]

Anyway, may as well start work and see if I can send some impressively early emails, it’s only 7:15 in the UK!

Once again it’s warmer outside than it is in. [No, it’s not still snowing, and you’re not funny.] Crazy how things have changed in two days, it’s as though we’ve magically transitioned between seasons.

Not quite sure yet what has suffered from the snow, I think the peaches are done for and the cherry, but the the quince seems to have got through ok (so far) [still no idea what you’d do with those though] and maybe some of the pears..

Just after the pool guys left the plumber turned up, well his kids did anyway. The boys were good though and was only a 15 min job. There was some sort of issue or part that they didn’t seem to have – not sure what as all looked fine and attached to me but something is delicate – sadly I understood pretty much nothing of what he told me so will have to wait and see as he’s coming back tomorrow, maybe.

Once they’d left I had a brief break between that and my 5pm (UK) call, it was Peter so I’m happy to do it (and I asked for the meeting), so quick trip to Intermarche to see if I could get out cash on my French card. Sadly it seems we don’t actually know the number for it, but I made the most of the trip and got treats for me and the cat.

Quick call and decided I was done with work so time to get some of the seeds planted that Matt wanted me to grow – 3 different kinds of sweetcorn this year! Also potted up some.. things.

Next job was to get on with the ‘surprise’ that Matt thinks I have been doing while he’s been away. Making the extra unit for the basement which has been sitting on the floor (apparently in a puddle) since about October. Ok, so I didn’t quite finish it but at least I have made a start.

I’d got most of it done before I realised that I was very hungry and it was almost 9pm. Thankfully I had some leftover tartiflette and more eclairs. Time to put the heater on and settle in for a Holby marathon and messaging back and forth with Pete and Matt (interjected with updating the blog of course). 5 episodes in and I am all caught up, it’s also definitely past my bedtime, I suspect the crazy pool guys will be back at stupid o’clock.

[4 April 2022]

Tuesday

Another 8am start to be up ready for the builders. May as well start work (it’s only 7am at home though). Things are progressing around the pool. I’m not sure what exactly the framing is for but it’s a thing and it’s progress. I’m searching to see if I can find the code for my French bank card, of course I have no idea where it might be so started to sort some of the piles of paperwork, there are tons of these scattered around the house. Meow however is still in bed and seems to have quickly settled into the Chaney way. I wonder whether this persists when Matt returns?

Time for a stroll around the garden and took a few pictures of the beautiful tulips that appear to be doing particularly well this year, also have some apple blossom.

When I turned around I saw ‘the’ cat stalking me, she meowed at me but when I meowed back and bent down she didn’t come running, which was odd. She was also looking at me really grumpily, and when I moved towards her she pulled away. This is not my ‘I don’t have a cat, cat’. I managed to get her a couple of handfuls of food without Meow noticing, although she did notice her once I got back to my last call and she must have chased her off. I think Meow quite a bit more territorial about who her family is and Grumps is on the out as we’re in.

After a couple more calls I could finish and get on with the next job. That was to finish clearing the front. It’s important that the front of house looks as it should and I’d like it to be ready for when Matt gets home. He won’t be able to see it if of course as it will be dark, but it will be done and the weather is currently kind enough to do it. It’s also a job for me alone so feels timely.

Next job on the list now it’s dark is back in the basement and make some progress on the unit that Matt is expecting to be finished – it’s the one thing he thought I would have done when he left. Hanging the doors was harder than I’d expected, Matt’s really good at this. Maybe I should have also put the handles on but I was over it and there’s a couple of other bits that need to be done to set/hang it in the right place so I’ll leave that for Matt – no doubt after all my work he’ll want to feel useful and I’ll appreciate him having a small quiet job to do in the basement.

Back upstairs and I wasn’t sure whether to just make pasta and sauce or pasta bake, so Tonia waded in and pasta bake it was so that’s what I did. May have been a little bit too much for one person for one night…

It’s cold tonight so I’m making a fire and settling down, it’s been a busy few days.

[5 April 2022]

Wednesday

Today’s the day, Matt is home tonight. But all that does is add the pressure, and there’s a lot to do, but I also have a lot of work to crack on with today. More work going on around the pool, all seem to be a different set of guys so not sure what’s happening, I just get asked to turn the water back on, I wish they’d tell me when they’re done and I can turn it back off again though.

I didn’t take pictures of the rest of the work as it was all cleaning between calls. I mopped the floor again, twice over and rinsing the mop head 5 times on each pass at least; I swept and hoovered the floors upstairs and down; I washed and changed the bedsheets; I took out the rest of the recycling and bins (including all waste from the cabinet and wallpaper etc); I cleared the clutter of ski stuff into the lockers; and I packed a little bag of snacks/drinks for the drive.

I haven’t had a chance to clear the basement, but with work and most of the jobs done, it was finally time to head off to the airport. I definitely need to learn where stuff is on this car. A normal car the wipers are on the sticks, I pushed everything and none of it worked. I did seem to set an automatic speed, that I was unaware of doing, which worried me when the auto braking didn’t kick in when I expected it to. I then had to pull over to try to find the wipers, unfortunately I found myself on a very narrow road into a village and had to do a 5 point turn in someones driveway. Either way, it was important, I couldn’t very well go onto the motorway without being able to ensure I could see – of course it cleared immediately after I got out.

At the airport I realised that I’d not seen enough of it and thought I should have a drive around it to check it out from all sides. Ok, I may have taken the wrong turn. It didn’t help that just as I took that turn Matt got outside and was watching me randomly dive around the airport. Thing was, that once the satnav decided I was there it went blank and I had no idea where to go. It’s also surrounded by a weird tram thing so no was keen not to stop where I could get hit.

Thankfully, and more by luck than judgement, I managed to find my way back. I was quite relieved when Matt wanted to drive. Anyway, we’re reunited and heading home. nIght all

[6 April 2022]