Wednesday

I have to work in the morning but Tonia and Matt are busy working up in Room 3, Matt is getting the next layer of plaster done while Tonia I think was cleaning the plaster off the floors. Matt’s plans were somewhat thwarted in doing some plasterboards as it appears that the hole making thing is absolutely knackered and wouldn’t cut through butter.

Lunchtime so I’m off outside with Matt to get the honeysuckle and wisteria back onto the outside of the pool house. It was quite resistant but we got there eventually, hopefully it will come back in spring and we haven’t done any lasting damage.

Tonia and the hound meanwhile are off for a walk.

Matt is off to do some more work on the tiling of the Room 2 ensuite and I went to join him when I could and helped to get each of the tiles prepared ready for him. We seem to have got into a groove with it. There’s going to need to be some careful work around the taps and the last layer can’t go in until these are dry so that’s as much as we can do for now. Tonia however has been downstairs working on the next set of racking, that’s looking much better and great to have some more usable space.

Time to relax and unwind before bed.

[21 December 2022]

Thursday

In order for more useful and secure shelving to go into the cave we need to remove the old shelves first before Tonia and Matt can put the next one up.

I have to work but Tonia and Anya are out for another walk around the hood.

Matt is back up working on the tiling, we’re getting much closer now and I’m helping when and where I can.

Matt’s next job was to go to the Brico to get some grout, I was working but he sent me pictures to decide which one I wanted. We went with the light one. While he was out however we had a delivery, I’m not entirely sure what it is but since the packaging is broken I had to take pictures incase there was a problem.

[22 December 2022]

Friday

Weather forecast is looking pretty steamy considering the time of year, last time Tonia came for Christmas it snowed, not apparently this year. Dog went for a walk, Matt drank some wine and finished the plaster-boarding in room 3.

I still have to work but work continues in the house and we’re at the final stretch on getting the tiles up.

A quick dinner and then we need to get the scaffolding back downstairs to finish getting some decorations up and Matt needs to wire up the new chandelier. I think it looks beautiful.

We were up late as the decorating wasn’t finished so it did roll into Christmas Eve.

With the tree finally decorated we could finally head to bed.

[23 December 2022]

Saturday – Christmas Eve

A bit of a lie in this morning but not too much as we have appointments with friends, in fact quite a few. Christmas eve is huge in France, in many ways bigger than Christmas day. It’s when you get together with friends and celebrate with them so often a bit more rowdy than the family event, unless it’s my family.

Anyway, we had to be up to get the place cleaned and tidied. Since we’d been invited over to Ed’s and our house was on the way there for Rick and Rane to stop in for a drink on the walk. I also invited Cress and Jonny, cause they’re awesome. So we were about to have a full house for a quick drink and we needed to be on point – well somewhat less building site if possible. I also happened to find a few christmas cards in the draw so 3 lucky people get cards this year!

We were a bit late heading to Ed’s but we were soon on our way and what a spread he’d put on. We had a ball.

We had so much fun I left my phone behind. I realised once I got back however and we messaged Ed who then quickly responded to come over and bring it to us to the phone and it was time for present exchange.

One present each opened and then it was time to head to bed.

[24 December 2022]

Sunday – Christmas Day

The last thing I felt like doing this morning was cooking. Once I got up I tried to lay down on the sofa but apparently I have to play mum and make lunch. Not sure exactly why it’s my responsibility though.

While I was cooking we got a call from Cambridge so I got Matt to set up the TV in the kitchen so I could carry on with the cooking while we opened our presents together. Matt also finally came to lend a hand, well to carve the meat.

Lunch ready. We didn’t have any mistletoe but since I had some festive napkins I made the most of it and got a cheeky kiss 🙂

Lunch done it was time to settle in for a Christmas classic, Die Hard of course. Anya had a little walk. Then time for more presents.

I started doing my new puzzle for the next few hours while the other two relax in front of the TV. Tonia dropped in now and then to give me a helping hand, Anya was less helpful however and I am concerned that she may have eaten a couple of the pieces. A bit late but also time for a Camp Christmas tradition.

Time to relax with a glass of wine before bedtime.

[25 December 2022]

Monday – Boxing Day

Generally lazy day today after the excitement of the last couple of days. We went for the traditional boxing day walk though, meeting up with Jonny, Cressida, Rick, Rane, Ed, Mark and Justine, and all the dogs. It sounds as though Rick and Ed hit the whiskey quite hard last night and were suffering. After a couple of laps of the lake we all heading back to our homes. We did try to drop into the bar on the way home but sadly it was closed.

Back at the house it was time for a well earned rest, to eat some of the cake that we were too full to eat yesterday, and more working on my puzzle before an early night.

[26 December 2022]

Tuesday

After all the fun of the past few days it’s time to get back to work and start getting the house ready for our upcoming guests.

The other thing I’d forgotten about on Christmas day was the pigs in blankets so made those up today for dinner with some more of the leftovers and some dauphinoise potatoes, yummy!

[27 December 2022]