Cracked on well with the house, but then it was six weeks in France
We managed to get on quite well in the house and being ensconced makes it so easier. But more importantly so much more relaxing. We don't have push ourselves too hard, although it would be great to get the completion certificate and claim back the vat. Its presently running around £27k.
The weather has been glorious. The South was getting the rain and for a change the sun was shining enabling us to work hard outside.
Everyone in the area was making the most of the calm sunny weather, especially the sailors.
We also see an abundance of Cruise Liners sailing into Greenock, or The Port of Glasgow according to the blurb. They don't expect people to realise that Glasgow centre is slightly further up the Clyde.
It was time for us to make a decision on the French house. We hadn't been out for two years, and we expected the worse. Damp house, tiles off, garden out of control, loads of work to do. Plus, how many of our friends were still thin France, and were they healthy.
Anyway, we drove South and stayed near Arundel to enable us to spend time with our friends from Australia, who were over for a two week family visit.
Then down to Dover for a late sailing to Calais, overnight stay before driving down to the house in France. The drive was perfect, so little traffic on the road, and the weather was just right. Not too hot, but the light was magnificent.
Arrived around 4pm to a savanna landscape, grass three foot high and blowing gently in the breeze.
So after 10 hours driving, it was refreshing to cut it all down over a three hour period.
Plus very satisfying.
Doesn't take long for the 30 degrees to have an effect on the colour of the grass. But at least, it doesn't require regular cutting.
The tiled floors needed mopping, due to what we thought was water ingress, but after testing the walls with a damp meter it soon became clear that it was due to condensation.
Two days later , with the windows and shutters open the rooms were totally dry. Must say the initial impression was overwhelmingly bad, but once we realised that it was the lack of occupation that caused the problem, our mood improved. It was a problem that was easily rectified. We just needed someone to open the windows and shutters a few days before we arrived. To be on the safe side we also decided to purchase a dehumidifier, and we may decide to bore out breather vents in each room, to allow the rooms to breath throughout the year.
The weather has been glorious. The South was getting the rain and for a change the sun was shining enabling us to work hard outside.
Everyone in the area was making the most of the calm sunny weather, especially the sailors.
 |
| moon coming up as the sun goes down over Ayr |
 |
| The Islands on view as the sun sets. Ailsa Craig to the left, Isle of Bute in the front of Arran |
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| The odd one out. The Waverley paddle steam |
Anyway, we drove South and stayed near Arundel to enable us to spend time with our friends from Australia, who were over for a two week family visit.
Then down to Dover for a late sailing to Calais, overnight stay before driving down to the house in France. The drive was perfect, so little traffic on the road, and the weather was just right. Not too hot, but the light was magnificent.
Arrived around 4pm to a savanna landscape, grass three foot high and blowing gently in the breeze.
So after 10 hours driving, it was refreshing to cut it all down over a three hour period.
Plus very satisfying.
Doesn't take long for the 30 degrees to have an effect on the colour of the grass. But at least, it doesn't require regular cutting.
The tiled floors needed mopping, due to what we thought was water ingress, but after testing the walls with a damp meter it soon became clear that it was due to condensation.
Two days later , with the windows and shutters open the rooms were totally dry. Must say the initial impression was overwhelmingly bad, but once we realised that it was the lack of occupation that caused the problem, our mood improved. It was a problem that was easily rectified. We just needed someone to open the windows and shutters a few days before we arrived. To be on the safe side we also decided to purchase a dehumidifier, and we may decide to bore out breather vents in each room, to allow the rooms to breath throughout the year.
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