Life in France: Our house

Believe it or not, after more than a year, the last paintings were finally hung on the wall during the past weekend. JL was even more disappointed than me in the Springboks losing against Oz, so perhaps that was the reason why he suddenly got a bee in his bonnet. I didn't complaint, as it was starting to irritate me (like the unpacked boxes still on the mezzanine, but I fear as those are my boxes, I'll have to find the time to unpack it!). Looking at photos taken earlier, either by us or by visitors, the change in the house over time is remarkable. We've done quite a bit of gardening this year (ex-colleague Vernon even had to advise via mail during his wonderful holiday in the USA re the sick jasmin...) and bought a green bin to make compost from our kitchen and garden waste.

The table in our dining room, ready for a fête in January, just after our return from holiday in SA. It was a dinner for people that serve with JL on an industry committee and the one lady, who lived in Russia for 18 years, prepared Russian food and I've prepared bobotie, with some Simonsig Pinotage we brought back with us.

Beginning of May, we had a wonderful hot April and May this year. The big work in the garden started in March, clearing out a jungle! This bush I wanted to take out, but fortunately it started to flower before I've got so far. Like the one below in our back garden (since then we've managed to win the battle against the bad grasses. However, the fence is still in desperate need to be replaced, hopefully to be done before the next summer!)

The garden was quite neglected when we've moved in. After last year's fig harvesting, JL had cut the branches back quite a bit, the wood providing us some barbeque pleasure and even though we didn't expect a lot of figs for this season, the tree is full!

Our 30€ barbeque which took me almost 2 hours to assemble as a result of the numerous small pieces (it doesn't matter what you buy here, you have to assemble it at home!!). With some of our fig wood.

There was a huge bamboo in the corner, what a job to get rid of that! But fortunately we've done that. As les deux font la paire didn't only forgot their suitcases to Paris last year, but locked themselves out of their house twice this year. In both cases we haven't opened the sliding door going onto the stoep and the wind shut the garage door, locking us out. Fortunately, both times, the garage door and/or the front door was open. The first time we phoned a friend in Verzenay, as JL had his cellphone with him, timing the meat for the barbeque, and gave her the code to enter our outside gate. The second time JL had to untie the fence at the wall (where the bamboo was) and had to walk around to enter the house from the other side. So now we take care and always open the sliding door too!

We wanted to throw out JL's old leather coach, but as you have to drive your own rubbish to the rubbish centre, we have decided to put it on the stoep until it is really completely kapoet!

After all the rain and snow during the winter, our little garden set was in a sorry state. I've spend time to sand and repaint it, although all of that was in the end the same cost than that of a new set! At least I like the blue colour, prettier than the dull white of before.

Anita took a few arty photos of our sous-sol and cave when visiting us, we've hardly recognised it ourselves!

The little alley behind the house. The small piece of land between our fence and the stone wall of the neighbour apparently caused huge dispute in the village in the past. For now we are trying to find out whether it is the neighbour or the city council's responsibility to clear that and depending on the price if it is for sale, we might add it to our property. But time will tell, as small villages have their politics too...