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It is now 12 months since we left old Blitey for the tranquillity of Normandy.
We spent several months trying and failing to get local tradesmen to do work. Our main project was to convert the barn into gites. We totally failed to get the architect or builder to come up with plans which, allegedly, already existed. So we decided to rethink things over winter. We did manage to redecorate the lounge to make it brighter and more our own.
The next was to put an en-suite in the main guest room. We got plumbers to come to the house and agree that they would do it. None came up with quotes. We were then given an introduction to another plumber by one of our neighbours. He came up with a quote, a little expensive but we went ahead and he did an excellent job. As the en-suite was being done, we tackled the challenge of decorating the room. After much discussion with friends and between us, we developed a plan and a couple of our English friends gave us valuable help and we decorated and carpeted to what we think is a very nice room.
Having whetted our appetite with the decorating we were ready to tackle something bigger. We had rethought the barn conversion. Through the winter it was very clear that our cathedral style dining room was impossible to heat. So, we decided that we would put a normal ceiling in the dining room above which we would create two new bedrooms. We struggled again to get local builders interested then found an English builder and he and I (yes I learned how to spell DIY) set to and built a new floor with 2 new rooms, calling our plumber in to install the en-suite units. Ron the builder called in another mate and the two of them installed a new window and several Velux. The two new rooms we can use for B&B and it has allowed us to stop using rooms at the top of the house as B&B rooms. One will be my den, and the other we can keep as a room for family visits.
As if that wasn’t enough, we then tackled our bedroom. It had bare, and not particularly pleasant, stone walls and reached up to the roof. We have constructed a ceiling with a small loft above and created new walls. These we have now decorated and laid a new carpet.
Now for the garden!!!
Socially, we have made some really good friends. The closest being English but our French neighbours are extremely nice and very helpful.
We are coping with the language. My vocabulary increased significantly with the work, so if anyone wants the French for plasterboard, pipes, paste, I’m your man.
We have been going to lessons and they will start up again next term.
The gite has been booked from May, almost every week through to September. The B&B business is growing steadily as this is our first real season. We are getting referrals from the tourist office and through our web site which is linked from the tourist office web site. So most of our customers have been French. Most of our English guests have been referred by relatives and friends. We have also had visits from relatives and a few friends.
There have been no regrets at all. We have worked extremely hard to get things done but it is proving well worth it. We look forward to the future with even more excitement than when we first came. We have really made the place our own. We can start to think about the garden and possibly the kitchen at our leisure and we don’t have to think about the barn for a long time.
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