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Post by Aly on Jan 6, 2021 8:27:40 GMT
Morning ladies
My goodness what a week or two. We always knew things would happen quickly once they started. We have barely stopped.
We have now moved and are very happy. I have managed to create normality in the lounge and kitchen. I am nearly there with the dining room.
Had an email from orange yesterday to say we were connected . Have been managing with phones and 4g. P connected it up but it was not working last night. Came down this morning and orange had done their stuff and we are back online. The speed is three times it was at the last place.
Today p is taking my mini for an mot as it looks like we have sold it. Here you must have at least 18 months of mot left to sell. Then this afternoon we are going to the old place to get the last bits from the house and clean.
Our buyers are happy in a Gite whilst they wait for their things to be brought over.
Dogs have settled in well but I have to put them on leads when they go out as no secure fencing around the garden. There are open fields around us. We need to sort out fencing.
The cats are staying in just now until the cat flap is fitted.
Will order the new hen house next week and then get some more hens.
Sadly my remaining bees did not survive. I knew the colony was weak . We will wait for spring then buy a new nucleus. I want to continue with bee keeping.
So eyes down for another year and whatever it brings.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 6, 2021 9:46:54 GMT
Lovely to have you back Aly, we have missed you. Glad you are settling down well, am really excited for you, and waiting to hear your new undertakings.
Very cold here, did not want to come out from under the Duvet this Morning, do not have any Plans, except to make Soup out of two out of Date Mushrooms, Portabello Ones, not Tiddlers, on the other Hand, I could make a Steamed Mushroom Pudding, in the Slow Cooker, but there is always a first time, yep, think I might do that for a change. I did say I would tell you a bit about my Adventures, and although I was being trained, it was an Adventure, but very hard work, that required a strong Constitution, and a strong Stomach. Will start by telling you a bit about the Convent, it was a Convent, with it;s own Chapel, and if anywhere was haunted, that was! I was two Months off sixteen, when I went there, because my Father, worked for the Air Ministry, and was posted to Ireland.they did not want me to travel back over, so I was not officially employed, though I use that Word loosley, as we were being trained, and therefore only received what again could be loosly termed very parsimonious Pocket Money. Have to leave it there, as must do some work. be back later. have a good Day. love Tina x
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Post by brightspark on Jan 6, 2021 11:06:30 GMT
Welcome Aly, to the New Year and the new home. We've been rooting for you for what seems a long time, and I'm sure you feel the 'long time' more than us!! All sounds very exciting making plans. So I guess you'll have to shell out for some fencing, as we all know that the dogs would prefer to have a runaround, rather than on a lead. (Our little dog is missing her long walks at The Gallops as we have been car-less for a couple of weeks, so it had to be on a lead around our locality - just not the same!) New hens, new bees, and all the animals back home, you must be feeling so much freedom right now.  Tina, looking forward to hearing your story in the convent! I don't think I have ever heard of steamed mushroom pudding. However, I do like the sweet ones - ginger syrup steamed pudding is probably my favourite! With ice cream. Yum! Iris, I hope your house will soon be back to normal and you can get warm again. I understand your feelings about keeping the fire stoked. Our two closest neighbours have installed woodburners and their lounges are lovely and warm, but it's the same issue, constantly bringing in the fuel for them. We have a log effect gas fire - really not as warm, but trouble-free in that sense. As a child, we had no heating, and it was always a lot easier to stay in bed in the warmth, but it was the case that we had to wear more jumpers, etc. most of the time. Hope you're okay, Jan, have you had any snow up there...? Have a good day, ladies, x |
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Post by irist on Jan 6, 2021 11:38:31 GMT
Morning all. So pleased you are settling into your new home, Aly. A new future to look forward to now for you. There may be jobs to do before everything is as you would wish but you won't have the pressure of looking after the gites. Time will be yours to fill how you determine.
Well the poor apprentice is spending his third day outside trying to drill a second hole through a very thick granite wall. The drill bit broke almost at the end of the first day and I think he must have blunted the new one by now. All the inside gubbins can't be set to work until this second hole is finished so the pipework can be attached to the outside unit. However, we have been promised that we will have heating by the end of the day. Will be so glad to get our home back! All the workmen are very polite and grafters. They arrive promptly at 8am and only take half an hour lunch, leaving at 5pm or later depending if they have finished their particular task. The electrician even fitted my new bathroom light before going home last night, although he didn't think he would have time because he had an appointment with another client for a quotation for work that needed doing. We will wait until I've got the house straight before we start to look for a replacement logburner to grace the gaping inglenook. It will be an expensive ornament most of the time but will come into its own when we have a powercut which is quite a common occurrence in the winter here. We are hoping to sell the log burner with the back boiler to offset the cost of the new one.
Like you, Val, when I was a child we only had a gas fire in the living room and I can remember my bedroom window being covered in beautiful frost patterns on the inside in the winter. I would remain in bed as long as possible before grabbing my dressing gown (usually on the bed as an extra layer for warmth) and slippers. There was lino on the floor so that too was very cold.
We'll have the remainder of the lentil soup with a sandwich for lunch today and beef casserole for dinner.
Enjoy your day whatever you are doing.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 6, 2021 15:39:19 GMT
Am back to tell you a bit more about training to be a Nanny . Am going to describe the Building, it was old, as you might know, being a Convent, and it was beautiful. Ido not remember it having large Grounds, or any work being done in them, just a lawn that the Babies Prams, went out on in the good Weather. The Door was absolutely Beautiful, with a Victoria Plum Tree, growing on the left side, we used to help ourselves, when we put the Babies out, we were allowed to.
As you went into the main Entrance, on the Right, was BETHANY, the Babies Room, full of Cots, right opposite, was the Milk Kitchen, and the Sluice, where the Feeds, and Baby Porridge, were prepared. Next to Bethany, was the small Toddlers Sluice, with rows of Potties, and when One decided to shuffle, they all shuffled! Forgot, the small Toddlers Nursery, was next to Bethany. then on down to the large Kitchen, the Kitchen was at an Apex, next to the Kitchen, was the Staff Room, for older Girls from the Homes who were employed as Domestics. Then our Dining Room, and further down, on the opposite Side, was the Passage leading to the Chapel, and a big Boiler, that had to be stoked twice a Night. Forgot about the Laundry, slotted in somewhere along there. have to leave it there, as going to make Dinner.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 7, 2021 9:55:26 GMT
Wonder if I should put my Stories on a separate Thread, what do you think?
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Post by Aly on Jan 7, 2021 10:05:11 GMT
Morning all
Another cold start. Took the dogs over a field this morning which they enjoyed.some of it was very wet and full of old corn stalks from last years harvest. Frank is all over the place and gets his lead caught up in the stalks. They are both crashed on a sofa now.
Need to let the cats out soon but still no cat flap for them to get back. They are being good using the litter tray but three are not used to being indoors.
Finally getting my hair cut this afternoon. Looking forward to that.
Still so much to do with unpacking but getting there.
I have inherited a small dishwasher which I am loving. My hands have become sore with all the cleaning and washing up.
The wool finally came for grandson number two. Going to be fun when I lost it to him as will now have to fill in custom forms.
Have someone coming next week who wants to buy my mini for his daughter. If it goes we will then start the search for a newer one for me.
Well back to boxes have a good day all
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Post by terrier on Jan 7, 2021 11:01:08 GMT
Tina, that would be a good idea, we can then read like a story .
Aly- where is it you have moved to, i remember you going to France and restoring the place and creating holiday gites, have you moved back to the U.K., or stayed in France?
Isn’t it awful the goings on in America at the moment, I’m not a Trump supporter at all and I don’t want to get in to politics, but I have to say other nations must be laughing at what is going on over there, apart from the fact that some people have died, the whole thing is ridiculous.
Today I’m not working, and am undecided what to do with my day, it’s too frosty at the moment to go outside, just can’t risk slipping. I need a few things from the shops, I could get some of it from local shops but there are a few supermarket things we need. A friend that I do my social distanced walks with has offered for me to add things to her on line delivery tomorrow, but I almost feel safer with choosing my moment and going to the shop myself, I can do self scan, which means less people are touching my stuff, plus of course the fussiness of wanting my fresh fruit and veg just so, you know what I mean, bananas 🍌 of a certain size and ripeness, tomatoes 🍅 of a certain size and firmness etc.
Today would be the best time to go as it will be quieter than the weekend, still undecided at the mo.
I have a jigsaw on the go at the moment and a couple of clothes alterations to do, I’ll just have a quiet day at home and add to Sally’s on line order.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 7, 2021 12:13:08 GMT
Morning Girls, beginning to drip everywhere, so let us hope this is the end of the very cold Weather. My Knees are so painful anyway, so sitting seems the best option. My Cheffie Son, is making me Turkey Cottage Pies, he seems to rate them, i don't like Turkey, but might be acceptable with mixed Veggies, if not he can have them back. I have never heard of steamed Mushroom Pudding either Val, was just going to wing it, make Suet Pastry, veggie Suet, and fill it with Chopped Mushroom, and Onion, and anything else that came to Hand, maybe a bit Carrot, is'ent this the way great Chefs invent their Show Stopper Recipes?
Sun is shining now, so designating this Afternoon to poring over my Seed Catalouges, can't spell it. I do have two Cards to make, so might shift Chairs, and do a bit of Crafting. bye the noo. I will be back! said in an Arnie Growl !
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Post by brightspark on Jan 7, 2021 12:27:54 GMT
Morning peeps,
Jan, I think it's a good idea to add to Sally's online order, it takes away the risk to you. It is very cold out there, and I think you're due some snow, perhaps. No slipping or falling over allowed !! 
The minced beef mixture seems to be going on too long... so I found this recipe for tourtiere, and the special pastry to go with it, so this morning I have made the pastry (unfortunately pastry is not something that I do very well at all) and put in the fridge ready to do later. So we'll see how this recipe works out.
weekendatthecottage.com/tourtiere/
weekendatthecottage.com/all-butter-pie-crust/
I have some small Mason Cash pie dishes, so I thought I'd make a few small ones - will freeze those not used.
Iris, now you've reminded me, yes, the frost patterns on the windows! We had those horrible metal-framed windows (single-glazed of course), it was blumming freezing! My Mum worked for a company making skirts and trousers, so she often brought home offcuts from the fabric bins, and she made a patchwork quilt for each of my brothers (3 of them). Their bedroom was like a dormitory, with the beds all lined up!
Every now'n'again, remembering childhood... my elder brother had an aviary in the boys' bedroom. Some years later his notion was to have bees, and we had two hives at the end of the garden, with its associated honey-making in the kitchen with the hired equipment (I still love honey to this day!). Also we had chickens - the smell of cooking up the potato skins with some seed for them I can still smell.  Memories!
Aly, how are you getting your hair cut today, do you have hairdressers open? I suppose the dogs will enjoy the new smells in their new environment - is it a walk without vehicles? How many cats do you have? I miss my cats (we had two, though long gone) but our dog goes mental at the sight of a cat!
I agree with Jan, Tina, that it'd be good on a separate thread to have your story in one place.
Have a good day, at least the rest of it(!), x
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Post by Aly on Jan 7, 2021 14:18:15 GMT
Still In France and moved six miles away. We now have a smaller house, less land and no Gites. We finished all the renovations and sold to an English couple much younger than us.
We are down a private road surrounded by fields. The odd tractor comes down here and the postman but that is it.
Our hair salons are open but I go to an English lady who runs it from her home. Haven’t been for ages due to the lockdowns. There is talk of another lockdown coming but am happy to stay home and get on with things.
I have four cats now. Two Bengals I brought from England 11 years ago. The other two are French and adopted as are the dogs.
Did think of moving back to the UK but are happy here and very used to French life.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 7, 2021 14:42:09 GMT
Son, brought me over more Dinners, and asked if I had any Requests, so said, maybe some Pasta, and Curry Dishes, am so liking this could become a Habit. Youngest Son bringing me fresh Eggs tomorrow. Now I know why I had Children, they come in useful.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 8, 2021 11:18:09 GMT
Morning Lasses, the Sun is shining, but it is so dangerous underfoot, my Carer has just had a nasty fall, luckily I am her last Client, or whatever they call us, so she can go Home and rest up. Not got anything lined up for today, so think I might write some Letters, and then do a bit of Crafting, I have a Fairy House, left over from last Year, and also some Foam Eggs to decorate for Easter. Not got anything of note to report, so will be back later. have a good Day. love Tina x
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Post by irist on Jan 8, 2021 13:47:55 GMT
Afternoon ladies. Well the work here is finished for the plumbers but now I have to start putting everything back where it belongs. That's going to be easier said than done because I've lost half of the shelving in my airing cupboard - the new hot water cylinder is more than double the size of the old one. I've sorted out sheets and towels we no longer use so they can be sent to the charity shop or be used for the children's dogs. The other problem is that the airing cupboard was in the built in wardrobe and the rail that held the clothes cannot go back in where it was. We are trying to work out how to support it in the reduced space. I will also have to do some decorating in the bathroom because we have had a heated towel rail fitted in place of one radiator which has left holes in the wall which will have to be filled and repainted. The paint on part of the skirting board has been singed where the new pipes were plumbed in - another touch up job. The lads painted the new pipes in the inglenook fireplace but have left me the pot to apply a second coat. The dust has flown everywhere from the four days of drilling through granite so I've got my work cut out but it will all be worth it in the end. It's lovely to get up to a toasty house. However, I still need to master the controls for the heating and hot water. The plumber set them to come on and off to suit our needs but the digital display is alien to me at the moment. Just need to get used to it and I'm sure it'll be easy once I understand all the settings! The boss did run through them with me but did so very quickly just before he left yesterday - too fast for my poor brain to take in.
Picked up my click and collect order this morning but had the same problems as last time. I couldn't connect to the supermarket wifi so couldn't let them know I had arrived so had to go in store again. The whole point was that I would not need to do this. The collection point had been moved to the other side of the building too. I had three substitutions which were acceptable but the packing was ridiculous. The mushrooms had been placed in the bottom on a bag with carrots, potatoes etc on top. The eggs were at the base of another bag with heavy items on top and the soap near edible things. Do the packers have no brains? OK rant over. In future I'll rely on my daughter and on occasion will venture out myself.
Loving your tales about the convent, Tina. Today's 15 year olds wouldn't put up with what you had to do.
Must get on with putting things in order. Keep safe all.
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Post by Aly on Jan 8, 2021 19:16:23 GMT
Evening
Spent the day at the old house. P finished the work then I cleaned the whole place. Steam cleaned all the floors. Have now given all the keys to the new owners and was very pleased to do so. P has to go back tomorrow to clear some rubbish and pack the remainder of his tools. He will also bring our bird bath and the other empty bee hive.
At last we can get on with our new place.
Really need to get fencing sorted for the dogs. Then need to knock a hole in a granite wall to put in the cat flap.we made bigger holes in the old house to put in doors so P knows what he is doing.
Hope you get straight soon Iris like you I hate muddle.
Pleased we still have a wood burner as it makes the place feel cosy.
Very tired tonight.
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Memories!