Today I shall be Mainly...

[Big Kev]

A good use of available resources there

The car saga continued into today. 2 temperature sensors replaced in the exhaust, one either side of the DPF I believe. It's been running continuously for around 90 minutes so it looks as though the engine shutdown issue has been sorted. It's out for a test run in the morning to initiate a DPF regen and should be delivered back home before lunch

A trip out on the bus for tea at the Barlick Raj this evening.

[Stanley]

Kev, glad you are seeing a way out of the wood with your car but basically you have been deprived of it because a tiny sensor failed..... Not good!
Glad you liked my use of the welding bench. I have often contemplated doing it but been too lazy. I shall do it more often now because it worked perfectly, by 15:00 when I brought them in they were almost as cold as they'll get in the fridge so that saved some Leccy.
I shall be in the shed as usual at 06:00 doing useful things.... From the look of it the rest of the day will be spent in ordering my meat delivery and keeping warm! We have -7C perceived temperature taking wind chill into account and that persists until 10:00. I turned the running temperature of the boiler up to 41C for a couple of days. I think I can afford it.....

Later, I am reluctant to go in the shed because it is only 9C in there. I think I'll have my breakfast and go back to bed. It's a cold morning!

[Sue]

Morning

Arrived in St Malo. Much snow and slush

[Gloria]

I bet St Malo is pretty in the snow, it’s a lovely place.

[Stanley]

I shall decline the shed again this morning as it is too cold. I go in there for enjoyment not because I have to. It has a radiator in it but is in effect a poorly built detached addition to the house and not very well insulated.
I'm glad I went to the C-op yesterday as I suspect it might be quite treacherous underfoot and Sunday is definitely a day for cowering in a warm kitchen and watching the weather through the window.
So the answer to the question is sod all apart from looking after myself, feeding regularly and keeping warm.

[Stanley]

Normally at this time of the morning I'd be going in the shed for an hour of occupational therapy but like yesterday, it's too cold in there. I go in for enjoyment not because I have to. So I'm having my breakfast and going back to bed.

[Sue]

I bet St Malo is pretty in the snow, it’s a lovely place.

Morning

I am afraid it wasn’t. It was dirty snow and mainly freezing slush. There is little gritting in France except on really main auto routes so the roads are treacherous in such conditions. It was a frightening journey, the first hour being in the dark too. It was sleeting hard, and every time a car passed us our windscreen was covered with dirty slush. It was a very unpleasant and dangerous journey. We saw a couple of accidents where cars were in the ditches at the side of the road. Thankfully after Rennes the conditions improved to just rain. At the house there was no sign of snow but it was very cold.

Yves had lit a fire for us in the lounge so inside was not too bad but we kept our coats on whilst the central heating kicked in. It never really got warm. Its a big old place and although lovely in the summer it is hard to heat it in the winter. The mezzanine in the summer, the warmest spot is rarely lower than 24 degrees. Yesterday it was 11 and by bedtime had barely reached 16. The rest of the house was much colder apart from the lounge with the roaring log fire.

We unpacked then I went out to do some gardening, ie weeding the gravel paths and pruning the roses back to make the outside look more presentable for when the estate agent comes on Monday. The wind whipped up in the afternoon so l had to leave my barrow of cuttings and leaves undercover as I could not move them any where without them blowing away. I came in after a while as it was getting dangerous out there. Yves had taken a dead tree down for us and removed it along with a huge pile of wood in the orchard. That looked good. When I have dug the sweet potatoes in the veggie plot I can cover that so it will look tidier. The next few days are due to be drier and warmer, excellent for outside work though the ground is a quagmire. Bob meanwhile has been doing the skirting boards inside so all should be ship shape for Monday.

This morning we have a lovely sunrise, just like my artist friend Jeremy Ford paints, but it is really cold still in the house. We are sat in bed with our cuppa and our dressing gowns on. We will have to move soon. I intend to take advantage of the better day and carry on garden tidying. This evening we will go round to see Laetitia and tell them the news that we are selling.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue. I have just got up after a good two hours of second sleep. It's warm in the kitchen bathroom, both on the South side of the house, and supportable elsewhere but I did good yesterday when I did the shopping on the grounds it was dry underfoot and might be different this morning. I've just gone outside and everything id covered with ice. The back street is a sheet of shot ice from top to bottom. There will be a crop of broken bones in falls this morning!
09:25. It pays to think ahead. I don't need to go out on Saturday either when we have storm Bert. I have just seen a young woman going up the street, trying to hold on to the wall..... I wouldn't stand a chance! I've looked at the forecast and the temperature doesn't rise above freezing until midday on Sunday....

[Sue]

Nothing like that here Stanley. Its cold in the house bit the sun has come out, that will help warm things up. It was 2 degrees this morning and I knew it when I went out to garden. My gardening gloves were too thin so I swapped for a pair of ordinary gloves I hardly ever wear. Any way progress is being made and I am now working in the sun.

We have just confirmed the estate agent and given her instructions on how to get here. Apparently she sold Rolands house 5 years ago.

Take care in that icy weather. Apparently it is really bad in Normandie, we seem to be lucky here, though as I said, the ground is sodden

[Stanley]

I've just been out and had a look Sue and the back street is still a sheet of ice and what makes it worse, we have a very slight thaw so that makes the ice slippier. I saw this coming and did my shopping yesterday Sue. There's an Scottish saying.... "An old dog for a hard road"

[Stanley]

I looked at the temperature in the shed and it is up slightly on 10C but still cold and I shall decline going in there for one more day. We have storm Bert today and a massive rise in temperature so I expect to be back to normal tomorrow.
So an early breakfast and then back to bed. I shan't be going out for the rest of the day, far too windy and wet with the added benefit of being icy underfoot until later today! Deep Joy! I'm glad I don't have to go out in it!

[Sue]

Morning

We are heading for two or three days of very windy weather and amazingly warm temperatures, plus a little rain. Yesterday was nice after a very cold start. The sun penetrated the windows of the house so everywhere is now much warmer .

I managed several hours gardening though coat and gloves were essential. I did not get the last lot of leaves and cuttings to the compost pile as I was exhausted by 4.00 pm . I shall leave them in their protected corner till the wind stops. This morning I shall dig my sweet potatoes and my few remaining potatoes and cover the veggie plot when the wind drops. Then I just have the rockery to tidy. Bob has done the skirting boards on one bedroom and is about to start the second, leaving our summer bedroom. The master bedroom which we are in now is already done.

The estate agent is coming at 10.30 on Monday. We didn’t get to see Laetitia and Yves yesterday as they were out but we are invited round for a beer this evening when we will break the news. I am not looking forward to that. Today was due to be dry but the forecast has changed this second as I looked it up . Its now due to rain all day with a temperature of 15 degrees!. It looks like it will be wet digging weather. Have a good day all . We are going out for lunch .

[Stanley]

Morning Sue! I am back in the real world after two hours of second sleep. we have had snow and then wind and rain up to now and the overcast is so thick that it hasn't come proper daylight yet.
We have a promise of 13C but the kicker is that for much of the day we'll also have a wind chill of -6C.
I shall have a hot drink and then do a bit of cooking and reading...... It's nice and warm in the kitchen......

[Sue]

Just been rained off but did get the potatoes and sweet potatoes dug up and cover the veggie plot. I am covered in mud….

[Stanley]

You're a glutton for punishment Sue! Still, I bet you feel better for trying. Now get dry, clean and warm!
I have just finished frying my sweet potatoes and stowing my slow cooked pork belly in the fridge. That's enough honest endeavour for the day. A read now, some YouTube and my dinner.Warm and dry in here but gloomy wet windy and miserable out there..... November!

[Stanley]

Back to normal with reasonable temperature in the shed. I shall be in there at 06:00 making my piston rod.....
After that I might even have a walk as the day promises to be dry after 09:00. I shan't be doing any cooking, I have cooked all the veggies now!

[Stanley]

Sorry for the hiatus.... It's been too cold in the shed but we are now into more normal temperatures. I spent 45 minutes in the shed. First I harvested the non-ferocious chips left on Mrs Harrison after the making of the Piston. Then I took a 1/4" length of stainless steel rod and made the piston rod and fitted it. Not a lot but that's a start back in the shed and a useful step forward.

[Sue]

You're a glutton for punishment Sue! Still, I bet you feel better for trying. Now get dry, clean and warm!

Morning
It had to be done, the orchard now looks as tidy as you would expect at this time of year, especially as Yves had cut the grass some time ago. The garden too looks OK, as if we care ie so any potential buyer may see that minimal work will return it to order.

Its mighty wild out there today and 16 degrees, and today is the Soup Festival at La Gacilly. The whole town is taken over by groups who have made soup eg schools, PTAs, local businesses and professional chefs in the town . You buy a small bowl for 5 euros and wander round the town trying the various soup offerings for free. The recipes are available and you vote for the ones you like best in different categories. There must be over 50 soups, after about 20 you don’t ever want soup again. The money raised goes to local charities. Its a big event and is always very busy. At least it won’t be raining or cold and being a town of narrow streets we may be protected from the wind.

Last night we told Laetitia and Yves of our intention to sell, they were upset but we felt that they had half expected it when Bob was ill. We said we didn’t expect it to sell quickly and life will go on as normal . Laetitia made tentative enquiries as to wether we would rent it out , but we explained it would be very difficult dealing with it from another country . We don’t think it is a good financial option for us.

So thats it fo today, have a good day and hope the storm dors not batter too much. I understand there is already considerable flooding round Ramsbottom and Stubbins

[Stanley]

Morning Sue! I can only speak for Barlick but we are in better shape now, no flooding and our forecast is that the rain will cease at 09:00 I might even have a walk! I am just off to bed now for second sleep.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed at 06:00 doing useful things, much warmer in there now.
Not sure about later. I had my sights set on a short walk to the Co-op for some tomatoes but the forecasters let me down and it never stopped raining. So I'll take a view after second sleep. Apart from that I will be looking after myself....

[Sue]

Morning

It was a nice day yesterday apart from the howling gale which stopped during the night. It reached 18 degrees and was very sunny so the soup festival was very busy. We tried lots of soup in our colourful little 7 euro bols. Most were just variations on a theme of pumpkin and something else. A lot had gone overboard with coconut milk and cumin. The former I do not like. There were two very nice onion soups, one mushroom and chestnut and a pea and mint that stand out as being different. An awful lot of the soups seemed to have added sugar! The french like their sweet things but not for me especially in soup

Today the estate agent comes and the house and garden both look ok for the time of year. Bob even tidied his workshop . We know we have a lot of rubbish to get rid of, old tins of paint, old sun beds but thats not a problem. We shall see what we shall see. At least after yesterdays sun the house is warm, the mezzanine hit 20 degrees last night, a bit different from last Thursdays 11

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue, you are a lot warmer than us but I shouldn't complain because it has dried up out there, we have a breeze and a clear sky.
I hope you have a good experience with the estate agent.... You deserve it!



Just one task accomplished in the hour I spent in the shed. I sharpened two end mills and ensured that the cylinder had a good base to sit on by milling the opposite side to the valve face and then Marking the face using the lid of the valve chest. Then drilling and tapping. I fitted the studs and did a test fit of the chest and lid. A perfect fit, no adjustments required. Now for my breakfast!

[Stanley]

Being a glutton for punishment, I chanced getting caught in another wintry shower and went for another walk, this time to the pharmacy to collect my meds. I had received a text telling me they were ready and tomorrow is set to be colder than today so off I went. Back inside in the warm and I feel very virtuous, I am abreast of all my tasks!

[Stanley]

I shall go in the shed at 06:00 for more refinement of the cylinder casting. If I wrap up well I might chance a walk later in the morning. I don't need anything from the shops. It all depends on an accurate weather forecast!

[Sue]

Morning

Well yesterdays forecast was a dry, cloudy and sunny day, it turned out wet with thunderstorms. Luckily it stayed dry long enough to show the estate agent, Julie, the outside of the house, storerooms , barn , garden and orchard. The visit lasted three hours and she was very thorough and she like what she saw. We like what we heard in terms of what she can do for us when we are in the UK. So the ball is rolling. We need to send her copies of a few official documents when we get home that prove we are who we say we are and away we go. We are not after a quick sale or a cheap sale just a fair one. She will come back and measure up and there will be a video of the house, rooms and gardens. Sales are advertised internationally. Apparently they have had a lot of interest from America recently. I wonder why !

Bob is plodding on with the skirting boards with only one bedroom left to do. I can no longer contemplate gardening as everything is so wet and the soil…to use a north eastern word…is very clarty. I do need some more grass seed however as Yves cleared a very large patch of wood cuttings for us leaving a sizeable patch of bare soil. Perhaps we will pop out today. Also today I need to walk round the house and clear away a few knick knacks to tidy the place up ready for the video and any possible but doubtfully occurring viewings before our return in March. We also need to check our return sailing, the ticket says Thursday night, online says there is no sailing on Thursday but there is tomorrow.

The forecast here is dry till 6 .00 pm then rain, have a good day all