New Start New Blog.

Well the house sale went ahead on the 4th December, We moved all our possessions’ up to one of the barns at Douglas & Bets, and we will collect it when we have another house. Douglas took us to the airport at Brest on the 9th. We will miss the very much as they have helped us immensely over the last two years


The journey to the Uk was a long one, The M4 was blocked with accidents at two places which caused long delays. We eventually arrived at the boy’s house at 11,55pm

We Are starting a new Blog for our next move.
http://lifeontheothersidepart3.blogspot.com

Well the sale is going slower than we expected, looks like it will the end of november before it is compleated, so should be back for christmas .not much to do most of the house contents have been packed into boxes, that just leaves the every day stuff , we have to get it all up to Douglas who will keep it in storage untill we get the next house. We have had a long look at property on the internet search sites and quite like the look of Orkney for our next home.

The House Sale & Visitors

Well the house is up for sale, we have a buyer lined up and with luck the sale will be complete by the middle of next month, (October). Damien & Marcus were over for six days and had a good time, the weather was kind to them and only started raining on the last day.

In July we went back to the UK for five weeks, stayed with the boys and mum. While we were there Kim arrived from NZ via Canada & America ( she has been studying at uni in Canada).
When we returned home Kim came with us and stayed for a week, it was great to have her staying with us and we only wish she could have stayed longer, ( the place is quiet with out her). One Good thing that came out of her stay was that she learned to make sausages with real meat & real skins.

Back in August an old work mate Nigel and his wife Evelyn popped in on their way through France, It was great to see them and catch up on old times. I have since been told that the Old factory may be bought by another company instead of closing ,which would be good news for all my old work mates .

Well another update in a few weeks time when we know more about the House.

Interesting few weeks

Well its been an interesting few weeks ,first we had Damien over for ten days,its great when the boys come over, it really puts a smile on Jill,s face , the weather was not that bad for time of year.

We managed to get out bird watching most days, and as usual Damien managed to add another new bird to his list ,this time a Black Woodpecker very rare in this part of Brittany.Well the days went quick and Damien headed back to the UK.

A week later Marcus and his friend Lee came across on the Ferry to Roscroft and then cycled down to Locmaria-Berrien just 7k from where I was to meet them ,well they had problems finding the cycle path and I ended up doing 32+k  before reaching home at 7.20pm.

We had some long walks and the two boys got in some long rides ,I think 147k was there best in a day. they had fourteen days of sunshine with only light frost some mornings .They Returned home on the 21st March promising to return in September. 

Huelgoat in Winter

Winter in Huelgoat

Well we are well into our first winter here, we have had some good weather, quite warm and sunny at times ( almost like spring) . Two weeks ago the temperature dropped to -12 and the lake froze over, then we had snow which only lasted for a day.
The rain at times has been torrential which is spectacular to watch as it leaves the lake and cascades down into Chaos . This has given me inspiration to get out with the camera, instead of staying in the warm. I have had some really long walks ,down through Chaos to le Gouffre. down the valley to the Old Mine and up to the Canal , back through Chaos to home , a round trip of about four hours. We have had snow again for the last two days (2nd & 3rd Feb , the lake was partly frozen this morning but it turned out a bright and sunny day. Managed to get a tractor load of logs the other day plus a delivery of heating fuel so we are nice and warm.

The first two pictures of the forest were taken just outside the front door, the last two are at le Gouffre waterfalls just down the valley.

New Bathroom

Well the last couple of weeks have hard going, We started striping out the bathroom but the problem with that is we have to put everything away each evening as it is the only bathroom. The first thing was to replace the shower, as this was going in a different position no problem, it took fourteen hours to assemble and connect, a few setbacks like no water pressure and then kinked flex connectors. All the walls were striped of tiles and then plaster boarded ,then it was time for the WC new one in first then connect to the old down pipe no problem, except when we flushed ,the waste would not go down ?, Septic tank full ,two day’s and €166 poorer , septic tank & soak away emptied and cleaned ( No need to worry again for four years) . We have still a long way to go, all the tiling and a new window to install.
We have to get planning permission for the window from the Town hall and from our next door neighbour, because it will overlook his garden.
Well update soon.

Sausages

One of the subject's I forgot to mention the other month was our attempts at Sausage making. Before coming to France we purchased a large hand mincer & filler, and a large tub of salted pig intestines. Well we had a go with the willing help of Sally & Steve who were staying with us at the time, after mincing one & a half kilo's of pork and adding the breadcrumbs and spices it was time to fill the skins ( cant think of the right name for them) it was quiet easy and linking was not to bad after a few false starts. The finished product,seven fat sausages, these were placed in the fridge until the following morning to allow the spice's to permeate the meet. Well if I must say it myself they were the best sausages I have tasted in a long time, We all enjoyed them even Jill who is not a great lover of sausages.
Hopefully this is only the beginning.

More work

Well the last three day's have been hard graft, First off make new fire surround out of Oak and fit, then install log burner (that thing must have weighed a tonne), in and out three times before it fitted right. Then the last day sand the kitchen floor and then two cotes of polyurethane.
Damien and Rob arrived this morning after taking the overnight ferry ( calm crossing) after a very big cooked breakfast we had a long walk through the Forrest.
Hopefully the next ten day's will be restful.

Hi, All
Been very busy over the last month or so , Had Marcus over for a week, then Alanta & Mitchell for Two weeks, That was hetic, then last month Sally and Steve with Ashley & Jo for ten day's, then two day's later a flying visit from Dean & Caroline who were on their way from Normandy to Central Brittany it was great to see Family and Friends. We have Damien and Rob coming over on the 16th for ten day's just hope the weather improves.
While Sally & Steve were here they helped start the decorating in the Master bedroom ,removing some old woodwork and re-plastering the wall's and ceiling, (a big thanks for that) there has been no further progress on that room but plenty in the Kitchen and Dining room (see pictures).
We have also started installing a Log Burner and new Fireplace over the last few days ( We need heating as the evenings are starting to get chilly. The fireplace is made of Oak ,it took me just one day to make at the cost of 50 Euros ,the log burner cost about 450. Well thats about it for now, Take care all, will post again soon.

Before and After.





















A vast improvement over the old kitchen
and all our own work,
but not finished yet.
The Log Burner will be fitted in the next day or so.

Well we have settled into the new place and been very busy. We had a builder in to remove a wall and block up redundant doorways. the Electricians were in for a full week, complete rewire.the weather has been a bit mixed rain then plenty of sun.
We had a visit from Marcus who stayed for a week and enjoyed himself, out walking and cycling.
there have been delays updating the page because of Internet connections (all sorted now)
Below are a few picture updates to give idea of what we have achieved so far.

Moving House

Well the date has been set,

The Caravan has now been sold and we return to Bristol on the 1st May. We have had some great times and made some good friend, on the south coast and it is now time for a change.
The Furniture is to be collected on the 7th May and we fly out on the 8th, hopefully the furniture will be delivered on Monday the 12th as promised. We then have plenty of work ahead of us and are looking forward to the challenge.
When we were in Huelgoat last, we purchased a new cooker ( bottled gas) and a fridge/freezer at a very large supermarket at Morlaix. We have a very close friendship with Douglas and Betty our Hosts over the last four months who have helped us in every way possible, We will always be indebted to them.

New Paint Job

Before

( Ignore the Date's)

The New Paintwork

Well the house is now ours , we signed on the 17th March and then spent the next fifteen days decorating, we have managed to finish two rooms upstairs ,the landing and stairwell. We returned to the UK feeling very tired but pleased with ourselves.The Builders are working at the house well we are in the UK (removing a wall and blocking up a few doors)

More Pictures of the house. ( click pictures to enlarge)

The Stairs, solid mahogany

Kitchen ,Plenty of scope there.

View of Front Door, not visible in yesterdays photo.

Living Room looking towards back garden.

A bit dated, but nothing a good lick of paint can't fix.

A Back view of the house from garden.

The Front, It just needs a coat of Paint.

New House in France

All's going well so far on the house front, We paid the deposit on a three bed breton House in Huelgoat, Finistere last week and have to return next month (15th) to pay the remainder and sign.

The house was built about 1952/3 and is situated only a short distance from the Town Square, it is detatched with about 80ft front garden and about the same at the back, the front of the property faces the Forrest, wich is a National park.there is quite a bit of work to do but most of it will be painting & decorating, although the electrics and heating need an overhaul .

Over the next few months we will be adding pictures ( before & after) as the work progresses

Wildlife Pictures

The First three picture's by Jill.

( double click image to enlarge )

Just a few picture's taken over the last month.

Huelgoat, France

Spent a few weeks in Huelgoat , France last month, looking for property and enjoying the location.
The town is situated by the side of a two hectare lake and surrounded by six hundred hectares of Forrest. Not found a house yet but a few possibilities.

Pictures by Jill.

The Lake, Huelgoat.

Huelgoat from the lake.

New Zealand

Newzealand 2007

Thursday 9th Aug 07.



We left Heathrow on the 4.15pm flight to New Zealand, after a flight of 26 hrs we arrived at Auckland. Adrian and Kim picked us up from the airport at 6am we had a shower and cooked breakfast, Jill had a sleep while I spent the day relaxing in the garden.



I counted 13 species of birds visiting the garden throughout the day.

Adrian's House

10th Aug.
Trip into Auckland City , A nice day we walked up Queen Street ( the main street in Auckland) . Had a walk around Mayers park and then a trip to the top of the Sky Tower, fantastic views of the city, the Harbour and North Shore,





11th Aug.
Today we went to Murawai beach on Auckland's west coast, this is one of only three mainland nesting colonies of Gannets in New Zealand, we stood on a viewing platform on the cliffs overlooking the colony and watched the birds soaring over the rock stack while others were mating on the rocks below where they will build there nest, Later we went to a Macadamia nut farm, where we had lunch, and walked around the gardens and lakes





Murawai Gannet Colony Gannet

Sunday 12th.

Woke up to strong wind and showers the temperature had dropped a bit,

We went into the city and visited the museum and then walked around Auckland Domain a large park in downtown Auckland, there were great views from the high ground,

Monday 13th.

Spent the day working in Adrians garden. The Cultivated part of the garden is large compared with UK gardens but the uncultivated part is native bush covering at least three times as much land, this is thick bush containing at least 150-200 Tree ferns plus native trees and shrubs

Tuesday 14th,

Ade dropped us off at the bus station, at about 7.30, the bus took about 35 minutes on arivingat the docks we took the ferry to Rangitoto an extinct volcano about thirty minutes from down town Auckland. we walked for over an hour through thick bush and lava fields going steadly up until we reached the rim of the crater, the weather was hot and the view from the top was spectacular,great view of Auckland City shoreline, The walk back down was a longer route taking a circular path around half the circumference of the island finishing at the ferry wharf. We had a well earned lunch before returning on the ferry to Auckland.




Rangitoto from the Sea

Wednesday 15th.

Today we stayed around the house and garden ,taking a well earned rest after yesterday, The legs were still aching three days later.

Thursday 16th.

Cold overcast , heavy rain pm, took a ride into city, visited Maratime Museum, very intresting, weather turned really bad, strong wind off the sea with driving rain.

Friday 17th.

The heavy rain of yesterday has died away leaving a bright sunny day with a few light showers. We walked along Tamaki drive to Kelly Taltons under sea world, where we saw a large range of fish , Penguins and the hut that Captain Scot used at the south pole just as it was left all those
years ago.

Saturday 18th.

Wet morning, Afternoon weather changed so we went to Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula with distant views of Rangitoto.
We saw plenty of new housing ranging from $300,000 to $3.5 million With views out over the sea.we all had a great meal at a Restaurant in Gulf Harbour. The weather changed on the way back and was raining by the time we reached home.

Sunday 19th.

Went to Puhoi an historic village with a quaint Church, we had a Devon cream tea at a one hundred year old tea room overlooking the wooded hills of Puhoi. Later we drove to Warkworth where we walked along the river towards the sea.

Waiheke Island.

Waiheke is situated about forty minutes from Auckland City, The ferry journey was nice (calm for Jill) and we arrived at Matiatia Wharf at 9.45 .The island is quite big and they have their own bus services covering the island, We started our walk at the wharf and followed the path to the southern end of Matiatia Bay and then headed uphill to the lookout on Nick Johnstone Drive, great views of the smaller islands including Rangitoto the volcanic cone rising out of the sea a few miles away. We continued along the coast passing Te Miro Bay and on to Church bay where we stopped for lunch, Church bay is backed by a big sheep farm with a stream running down to the sea.After lunch we walked up the hill and through the bush until we reached Allison Park then followed the road to Atawhia Whenua Reserve ,the going through the reserve was down hill and quite wet although the weather was hot with a nice breeze , our walk finished back at the wharf, it had taken just over four hours. At 4.00 we took the ferry back to Auckland.

Alanta in sleep mode

Easter weekend.
Naomi Rob and the kids + Bentley came down for the Easter weekend, the weather was great bright and sunny but with a slight breeze, Bentley is now 17 weeks old and getting very big ( already bigger than Jack) I think he enjoyed it here as much as the kid’s charging around the caravan and jumping all over people like a four legged Bulldozer.
They returned on Sunday evening looking tired but with a suntanned complexion.

The House.
The surveyor came on Thursday last everything was ok, so now we have to wait for the solicitors to get it together and then we can start looking in France.