Dilith has made me delicious porridge. I have met Jean Christophe who looks fit and capable. Andrew has taken Trish to catch her train to Bordeaux. Stuart and George (from Frome) and the module arrive this evening. Today we need to set out the oak base, level, square, 3 metres from the stables, which are wonderful and will apparently eventually have 30 ensuite bedrooms. The budget is 5 million euros, to be completed in 18 months (main house) then the stables in 2019. There is a lake. Note to self - where's the septic tank? But Dilith says it a) is silted up b) has a leak c) will dry out in the summer (although it does have fish in it - it was made by the monks as a fish pond). We'll see.
Jean Christophe and I moved the setting out area to be 3 metres away from the stables, and squared and levelled the very solid French oak beams ready for the edspace module which arrives this evening. Two nice French WCCM ladies arrived and after midday meditation Andrew took us out for a proper French lunch in the bistro (patron M. Thierry) - menu prix fix 13 euros, terrine, steak frites and salad, cheese, and wine. I am finding the not drinking in France, especially not drinking wine at meals quite hard. Tonic as a treat in the evenings. It's OK. Good practice for Naxos. We had just enough time after lunch to pay the water bill and for me to spend an hour in the bricolage in Vivonne buying DPM, screws, brackets, hacksaw for 78 euros which seems a bit expensive but was what I need to sort out the timber base. Then home for a kip, meditation and supper. Stuart the Edspace man arrived in his van about 8:30, lovely young chap. Had to leave his partner George behind as he'd forgotten his passport (only realised when they got to the ferry at Portsmouth). George is getting the train and will be here tomorrow at 11am.
I have explored the house and grounds and taken lots of crap photos with my phone. Discovered the original monastic spiral staircase which goes all the way up to the attics (where an owl lives) steps worn down 3 inches in the middle by centuries of monks going from dormitory to refectory. Looked in on the chapel, a lovely stone vaulted ceiling (ditto the cloister). Tomorrow Jean Christophe goes hunting with his mate for sangliers and / or deer. Huge walled kitchen garden down by the river - Dilith wants 3 compost bins asap. Jean Christophe has a souffleur to blow his leaves around - he told Andrew it was his most important tool. I watched him and thought it would be easier and quicker with a rake. But maybe more strenuous.
And so to bed. All I need to make my bliss complete is a chamber pot.
And it's not a chateau - it's an abbaye.
Jean Christophe and I moved the setting out area to be 3 metres away from the stables, and squared and levelled the very solid French oak beams ready for the edspace module which arrives this evening. Two nice French WCCM ladies arrived and after midday meditation Andrew took us out for a proper French lunch in the bistro (patron M. Thierry) - menu prix fix 13 euros, terrine, steak frites and salad, cheese, and wine. I am finding the not drinking in France, especially not drinking wine at meals quite hard. Tonic as a treat in the evenings. It's OK. Good practice for Naxos. We had just enough time after lunch to pay the water bill and for me to spend an hour in the bricolage in Vivonne buying DPM, screws, brackets, hacksaw for 78 euros which seems a bit expensive but was what I need to sort out the timber base. Then home for a kip, meditation and supper. Stuart the Edspace man arrived in his van about 8:30, lovely young chap. Had to leave his partner George behind as he'd forgotten his passport (only realised when they got to the ferry at Portsmouth). George is getting the train and will be here tomorrow at 11am.
I have explored the house and grounds and taken lots of crap photos with my phone. Discovered the original monastic spiral staircase which goes all the way up to the attics (where an owl lives) steps worn down 3 inches in the middle by centuries of monks going from dormitory to refectory. Looked in on the chapel, a lovely stone vaulted ceiling (ditto the cloister). Tomorrow Jean Christophe goes hunting with his mate for sangliers and / or deer. Huge walled kitchen garden down by the river - Dilith wants 3 compost bins asap. Jean Christophe has a souffleur to blow his leaves around - he told Andrew it was his most important tool. I watched him and thought it would be easier and quicker with a rake. But maybe more strenuous.
And so to bed. All I need to make my bliss complete is a chamber pot.
And it's not a chateau - it's an abbaye.
Marvellous host of new names. Well done, and especially for not drinking.
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