Monday, February 26, 2007
Monday 19 February 2007
Still no sign of Monsieur A or the water purifying system, or estimate for the garden wall and house façade. I rang him this morning, and he said as he had three chaps missing (N thought they were having the famous February holidays; I thought perhaps they were ill) they won’t be here before next week, he says he will ring us on Thursday or Friday.
Meanwhile life continues very quietly here in the country; the weather is mostly fine and sunny - it was apparently 16 degrees in Paris yesterday - and N is doing all sorts of things in the garden and the potting shed, and I am pottering between cooking, washing and my War Letters project, and we are watching various DVDs and TV programmes in between. I am also printing out the whole of this Blog, month by month - a rather longer project! Am currently half-way through, and putting it all in a ring binder. N is anxious to see it (he says) but wants to sit by the fire and read it as a Book, not on screen. I am enjoying reading it as I print it, and am amazed at all the things we have done that I have forgotten about.
Yesterday we went to La Ferrière-sur-Risle for the monthly Sunday antiques fair, and remembering when we got there that there is an ordinary market there too. It was very fine and sunny and we bought some excellent kippers (which we have just had for lunch today) and cod, which is in the freezer, and N bought a new thyme plant for the herb bed. All the herbs - both in the garden and in the windowsill pots are looking a bit end-of-season-ish, but last year we got them at Vive le Jardin in March, so we must hang on just a bit longer. At the antiques fair I bought two vintage Martini glasses (which I shall give to Madeleine, after we’ve tried them out here first!) and a couple of antique jam jars, which I think will look very good on the breakfast table with home-made apple jelly in them. Talking of home-made preserves, N’s latest carpentry project is a series of shelves for jam and chutney in the first outhouse; the same principle as the shelves for paperback books in the corridor. There is a blocked door between the first and second outhouse, very narrow but perhaps just wide enough for a jar.
After lunch on Sundays, in front of the fire, we have been reading « Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland » to each other, a chapter at a time. We are now on to « Through the Looking Glass », and today N read the chapter about the White Knight, very suitably I thought, as he sometimes reminds me of him; all the while thinking of another plan for some new invention. (« Through the Looking Glass » itself is very suitable for our salon, the mirror over the mantelpiece with the clock and the fire is exactly right.)
N has cut the grass for the first time, very unusual for February, but it was so long and very lush and green, and looks much better. He is now « scarifying » - rolling a kind of spiky trimmer all over the lawns, to pierce the soil and gather up the moss and clumps of cut grass and generally tidy things up. It will not be worth hoovering indoors until this is all over!
Wednesday 21 February 2007
The Jam and Chutney Shelves were put up this morning, and the jars put on them after lunch - a great success. Not only can I see at a glance how many I have got of everything - previously they were in wine boxes on top of the kitchen cupboards - but they will be nicely chilled, and N was worried about the weight on the cupboard tops. There is room for lots more, I’m pleased to say. There are plans for another Great Shelf in the first outhouse; a large heavy plank which we found here and which has been standing in the garage all this time.
Yesterday morning we went on a very successful trip to Conches: to Bricomarché, a small garden centre called Gamm Vert on the same site, and the new Intermarché supermarket nearby. One of N’s current projects is the diversion of rainfall from the roof of the garage, atelier and woodshed into a second (as yet unbought) water butt, and he wanted to get the necessary various pieces of pipe and hose. We also wanted to look at lino tiles for the verandah. When Monsieur A’s men eventually come to fit the water softening apparatus, it will necessitate moving everything out of the verandah (as it is to be fitted behind the sink, in the verandah itself) and this will be an excellent opportunity to re-do the floor. Originally we had hoped to have it tiled last October, but never heard from our Artisan; at the time we weren’t worried as there were lots of other things going on, and are now rather pleased not to have to pay for it, given the water purifier. We had thought about laying some spare lino - of which we have lots! - but remembered how fiddly the shower room was. N mentioned lino tiles, of which I had no experience, but they sounded reasonably easy and cheap. We were very pleased to find just the thing at Bricomarché; about 30 cms square, fake « parquet » flooring, which I certainly wouldn’t want in a salon or dining room, but think will be ideal in the verandah, a similar colour to the table and chairs, and easy to keep clean.
As well as all this N bought Topinembours (Jerusalem artichokes) and purple seed potatoes for the vegetable garden and I looked at watering cans - the nice one I brought from Cambridge has sprung a leak, but given the price of a new one (40 euros!) N might be able to fix it with the same stuff he is using for joining together the drainpipes. The garden section of Bricomarché was even better than that at Gamm Vert; I found lupins which I knew N wanted for the new larger flower bed, and he ended up buying all sorts of perennials. I found a beautiful white azalea (at Vive le Jardin they were all pink) more miniature daffodils, a very large healthy spider plant and a white plastic hanging flower pot for it to hang in the verandah.
This meant that we both spent most of yesterday afternoon working in the garden, N on his drainpipe project and me - after I had reorganised the indoor plants - on re-potting the spider plant which I divided into three, and hanging and placing the new plants in the verandah and watering all the existing ones. I then swept most of the paths (after the scarifying and lawn-mowing they were covered in mud and grass) and wiped down the outside windowsills of the verandah, constructed by N last summer; they were dirty and green and he thought they might be permanently stained but they responded well to hot water and detergent.
After tea I spent a good deal of time in the kitchen cooking - there seems to be a lot to do at the moment. As it was Shrove Tuesday, I made savoury stuffed pancakes; first the filling, then the cheese sauce and finally the pancakes themselves, before rolling them up and putting them in the oven, covered in the sauce. At the same time I cooked Vitello Tonnato, a classic Italian dish I have never made before, requiring compiling over one or two days from veal, tuna and mayonnaise, to be eaten this evening. After the savoury pancakes we ate traditional sweet ones with lemon and sugar. Today I have made Bread Pudding, as a change from Apple Cake.
While I was in Britain at New Year I was asked whether I found enough to do here; no comment!
Friday 23 February 2007
As I write, Guillaume is here in the kitchen and the verandah making an awful noise cutting through the back of the kitchen cupboards to make a hole for the pipe. Monsieur A rang just after lunch and said could they come straight away; we were just about to have coffee but stopped and began clearing the verandah of furniture, except for the Italian sofa which is very heavy but will have to be moved before re-doing the floor. The table and chairs have gone into the Box Office with the rest of the summer garden furniture, and the large avocado plant into the salon where the Christmas tree was; it looks rather good.
This afternoon N has been to Bernay to Vive le Jardin to order a new water butt identical to the first one, which will go between the door of the woodshed and the door of the atelier. Currently the Christmas tree is planted there in the grass, but is looking very brown and poorly - not enough root - so its days are numbered. The new water butt will come on Wednesday, when I am in Paris. He has also bought a whole lot more bedding plants for the large flowerbed.
Yesterday we made a return trip to Bricomarché at Conches, primarily to buy the floor tiles, which were very inexpensive, in all well under 50 euros. And self-adhesive too, we thought we would have to buy the glue as well! Before this, first thing in the morning, N had been to the hairdresser, where amongst other things (such as the traiteur having gone bankrupt) he learned that there was a good market at Conches on Thursdays, with a particularly good fish stall.
After Bricomarché we eventually found the market on the outskirts of the town on a large patch of grass on the way to the station. There were a few stalls I recognised from L’Aigle and La Neuve-Lyre markets, but the fish I had never seen before, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. An amazingly large selection, and not as expensive as others we have patronised; just over 7 euros for a large piece of smoked haddock and two herring fillets. And lots of lively banter too, and a free giant prawn to try - I think the patron realised there was long queue who had been waiting some time, and wanted to keep us all happy. This started up a conversation with the woman in front of me who said she never ate anything before lunch; just a glass of orange juice when she woke up.
Another important purchase at Bricomarché was four breeze blocks (a new French word = parpaing) to put under the Great Plank in the first outhouse to make a sort of bench/table/surface on which to put vegetables, jam jars etc. They have all been put into place yesterday, and when I get a chance I will clean the plank and we can start using it.
This morning I have been to the hairdresser too, so now we are both smart and tidy. It was the first time I had been since just before Christmas, and it was busy and I waited a long time, but am pleased with the result and had a good chat as usual. Because of this and not being able to get into my kitchen this afternoon I’m a little behind with cooking - I made a large batch of braised red cabbage with apple yesterday which needs freezing, and also some celery soup made with a variety of leftovers, including the sauce from the Vitello Tonnato; this was good but a little liquid.
Saturday 24 February 2007
Large plank has now been cleaned in the first outhouse, ready for more storage. All the new bedding plants have been planted, some in the flowerbed and some in the newer rockery, in between showers today - more normal February weather. Outlook for Sunday is wet too, a pity as I shall be doing a couple of loads of washing - when Guillaume arrives on Monday the water will be switched off for part of the day, so last washing before I leave for Paris needs to be done tomorrow. Celery soup has been finished and tasted - very good, with bacon in it - and the rest frozen, along with the remains of the braised cabbage.
N is thinking of starting the new verandah floor while I am away in Paris; I have told him to be very careful with the Stanley knife, but we both realise that the floor will need lots of cleaning, re-sticking and drying before any new tiles can be put down. There is also the question of a new doorstep or threshold; currently the rain slides in under the door. The skirting boards will have to be repainted and in some cases actually provided, and bits of wall re-painted. And as soon as the room is empty with nothing going on I must clean the insides of the windows!
Nature notes: while having breakfast this week I have been watching a clump of daffodils through the kitchen window; gradually one by one they are bending over ready to bloom. (Last year this didn’t happen until the end of March) There are also tiny violets in the grass and around the fruit bushes; I had forgotten that we had those last year. There are more and more birds in the garden and one bullfinch in particular keeps tapping on the windows of the ground floor shower room and the gardener’s door. We are not sure of he is attacking his own reflection, looking for a mate, asking us for something or just saying hello. This morning we watched him for several seconds, perched on the outside door handle and tapping at the glass next to it.
Monday 26 February 2007
After lunch yesterday we began reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to each other in front of the fire. This was N’s choice (the Alice stories had been mine) and we are both enjoying it very much. Later during a quick break between showers we moved the Italian sofa from the verandah into the Box Office; it was very heavy. Just as well as this morning Guillaume came with an assistant and lots of equipment which is all over the verandah floor. The contents of the saucepan cupboards and those under the sink are all over the kitchen and dining room too; we had a picnic lunch on our knees in the grande pièce, and I have tried to keep out of the kitchen as much as I can; ironing upstairs and working in the study, and beginning my packing before leaving for Paris tomorrow. I shall return on Saturday; daughters will be with me from Thursday to Saturday, and until then I shall clean the apartment, make up beds and go food shopping, plus the usual catching-up in Saint-Denis at Yves Rocher and Sephora.
N has spent much of the morning reading the printed copy of this Blog, with much appreciation and a little amusement, I am pleased to say. He is also - perhaps inevitably - treating it as a proof-reading exercise, and keeps making pencil alterations in the margins.
Still no sign of Monsieur A or the water purifying system, or estimate for the garden wall and house façade. I rang him this morning, and he said as he had three chaps missing (N thought they were having the famous February holidays; I thought perhaps they were ill) they won’t be here before next week, he says he will ring us on Thursday or Friday.
Meanwhile life continues very quietly here in the country; the weather is mostly fine and sunny - it was apparently 16 degrees in Paris yesterday - and N is doing all sorts of things in the garden and the potting shed, and I am pottering between cooking, washing and my War Letters project, and we are watching various DVDs and TV programmes in between. I am also printing out the whole of this Blog, month by month - a rather longer project! Am currently half-way through, and putting it all in a ring binder. N is anxious to see it (he says) but wants to sit by the fire and read it as a Book, not on screen. I am enjoying reading it as I print it, and am amazed at all the things we have done that I have forgotten about.
Yesterday we went to La Ferrière-sur-Risle for the monthly Sunday antiques fair, and remembering when we got there that there is an ordinary market there too. It was very fine and sunny and we bought some excellent kippers (which we have just had for lunch today) and cod, which is in the freezer, and N bought a new thyme plant for the herb bed. All the herbs - both in the garden and in the windowsill pots are looking a bit end-of-season-ish, but last year we got them at Vive le Jardin in March, so we must hang on just a bit longer. At the antiques fair I bought two vintage Martini glasses (which I shall give to Madeleine, after we’ve tried them out here first!) and a couple of antique jam jars, which I think will look very good on the breakfast table with home-made apple jelly in them. Talking of home-made preserves, N’s latest carpentry project is a series of shelves for jam and chutney in the first outhouse; the same principle as the shelves for paperback books in the corridor. There is a blocked door between the first and second outhouse, very narrow but perhaps just wide enough for a jar.
After lunch on Sundays, in front of the fire, we have been reading « Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland » to each other, a chapter at a time. We are now on to « Through the Looking Glass », and today N read the chapter about the White Knight, very suitably I thought, as he sometimes reminds me of him; all the while thinking of another plan for some new invention. (« Through the Looking Glass » itself is very suitable for our salon, the mirror over the mantelpiece with the clock and the fire is exactly right.)
N has cut the grass for the first time, very unusual for February, but it was so long and very lush and green, and looks much better. He is now « scarifying » - rolling a kind of spiky trimmer all over the lawns, to pierce the soil and gather up the moss and clumps of cut grass and generally tidy things up. It will not be worth hoovering indoors until this is all over!
Wednesday 21 February 2007
The Jam and Chutney Shelves were put up this morning, and the jars put on them after lunch - a great success. Not only can I see at a glance how many I have got of everything - previously they were in wine boxes on top of the kitchen cupboards - but they will be nicely chilled, and N was worried about the weight on the cupboard tops. There is room for lots more, I’m pleased to say. There are plans for another Great Shelf in the first outhouse; a large heavy plank which we found here and which has been standing in the garage all this time.
Yesterday morning we went on a very successful trip to Conches: to Bricomarché, a small garden centre called Gamm Vert on the same site, and the new Intermarché supermarket nearby. One of N’s current projects is the diversion of rainfall from the roof of the garage, atelier and woodshed into a second (as yet unbought) water butt, and he wanted to get the necessary various pieces of pipe and hose. We also wanted to look at lino tiles for the verandah. When Monsieur A’s men eventually come to fit the water softening apparatus, it will necessitate moving everything out of the verandah (as it is to be fitted behind the sink, in the verandah itself) and this will be an excellent opportunity to re-do the floor. Originally we had hoped to have it tiled last October, but never heard from our Artisan; at the time we weren’t worried as there were lots of other things going on, and are now rather pleased not to have to pay for it, given the water purifier. We had thought about laying some spare lino - of which we have lots! - but remembered how fiddly the shower room was. N mentioned lino tiles, of which I had no experience, but they sounded reasonably easy and cheap. We were very pleased to find just the thing at Bricomarché; about 30 cms square, fake « parquet » flooring, which I certainly wouldn’t want in a salon or dining room, but think will be ideal in the verandah, a similar colour to the table and chairs, and easy to keep clean.
As well as all this N bought Topinembours (Jerusalem artichokes) and purple seed potatoes for the vegetable garden and I looked at watering cans - the nice one I brought from Cambridge has sprung a leak, but given the price of a new one (40 euros!) N might be able to fix it with the same stuff he is using for joining together the drainpipes. The garden section of Bricomarché was even better than that at Gamm Vert; I found lupins which I knew N wanted for the new larger flower bed, and he ended up buying all sorts of perennials. I found a beautiful white azalea (at Vive le Jardin they were all pink) more miniature daffodils, a very large healthy spider plant and a white plastic hanging flower pot for it to hang in the verandah.
This meant that we both spent most of yesterday afternoon working in the garden, N on his drainpipe project and me - after I had reorganised the indoor plants - on re-potting the spider plant which I divided into three, and hanging and placing the new plants in the verandah and watering all the existing ones. I then swept most of the paths (after the scarifying and lawn-mowing they were covered in mud and grass) and wiped down the outside windowsills of the verandah, constructed by N last summer; they were dirty and green and he thought they might be permanently stained but they responded well to hot water and detergent.
After tea I spent a good deal of time in the kitchen cooking - there seems to be a lot to do at the moment. As it was Shrove Tuesday, I made savoury stuffed pancakes; first the filling, then the cheese sauce and finally the pancakes themselves, before rolling them up and putting them in the oven, covered in the sauce. At the same time I cooked Vitello Tonnato, a classic Italian dish I have never made before, requiring compiling over one or two days from veal, tuna and mayonnaise, to be eaten this evening. After the savoury pancakes we ate traditional sweet ones with lemon and sugar. Today I have made Bread Pudding, as a change from Apple Cake.
While I was in Britain at New Year I was asked whether I found enough to do here; no comment!
Friday 23 February 2007
As I write, Guillaume is here in the kitchen and the verandah making an awful noise cutting through the back of the kitchen cupboards to make a hole for the pipe. Monsieur A rang just after lunch and said could they come straight away; we were just about to have coffee but stopped and began clearing the verandah of furniture, except for the Italian sofa which is very heavy but will have to be moved before re-doing the floor. The table and chairs have gone into the Box Office with the rest of the summer garden furniture, and the large avocado plant into the salon where the Christmas tree was; it looks rather good.
This afternoon N has been to Bernay to Vive le Jardin to order a new water butt identical to the first one, which will go between the door of the woodshed and the door of the atelier. Currently the Christmas tree is planted there in the grass, but is looking very brown and poorly - not enough root - so its days are numbered. The new water butt will come on Wednesday, when I am in Paris. He has also bought a whole lot more bedding plants for the large flowerbed.
Yesterday we made a return trip to Bricomarché at Conches, primarily to buy the floor tiles, which were very inexpensive, in all well under 50 euros. And self-adhesive too, we thought we would have to buy the glue as well! Before this, first thing in the morning, N had been to the hairdresser, where amongst other things (such as the traiteur having gone bankrupt) he learned that there was a good market at Conches on Thursdays, with a particularly good fish stall.
After Bricomarché we eventually found the market on the outskirts of the town on a large patch of grass on the way to the station. There were a few stalls I recognised from L’Aigle and La Neuve-Lyre markets, but the fish I had never seen before, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. An amazingly large selection, and not as expensive as others we have patronised; just over 7 euros for a large piece of smoked haddock and two herring fillets. And lots of lively banter too, and a free giant prawn to try - I think the patron realised there was long queue who had been waiting some time, and wanted to keep us all happy. This started up a conversation with the woman in front of me who said she never ate anything before lunch; just a glass of orange juice when she woke up.
Another important purchase at Bricomarché was four breeze blocks (a new French word = parpaing) to put under the Great Plank in the first outhouse to make a sort of bench/table/surface on which to put vegetables, jam jars etc. They have all been put into place yesterday, and when I get a chance I will clean the plank and we can start using it.
This morning I have been to the hairdresser too, so now we are both smart and tidy. It was the first time I had been since just before Christmas, and it was busy and I waited a long time, but am pleased with the result and had a good chat as usual. Because of this and not being able to get into my kitchen this afternoon I’m a little behind with cooking - I made a large batch of braised red cabbage with apple yesterday which needs freezing, and also some celery soup made with a variety of leftovers, including the sauce from the Vitello Tonnato; this was good but a little liquid.
Saturday 24 February 2007
Large plank has now been cleaned in the first outhouse, ready for more storage. All the new bedding plants have been planted, some in the flowerbed and some in the newer rockery, in between showers today - more normal February weather. Outlook for Sunday is wet too, a pity as I shall be doing a couple of loads of washing - when Guillaume arrives on Monday the water will be switched off for part of the day, so last washing before I leave for Paris needs to be done tomorrow. Celery soup has been finished and tasted - very good, with bacon in it - and the rest frozen, along with the remains of the braised cabbage.
N is thinking of starting the new verandah floor while I am away in Paris; I have told him to be very careful with the Stanley knife, but we both realise that the floor will need lots of cleaning, re-sticking and drying before any new tiles can be put down. There is also the question of a new doorstep or threshold; currently the rain slides in under the door. The skirting boards will have to be repainted and in some cases actually provided, and bits of wall re-painted. And as soon as the room is empty with nothing going on I must clean the insides of the windows!
Nature notes: while having breakfast this week I have been watching a clump of daffodils through the kitchen window; gradually one by one they are bending over ready to bloom. (Last year this didn’t happen until the end of March) There are also tiny violets in the grass and around the fruit bushes; I had forgotten that we had those last year. There are more and more birds in the garden and one bullfinch in particular keeps tapping on the windows of the ground floor shower room and the gardener’s door. We are not sure of he is attacking his own reflection, looking for a mate, asking us for something or just saying hello. This morning we watched him for several seconds, perched on the outside door handle and tapping at the glass next to it.
Monday 26 February 2007
After lunch yesterday we began reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to each other in front of the fire. This was N’s choice (the Alice stories had been mine) and we are both enjoying it very much. Later during a quick break between showers we moved the Italian sofa from the verandah into the Box Office; it was very heavy. Just as well as this morning Guillaume came with an assistant and lots of equipment which is all over the verandah floor. The contents of the saucepan cupboards and those under the sink are all over the kitchen and dining room too; we had a picnic lunch on our knees in the grande pièce, and I have tried to keep out of the kitchen as much as I can; ironing upstairs and working in the study, and beginning my packing before leaving for Paris tomorrow. I shall return on Saturday; daughters will be with me from Thursday to Saturday, and until then I shall clean the apartment, make up beds and go food shopping, plus the usual catching-up in Saint-Denis at Yves Rocher and Sephora.
N has spent much of the morning reading the printed copy of this Blog, with much appreciation and a little amusement, I am pleased to say. He is also - perhaps inevitably - treating it as a proof-reading exercise, and keeps making pencil alterations in the margins.
# posted by Chez Katherine @ 6:53 AM 
